Academic Policies and Procedures

Overview

Students currently enrolled in a program offered by the College for Financial Planning® – a Kaplan Company can view academic policies in our College Catalog. Below you will also find information on important academic forms you may need as a student of the College.

When you enroll in the College for Financial Planning® – a Kaplan Company’s programs or courses you expressly agree to comply with the operational policies and procedures stated or referenced herein, and with any changes adopted during your term of enrollment. You are expected to notify the College promptly of changes in your address, email, employer, or telephone number.

The College reserves the right to change or amend policies and procedures, testing administration, graduation requirements, and course content and materials, as well as cancel a course, subject to accreditor guidelines. Students will be provided with 30 days’ notice if affected by changes to tuition and other fees. Through its academic disciplinary process, the College maintains the right to suspend or dismiss any individual who does not comply with the policies and procedures and/or Student Code of Conduct.

2023-2024 College for Financial Planning College Catalog

Our College Catalog provides information about our academic policies and procedures. You are encouraged to review this catalog throughout your studies with the College as a reference for essential program information. Updated course offerings, policies and procedures can be accessed online via the College’s website

Professional Designations Marks Usage Guidelines

Our professional designations marks usage guidelines provides information for how the College’s certification marks may be used by those individuals who have successfully completed the requirements of a designation program(s), are currently complying with the Standards of Professional Conduct and ongoing renewal requirements.

Student Appeals, Complaints, and Grievances

Policy and Process

To resolve problems that a student may encounter, the College for Financial Planning has established a variety of options. Specific processes for the following are listed below:

  • Extenuating circumstances petitions
  • Grade appeals
  • Discrimination, harassment or retaliation
  • Complaints to external agencies
  • Complaints against designees

Occasionally, a student will encounter a problem on campus that he or she does not know how to resolve. When this happens, students should always try to work out the problem by first discussing it with those most involved with the issue. Dealing with concerns in the most direct and honest fashion should always be the first step toward resolution. Most problems are resolved by contacting a faculty or staff member and calmly and honestly communicating their frustrations or concerns. If a problem still exists, the resources and formal processes listed below are available.

Students who find they are particularly pleased with how something has been handled for them, how they were assisted by a particular staff member, the positive experience they had in a specific class or with the College in general can utilize the same avenues listed below to provide a written compliment or to share their appreciation.

Under most circumstances, you will be able to progress through a course or program by adhering to the procedures or soliciting assistance. The College for Financial Planning is committed to the equitable enforcement of its policies and makes reasonable efforts to resolve student concerns. However, in the event you believe your situation warrants a potential exception to College policy, please follow the guidance of the Extenuating Circumstances Policy to have your case reviewed by either Academic Affairs or the College Extenuating Circumstances Committee.

An appeal is a formal request for a change in a decision made related to a College policy. In the event a student has a concern or request that cannot be satisfied through adherence to the College’s policies, the student must initiate a formal appeal in writing by completing an Extenuating Circumstances Petition and providing supporting documentation.

Requirements

The student requesting a non-academic appeal must:

  1. Complete an Extenuating Circumstances Petition in full
  2. Include supporting documentation that:
    • Clearly shows the extenuating circumstances experienced
    • Falls within the timeframe of the specific enrollment being referenced in the petition
    • Submit petition and documentation via fax (303-220-1810) or email appeals.committee@cffp.edu

Petitions submitted without documentation showing the extenuating circumstances the student experienced will be considered incomplete. Incomplete requests will be held for seven (7) calendar days pending receipt of supporting documentation. After seven days the request will be denied due to insufficient information and the student will need to begin the process again, including the submission of a new petition (previously submitted petitions will not be accepted or utilized for the second request).

Time Limitations

Extenuating Circumstance Petitions must be submitted in writing within one calendar year (365 days) from the last date of enrollment (date of access) for the course, program, or review in reference. Example: Student’s late date of access for PFPL560 is 12/16/21. Last date to submit an appeal is 12/15/22.

Definitions

The following conditions are examples of appropriate exceptions to College policy when documentation is provided:

  • Unforeseen medical incapacitation or physical or mental illness that took place during an active enrollment in a course and/or program
  • Death of an immediate family member (e.g. parent, sibling, child, spouse, domestic partner), or someone for whom you are the documented primary caretaker, which took place during an active enrollment in a course and/or program
  • Other severe and unforeseen circumstances that took place during active enrollment in a course and/or program that directly impacted the student’s ability to satisfy course requirements in a timely manner

Cancellation and withdrawal refund dates are widely publicized. Therefore, petitions based on lack of awareness of dates will not be reviewed. In addition, requests will not be considered if:

  • Your circumstances did not take place during an active enrollment in a course and/or program
  • You received a final grade or an Incomplete for the course
  • You had a pre-existing condition that began or exacerbated prior to enrollment
  • You did not have Internet access or your computer broke
  • Your responsibilities at work increased
  • Documentation is not provided

Grade appeals must be based on problems of process and not on differences in judgment or opinion concerning academic performance.

A. A student who wishes to appeal a grade or other academic decision must first contact the course instructor within 30 calendar days of the grade being posted to review discrepancies. If the student is appealing a grade they believe is unfair, a departure from the established grading policy, or a clear mistake by the College, the student should provide the instructor with a clear explanation of why. Students are encouraged to review the course’s grading rubrics and late policies (if applicable) first, as these will often resolve confusion over how the grade was calculated.

B. If the student and instructor are unable to resolve the issue, the student may then submit an appeal, in writing, to the Provost. The appeal must provide substantiating reasons for carrying the appeal forward and include suggested resolutions and documentation of the situation.

The Provost, or designee, will review and provide a decision, typically within 2 weeks of the original submission of the appeal and documentation. The decision of the Provost will be communicated in writing and is final.

Concerns or complaints pertaining to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should be directed to the Office of the Registrar: Office of the Registrar 9000 E. Nichols Ave. Suite 200 Centennial, Colorado 80112 Registrar@cffp.edu

Students who are not satisfied with their resolution may also file a complaint with the Colorado Department of Higher Education, regardless of the state where the program was offered. Additionally, students can also file complaints with their state agency.

Individuals authorized to use one of the College for Financial Planning’s professional designations are subject to a disciplinary process. Complaints against a designee may be filed by a designee’s client, employer, or any other individual with whom the designee has established a formal business engagement for purposes of providing asset management, retirement planning, or financial planning services to that individual.

The College for Financial Planning investigates all complaints and its Ethical Conduct Committee determines whether allegations are justified and whether the conduct warrants disciplinary action.

External agencies are also available to students who have exhausted all other opportunities for resolution.

Colorado Department of Higher Education

The Colorado Department of Higher Education regulates Colorado institutions of higher education. Their complaint policy may be found here: https://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Complaints/FileComplaint.aspx.

The College for Financial Planning provides instruction to students throughout the world. Students may direct concerns or complaints to regulatory agencies in their state. A list of U.S. state education regulatory agencies can be found on the State Contacts page.

Higher Learning Commission

Complaints regarding the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the criteria of institutional accreditation may be directed to the Higher Learning Commission. Individuals interested in bringing an appropriate complaint to the attention of the Commission should take some time to compile a complete submission, as outlined below. There is no complaint form.

  1. Write a cover letter directed to the Commission containing a brief narrative of the facts of the complaint. In most cases, such a narrative need be no longer than a few pages.
  2. Indicate in your complaint why you believe the issues raised in your complaint are accrediting issues. If possible, please review the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation on the Commission’s website prior to writing this section. You should also indicate how you believe the Commission can assist you with this matter. Remember that the Commission cannot assist you in understanding your tuition bill, arranging for a refund of tuition, obtaining a higher grade for a course, seeking reinstatement to an academic program, etc.
  3. Attach documentation to support your narrative wherever possible.
    (For example, if you make reference in your complaint to an institutional policy, include a copy of the policy with your complaint.) Helpful documentation might include relevant portions of the catalog, letters or email exchanged between you and the institution, learning agreements, etc.
  4. A few reminders:
    1. Please type your complaint or print very neatly.
    2. Please do not use abbreviations or nicknames (e.g., NMS or USC or U of N).
    3. Sign and date the cover letter.
    4. Include contact information for future correspondence, with a street address.
    5. Mail the letter and its attachments to the Commission’s office at 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.

The Commission does not have an online complaint system and does not accept complaints via email. Please note that the Commission will not consider those complaints that are not in writing and do not contain the elements noted here. The Commission’s complaint policy precludes it from considering matters more than 5 years old. The Commission will acknowledge your complaint within thirty days of receiving it and let you know whether your complaint is complete and whether it raises issues that are related to accrediting requirements or whether it is an individual dispute outside the jurisdiction of the Commission’s complaint policy.

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