Academic Information

Academic Calendar/Schedule

(See the Addenda for the Expanded Function Dental Assistant   Academic Calendar)

YTI begins new classes in Winter, Spring, Summer I, Summer II, and Fall of each year. YTI observes the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas

Hybrid programs have two lab shifts available (day and evening) and lecture and lab classes typically require 25-30 hours of educational work per week.

Online programs typically require 25-30 hours of educational work per week.

Residential programs (when offered) typically require 25-30 hours of educational work per week.

YTI Calendar

YTI Break Schedule

(See the Addenda for theExpanded Function Dental Assistant   Break Schedule)

Grading System

The following scale defines grades earned for all programs except HVACR, MBC. and Vet Tech. See the HVACR, MBC and Vet Tech program pages for the grading scales for those programs.

Grade Reports

A grade report is a current record of a student’s academic progress. Grade reports are distributed to the student Portal after the conclusion of a term.

If a student believes there is a discrepancy with a grade, he or she should see the instructor of the course in question within 21 days of the end of the term. If it is determined that a grade change is necessary, the instructor will forward a request for grade change to the Registrar’s office. The Registrar will issue a corrected student grade report.

Honors & Awards

Student of the Term

Student of the Term will be selected by the faculty and awarded to a student in each class of every program at the end of each term. Criteria for the student of the term are as follows:

• The student will adhere to the student policies, especially in regard to achievement, attendance, and dress.
• The student will maintain a ‘B’ average or higher in his or her program.
• The student will demonstrate a willing and enthusiastic cooperation towards others, motivate people, and be willing to assist fellow students.
• The student will conduct himself or herself in a professional manner conducive to a work/school environment and show respect to staff and peers.
• The student will show enthusiasm in regards to YTI, the staff, and his or her peers.
• The student believes that it is attitude not aptitude that will determine altitude.

Honor Roll

To be considered for the honor roll, a student must be active for at least two (2) terms, and have maintained a 3.7 GPA or higher and maintained a 95 or higher attendance rate.

Graduation Honors and Awards

Graduation Honors and Awards are acknowledged with recognition and a certificate at graduation. Academic Honors are earned by graduates who complete their education with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 or above. Distinguished Academic Honors are earned by graduates who complete their education with a grade point average of 4.0.

President’s Award

The President’s Award is given to a graduate who has demonstrated superior commitment, enthusiasm, and leadership while attending YTI Career Institute.

Faculty Awards

Faculty Awards are awarded at graduation. The recipients are selected by the faculty. Award categories and selection criteria are dependent upon the campus and program.

Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society

YTI Career Institute- Altoona, YTI Career Institute- Lancaster, and YTI Career InstituteYork hold a charter of chapter for Alpha Beta Kappa. The purpose of the Society is to encourage and recognize superior student academic achievement, character, and leadership.

Curriculum Content

A description of the content of the Program in which a student plans to enroll is contained in this catalog. This description is intended only as a characterization of the course materials the Program will contain. YTI Career Institute continuously improves its programs. This means specific course subject matter may be shortened, lengthened, added or completely replaced without prior notice.

Program Availability

Not all programs are taught at all campuses. Not all program shifts (Day, Evening) are available for all programs. Not all delivery methods (residential, hybrid, online) are available for all programs. YTI Career Institute reserves the right to add or discontinue programs, program shifts or delivery methods at any time, which could affect students needing to repeat failed coursework.

Credit Hour Calculation

The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) defines one quarter credit hour as equaling 30 units composed of the following academic activities:

• One clock hour in a didactic learning environment =2 units
• One clock hour in a supervised laboratory environment =1.5 units
• One hour of externship 1 unit
• One hour of out-of-class work and/or preparation 0.5 unit

Class Size

Class size will vary throughout the programs. See individual program of study pages for specific program class sizes.

Minimum Outside Work

Students of all programs further their educational and training experience at YTI Career Institute through activities that take place outside of the classroom. Outside of class activities supplement the in-house activities to expose the students to the “real world”, reinforce application and concepts, and apply students’ knowledge and applications. The minimum amount of Outside Work assigned is outlined on the course syllabi. Completion of these activities will be monitored and subject to periodic checks by the faculty.

These activities may include, but are not limited to:

Field Projects 
Independent Field Trips 
Current Events 
Research Projects 
Study Guides/Student Workbooks 
Community Outreach Projects 
Independent Lab Activities 
Informational Interviews 
Reading Assignments 
Homework 
Simulation Projects 
Flashcards 
Portfolio Projects 
Study/Review Activities

Externship

Many programs require an externship experience prior to graduation. The Career Services Advisors are responsible for assisting with identifying appropriate businesses and offices for students’ externship sites. However, students are also encouraged to investigate and identify prospective sites for their own externship experience. Externship sites may be located within a 60 mile radius of the school. All sites are approved by the Career Services Department and the Career Services Advisors work with students to coordinate this activity. Typically, students on externship assignments are not compensated. The externship assignment may entail a morning, afternoon or evening schedules that may include weekdays and/ or weekends. If a student is dismissed from an externship site for cause, or abandons their site without cause, they will fail the Externship course and be dismissed from their program.

Clinical for the Respiratory Therapy Program

YTI-Altoona is affiliated with various clinical sites. The institution will select and assign the clinical sites to the student. Each student will be required to travel to the various sites to participate and successfully complete various clinical functions. Clinical sites may be within a 60 mile radius of the school or student’s location. The student will adhere to clinical rules, confidentiality policies, attendance, and other specific policies as designated by the sites. Students are responsible for their own travel expenses and transportation to and from clinical sites. The days of the week and amount of hours per day at clinical may vary, including the possibility of, but not limited to, 6, 8, or 12 hour shifts. Furthermore, some clinical rotation sites may require background checks, finger printing, drug tests, additional vaccinations and/or medical insurance and proof of insurance must be submitted prior to rotation. Any and all healthcare expenses incurred while at a clinical site are the student’s personal responsibility. Students will need to purchase scrubs, which meet their clinical site’s requirements, and a stethoscope prior to beginning clinical rotations. Students on clinical assignments are not compensated.

Definition of Instructional Hour

An instructional hour is defined as a minimum of 50 minutes of instruction in a 60-minute period of time.

Instructor Scheduling

In order to expose students to a variety of experiences and teaching styles, students will have multiple instructors throughout their program.

Learning Resource Center

The mission of the Learning Resource Center is to provide the information, services, and resources required to meet the needs of the students, faculty, educational programs, and institutional objectives of YTI. The Learning Resource Center facilitates the educational goals and objectives by providing instructional support, resources and programs to enhance and supplement classroom instruction.

The LRC is an integral part of the total YTI learning environment and is committed to the development of literacy and information skills that foster lifelong learning. Professional staff is available to assist students and faculty in the use of information resources including print, multi-media, and electronic sources. The LRC provides access to over 60 million journal articles, books, encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, and audio and video clips. The collection includes databases from Proquest, Proquest eBook Central, Books in Print, and Proquest Nursing and Allied Health. Students can access all electronic resources at any YTI student computer or off campus via password authentication.

Education Support Services

Students needing assistance in basic academic skills such as reading comprehension, writing, computer basics, and note taking techniques, memory strategies, math, and successful test taking should contact the Learning Resource Coordinator through the link in the Learning Management System (LMS). Individual and small group tutoring is available prior to the start of school. The Learning Resource Coordinator is also available to provide help with basic skills while students are enrolled at YTI. Students may sign up for an appointment by visiting the LRS page in the Learning Management System (LMS). and filling out a tutoring request form.

Training Activities

Periodically, activities that supplement classroom instruction (plant tours, visits to trade shows, equipment demonstrations, guest speakers, etc.) are made available. Off-campus activities will require a signed liability waiver by students.

Career Awareness is a series of activities designed to heighten the student’s awareness of the career field and the associated realities. These activities are incorporated into each term of the student’s educational experience. Example activities may include, but are not limited to: shadowing, employer research reports, informational interviews, company visitations, and field trips.

Transcripts

A transcript is an official documented record of the educational work of a student. The transcript lists subjects studied, grades received, enrollment date range, and school status of the student. Official transcripts are issued by the office of the Registrar to third parties upon written request from the student. Only Unofficial transcripts are issued directly to students. Transcript requests may be made for the following reasons: submission to other institutions of higher education for the purpose of transfer of credits, certification to an employer summarizing a student’s enrollment and academic progress, or replacing a lost transcript of the graduate.

To obtain a transcript, students or graduates must request it via the “Transcript Request” link under Career Services on the YTI Career Institute web site. The request must include the name and address of the third party to whom the transcript should be sent, the appropriate fee as indicated by the order web site (Verif-y) and four weeks’ processing time. 

Transfer of Credit Hours to Other Educational Institutions

All post-secondary, higher education institutions reserve the right to determine which credits they will accept from another institution. Other career education schools that are accredited by ACCSC or other national accrediting organizations are more likely to accept YTI credit hours for transfer. Post-secondary education institutions with regional accreditation for the issuance of academic degrees are less likely to accept YTI credits hours for transfer.

A credit hour is a unit of academic measure, not necessarily an indicator of transferability of credit. The receiving institute, rather than the training institution, decides whether to accept credits for transfer.

Tutoring

Faculty and staff are available for tutoring assistance. Arrangements for tutoring should be made with the instructor.

Leave of Absence

If the student encounters an emergency that will require being absent for more than 14 days (medical reasons affecting the student or a member of student’s immediate family, military service requirements, work requirements or jury duty, etc.) the student must submit a written request for a Leave of Absence to the Campus Director of Operations and Education for consideration. Leaves of Absences cannot exceed 180 calendar days within a 12 month period, including if multiple leaves are approved.

Withdrawal

A student must contact the Program Director, Program Coordinator or Campus Director of Operations and Education (CDOE) to officially withdraw from YTI. If a student is absent for fourteen (14) consecutive calendar days, or fails to return from an approved Leave of Absence, he or she will automatically be processed as an unofficial withdrawal. Students will also be withdrawn if they have failed coursework which makes it impossible for the student to complete the program within 150% of the program length.

Military Withdrawal and Readmission

A student withdrawing because of military service will be assigned a status of “military withdrawal”. Upon seeking readmission, such students will be reinstated in the same program, in the same courses, with the same academic status they had at the time of withdrawal. (Students wishing to “refresh” on material prior to returning to their program may audit previously passed courses at no charge, until ready to reenter the term they were in when they withdrew.) Returning military withdrawal students will be charged the tuition rate that was in effect at the time that they were forced to interrupt their enrollment for military service.