Additional Financial Aid and Educational Policies

Title IX Policy

Nondiscrimination Statement & Religious Exemption

City Vision University complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. This prohibition extends to sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

Religious Exemption: As a faith-based institution controlled by a religious organization, City Vision University is exempt from Title IX provisions that conflict with its religious tenets (20 U.S.C. § 1681(a)(3)). The University holds that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and that sexual intimacy is reserved for such a marriage. Consequently, the University claims exemption from Title IX regulations regarding housing, facilities, and standards of conduct to the extent they interpret “sex” to include gender identity or sexual conduct outside of heterosexual marriage.

Title IX Coordinator Contact

Any person may report sex discrimination or sexual harassment to the Title IX Coordinator at any time by mail, email, or phone.

Title IX Coordinator:
Evan Donovan, VP of Academic Administration

Email: edonovan@cityvision.edu | Phone: (816) 384-1781

Address: 1100 E 11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106

Definitions of Title IX Prohibited Conduct

  • Sexual Harassment: Conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one of the following:
  1. Quid Pro Quo: An employee conditioning an educational benefit on unwelcome sexual conduct.
  2. Hostile Environment: Unwelcome conduct that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program.
  3. Sexual Violence: Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined by the Clery Act and VAWA.

Title IX only applies whenever Prohibited Conduct (as defined above) is alleged to have occurred in the school’s “educational program or activity”, against a person in the United States.

Privacy and Confidentiality

CVU will follow FERPA and any other applicable laws and regulations regarding privacy in this process. Disclosure of information prepared or acquired under Title IX procedures will only be with those who have a legitimate need to know if it is permitted by law and CVU’s Title IX Coordinator determines in his or her judgment: (1) that such disclosure is necessary to protect the health, safety, or well-being of members of the CVU community; or (2) that such disclosure advances the interests of those involved in the process and/or CVU and outweighs the interest in confidentiality.

Retaliation

Retaliation against any person in CVU’s community is prohibited as defined in Title IX statutes and regulations. 

Filing a Complaint

All members of the CVU community (student, faculty, or staff) may make a report to CVU’s Title IX Coordinator regarding any Prohibited Conduct within the scope of this policy.

Individuals may make a report or a formal complaint of Prohibited Conduct by contacting the Title IX Coordinator by any of the means listed above.

After Making a Report or Formal Complaint

Upon receipt of a report or complaint, the Title IX Coordinator shall undertake an initial assessment to determine appropriate next steps as required under this Policy.

The Coordinator shall contact Complainant to discuss the availability of appropriate supportive measures that may be implemented with input from the Complainant irrespective of, and in addition to, any resolution process including the formal Grievance Process, and will notify Complainant about the right to have an Advisor. 

If the report has been made without filing a Complaint, the Title IX Coordinator will review the allegations and discuss options with the Complainant, including the option of proceeding with a Complaint. If the Complainant does not want to proceed with a Complaint, the Coordinator may initiate a Complaint if the Coordinator determines that a Complaint is warranted. 

If the Complainant files a Complaint, or the Title IX Coordinator initiates a Complaint, the matter will proceed as described under the Grievance Process. 

After submission of a Complaint and after notifying the Respondent of the Complaint’s allegations, the parties will be notified of the availability of informal resolution, as applicable. All parties must voluntarily consent in writing to any informal resolution process. The parties may withdraw such consent at any time and resume the formal Grievance Process.

Definitions

Complainant: When used in this Policy, the Complainant is the person who is alleged to have experienced Prohibited Conduct.

Respondent: When used in this Policy, the Respondent is the person who is alleged to have engaged in Prohibited Conduct. 

Party or Parties: Refers to the Complainant and the Respondent, or both collectively. 

Preponderance of the Evidence: A type of evidentiary standard used in a burden of proof analysis. Under the preponderance standard as applied in this Policy, the burden of proof is met when the Decision Maker reviews the relevant evidence and concludes that there is a greater than 50% chance that the claim is true.

Report of a potential Title IX sexual harassment violation occurs when the Title IX Coordinator has actual knowledge of an allegation of a violation of Title IX. The Title IX Coordinator will inquire about a report when he or she has actual knowledge of the report and will provide supportive measures as necessary.   

Formal Complaint: a written document or electronic submission signed and filed by a Complainant, or in limited circumstances signed by the Title IX Coordinator, alleging sexual harassment against a Respondent, in which the Complainant requests the university investigate the allegation contained in the complaint. The filing of the formal complaint triggers the CVU’s Grievance Procedures outlined below.

Grievance Process Overview

CVU is committed to a prompt and equitable resolution of complaints. Its Grievance Process is designed to ensure the objective evaluation of all relevant evidence, the presumption of non-responsibility on the part of the Respondent, and reasonably prompt timeframes for resolution.

  1. Filing a Complaint: To initiate a formal investigation, a Complainant must file a signed document alleging a Title IX violation and requesting an investigation with the Title IX Coordinator. The individual may dialogue with the Title IX Coordinator before taking this step.
  2. Initial Assessment: Upon receipt of a Report or Complaint, the Title IX Coordinator will conduct an initial assessment to determine if the alleged conduct, if proved, would constitute a Title IX violation.
  • If the conduct falls outside the scope of Title IX (e.g., occurred outside the U.S., or does not meet the Davis standard), the Complaint must be dismissed under Title IX.
  • Dismissed complaints may be referred to the Student Code of Conduct for adjudication under non-Title IX procedures.
  • Notice of Allegations. Upon receipt of a Formal Complaint, the Title IX Coordinator will provide written notice to the parties. This notice will include the allegations, the specific policy violations, the identity of the parties, and the date and location of the incident. It will explicitly state that the Respondent is presumed not responsible.

3. Supportive Measures: Upon notice of an allegation, the Title IX Coordinator will offer free, non-disciplinary, non-punitive supportive measures (e.g., deadline extensions, mutual no-contact orders) to the Complainant and Respondent that are not unreasonably burdensome to the other party, regardless of whether a formal complaint is filed.

4. Investigation: A neutral Investigator will gather evidence and interview witnesses. Both parties will have an equal opportunity to present witnesses and evidence. Both parties will have 10 days to review the evidence before the final investigative report is written. This report will be provided to the parties 10 days before the hearing.

5. Live Virtual Hearing: For formal Title IX complaints, the University will convene a live hearing via videoconference (e.g., Zoom).

  • Advisors: Each party may bring an advisor of their choice. If a party does not have an advisor, the University will provide one free of charge.
  • Cross-Examination: Advisors (not the parties themselves) will be permitted to ask the other party and witnesses relevant questions. The Decision-Maker determines relevance before the question is answered.
  • Rape Shield: Questions about a Complainant’s sexual history are prohibited, with limited exceptions regarding consent with the Respondent.

6. Determination: A neutral Decision-Maker (who is not the Coordinator or Investigator) will issue a written decision regarding responsibility based on the preponderance of the evidence standard (i.e., is it more likely than not that the violation occurred) including findings of fact, conclusions of law, the rationale, and any sanctions. This will be sent simultaneously to both parties.

7. Appeal: Both parties have the right to appeal the decision within 5 business days on the grounds of procedural irregularity, new evidence, or bias.

Training Videos for Title IX: Title IX Training Series

Academic Year Definition

Our regular academic year is 24 credits across 32 academic weeks. This includes four 8-week terms of Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1 and Spring 2. Students may also elect to take courses in the Summer term (also 8 weeks in length) outside the regular academic year.

As a crossover term for Pell, the Summer term may be associated with either the award year that is just ending, or the award year that is beginning.

The same academic year definition is used for all programs.

Since we are a non-standard term-based program with terms that are each 8 weeks in length, we used the BBAY3 methodology for packaging & scheduling loan funds, for students that requested loans. We have ceased participating in the Federal loans program (sometimes known as the Stafford loans program) as of Spring 1 2018.

Since the academic year definition is 32 weeks, it exceeds the statutory minimum of 30 weeks for credit-hour programs, defined in 34 CFR §668.3(a)(1)(i).

Financial Aid Verification Policy

As part of the financial aid application process, some students are selected for what is termed “verification”. This means that we are requesting additional information to verify the information provided on the FAFSA. Not all students will be asked for the same information. In addition, the need to verify is assessed each year, so a student may be selected one year but not another, or a student may be asked to submit the same information each year. Either way, the goal is to have an accurate assessment of the student and his/her family’s financial situation in order to determine need. Finally, at any point in the award processing, if we find it necessary, we may require additional information.

Students will be notified via email if verification documents are requested. Students are responsible for sharing information requests with their parents, if applicable. Students that are selected for “verification” for a given academic year may not receive any financial aid for that year until they have provided all documents required for verification.

Low Income Form / Statement of Support Form Policy

Students will only be required to complete the Low Income Form / Statement of Support Form when they have been selected for verification, the income they reported on the FAFSA is less than $2000, and the institution has concern regarding how they were able to support themselves on their reported income.

Tuition Billing and Disbursement Date

If a student has submitted all required items in their financial aid file and been determined to be eligible, their financial aid will be disbursed on the 33rd day of the term. Students will not be billed until the first day of the seventh week of the term. However, City Vision will perform a Return to Title IV calculation for all students who have academically participated in their courses for at least one day and are otherwise eligible for federal student aid.
If after institutional charges have been calculated, the student has a credit balance on their account, City Vision then has 14 days to issue a credit balance check (first day of the 9th week of the term), as stated in 34 CFR 668.164(h)(2). This check will be issued to the student, rather than the funds retained for future terms.
Our mission is to transform the world through radically affordable Christian education to underserved communities via distance learning. Given this mission, we believe that this timing best meets our student needs because it helps us continue to provide our programs in the most affordable way possible, in compliance with both 34 CFR 690.76 (Frequency of payment) and 34 CFR 668.16(s).

Credit Balance Refund Policy

Students whose financial aid results in a credit balance will receive a refund within 14 days of the credit balance occurring unless the credit balance occurred before the term began, in which case, the refund will be issued within 14 days of the start of the term.

Should a credit balance occur as the result of an overpayment for a non-financial aid student, after withdrawal, the excess will be refunded to the payer within 30 days.

Uncashed and unclaimed refund checks will be credited back to the student’s account and the funds returned to the program from which they came within 240 days.

Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

During a period of enrollment for which a student was receiving Title IV funds, a conviction for any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs will result in the loss of eligibility for any Title IV grant, loan, or work-study assistance.

Disbursement Notification Policy

If City Vision credits a student ledger account with a Direct Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, or TEACH Grant program funds, City Vision will notify the student or parent by email or other documented means of—

(i) The anticipated date and amount of the disbursement;

(ii) The student’s or parent’s right to cancel all or a portion of that loan, loan disbursement, TEACH Grant, or TEACH Grant disbursement and have the loan proceeds or TEACH Grant proceeds returned to the Secretary; and

(iii) The procedures and time by which the student or parent must notify the institution that he or she wishes to cancel the loan, loan disbursement, TEACH Grant, or TEACH Grant disbursement.

City Vision will do this no earlier than 30 days before, and no later than 30 days after, crediting the student’s ledger account.

Outstanding Checks Policy

If students that are given a financial aid refund check do not cash their check, they will be notified at least once before the 240 day limit on cashing checks to see if they need a check to be reissued. City Vision will reissue checks to students that request them. For checks that are still outstanding, City Vision will issue a stop payment on the checks and refund them to the US Department of Education before 240 days from the original date of the check being issued.

Financial Aid Shopping Sheets Policy

In compliance with the Principles of Excellence for institutions receiving VA funds, City Vision University will issue a Financial Aid Shopping Sheet showing an estimate of the aid eligibility for any student who is eligible to receive VA funds. City Vision will not issue Financial Aid Shopping Sheets to Title IV students who are not eligible for VA funds.

VA Funds Payment Policy

In compliance with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, City Vision University will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 recipient borrow additional funds to cover the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.