Accreditation is important because it:

• Aids in determining if an institution meets or surpasses minimum standards of quality.
• Assists students in choosing acceptable institutions to enroll in.
• Helps institutions in determining the acceptability of credits and transfer credits.
• Allows employers to determine the validity of programs of study and in turn whether a graduate is qualified for the prospective job.
• Employers often require evidence that applicants have earned a degree from an accredited school or program.
• Determines eligibility for employee tuition reimbursement programs.
• Enables graduates to sit for certification examinations.
• Involves staff, faculty, students, graduates, and advisory boards in institutional evaluation and planning.
• Creates goals for the institution to improve upon.
• Provides a baseline for determining eligibility for federal student assistance. Students are required to attend an accredited institution to apply for federal grants or loans.

American Board of Funeral Service Education Contact
992 Mantua Pike
Suite 108
Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097
Phone: (816) 233-3747
Website: www.abfse.org

FINE Mortuary College is committed to resolving any potential complaints with remote learning students via the outlined process, as per SARA requirements. Please see the FMC SARA Complaint Process for more information.

The primary objective of the Student Complaint/Grievance Procedure is to ensure that students have the opportunity to present grievances to the College regarding a certain action or inaction by a member of the institution. The College seeks to resolve grievances fairly and with justice for all parties. This Student Complaint/Grievance Procedure applies to all formal grievances.

The definition of a grievance is a violation of written campus policies, procedures, or arbitrary, capricious, or unequal application of written campus policies or procedures.

Informal Resolution

Prior to invoking the procedures described here, students are encouraged but not required to address the grievance in person or in writing with the person alleged to have caused the grievance.

The discussion should be held as soon as the student first becomes aware of the act or condition that is the basis of the grievance. The person alleged to have caused the grievance must respond to the student promptly, either orally or in writing.

Formal Resolution

A student may initiate a formal grievance in writing to the Program Director, or designee, who will act as administrator for the grievance procedure. The grievance must be received within 15 calendar days after the student first becomes aware of the facts which gave rise to the grievance.

The Program Director, or designee, will conduct an informal investigation as warranted to resolve any factual disputes. Upon the student’s request, the Program Director, or designee, shall appoint an impartial fact-finding panel of no more than three persons to conduct an investigation.

The Program Director, or designee, must state the terms and conditions of the investigation in a memorandum appointing the fact-finding panel. The panel shall have no authority to make recommendations or impose final action. The panel’s conclusions shall be limited to determining and presenting facts to the Program Director, or designee, in a written report.

Based upon the report of the fact-finding panel, the Program Director, or designee, shall make a determination and submit a decision in writing to the student and to the person alleged to have caused the grievance within ten calendar days of receipt of the panel’s report.

The written determination shall include the reasons for the decision, shall indicate the remedial action to be taken, if any, and shall inform the student of the right to seek review by President or designee.

Appeal Procedures

Within ten calendar days of receipt of the Program Director or designee’s decision, a student who is not satisfied with the response of the administrator after the initial review may seek further review by submitting the written grievance, together with the administrator’s written decision, to the Campus President or designee.

Within 15 calendar days of receipt of the request for review, the Campus President or designee shall submit his or her decision in writing to the student and to the person alleged to have caused the grievance. The written disposition shall include the reasons for the decision, and it shall direct a remedy for the aggrieved student, if any.

If the student complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institution’s Student Complaint/Grievance Procedure, the student may file a complaint with the Governing Board. Failure to file any grievance according to the procedures and within the specified time shall be deemed a waiver of the right to file a grievance. Students who continue to believe the issue is unresolved after submission to the Governing Board may contact the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).

The American Board of Funeral Service Education

992 Mantua Pike
Suite 108
Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097
Phone: (816) 233-3747
Website: www.abfse.org

A copy of the accrediting commission’s complaint form and procedure is available and may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Registrar. In addition to the College’s grievance policy and procedure, students may also contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy & Response Division. This contact may be regardless of whether students have availed themselves of the College’s grievance policy.

Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy & Response Division

Consumer Hotline: (617) 727–8400 (Monday–Friday, 8 am–6 pm)
To file a consumer complaint online go here.

FMC SARA Complaint Process

Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint by working with the party or parties involved. If the situation remains unresolved, students are encouraged to follow the FMC appeals policy outlined in the FINE Mortuary College Catalog. If the complaint is still not resolved, students complete the online complaint form. If an issue cannot be resolved internally, you may file a complaint with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE). Depending on where you are located, the DHE provides two different complaint forms for students based on their location.

For Massachusetts residents and online students in non-SARA member states and territories

After following the outlined grievance and complaint procedures, if the issue is not resolved, a student may contact the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) by using the general complaint form. The DHE general complaint form should be used by students who are located in:

• Massachusetts
• Non-SARA Member States or Territories (e.g., California, Guam, etc.)

In addition, students located in California and Guam may wish to contact their home agencies directly to file a complaint as well:

• California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
• Island of Guam

For online students located in SARA member states and territories

Information from the DHE’s SARA complaint website is below:

The SARA complaint process is as follows:

1. Students must first attempt to resolve their complaint using internal administrative procedures offered by FINE Mortuary College.
2. After all administrative remedies have been exhausted with the institution, the student may submit a SARA Complaint via the URL below.
3. The Department shall send a copy of the complaint to the institution that is the subject of the complaint.
4. Within 30 days of the date that the Department sends a copy of the complaint to the institution, the institution must provide a written response to the student and the Department.

More information about DHE’s complaint process can be found here.

FINE Mortuary College (FMC) welcomes the opportunity to support Veterans, active duty Servicemembers, and military-connected students in achieving their educational and career goals. FMC is approved to enroll eligible Veterans, active duty Servicemembers, and qualified dependents using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits, including the GI Bill®.

FMC is committed to supporting military-affiliated students throughout the enrollment and certification process while maintaining transparency regarding benefit administration and student responsibilities.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

VA Education Benefit Programs Accepted
Depending on individual eligibility as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, students may use one or more of the following programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
• Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
• Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR\&E / Chapter 31)
• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA / Chapter 35)

Eligibility, payment amounts, and duration of benefits, and benefit usage are determined solely by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

How to Use VA Education Benefits at FINE Mortuary College

Step 1: Apply for VA Benefits
Apply directly through the VA website:
https://www.va.gov/education/apply-for-education-benefits/

Step 2: Submit Documentation to FMC
Provide the FMC Veterans Services contact with:

• A valid VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or VR&E authorization
• Any additional documentation required for enrollment or certification

Step 3: Enrollment Certification
Once registered, and documentation received, FMC will certify enrollment to the VA. Processing timelines and payment schedules are determined by the VA, not the College.

Important Information for Students Using VA Benefits

• • VA education benefits are administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Approval to enroll students using VA education benefits does not imply endorsement of FINE Mortuary College by the VA.
  • Students using VA education benefits are responsible for:
    • • Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
      • Promptly reporting changes in enrollment status
      • Understanding benefit limitations, usage rules, and expiration dates

Failure to report enrollment changes in a timely manner may result in overpayment and financial liability to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Tuition, Fees & Financial Responsibility
VA education benefits may cover tuition, fees, and certain education-related costs depending on specific benefit program and individual eligibility. Students are encouraged to review FMC’s tuition and fee schedules and to consult with both the Veterans Services contact and the official VA website for guidance regarding benefit coverage.

Compliance with Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018
In accordance with Section 103 of Public Law 115-407, FINE Mortuary College adopts the following provisions for any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits under Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness and Employment) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill®) while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. These protections apply notwithstanding FMC’s general tuition, late fee, or financial clearance policies.

FINE Mortuary College will not:

• Prevent the student from enrolling in courses
• Assess late penalty fees or interest on unpaid tuition and fees
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding
• Deny the student access to classes, libraries, learning management systems, or other institutional facilities available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee obligations
• Refer the student’s account to a collection agency or initiate any debt collection actions while payment from the VA is pending

To qualify for these protections, the student must:
1.Provide a valid VA Certificate of Eligibility (or VR&E authorization)
2.Submit a written request to be certified (via email, institutional form, or other documented communication as designated by FMC Veterans Services)
3.Provide any additional information required to complete VA enrollment certification

These protections end on the earlier of:

• The date VA payment is made to the institution, or
• 90 days after the date the institution certifies tuition and fees to the VA

FINE Mortuary College complies with Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018. Covered students are permitted to enroll and participate in courses while VA payment is pending, provided required documentation is submitted in a timely manner.

Certifying Enrollment Information (Chapter 30, 31, 35, 1606, 1607)
Enrollment information will be submitted to the VA (via Enrollment Manager) once billing for the semester is complete (usually within 45 days of the start of the semester)

Certifying Enrollment CH 33 (Post 9/11)
Enrollment information will be submitted to the VA (via Enrollment Manager) within 30 days of the start of the semester. Tuition and Fees will be reported after the conclusion of the official add/drop period for each semester.

Military Experience
Veterans are encouraged to submit their Joint Services Transcript (JST) (formerly AARTS, SMARTS or USCGI transcripts) if applicable, along with their DD214 to the Admissions Office. Military transcripts may be ordered through the Joint Services Transcript system.

Transfer Students
Students who have transferred from another institution or who have completed a prior degree and wish to pursue additional education using VA benefits must submit VA Form 22-1995 (Request for Change of Program or Place of Training).

For additional questions regarding your VA Education Benefits, enrollment certification or documentation requirements, contact Enrollment Services at 781.762.1211 or email kkoch@fmc.edu

Helpful Numbers & Resources
VA GI Bill® Hotline 1 (888) 442-4551
GI Bill Website FAFSA Website Military.com

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site are https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

National Board Examination pass rates, graduation/retention rates, and job/placement/employment rates for this and other ABFSE-accredited programs are available at www.abfse.org in the Directory of Accredited Programs. To request a printed copy of FINE Mortuary College’s pass rates, please send an email to info@fmc.edu , or by telephone at 781-762-1211.