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Policies & Terms

Agreement is Binding:

This agreement will be binding only when it has been fully completed, signed and dated by the student and an authorized representative of the school prior to the time instruction begins.

Notice:

Washington law requires the following information to be supplied to each student enrolling in a private vocational school licensed under RCW 28C.10. The school must attach one copy of this notice bearing original signatures as addenda to that individual’s enrollment agreement and a copy must be provided to the enrollee by the school.

Changes in the Agreement:

Any changes in the agreement will not be binding on either the student or the school unless such changes are acknowledged in writing by an authorized representative of the school and by the student or the student’s parent or guardian if he/she is a minor.

Ability to Benefit:

The following requirements are placed on candidates so as to ensure that said candidates have the Ability to Benefit from attending programs at PMI.

• Students attending the Entry Level Career Program are required to provide a copy of their current Merchant Mariner Document (MMD).
• Students attending the Able Seaman to Mate Training Program and the Mate 500-1600 Tons Program are required to provide the following:
  1. Candidate must possess a high school diploma or recognized equivalency certificate.
  2. Provided that student does not have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalency certificate, then candidate must:
     • Possess a 12th grade level reading comprehension as indicated by an ASSET Reading Test score of 39 or a Compass Reading Test score of 76¹.
     • Possess a 12th grade level writing ability as indicated by an ASSET Writing Test of 41 or higher.
     • Demonstrate a solid mathematics skill level as indicated by a COMPASS Trigonometry test score of 46 or more.
  3. Candidate must possess a United States Merchant Mariner Document that is current.
  4. Meet all of the physical, security, character, and oath requirements outlined by the United States Coast Guard for Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) as defined in 46CFR and Policy Letter 01-02.
  5. Must be Nineteen (19) years old.
  6. For the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Course, students are required to sign a Computer Skills Assessment Form.
• Students attending the Mate to Master Training Program will be required to provide a copy of their current rating as an Officer In Charge of a Navigational Watch (Mate) as issued by the U.S. Coast Guard prior to beginning classes. The copy will be retained in the student’s file as prima facie evidence that the student has the requisite educational skills and qualifications to complete and benefit from the course of study being undertaken.
• Our Mate Program requires a high school diploma or equivalent GED. The following placement test scores are acceptable in lieu of the above.
  1. COMPASS Trigonometry Test – Minimum Score 46
  2. ASSEST Writing Test – Minimum Score 38
  3. COMPASS Reading Test – Minimum Score 76
     OR
     ASSET Reading Test – Minimum Score 39

Contact your local Community College for information on COMPASS and ASSET tests.

Please note that a candidate otherwise enrolled in these programs may be required to take additional remedial courses, at his/her own expense, if the candidate does not possess the necessary skill sets in math and reading comprehension to successfully continue in these programs.

¹These tests are available at most community colleges. Applicant must pay for the tests.

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Payment Method:

Payment of tuition is due upon enrollment. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are preferred forms of payment, but we also accept checks, money orders and cash payments.

We offer payment plans for our two-year Mate Program. To set up a payment plan or for information on Student Loans, please see the Administrative Manager. For more details see the Mate Program section, page 17, in this catalog.

Discount Policy Able Seaman to Mate Program:

Upon completion of all required courses as part of PMI / MITAGS Able Seaman to Mate Program, students will be entitled to a discount on current retail prices. The total discount (15% or as otherwise agreed between the school and company) will be applied as credit toward courses at the end of the program. A financial worksheet will be provided to the student. If the discount was not applied as credit and the student is eligible for a refund check, the refund will be noted on the worksheet (Note: Discount applies when all courses are taken exclusively with PMI/Mitags).

Standby Status:

Students placed on standby will be notified only if a spot becomes available. Payment information is not required while on standby.

Course Cancellation by Student:

Students are required to provide 5-business days notice of cancellation either verbally or in writing to the Registrar. Failure to provide such notice will result in a 10% administrative fee based on the cost of the course, or $100, whichever is less, per WTECB requirements.

Course Cancellation by School:

The school reserves the right to cancel a class if the number of students enrolled is insufficient. If this occurs, the student may request a full refund of monies paid for tuition or apply all monies paid to the next scheduled class, if on the schedule.

Satisfactory Progress:

Satisfactory progress within a training program is indicated by successful completion of courses that make up the program. Students are entitled to retake courses that they initially fail. If a student fails to pass a course after a second attempt, the Training Director will meet with the student and review options for continuing in the program. This review will take into account the students performance in other courses, the time remaining to complete the program and any supplementary education or training that the student may need to complete the program successfully.

Leave of Absence from Training Programs:

A leave of absence period may not exceed 180 days within any twelve (12) month period. A student may be granted more than one leave of absence provided that the combined leaves of absence do not exceed 180 days within the twelve (12) month period. Under exceptional circumstances such as shipboard service requirements the Director of PMI will consider a leave of absence beyond 180 days on a case-by-case basis. A student must provide a written notice for a leave of absence to the Registrar within any one of our vocational programs (Able Seaman To Mate, Chief Mate to Master, Mate Program). Form may be requested from our Registrar.

Certification:

Upon successfully completing all requirements included within each course, the student will receive an original certificate for each course. The school recommends making a copy of the certificate, as we do not keep copies. If a certificate is lost and needs to be replaced a $15 administrative fee will be assessed. A certificate will not be issued until payment for each course is made in full.

For our Mate Program, trainees will also be issued a completion certificate at the end of the program.

Transcripts & Records:

Course completion records are kept in the student’s official record at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS). At the conclusion of a program the school will provide the student with a copy of their transcript at no cost to the student. The school is committed to securely maintaining and protecting the student’s permanent records against fire, vandalism and other perils. The school will also maintain records of initial employment of its graduates covering the last five years.

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Procedure for Termination by Student:

If a student wishes to terminate training, they must notify the Registrar in writing. Notice may be hand delivered or mailed. A withdrawal form is available, and can be obtained through an instructor or the Registrar. Students have the option to receive a refund in accordance with the refund policy or reschedule the course within twelve months.

Grounds for Termination by School:

A student that fails to maintain satisfactory progress, violates safety regulations, interferes with other students’ work, is disruptive or obscene, and / or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs is subject to immediate termination.

If a student fails to attend classes, without notice, for thirty calendar days or misses time that interferes with the instruction of the course, it will be at the discretion of the Instructor and the Training Director to decide on whether they may complete the course.

If a student fails to meet financial obligations they are subject to termination by the Director.

Students can be reinstated into a program by demonstrating that they have taken steps to improve their knowledge or skills to a level that would allow satisfactory progress.

Termination for Onboard Training:

In the event that an onboard training provider rejects a student from onboard training for any reason, the school reserves the right to immediately terminate that student from the entire program. An onboard training provider has the absolute authority to reject or retain students who are training onboard the provider's vessels.

Discontinued Programs:

If the school discontinues instruction in any program after students enter training, including circumstances where the school changes its location, students must be notified in writing of such events and are entitled to a pro-rata refund of all tuition and fees paid, unless comparable training is arranged for by the school and agreed upon, in writing, by the student. A written request for such a refund must be made within 90 days from the date the program was discontinued or relocated and the refund must be paid within 30 days after receipt of such a request.

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Refunds:

PMI will issue a refund under the following circumstances:

• If the school discontinues a course after the student has enrolled.
• If the school cancels a course due to insufficient enrollment.
• If a student cancels a course in accordance with the Student Cancellation Policy – above.

PMI will issue a partial refund if the student is terminated by the school, as provided in the Termination By The School policy, below, as follows:

• If the student completes one week or up to 10% of the program, the school will refund 90% of the tuition cost, less the registration fee.*
• If the student completes more than one week or 10% of the program, but less than 25%, the school will refund 75% of the tuition cost, less the registration fee.
• If the student completes more than 25% of the program, but less than 50%, the school will refund 50% of the tuition cost, less the registration fee.
• If the student completes more than 50% of the program, no refund will be made.
• Registration fee" is a 10% administrative fee, based on the cost of the course, or $100, whichever is less.

PMI will issue a partial refund if the student is terminated due to rejection by an onboard training provider, as discussed in the Termination From Onboard Training policy, below, as follows: the full tuition cost less $2000, or the refund amount required by law, whichever is greater.

The student, or the student’s representative, must submit a request for refund in writing within thirty (30) days of the date that notice of cancellation was submitted to the school Registrar. The request for refund must include the following information: the course and the date it was cancelled, student name and address for refund receipt, student signature. Refund requests received later than thirty - (30) days after the date that notice of cancellation was submitted to the Registrar will not be eligible for refund unless extenuating circumstances exist which prevented the request from being submitted in a timely manner. Any extenuating circumstances must be explained in the request for refund. The school Administrative Manager will review all late requests and determine whether the circumstances merit a refund or not. When calculating refunds, the official date of a student’s termination is the last full day of recorded attendance.

Refund Denial Appeals

Any student denied refund may appeal the decision in writing to the school Director. Appeals must be received within thirty (30) days of the date of denial. The decision of the school Director, on appeal, is final.

Refund Payouts

Students awarded refund of course costs will be reported to the accounting department within seven (7) working days of the date of approval. The accounting department will refund the appropriate course costs via check, which will be sent to the refund receipt address provided by the student in the request for refund.

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Disclaimer of Employment Guarantee:

While the school offers placement assistance, the school cannot in any way guarantee employment after the student has successfully completed the program of study.

Discrimination:

PMI does not deny admission or discriminate against students enrolled on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

Student Complaint & Grievance Procedure: PMI provides forms for students who wish to register a complaint or grievance. The management will review the complaint and strive to alleviate or provide a solution. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this process, they are entitled to submit a complaint to the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, 128 10th Avenue, PO Box 43105, Olympia, Washington 98504-3105 Tel. 360 759-5373

Unfair Business Practices: It is unfair business practice for the school to sell, discount, or otherwise transfer this contract or promissory note without the signed written consent of the student or his/her parent or guardian if he/she is a minor and a written statement notifying all parties that the cancellation and refund policy continue to apply.

Acknowledgment by Enrollee:

1. I understand and accept that any contract for training I enter into with the above named school contains legally binding obligations and responsibilities.
2. I understand and accept that repayment obligations will be placed upon me by any loans or other financing arrangements I enter into as a means to pay for my training.
3. I understand that any enrollment contract I enter into will not be binding or take effect for at least five (5) days, excluding Sundays and holidays, following the last date such a contract is signed by the school and myself, provided that I have not entered classes sooner.

Acknowledgment by School:

Prior to being enrolled in this school, the applicant whose name and signature appears below has been made aware of the legal obligations he/she takes on by entering into a contract for training.

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