Policies

Hurricane Helene

Our hearts and heads are with everyone who is affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. It is times like this when our communities come together and our resilience shows.

  • Courses are continuing through the month of October on Landmark Learning campuses. Check DRIVENC.gov for open routes. Most access is coming from Atlanta GA, Chattanooga TN, and Greenville SC, through Clayton GA. 441 from Gatlinburg is open during daylight hours. I-40 is beginning to open east of Asheville. Roads are opening daily, so refer often. All students must plan their travel times and route.
  • Cancellations and transfers for those who are directly affected will be considered.
  • Those who need fresh water, a hot shower, and internet access can come to the Downstream Campus at 1333 Cane Creek Rd, Sylva NC. *Be sure to take exit 85 into Sylva BEFORE using GPS.
  • Please consider donating directly to resources on the American Canoe Association’s Hurricane Helene Relief page – scroll down the page to “More Ways to Support” and select your donation avenue (food, water, emergency shelter and relief worker support) in the most affected areas in the Asheville area and downstream (Hendersonville, Black Mt/Swannannoa, Boone, Erwin TN, etc). Do not travel to these areas unless you are with a rescue group on assignment – it will further burden the existing resources and can interfere with professional teams’ progress.
  • Please also consider donating to the Landmark Foundation so we can continue to offer full scholarships to relief workers and to students directly affected by the hurricane that can no longer finance their own course but need it for their livelihood.

    Cancellations and Refunds in 2024:

    **It is highly recommended that you opt in to the ACTIVE Refund registration insurance program which can only be purchased during registration. In the event of emergencies or other covered life events, you may be eligible for a refund IF you buy into the insurance program at registration AND submit your claim WITH ACTIVE Refund a minimum of 48 hours prior to the course start. *Terms and Conditions here. *Submit your claim here.

    • *Your $100 course deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable upon payment, and is required to reserve a space in the course.
    • 31+ days before the course starts, cancel for a full refund of funds paid minus the $100 course deposit.
    • 30 days before the course starts, final balance is due.
    • 15-30 days before the course starts, cancel for a full credit to your account, minus the $100 course deposit. Credits can be used for a future course.
    • <14 days prior to the course starts, funds are non-refundable and non-transferable.
    • If a course cancels due to low enrollment, all funds paid are 100% refundable or can be transferred to a future course.
    • If a student initiates a course and then cannot complete it due to illness or emergency, they can work with the office to schedule their opportunity to complete the remainder of their course at another time, within an approved timeline (varies by course). There are no refunds.
    • If a student cannot start a course due to illness, they can work with the office for a one-time penalty-free transfer to a future course. There are no refunds.
    • Exception: Students using Americorps Funds will not receive any refunds as per enrollment requirements at Western Colorado University.

    Communicable Disease Policies

    Effective as of May 1, 2023:

    NOLS Wilderness Medicine COVID-19 Disclosure (English)

    For all courses at a Landmark Learning campus or administered by our office:

    • Please do not come to class if you are feeling sick! Contact our office so we can help you complete your training when you are feeling better.
    • Students are encouraged to wear a mask during indoor lecture time, but it is optional. You can wear your own mask or a KN-95 we will provide for you.
    • Masks, gloves, and safety glasses are optional during skills workshops and scenarios. If you would like to wear any or all of them, KN-95s are available or you can bring your preferred multi-layer mask, and we will also provide nitrile gloves and safety glasses.
    • If your course is held at a time or location where stricter requirements are in effect, your instructors will require you to adhere to those procedures throughout your course.
    • Students must follow instructors’ directions and don a mask upon request at any time during their course.

    **Hybrid EMT Intensive courses will require COVID vaccination for as long as our clinical sites require it. Vaccination in all other courses is not a requirement but is highly encouraged.

    ELIGIBILITY

    Participants must be of sound health and able to walk 6-8 miles a day and/or display adequate swimming skills in water-based courses. Although our courses are designed to progress at a leisurely pace and much of the day is occupied with classroom and practical time, this request serves to mark an appropriate level of physical fitness to match our course requirements.

    RELEASE/ASSUMPTION OF RISK

    All participants will be asked to read and sign a release acknowledging the inherent risks that are involved in any outdoor adventure activities. Minors will have a parent or guardian sign on their behalf.

    COURSE CONFIRMATION

    You will receive a “Course Confirmation” email 30 days before the course starts letting you know it is time to make travel arrangements and final payments of balances due. Unpaid balances after 30 days prior to course start will result in removal from the course roster and placement on the waitlist. Students may move back to the roster if there is space available and payment is made in full.

    HARASSMENT

    Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated by students, staff, or administrators during courses and after course hours on Landmark property. It is your responsibility to report any misconduct to the administration of Landmark. If you are suspected of harassing others you will be asked to leave, and cancellation policies will apply.

    DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

    No controlled substances or alcoholic beverages are permitted on Landmark property or during courses. Violation of this policy will result in immediate expulsion from the program and cancellation policies will apply. All participants under the influence of a prescription medication must inform the administration on their health forms, and the course instructors will also have access to that information. Medications and health issues should not disqualify you from a program; instructors need to know how to help you in the event that you need assistance during your course. We encourage participants to bring all medications needed during trip/course hours.

    TOBACCO

    Class times are inappropriate for tobacco product use (chew, cigarettes, vapor, etc.). During 10 minute breaks, lunch, and after class there will be a designated area in which you may use these products. Violation of this request can result in immediate expulsion from the course and cancellation policies will apply.

    ADA Service Animals and Animal Companions

    Landmark Learning accommodates service animals on our campuses and within our courses as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

    Under Title III of the federal ADA and virtually all state laws, a service animal is an animal that has been trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. If the animal is not trained to perform a specific task that benefits the handler, the animal is not a service animal as defined by law.

    Emotional support animals—also called therapy or comfort animals—have not been trained to perform work or tasks.

    Emotional support animals and other animal companions may not accompany students on courses. Students with these animals are encouraged to live off campus and commute, leaving their animals at their residences. Leaving an animal in your vehicle or tied outside will not be tolerated. Students will be directed to a local kennel for their course duration. If the student does not abide by this requirement, they will be dismissed from the course and cancellation policies will be in effect.

    COURSE COMPLETION AND GRADING

    ATTENDANCE

    Students are required to attend all class sessions and field exercises. Students may request no more than 10% of the course hours of excused absence. Review of missed curriculum or examinations is the student’s responsibility. Absences, either unexcused or exceeding 10% of the course hours excused, are grounds for dismissal from the course with no refunds of tuition or course costs.

    COURSE COMPLETION

    Students must successfully complete and demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

    Didactic:

    • Minimum requirement for successful course completion is full participation in the course.
    • If a written examination is administered, students must score 80% or higher to be eligible for certification in all but NOLS courses.
    • NOLS courses require a score of 70% or higher to qualify for certification.

    Skills:

    • Skills will be demonstrated and practiced during practical skills sessions and scenarios throughout the course.
    • If a practical examination, students must demonstrate proficiency at the level of their training to be eligible for certification

    WRITTEN EXAMS

    LNT, Epinephrine, NOLS WFA, NOLS WMPP and ACA skills courses require full student participation for completion. These courses do not have course exams.

    All other Landmark Learning courses: EMT, RTP, ACA Instructor, WSS, WSS Instructor, HSI, and NOLS WFR are graded with the following criteria for written exams:

    • 100-­97 A+
    • 96-­93 A
    • 92‐90 A-
    • 89‐87 B+
    • 86­‐83 B
    • 82-­80 B-­
    • 79-­77 C+
    • 76-­73 C
    • 72-­70 C-­

    PRACTICAL EXAMS

    Students have the opportunity to pass each practical exam with two attempts. Practical exams are pass/fail.

    A grade will be issued based upon the results of both written and practical assessments. Demonstration of skills competence throughout the course and successful completion of the practical skills exam could raise or lower the grade up to 5 points.

    FAILING GRADES

    • A student who fails one component of Final testing (written OR practical) will be issued a D. No certification will be issued.
    • A student who fails both components of Final testing (written AND practical) will be issued an F. No certification will be issued.
    • A student who does not complete the course will be issued an Incomplete (I).

    SELF WITHDRAWAL

    Any student choosing to withdraw from the course prior to course completion accepts that no refunds of tuition will be awarded.

    COURSE FAILURE

    In the event of course failure, the student must contact the LL office to discuss remediation and to schedule a retest. Remediation and retest policies shall be those of the training affiliate for this course.

    TESTING ACCOMMODATION POLICY

    If a student that meets the eligibility requirement for enrollment in a Landmark Learning course communicates to Student Services during the enrollment process that they have, and can show proof a documented disability, then reasonable equitable accommodation for testing can be made.

    Common accommodations include; extended time for written testing, oral reading of the written test to the student by the instructor, a separate quiet place outside the classroom for testing, and/or an increased print size of test. Other reasonable and equitable considerations that support the objectives of the course in which the student is enrolled, can be made on an individual basis.

    STUDENT RECORDS ACCESS

    Landmark Learning students can have access to Financial records, grading records, attendance and tardy records as well as complete transcripts by request without expense to the student. Requests can come in the form of a phone request, in-­person request, or an email or regular mail request to the Program Assistant. Replacement certification cards managed by the Landmark Learning office are available for $7.50 per card along with a self addressed envelope with request by mail.

    Record Requests – Landmark Learning
    PO Box 1888 Cullowhee, NC 28723
    main@landmarklearning.org (828)293-52384

    STUDENT GRIEVANCE POLICY

    It is a mutual goal of Landmark Learning and its Affiliates to ensure that educational coursework of quality is provided. When problems are identified by students, Landmark Learning will make every attempt to find a fair and reasonable solution through our internal complaint procedure. In the event that the student is not able to resolve their complaint(s) directly with available Landmark Learning Instructional Staff, the student has the right and is encouraged to take the following steps:

    1. Complaints should be submitted in writing and mailed to the Landmark Learning office. Complaints received by phone will be documented, but the complainant will be requested to submit the complaint in writing.
    2. The letter of complaint must contain the following information:
      1. Title, location, and dates of coursework;
      2. Names of Instructional Staff;
      3. A detailed description of the alleged problem(s);
      4. The approximate date(s) the problem(s) occurred;
      5. The names and titles/positions of all individual(s) involved in the problem(s), including administrators, instructional staff and other students;
      6. List what was previously done to resolve the complaint.
      7. The name, email address, telephone number and mailing address of the complainant. If the complainant specifically requests anonymity be maintained, Landmark Learning will not reveal his or her name during the internal investigation;
      8. The status of the complaint with Landmark Learning (current/ former student, etc.); In addition to the complaint, copies of any relevant supporting documentation should be sent with the complaint (enrollment agreement, course schedule, previous communication between Landmark Learning and the student, etc.).
    3. Send to: Landmark Learning Complaint Review Committee
    4. PO Box 1888 Cullowhee, NC 28723
      Telephone: (828) 293-­5384 Email: main@landmarklearning.org.

    Complainants will receive notification from the Landmark Learning Directors within 15 days.

    OPERATIONS ON PUBLIC LANDS

    Operations on public lands occur under Special Use Permit by USDA Forest Service and the Nantahala and Pisgah Ranger Districts. Operations in other regions are managed under each course sponsor’s Special Use Permits or other permits and licenses, as required, in the areas in which programming takes place.

    The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Bldg, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202)720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Equal Opportunity Employer

    Landmark Learning, Inc. believes Equal Opportunity can deliver advantages to our business and workplace; treating people fairly has a positive affect on staff and customers and enhances our reputation as an employer of choice. Equal Opportunity principles are in line with our aim to get the best from our people and give them the greatest opportunity to do their work well.

    All persons full, part-time and contract people working on our premises, and our clients and students are covered by Equal Opportunity law and by this policy.

    Equal Opportunity Statement