Student Resources
Everything you need to succeed at Dorson VTI — school calendar, policies, academic standards, and student support information.
The school will observe the following holidays and classes will not be held on these dates. Holidays are not counted as part of the contracted time schedule.
In the event of an unannounced school closure, students enrolled at the time of the closure must contact the Department of Labor Workforce Development's Training Evaluation Unit within ninety (90) calendar days of the closure. Failure to do so may exclude the student from any available form of assistance.
Contact: trainingevaluationunit@dol.nj.gov
Prospective students must complete the admissions and enrollment process prior to beginning any program. Enrollment is completed through the admissions office and includes a review of program expectations, attendance requirements, academic standards, and institutional policies.
Students may register up to ten (10) business days prior to the scheduled program start date. Applicants seeking third-party funding are encouraged to register earlier to allow time for documentation processing.
Enrollment is not considered final until all admissions requirements have been satisfied, the enrollment agreement has been completed, and financial obligations are established.
Admission is open to applicants who meet the following institutional and program-specific entrance requirements:
- Must be at least seventeen (17) years of age on or before the first day of class
- Must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate, if applicable
- Minimum educational requirement may be satisfied through Ability to Benefit (ATB): a 9th/10th grade reading and math level as measured by the TABE exam
- Completion of an admissions interview to review TABE results and discuss program readiness
Additional entrance requirements may apply for programs with clinical components, externships, or external regulatory standards.
Dorson VTI records daily attendance for all students in accordance with State of New Jersey guidelines. Records are maintained and available for student review upon request via the Relias platform.
- Students must attend at least 80% of required instructional time to meet graduation and completion standards
- Unexcused absences exceeding 20% of total course hours may result in dismissal
- Excused absences may be permitted for illness or unavoidable circumstances; however, students remain responsible for meeting required instructional hours
- Students must notify the attendance officer by 8:00 AM if they will be absent
Students are expected to attend all scheduled instructional activities including live virtual lectures, required online labs, discussions, and assessments. Attendance is measured by timely login, active participation, and completion of required activities.
Tardiness is defined as failure to log in and participate at the scheduled start time. Students who log in late, fail to remain engaged, or do not actively participate may be marked tardy. Excessive tardiness may be recorded as an absence and may affect academic progress.
Each instructional day consists of a minimum of four (4) instructional hours. Leaving early, arriving late without approval, or missing scheduled time without authorization constitutes a class cut. Hours lost are recorded as unexcused absences.
Students must meet with the attendance officer before returning to class following a class cut. Failure to make up missed time may result in failure to meet attendance or graduation requirements.
If instruction is missed due to excused absences or an approved leave of absence, students may be offered one of the following options:
- Private instruction — may incur additional fees depending on program and instructor
- Join another cohort — students may wait for the missed lesson to be offered again, which may delay program completion
- Students on an approved LOA are not considered actively attending
- Instructional hours missed during an LOA are not credited toward required program hours
- All required instructional hours must be completed prior to program completion or credential issuance
For students funded through the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development or other workforce training programs:
- Approved LOAs may require notification to or approval from the applicable funding agency
- An LOA may impact continued funding eligibility, payment authorization, or training status
- Reauthorization may be required prior to the student's return to training
Students must return to training on the approved return date. Failure to return or to notify the school of intent to return may result in termination of enrollment. Any applicable refund will be calculated in accordance with the institution's published refund policy.
Students who are pregnant while enrolled are required to submit a physician's note on a monthly basis confirming their ability to participate in classroom instruction and clinical activities, where applicable. Failure to provide required documentation may result in exclusion from class or clinical participation. Each situation is handled privately and with sensitivity.
Students returning after pregnancy-related leave may be required to meet with the attendance officer prior to re-entry to review program requirements and completion timelines.
Students who are ill must notify the school as early as possible beginning at 8:00 AM by contacting the receptionist or answering service.
Absences due to illness exceeding three (3) consecutive days require a physician's note submitted to the admissions office prior to re-admission. The note must clearly state: the nature of the illness, dates of absence, and clearance to return to classroom and clinical activities.
Student performance is evaluated through written examinations, skills demonstrations, and competency-based assessments. A minimum grade of 75% is required to maintain satisfactory academic progress and to qualify for program completion.
All coursework, exams, quizzes, and competency assessments are completed and recorded electronically through the Relias Learning Management System (LMS). Grades are accessible to students online via the Relias platform.
Credit for previous training may be granted only when a student demonstrates appropriate knowledge and competency by passing required assessments or proficiency evaluations. Credit determinations are made at the discretion of the institution and must align with program objectives and regulatory standards.
Students are considered program completers upon meeting all of the following:
- Meeting all attendance requirements
- Achieving satisfactory academic performance (minimum 75%)
- Completing all required instructional hours and competencies
- Completing externship requirements, where applicable
- Satisfying all financial obligations
Eligible students receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Dorson Vocational Training Institute.
Students may be dismissed or terminated from a program for reasons including, but not limited to:
- Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Failure to return from an approved Leave of Absence by the scheduled return date
- Excessive absences or tardiness, including failure to meet instructional hour requirements
- Failure to meet financial obligations
- Violation of institutional policies, code of conduct, or professional standards
- Falsification of records, attendance, or documentation
- Failure to comply with program, clinical, or externship requirements
- Failure to maintain eligibility for workforce funding, when applicable
Dismissed students are no longer considered actively enrolled, are not permitted to participate in instructional activities, and are subject to institutional withdrawal and refund policies. Dismissal may be reported to applicable workforce funding agencies including the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Dorson VTI maintains student records in accordance with applicable federal and State of New Jersey regulations. Records include enrollment documentation, attendance records, academic evaluations, and financial information. Students may request access to their records by submitting a written request to the administration office.
Students who wish to file a complaint or appeal an academic or administrative decision must submit a written request to school administration. Complaints and appeals are reviewed in a timely manner and students are notified in writing of the outcome. Decisions rendered through the complaint or appeal process are final.
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