Policies - InFocus Film School

Student Statement of Rights

InFocus Film School is certified with the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the British Columbia Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Before you enroll at a certified private training institution, you should be aware of your rights and responsibilities.

You have the right to be treated fairly and respectfully by the institution.

You have the right to a student enrollment contract that includes the following information:

Amount of tuition and any additional fees for your program.
Refund policy.
If your program includes a work experience, the requirements to participate in the work experience and the geographic area where it will be provided.
Whether your program was approved by PTIRU or does not require approval.

Make sure you read the contract before signing. The institution must provide you with a signed copy.

You have the right to access the institution’s dispute resolution process and to be protected against retaliation for making a complaint.

You have the right to make a claim to PTIRU for a tuition refund if:

your institution ceased to hold a certificate before you completed your approved program
you were misled about a significant aspect og your approved program

You must file the claim within one year of completing, being dismissed, or withdrawing from your approved program.

For more information about PTIRU and how to be an informed student, go to: https://www.privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/students/be-an-informed-student

Tuition Refund Policy

Effective Jan 1, 2025

If a student withdraws, is dismissed, or is otherwise unable to attend their program, this policy lays out the circumstances in which a refund will be due to the student. Students will not be eligible for a refund in all circumstances, and, in the most common cases, only the tuition is refundable.

Refund calculations apply only to the tuition. Once due, all other fees will not be prorated and unless otherwise stated are non-refundable.

Notice of Withdrawal
1. If a student wishes to cease study at InFocus Film School, to be considered for a refund, they must submit a written notice of withdrawal to InFocus Film School by mail, email, or hand delivery. Nonattendance alone does not constitute withdrawal.

Calculation of Hours
2. If a student withdraws, refunds will be calculated based on the hours of instruction elapsed in the student’s program of study up to the date the notice of withdrawal is received by InFocus Film School.
3. If the student is dismissed from study, refunds will be calculated based on the hours of instruction elapsed in the student’s program of study up to the date specified on the student’s letter of dismissal.

Scholarships and bursaries
4. Any scholarships, bursaries, or other discounts that may have been awarded to a student are considered void and forfeit if a student withdraws or is dismissed from their program of study, and will not be taken into account when determining tuition owed or due to be refunded.

5. Approved Programs – In-class, Combined Delivery, or Synchronous Distance Delivery

a) Before program start date, InFocus Film School receives a notice of withdrawal or provides a notice of dismissal:	Refund Due
• No later than seven days after student signed the enrolment contract, and • Before the program start date.	100% of tuition and all related fees, other than application fee. Related fees include: administrative fees, application fees, assessment fees, and fees charged for textbooks or other course materials.
•More than seven days after student signed the enrolment contract, and • Before the program start date.	InFocus Film School may retain up to 10% of tuition, to a maximum of $1,000 paid or payable under a contract.

b) After the program start date, InFocus Film School provides a notice of dismissal or receive a notice of withdrawal (applies to all programs):	Refund Due
• No later than seven days after the program start date, InFocus Film School provides a notice of dismissal or receives a notice of withdrawal	InFocus Film School may retain up to 10% of tuition, to a maximum of $1,000 paid or payable under a contract.

c) After program start date, InFocus Film School provides a notice of dismissal or receives a notice of withdrawal (applies to all approved programs, other than solely-asynchronous distance education-only programs):	Refund Due
• After the program start date, and up to and including 10% of instruction hours have been provided.	InFocus Film School may retain up to 10% of tuition paid or payable under a contract.
• After the program start date, and after more than 10% but before 30% of instruction hours have been provided.	InFocus Film School may retain up to 30% of tuition paid or payable under a contract.
• After the program start date, and after more than 30% but before 50% of instruction hours have been provided.	InFocus Film School may retain up to 50% of tuition paid or payable under a contract.
• After the program start date, and after more than 50% of instruction hours have been provided.	No refund due.

d) Student does not attend – “no-show” (applies to all students except those enrolled in a program delivered solely by asynchronous distance education):	Refund Due
• A student does not attend the first 30% of the program.	InFocus Film School may retain up to 50% of the tuition paid under a contract.

6. Approved Programs – In-class, Combined Delivery, or Synchronous Distance Delivery

a) InFocus Film School receives a refusal of study permit (applies to international students requiring a study permit):	Refund Due
• Before 30% of instruction hours would have been provided, had the student started the program on the later of the following: i. The program start date in the most recent Letter of Acceptance ii. The program start date in the enrolment contract • Student has not requested additional Letter(s) of Acceptance.	100% tuition and all related fees, other than application fee.

7. Approved Programs – Solely Asynchronous Distance Delivery

a) Before program start date, InFocus Film School receives a notice of withdrawal:	Refund Due
• No later than seven days after student signed the enrolment contract, and • Before the program start date.	100% of tuition and all related fees, other than application fee. Related fees include: administrative fees, application fees, assessment fees, and fees charged for textbooks or other course materials.
• More than seven days after student signed the enrolment contract, and • Before the program start date.	InFocus Film School may retain up to 10% of tuition, to a maximum of $1,000 paid or payable under a contract.

B) After program start date, institution provides a notice of dismissal or receives a notice of withdrawal (applies to only approved solely-asynchronous distance-education-only programs):	Refund Due
• No later than seven days after the program start date	InFocus Film School may retain up to 10% of tuition, to a maximum of $1,000 paid or payable under a contract.
• Student has completed no more than 10% of the program	InFocus Film School may retain up to 10% of tuition paid or payable under a contract.
• Student has completed no more than 10% but less than 30% of the program	InFocus Film School may retain up to 30% of the tuition paid or payable under a contract
• Student has completed more than 30% but less than 50% of the program	InFocus Film School may retain up to 50% of tuition paid or payable under a contract.
• Student has completed 50% or more of the program	No refund due

8. Approved Programs – All Delivery Methods

a) Student enrolled in a program without having met the admission requirements for the program	Refund Due
• If the student did not misrepresent the student’s knowledge or skills when applying for admission and the registrar orders the institution to refund tuition and fees.	100% tuition and all related fees, including application fees

9. Refunds due under this policy will be issued within 30 days after receiving notice of withdrawal or refusal of study permit; providing a notice of dismissal, or the date on which the first 30% of the hours of instruction are provided (no-show).

Damage and Key Deposits
10. If a student has paid a key deposit, that deposit will be refunded to the student once the keys have been returned to InFocus Film School.
11. If a student has paid an equipment damage deposit, the damage deposit will be refunded to the student once they have completed or are otherwise no longer enrolled in the program, unless any of the following is true:

The student has not signed-in all equipment they have borrowed from InFocus Film School; or,
The student has damaged InFocus Film School’s equipment or allowed InFocus Film School’s equipment to become damaged while it was under the student’s care, and has not made approved arrangements for its repair or replacement.

Issuance of Refunds
12. Refunds due under this policy will be issued within 30 days of receiving a notice of withdrawal, receiving a copy of refusal of a study permit, or delivering a notice of dismissal to a student, as applicable.

English Proficiency Policy

Effective Apr 2, 2025

Since all instruction at InFocus Film School is conducted in English, it is essential that all students possess strong writing, reading, listening and speaking skills in English. Students must prove their English proficiency, which can be done by any of the following means:

All documents (transcripts, test scores, ROEs, letters of recommendation etc.) must be submitted in English.

Accessibility Policy

Effective June 14, 2024

InFocus Film School will consider requests for accommodation when the following conditions are met:

The request is submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the program start date
Valid medical documentation is provided

Students should submit a request for accommodation form and then e-mail supporting documentation to the student services office. The request form and supporting documentation must be received by the school prior to the program start date. This should be submitted as early as possible in the admissions
process.

InFocus Film School will endeavor to provide accommodations where feasible and within reason. Submitting a request for accommodation does not guarantee accommodations will be granted.

Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for requesting access to any accommodations they need. The school is not responsible for identifying need for accommodation. Decisions on accommodations requests are made by the student services department in consultation with the student and based on medical documentation.

Students are responsible for communicating with their program manager and instructors at the beginning of their program, and as necessary, regarding their accommodations.

Please note, modification to admissions requirements, curriculum and program delivery is not available.

Costs & Funding
Some accommodations may have additional fees. Students are responsible for covering this cost. Students who require specialized services or equipment should refer to StudentAid BC for information about funding for student with disabilities.

Documentation Requirements

Disability	Documentation	Medical Professional
Visual Impairment	Verification of Permanent Disability (eg. SABC Appendix 8)	Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, or Orthoptist
Hearing Impairment	Letter from the appropriate medical professional	Registered Psychologist (with clinical designation), Psychiatrist, or Physician
Mental Health Disability	Letter from the appropriate medical professional	Certified Audiologist
Neurological Disability	Letter from the appropriate medical professional	Neurologist, Psychiatrist, or Physician
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (neurological) (ADD/ADHD)	Letter from the appropriate medical professional	Registered Psychologist (with clinical designation), Psychiatrist, or Physician with specialized training
Chronic Health or Physical Disability	Letter from the appropriate medical professional	Physician
Learning Disability	Psycho-educational Assessment (PEA) from within the past 5 years	Registered Psychologist, or Certified School Psychologist

Accommodations Available

Online Programs	Extension on assignment deadlines Additional support outside class hours On-camera policy (limited exemption) Special Services & Equipment (See SABC – Appendix 8)
On-Campus Programs	Extension on assignment deadlines Additional support outside class hours Assigned tutor (fees apply) Special Services & Equipment (See SABC – Appendix 8)

Grade Appeal Policy

Effective Feb 6, 2024

Grading Process
Course Instructors evalutate students’ work and submit grades to the Lead Instructor or Program Manager. The Lead Instructor or Program Manager will review the grades and issue them to the student within the first 30% of the program, and in their final transcript, at a minimum. Interim grades may be issued at the discretion of the instructor. Demerits for attendance, participation, and professionalism are applied to the final grade.

Eligible Appeals
Students may appeal a grade for the following reasons:

Calculation Error: if the student suspects an error has been made due to a calculation error or accidental omission of a valid grade
Inconsistent Evaluation: if the student has valid reason to believe that the evaluation standards applied differently to them than to other students.

Grades assigned for Attendance, Participation and Professionalism are not subject to appeal.

Appeal Process

The student must first contact their instructor directly to request an informal review the assigned grade, before filing a formal grade appeal. This request must be made in writing, within two business days of the grade being issued. The instructor will provide a determiniaton to the student within five business days of receiving the written request for informal review. If a change to the grade is to be made, the instructor will send an official amendment to the Lead Instructor or Program Manager in writing. The grade will be updated in the students official record.
If the matter is not resolved with an informal review, the student may file an official Grade Appeal. All grade appeals must be submitted within two business days of the determination of the informal review being received. Submissions must be made via the Grade Appeal Form, with attached copies of all relevant correspondence from Step 1. A copy of the form is available in the Student Handbook. Completed forms should be submitted to the Student Services Administrator for review. If the appeal is deemed eligible, it will be forwarded to the Lead Instructor or Program Manager for processing. Formal appeals with be processed and an outcome will be provided to the student, normally within 10 business days of the form being received. A rational will be provided for the decision. The determination of the Program Manager is final and may not be appealed further.

Grade Appeal Form

[Download PDF]

Attendance Policy

Effective Jan 1, 2024

Student attendance is recorded at the beginning of every scheduled program activity (classes, exercises, etc.). Students who are not present in class, or who arrive more than 15 minutes late, will be deemed as absent for that class. Any student who, without the permission of the instructor, leaves before class ends will also be deemed as absent for that class.

Unexcused absences from class will result in penalties to professionalism grades. Consistent and/or substantial absences may result in loss of student privileges and other escalating penalties, up to and including dismissal from the program.

A student may be excused from class due to illness at the discretion of the Program Manager. Students who anticipate that they may miss class due to illness or other emergency must notify the institution of their absence prior to the beginning of class with as much notice as possible.

A student may be excused from class for important life events or other special circumstances at the discretion of the Program Manager. The student must inform the program manager and all instructors of the absence by email a minimum of five school days before the absence occurs for it to be excused. Excusal from class will not be granted for employment or leisure events such as vacation.

Absences longer than two school days may require accommodations to prevent the student from falling behind in studies.

Missed work
Students are expressly responsible for any work missed regardless of the cause of absence. The student must discuss such work with instructors and should do so before missing class, or, in the case of illness, immediately upon returning to school. Communication between the student and instructor is important, and it is the student’s responsibility to initiate such communication. If students do not appear at the prearranged time or meet the prescribed deadline for makeup work, they forfeit their rights for further makeup of that work.

Student Code of Conduct

Effective Jan 1, 2024

While enrolled at InFocus Film School, when on InFocus property, or in the course of activities or events hosted by InFocus Film School, students:

Must comply with all applicable InFocus Film School policies as agreed to in the student enrollment contract;
Must act in a professional and respectful manner; behave at InFocus as you would in a real workplace;
Must not interfere with or negatively influence the education of any other student or the business operations of InFocus Film School;
Must dress professionally and not wear clothing that is overly-revealing or clothing with offensive text, slogans, or images. For safety, closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times while on set;
Must treat all others with respect and must not engage in physically aggressive, threatening, harassing, discriminatory or otherwise offensive behavior;
Must not steal, destroy, deface, damage, or otherwise misuse InFocus Film School property, or the property of any others;
Must not allow unauthorized access to the InFocus Campus through the copying of keys, distribution of key codes, or any other means;
Must not plagiarize, cheat, or present another’s work as their own;
Must not consume, possess, distribute, or be under the influence of any illegal or restricted substances;
Must not consume, distribute, or be under the influence of cannabis or cannabis products unless as prescribed by a doctor for ongoing medical issues;
Must not consume, distribute, or be under the influence of alcohol (except in the case of after-hours, 19+ events where alcohol is distributed with a valid liquor license); and
Must not contravene any provision of the Canadian Criminal Code or any other federal, provincial, or municipal law, bylaw, statute or regulation.

Discipline and Dismissal Policy

Effective Jan 1, 2024

Students are required to maintain academic and professional standard while enrolled at InFocus Film School. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

After one calendar year, students who have been dismissed from a program, for reasons other than misconduct, may be considered for readmittance to the same program provided they meet all admission requirements in effect for that program at the time they apply. Such applications must be accompanied by a statement from the Administrator who recommended the dismissal outlining the reasons for which the student was dismissed. Compelling evidence must be presented that a more successful outcome is likely if the student is to be readmitted. All cases for readmission must be reviewed and approved by the Executive Director. Students dismissed from a program more than once are not eligible to be considered for admission to any program in the institution.

Dismissal For Misconduct
Students are expected to meet and adhere to the Code of Conduct set out in Student Enrollment Contract while attending InFocus Film School (IFFS). Students who violate the Code of Conduct will be subject to the procedures and discipline outlined below, which may include immediate dismissal from the institution.

A student dismissed for misconduct will be provided with an academic record that will indicate “Dismissed – Misconduct”.

Dismissal For Failure To Attend
If a student fails to attend any of the first 30% of the hours of instruction specified in the student enrolment contract, the student will be dismissed from study at InFocus.

A student who fails to attend instruction for two or more consecutive weeks may be dismissed from the program. The Program Manager must first make and document reasonable attempts to contact the student by e-mail, telephone and/or regular mail. If there is no response after repeated attempts, the Program Manager may recommend that the student be dismissed. Copies of the written attempts to contact the student and a memo confirming the non-attendance of the student must be submitted to the Executive Director for review.

A student will be considered enrolled until all dismissal or withdrawal procedures are complete and will be liable for all fees owed as described in the tuition refund policy.

A student dismissed for failure to attend will be provided with an academic record that will indicate “Dismissed – Failure to Attend”.

Dismissal For Failure To Pay
Students failing to maintain their payment plan with InFocus Film School may be dismissed. Any student who falls into arrears or otherwise fails to make payments for tuition or other fees by their contractually obligated due dates may be dismissed from the program.

A student dismissed for failure to pay will be provided with an academic record that will indicate “Dismissed – Non Payment”.

Dismissal For Academic Reasons
Students may be dismissed if they do not make adequate academic progress according to the timelines and policies set by their chosen program. Academic reasons for dismissal include, but are not limited to:

Consistent or repeated failure to complete class assignments
Multiple incomplete deliverables on key shoots and/or projects
Non-participation in shoots
Inability to achieve the program Graduation Requirements

A student dismissed for academic reasons will be provided with an academic record that will indicate “Dismissed”.

Dismissal For Non-Academic Reasons
InFocus Film School reserves the right to require a student to dismiss from the program if the Program Manager, in consultation with the Executive Director, considers the student to be unsuited to proceed with the study or practice of the chosen course. Dismissal for non-academic reasons does not prevent the student from immediately applying for re-entry into the program.

Dismissal Procedures

Tuition Owed Upon Dismissal
A student will be considered enrolled until all dismissal or withdrawal procedures are completed in full and the student will be liable for all tuition, fees, and other payments owed as described under the Student Enrollment contract and in the Tuition Refund Policy.

If a student is dismissed and a refund is due to the student, InFocus Film School will ensure that the refund is forwarded to the student within 30 days of dismissal. If the student owes tuition or other fees to the institution, InFocus Film School will immediately undertake collection of the amount owing.

Dispute Resolution Policy

Effective Jan 1, 2024

In the case of a dispute including, but not limited to:

Fair Grading
Cheating and Plagiarism
Student or Instructor Conduct
Tuition, fees or other charges

Students are advised to take the following course of action:

Informal Stage
If concerns arise between students, instructors and/or staff, both parties should meet as soon as is reasonably possible to discuss the concerns. Concerns may arise from misinformation or a lack of understanding, an action that has been based on incorrect facts, or an action/decision that is inappropriate and should be modified, all of which can be addressed informally between the parties involved.

Possible outcomes of the informal stage are: explaining the reasoning behind the action in question; modifying the action; reversing the action; or concluding that some other method of resolving the dispute should be pursued.

Discussion Stage
If a dispute is not resolved in the informal stage, the student should communicate their dispute to an InFocus Film School in writing within 7 days of the dispute arising. The Executive Director will immediately arrange a moderated meeting between the student and other parties involved discussing the dispute and developing an appropriate resolution.

Formal Stage
Where the discussion stage has not resulted in a resolution, or where the student has elected to bypass the above stages, the student has the right to submit a formal complaint in writing to the Executive Director. Once received, the complaint will be forwarded to the InFocus Board of Directors. The Board will review, investigate and deal with complaints on a case-bycase basis. The Board will communicate their decisions to all parties involved in writing. Where possible, the Board will complete this process within 14 days of the complaint being received, however this time may be extended should the investigation require additional time. The Board’s decisions will be considered final.

Harassment, Violence, and Sexual Misconduct Policy

Effective Jan 1, 2024

InFocus Film School is committed to providing a learning and working environment that is safe, accepting, and free from harassment and violence of any form, whether physical, psychological, sexual or otherwise. This commitment involves education and other preventative measures to ensure misconduct does not occur, and action to follow-through on all incidents that are reported.

SCOPE AND APPLICATION

InFocus Film School is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, diverse, and dignified learning environment that extends beyond the InFocus campus. This policy applies to conduct on campus and off campus where there is a reasonable possibility that the conduct may create a hostile learning or working environment for any student, instructor, contractor, or staff member.

This policy has been developed in accordance with the Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Act of BC. All students, staff, faculty, volunteers, contractors, guests, and visitors of InFocus Film School or the InFocus Film School campus are required to follow the rules and procedures set forth in this document.

This policy is to be applied in conjunction with the InFocus Film School Code of Conduct and, if applicable, the Dismissal Policy.

DEFINITIONS

Harassment
Harassment is any form of unwanted, alarming, abusive, offensive, or threatening communication or contact with another person. Harassment may be direct or indirect and includes any form of discrimination or disparagement on the basis of any protected classification, including, but not limited to race, sex, gender, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or genetic marker.

For this policy, “Harassment” includes any form of sexual harassment, such as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other unwanted physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature. Criminal harassment as defined by the Canadian Criminal Code also applies.

Violence
For this policy, “Violence” refers to any attempt or commission of abusive, threatening or harmful actions by a person or persons. Violence may be directed at another person, group of people, or at another’s possessions or property. Violence may be physical or psychological in nature, and includes any form of intimidation or actions that are intended to cause psychological harm to another person.

Sexual Misconduct
Sexual Misconduct includes the threat, attempt, or commission of sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, indecent exposure, voyeurism, or distribution of any sexually explicit media (i.e. photographs, videos, recordings, drawings, written materials, etc.) to others without the consent of all persons in the media, regardless of whether or not the distribution was malicious or intended to distress the person(s) in the media.

Sexual Misconduct also includes the threat, attempt, or commission of sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation is any act attempted or committed through the abuse or exploitation of another person’s sexuality. Examples include, but are not limited to prostitution; inducing sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or other sexual activity through coercion or duress; non-consensual recording of sexual activity; or allowing others to observe a sexual act without the knowledge or consent of all involved parties.

Complainants and Respondents
For the purposes of this policy, the “Complainant” will refer without judgment to the person or persons reporting Harassment, Violence, or Sexual Misconduct. The “Respondent” will refer to the person or persons alleged to have committed the Harassment, Violence, or Sexual Misconduct.

PRELIMINARY ISSUES

Harassment, Violence, and Sexual Misconduct are serious incidents that will not be tolerated at InFocus Film School. These actions are expressly prohibited in all circumstances, regardless of when or where the action occurs. Such actions are unprofessional, unproductive, counter to the culture of InFocus, and, in many cases, illegal. Such acts committed knowingly and/or with malicious intent are grounds for immediate dismissal from InFocus Film School.

Retaliation of any form for a Complainant reporting an incident is also expressly prohibited and is grounds for disciplinary action that may include dismissal.

Any person that has a complaint or is witness to actions that this policy prohibits should follow the procedures detailed below.

PROCEDURE

InFocus Film School encourages victims and witnesses of Harassment, Violence, and/or Sexual Misconduct to report the incident(s) as soon as possible. This is both so that the Complainant is able to seek support or counseling, and so that InFocus may respond appropriately. We understand that it is not always easy or even possible for people to come forward immediately, so there is no time limit on when past conduct can be reported, however delaying the report may compromise the ability of InFocus Film School to investigate and act on the alleged action.

InFocus Film School also encourages any person who believes they have experienced sexual assault, illegal sexual misconduct, physical assault or any other crime to report the incident to law enforcement. Again, prompt reporting is strongly encouraged as collection of evidence critical for police investigations may be time sensitive. However, InFocus will respect a complainant’s request not to notify law enforcement of a reported incident, unless there is a reasonable belief that the safety or security of other individuals is at risk. In this case, the complainant will be advised before law enforcement is notified.

To report incidents of Harassment, Violence, or Sexual Misconduct, speak or write to any InFocus staff member. The staff member must forward the report to the Executive Director, and, upon receiving a report, the Executive Director must immediately initiate an investigation into the alleged incident, following these steps:

The Board will provide a written notice of the appeal to the non-appealing party. The Board will review the investigation and at their discretion may uphold or amend the Executive Director’s findings. They will complete their review within 7 days, and provide written notice of their decision to both parties. The Board’s decision will be final.

InFocus will respect the privacy of the Complainant, Respondent, and all witnesses both during and after the investigation. Reports and records of information will, to the extent possible and permitted by law, seek to protect the confidentiality of all individuals involved and, if requested, maintain the anonymity of witnesses or third parties.

Students should not be discouraged from reporting Harassment, Violence or Sexual Misconduct due to their own violations of the Code of Conduct. InFocus will exercise discretion and may not pursue other violations of the Code of Conduct for incidents reported in the context of this policy.

InFocus will never discipline, punish, or retaliate against any Complainant for submitting a report in good faith, even if the report is determined to be false or unsubstantiated.

STUDENT POLICIES

INFOCUS FILM SCHOOL

PROGRAMS

COMPANY