COVID-19 Temporary Policies

Based on the current recommendations from the CDC due to COVID-19 to practice social distancing, the College is updating policies to align with recommended practices.

Program Modality

Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, ACC has moved most of the courses into a distance education modality. However, as soon as the COVID-19 circumstances change, students will be expected to return on campus to complete their program on-site in the regular learning modality as approved by ABHES and outlined in the college catalog. As the situation evolves, ACC will continue to communicate to students the expected return date to their campus to complete their program on-site.

Incomplete Grades

Effective April 23, 2020, ACC is modifying the incomplete policy for the Vocational Nursing program and all degree programs (Associate Degree in Nursing, Surgical Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Radiography) for lab and clinical courses, as applicable. An "incomplete" cannot be given as a final grade. At the end of a course, student’s failure to complete the required class work, lab competencies, clinical hours, assignments and/or tests due to extenuating circumstance may result in an incomplete grade. Students may, with the appropriate approval, be granted a maximum extension of 140 calendar days (from the last scheduled class day) to complete any course requirements and/or clinical hours. Although the incomplete period could be as long as 140 calendar days, the course requirements must be completed and a final grade awarded as soon as possible. If the final grade results in a failing grade, the course must be repeated in its entirety.

Attendance Tracking 

As a result of COVID-19, the College experienced clinical site displacements and many students were unable to complete the required clinical hours and/or clinical competencies before the end of the term. In order to track attendance past the term end date, an extension course has been created (e.g., “ST291-EX” is an extension of “SURG291”). The purpose of the extension course is to track attendance and competencies as the student remains active in their educational program.  The extension course will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis and the extension course will have zero (0) credits and zero (0) hours required.  Extension courses will not affect Rate of Progress, CGPA or Maximum Time Frame when determining Satisfactory Academic Progress. Once the required hours have been completed for the original course (e.g. “SURG291”), a final grade will be assigned to that course and a corresponding Pass/Fail grade will be assigned to the extension course.

Externship Alternate Simulation Activities Policy

If a student cannot attend externship due to limitations attributable to COVID-19, alternate simulation activities may be utilized for students in diploma programs (Medical Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, and Optical Technician programs).

The alternate simulation activities will not replace the required competencies students will need to demonstrate at an externship site. Alternate simulation activities are limited to a maximum of 12 hours for each student (4 hours per week for 3 weeks).

Limitations attributable to COVID-19 include, but are not limited to:

• Extern students testing positive for COVID-19
• Extern students potential exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19
• Mandatory quarantine time after possible exposure
• Closure of the externship site because of a possible COVID-19 exposure

Prerequisite Courses

Regardless of prerequisites requirements, students may be approved on a case-by-case basis to continue into the next term of their program due to extenuating circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Student performance and competency will be assessed prior to moving forward in the program.  In addition, student performance and competency will be assessed prior to the student commencing any external clinical experience.