• College Policies

  • Dispute Resolution Policy

    1. When a concern arises, the student should first attempt to address the concern with the individual most directly involved. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome at this level, the student should put his/her concern in writing and deliver it to the Program/Faculty Director or Coordinator using the Form E* - “Communication & Complaint” form.

    2. The Program/Faculty Director or Coordinator will arrange to meet with the student to discuss the concern and desired resolution as soon as possible but within five school days of receiving the student's written concern.

    3. Should the Program/Faculty Director or Coordinator be absent or named in the complaint, the student will file a written complaint to the Director of First College (Carol Zhou, College Director, email: carol.zhou@firstcollege.ca).

    4. Following the meeting with the student, the Program/Faculty Director or Coordinator will conduct whatever inquiries and/or investigations are necessary and appropriate to determine whether the student's concerns are substantiated in whole or in part. Those inquiries may involve further discussion(s) with the student either individually or with appropriate First College personnel. All communications must be in writing.

    5. The necessary inquiries and/or investigations shall be completed, and a response provided in writing to all involved as soon as possible but no later than 10 school days following the receipt of the student's written concerns.

    a) If it is determined that the student's concerns are not substantiated, the Institution will provide a written explanation of the decision and deny the complaint; or

    b) If it is determined that the student's concerns are substantiated in whole or in part, the Institution will propose a resolution.

    6. The student making the complaint may be represented by an agent or a lawyer.

    The response must specify that the student will have five school days to appeal this decision. A copy of the decision and all supporting materials shall be given to the student, and a copy will also be placed in the student’s permanent file. First College must address the appeal within five school days. A student can withdraw his or her written concern at any stage of the process. If the student withdraws the written concern, the matter will be considered closed and no further appeal will be allowed with respect to the same matter.

    If the student is dissatisfied with the Program/Faculty Director or Coordinator decision, they may appeal using the Form J - Student Appeals Form and submit this form within 5 days to the Director of First College. If the student is dissatisfied with the result and feels that the Institution has misled him or her, he or she may file a complaint with The Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) (https://www.privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/). Complaints must be filed with PTIRU within one year of the date a student completes, is dismissed from, or withdraws from the program.

    *For the Faculty of RMT students, please use Communication Form from the RMT Student Handbook.

  • Sexual Misconduct Policy

    First College is committed to the prevention of and appropriate response to sexual misconduct. This policy applies to all First College students who are currently enrolled in a program of study. A student who makes or is otherwise involved in a complaint/report will not be subject to any form of retaliation by the institution at any time. This process is to be facilitated by the student services department.

    Sexual misconduct refers to a spectrum of non-consensual sexual contact and behavior including the following:

    • sexual assault;

    • sexual exploitation;

    • sexual harassment;

    • stalking;

    • indecent exposure;

    • voyeurism;

    • the distribution of a sexually explicit photograph or video of a person to one or more persons other than the person in the photograph or video without the consent of the person in the photograph or video and with the intent to distress the person in the photograph or video;

    • the attempt to commit an act of sexual misconduct; and

    • the threat to commit an act of sexual misconduct.

    A Complaint of sexual misconduct is different than a Report of sexual misconduct. A person may choose to disclose or complain of sexual misconduct without making a formal report. A Report is a formal notification of an incident of sexual misconduct to someone at the institution accompanied by a request for action.

    A student making a Complaint will be provided with resolution options and, if appropriate, accommodation, and will not be required or pressured to make a Report.

    The process for making a Complaint about sexual misconduct involving a student is as follows:

    1. A student or any other member of the college who has experienced sexual violence or misconduct or who is otherwise affected by a violation of this policy, should file a complaint in writing and deliver it to the Faculty/Program Director/Coordinator (Dr. Danielle Morgan, Faculty of RMT Program Director, email: danielle.morgan@firstcollege.ca; Denise Bryson, Faculty of Health Coordinator, email: denise.bryson@firstcollege.ca) using Form B – “Incident Report”.

    2. The Complaint should set out the relevant details regarding the alleged incident of Sexual Violence, Sexual Misconduct or other alleged violation of this policy. The Complaint should include a list of any potential witnesses, along with a description of the information those witnesses are expected to provide. Any relevant documents, including any social media communications, should also be included with the Complaint.

    3. Should the Faculty/Program Director/Coordinator be absent or named in the complaint, the student will report it to the Director of First College (Carol Zhou, College Director, email: carol.zhou@firstcollege.ca).

    4. A Complainant has the right to withdraw a Complaint at any stage of the process. However, the College may continue to act on the issue identified in the Complaint where it is obligated by law or by this policy to do so.

    The process for making a Report of sexual misconduct involving a student is as follows:

    1. Upon receipt of a complaint or report, the College Director and the Student Advisor will conduct an initial review to determine whether the allegations in the complaint fall within the scope of this policy. This review will occur within five school days of receipt of a complaint unless exceptional circumstances exist that prevent the College Director and the Student Advisor from meeting this timeline, in which case the Student Advisor will contact the complainant as soon as possible to inform them of the revised timeline.

    2. If the College Director and the Student Advisor determines that the Complaint falls within the scope of this policy, the College Director and the Student Advisor will initiate a full investigation into the complaint or report.

    3. If the College Director and the Student Advisor determines that the allegations in the Report do not fall within the scope of this policy, the College Director and the Student Advisor will advise the individual of this decision along with reasons. If the College Director and the Student Advisor believes that the Report discloses other kinds of misconduct or information that the College may need to act on under another College policy or process, the College Director may refer the Report or the relevant portions of the Report to the appropriate College authority. When appropriate, the College Director will consult with the person making the Report before referring it elsewhere.

    Investigation of a Complaint or Report:

    1. The College Director and the Student Advisor will advise participants in the investigation of the option to have a support person present for interviews.

    2. Except in exceptional circumstances, investigations (including the preparation of the Investigator’s report) will be completed within 30 calendar days of the Student Advisor’s receipt of a complaint or report. If during an investigation the Student Advisor believe that this timeline cannot be met, the Student Advisor will contact the complainant and the respondent as soon as possible to inform them of the revised timeline.

    3. In all investigations, the respondent will be informed of the allegations made against them and will be given a full opportunity to respond.

    4. The Student Advisor will conduct the investigation using a procedurally fair and sensitive process, taking care to minimize or avoid circumstances that might reasonably be expected to cause participants distress (e.g., the complainant having to come into direct contact with the respondent). The investigation process may include, but is not limited to, the following: a. requesting a written response to the complaint or report from the respondent, including a list of any potential witnesses along with a description of the information those witnesses are expected to provide, and any relevant documents, including any social media communications.

    b. meeting separately with, or requesting further information from, the complainant.

    c. meeting separately with, or requesting further information from, the respondent.

    d. meeting separately with, or requesting further information from, any other individuals who may have information relevant to the investigation, including any witnesses identified by the complainant or the respondent.

    e. obtaining any other evidence that may be relevant to the investigation.

    5. At the completion of the investigation, the Student Advisor will submit a written report to the College Director. The report will normally include the following information:

    a. a summary of the evidence considered.

    b. any assessment of credibility that is required to render a determination; and

    c. the findings of fact, and a determination as to whether, on a balance of

    d. probabilities, this policy has been violated.

    Investigation Outcomes:

    1. If the Student Advisor’s report determines that Sexual Violence or Sexual Misconduct has occurred, or that this policy has otherwise been violated, the following will occur:

    a. the Student Advisor will provide a copy of the report to the President, the College Director, and the Faculty/Program Director/Coordinator (the Health and Safety Committee members).

    b. the Health and Safety Committee members will determine what disciplinary or other measures are appropriate based on the findings in the report.

    c. the Complainant and the Respondent will be notified of the findings and the Respondent will be notified of the College’s decision regarding disciplinary or other measures to be taken against the Respondent; and

    d. the Respondent will be notified of the option to appeal, as described below.

    2. If the report determines that that this policy has not been violated, the College Director will dismiss the Complaint and so notify the Complainant and the Respondent. The Complainant will be notified of the option to appeal, as described below.

    3. Whether or not the report determines that Sexual Misconduct has occurred, or that this policy has otherwise been violated, if the College Director believes that the report discloses other kinds of misconduct or information that the College may need to act on under another College policy or process. When appropriate, the College Director will consult with the Complainant before referring the matter elsewhere.

    Confidentiality:

    1. All information related to a Complaint or Report is confidential and will not be shared without the written consent of the parties, subject to the following exceptions:

    a. If an individual is at imminent risk of severe or life-threatening self-harm.

    b. If an individual is at imminent risk of harming another.

    c. There are reasonable grounds to believe that others in the institutional community may be at significant risk of harm based on the information provided.

    d. Where reporting is required by law.

    e. Where it is necessary to ensure procedural fairness in an investigation or other response to a Complaint or Report.

    Appeal:

    1. A complainant or respondent may appeal the disciplinary decision of the Health and Safety Committee. An appeal will not reconsider the original complaint, although the person or body deciding the appeal has the discretion to consider any new evidence that could not reasonably have been available at the time of the original investigation.

    2. An appeal must be submitted in writing within 10 school days after receipt of the decision being appealed. The written submission must provide specific grounds for appeal, describing how this policy was incorrectly applied, due process was not followed and/or the Committee’s decision to discipline was inappropriate.

    a. A student or other member of the College Community who is not an employee of the College must submit the appeal to the Student Service Department.

    3. The appeal may be upheld or dismissed, in whole or in part, and/or referred to the Student Service Department for reconsideration.

    4. The person or body deciding the appeal will give reasons for the decision in writing.

    This institution is certified by The Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU). Certified institutions must comply with regulatory requirements, including the requirement to have a Sexual Misconduct policy. For more information about PTIRU, go to https://www.privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/

  • Tuition Refund Policy

    If a student decides to withdraw from a program, he/she must provide a dated, written, notice of withdrawal to the Student Advisor. Refunds are calculated according to First College’s Refund Policy (as per PTIRU Guidelines) and the date on which the written notice of withdrawal is received will be used to determine any refund owing.

    1. If First College receives tuition from the student, or a person on behalf of the student, the institution will refund the student, or the person who paid on behalf of the student, the tuition that was paid in relation to the program in which the student is enrolled if:

    a. the institution receives a notice of withdrawal from the student no later than seven days after the effective contract date and before the contract start date;

    b. the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian, signs the student enrolment contract seven days or less before the contract start date and the institution receives a notice of withdrawal from the student between the date the student, or the student’s parent or legal guardian, signed the student enrolment contract and the contract start date; or

    c. the student does not attend a work experience component and the institution does not provide all of the hours of instruction of the work experience component within 30 days of the contract end date.

    2. First College will refund the tuition for the program and all related fees paid by the student or a person on behalf of the student enrolled in the program if the student is enrolled in the program without having met the admission requirements and did not misrepresent his or her knowledge or skills when applying for admission.

    3. If a student does not attend any of the first 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term, First College may retain up to 50% of the tuition paid under the student enrolment contract unless the program is provided solely through distance education.

    4. Unless the program is provided solely through distance education, if First College receives a notice of withdrawal from a student:

    a. more than seven days after the effective contract date and

    i. at least 30 days before the contract start date, the institution may retain up to 10% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract, to a maximum of $1,000.

    ii. less than 30 days before the contract start date, the institution may retain up to 20% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract, to a maximum of $1,300.

    b. after the contract start date

    i. and up to and including 10% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 30% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.

    ii. and after 10% but before 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.

    5. Unless the program is provided solely through distance education, if First College provides a notice of dismissal to a student and the date the institution delivers the notice to the student is:

    a. equal to or before 10% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 30% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.

    b. after 10% but before 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term have been provided, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.

    6. If First College provides the program solely through distance education and the institution receives a student’s notice of withdrawal or the institution delivers a notice of dismissal to the student and:

    a. the student has completed and received an evaluation of his or her performance for up to 30% of the hours of instruction to be provided during the contract term, the institution may retain up to 30% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract, or

    b. the student has completed and received an evaluation of his or her performance for more than 30% but less than 50% of the program, the institution may retain up to 50% of the tuition due under the student enrolment contract.

    7. First College will refund fees charged for course materials paid for but not received if the student provides a notice of withdrawal to the institution or the institution provides a notice of dismissal to the student.

    8. Refunds required under this policy will be paid to the student, or a person who paid the tuition or fees on behalf of the student, within 30 days:

    a. of the date First College receives a student’s notice of withdrawal,

    b. of the date First College provides a notice of dismissal to the student,

    c. of the date that the registrar provides notice to First College that the institution is not complying with section 1(c) or 2 of this policy, or

    d. after the first 30% of the hours of instruction if section 3 of this policy applies.

    9. If an international student delivers a copy of a refusal of a study permit to First College, sections 1(a), 1(b), 4, 7, and 8 of this policy apply as if the copy of the refusal were a notice of withdrawal, unless:

    a. the international student requests an additional letter of acceptance for the same program that was the subject of the refusal of a study permit,

    b. or the program is provided solely through distance education.

    Rights and Responsibilities of the Student

    1. Each student has a right to a safe environment, conducive to learning. Within that right the student must also foster and contribute to that safe environment.
    2. Students are expected to act consistent to the values, regulations and policies of First College, and local, provincial, and federal laws.
    3. Each student may expect to be treated equally and without discrimination.
    4. Each student is expected to respect the rights and properties of others, not to be subjected to harassment, bullying, violence, injury, discrimination, indignity or inappropriate sexual contact.
    5. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely.
    6. Students will have in their possession a copy of all applicable handbooks and policies from First College after admission. The students are expected to comply with all policies and regulations. The student should be familiar with the contents of all handbooks, policies, procedures and regulations. The student must sign an acknowledgement form stating they have read, understand and comply with all handbooks, policies, procedures and regulations.
    7. Students have a right to fair and judicious processes and procedures to investigate and resolve any violations of the above.
    8. The student’s personal information is protected by the PIPA act for privacy and confidentiality issues.
    9. Each student will have equal access to all resources required for the program.
    10. Students have the right to know their strengths and weaknesses throughout the program. Performance based assessments allow for both areas to be addressed and are documented.
    11. The students have the right to evaluate each course, each instructor, and the program. These evaluations are completed anonymously at the end of each term and at the end of the program. Students can give feedback that will be raised at multiple committees to ensure program effectiveness and fairness. Please see the following list for all evaluations.
    RMT Course Evaluation at the end of each term
    RMT Clinic Evaluation at the end of each term
    RMT Program Evaluation at the end of the two-year program
    RMT Program Instructor Evaluation at the end of each term
    RMT Program Clinic Instructor Evaluation at the end of each clinic term
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