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IOWA COLLEGE STUDENT AID COMMISSION
Ultimate Medical Academy Application for Postsecondary Registration Renewal June 16, 2016
STAFF ACTION:
Approve Ultimate Medical Academy’s Iowa registration renewal request for a period of two years, beginning retroactively on July 20, 2015 and ending on July 20, 2017.
Registration Purpose Revised Iowa Code Section 261B.3 (effective July 1, 2012) requires a school to register with the Commission if a person compensated by the school conducts any portion of a course of instruction, including by in-person, distance education, or correspondence method in this state or if the school otherwise has a presence in this state. Presence means a location in Iowa at which a student participates in any structured activity related to a school’s distance education course of instruction. Presence also means an address, location, telephone number, or internet protocol address in Iowa from which a school conducts any aspect of its operations. Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) applied to offer distance education programs, one of which includes a structured practicum that an Iowa resident would participate in at an Iowa location. The Academy does not now employ Iowa-based faculty to teach in its distance education programs, but may wish to do so in the future.
Institutional Information Ultimate Medical Academy is a nonprofit postsecondary educational institution whose administrative offices are located at 3101 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa Florida. (Note: The school transitioned from a for-profit to a nonprofit institution on March 9, 2015.) The school’s online programs are coordinated from this location. The school also maintains two campuses at 1255 Cleveland St., Clearwater, Florida, and 9309 N. Florida Ave. #100, Tampa, Florida. The school’s chief executive officer is Steven Kemler. The Academy is owned by Clinical and Patient Educators Association (CPEA), a Colorado nonprofit corporation, which has 100% control of UMA. The Academy maintains an active certificate of authorization to conduct business in Iowa, #495589, as a foreign nonprofit company. Its registered agent and Iowa contact point is National Corporate Research, LTD, 604 Locust Street STE #222, Des Moines, IA 50309
Physical Facilities: Not applicable for a distance education program provider.
Accreditation: Ultimate Medical Academy is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), which is an entity recognized by the federal Department of Education.
Federal Stafford Loan Cohort Default Rate (FFY 2012): 13.8%
Graduation Rate : 50% and 62% for the Tampa and Clearwater locations, respectively. This is the percentage of first-time, full-time undergraduate students who graduated within 150% of the normal time for program completion as reported to the federal Department of Education.
Average Loan Debt upon Graduation: Ultimate Medical Academy discloses median loan debt for all of its programs, as was required by the federal Department of Education during the period when it was classified as a for-profit school:
- Diploma – Medical Administrative Assistance: Title IV $10,111; Private $0; Institutional $
- Diploma – Medical Assistant: Title IV $12,696; Private $0; Institutional $
- Diploma – Medical Billing and Coding: Title IV $10,781; Private $0; Institutional $
- Diploma – Medical/Clinical Laboratory Assistant: Title IV $10,262; Private $0; Institutional $
- Diploma – Medical Office Billing Specialist: Title IV $10,445; Private $0; Institutional $
- Diploma – Patient Care Technician: Title IV $9,412; Private $0; Institutional $
- Diploma – Pharmacy Technician: Title IV $8,474; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science – Health Information Technology: Title IV $17,991, Private $0, Institutional $
- Associate of Science – Healthcare Management: Title IV $16,034, Private $0, Institutional $
- Associate of Science – Medical Billing and Coding: Title IV $16,520; Private $0, Institutional $
- Associate of Science - Nursing: Title IV $25,519; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Basic X-Ray): Title IV $13,530; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Dental Assistant): Title IV $23,020; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Medical Assistant): Title IV $17,987; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Medical Administrative Assistant): Title IV $14,680; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Medical/ Clinical Laboratory Assistant): Title IV $17,598; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Medical Office and Billing Specialist): Title IV $16,312; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Patient Care Technician): Title IV $19,195; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health Sciences (Pharmacy Technician): Title IV $14,231; Private $0; Institutional $
- Associate of Science, Health & Human Services: Data Not Available
- Associate of Science, Heath Sciences (Healthcare Technology & Systems): Data Not Available
Record Preservation : All student records are maintained on an electronic database, and access to data is controlled based upon need and is password protected. Records are backed up daily to redundant systems that are both on site and remote, that UMA owns and controls.
- Audio/Video demonstrations
- Synchronous chat room sessions
- Library resources
Additionally, scheduled, open-form webinars for specific technical topics are provided on a per program basis by specialists to assist the general student population with commonly experienced difficult areas. Resources are evaluated and additions, changes, deletions, modifications, etc., are discussed and implement throughout the year based on student performance monitoring, instructor feedback, and subject matter experts’ recommendations. There is continual review of all resources by the instructors and program chairs in each department. Much like the residential programs, the administration assesses resource usage, student satisfaction, faculty feedback, advisory board feedback, and impact on student outcomes. Data collected related to instructional resources are used to guide strategic planning.
The UMA Virtual Library https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/library/ provides access to full-text articles and transcripts from more than 2383 magazines, newspapers, books, and radio/TV programs, along with access to more than 250,000+ photographs and maps, and over 20, unique educational audio/video resources. The Library is a 100% full text, general research database.
Tutoring: Academic coaching with one-on-one tutoring is available for each course. Students may share questions by phone or email. UMA staff strives to respond to students as soon as possible, often within 24 hours.
In addition, UMA provides live, interactive learning labs. Learning labs help students get a better understanding of course concepts through live lectures. This involves listening to a live instructor while viewing a slide presentation. Students have the opportunity to ask questions during the presentation. UMA offers more than 200 live learning labs per week. Labs are conducted via Blackboard Collaborate and include audio and slides. Students may call in or listen through the student’s computer speakers. Help is available in general subject areas that include but are not limited to biology, English, accounting, math, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, dressing for success, and in program areas that include Healthcare Management, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Billing Specialist, and Pharmacy Technician.
UMA also offers the Student Guidance Center, a no-cost personal assistance program for UMA students and their dependents. Students have 24/7 assistance with everyday challenges through the Student Guidance Center. The Center offers confidential assessment and referral, work-life solutions, financial information and resources, guidance resources online, and legal support and resources at no cost to students. All Student Guidance Center services are completely confidential. Students register for services through a link on the UMA website.
Additional information about student services is located on the UMA website at https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/student-services/.
Curriculum Evaluation and Development: UMA provides several program supervisors to share the tasks or organization, administration, quality improvement, planning, and development of each academic program. Organization, planning and initial development of each program is
supervised by qualified individuals within the Program Development group. Subject matter experts and instructional design experts are responsible for these supervisor components. Additionally, the program development group works collaboratively with Program Chairs and faculty for quality improvement on an ongoing continuous basis.
Program Chairs are subject matter experts and maintain ongoing program supervisor responsibility. They assume the full administrative responsibility for the management of faculty and classroom implementation of instructional requirements for each program. Program Chairs continuously monitor faculty instruction and feedback to identify quality improvement opportunities.
Programs are assessed and evaluated by studying:
- Grade distribution throughout the program to determine the effectiveness of each course and the results of the comprehensive exams in each course.
- Retention of students and if not retained, the exit points and reasons.
- Successful completion/graduation.
- Placement data.
- Student survey data to determine program effectiveness.
Staff review of Associate Program Chair and Program Chair educational credentials produce graduate level background in education, medical science, health science, business administration, human resource management, and health services administration.
Student Complaints Process: UMA’s student complaints process and policies can be found in a number of locations that are readily available to the public and students including in its catalog at https://portal.ultimatemedical.edu/public/uma/images/PDF/Catalog/UMA%20Catalog.pdf. UMA contacts for student complaints are as follows: communicate with the appropriate instructor or staff member; communicate with the Learner Services Advisor, or administrative manager; communicate with the Director of Education; unresolved concerns may be elevated to a Review Committee. A UMA Cares Resolution Specialist is available for students to voice their problems, concerns, frustrations, or complaints via phone at 800.509.5474 or e-mail at umacares@ultimatemedical.edu.
Distance Education Programs Offered In Iowa The total, estimated cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies for each program is listed below. Tuition costs vary when courses are failed and must be repeated. Students are charged full tuition for repeated coursework.
It should be noted that the Academy charges lesser tuition to veterans and active military personnel.
Diploma Programs
- Healthcare Technology & Systems: $15,
- Medical Office and Billing Specialist: $16,
- Medical Administrative Assistant: $16,
- Medical Billing and Coding: $16,
Administrative rules specifically require the school to comply with the requirements of Chapter 261.9(1) “e” through “h”.
- Iowa Code Section 261.9(1)(e) requires a school to maintain and disseminate a drug and alcohol abuse policy that includes sanctions for violation of the school’s policy and information about the availability of drug or alcohol counseling or rehabilitation. Iowa Code Section 261.9(1)(f) requires a school to maintain and disseminate a sexual abuse policy that includes information about counseling opportunities and reporting instances of sexual abuse to school officials and law enforcement. These requirements duplicate policies and disclosures required by the federal Department of Education for a school that participates in the federal student aid programs. The Academy complies with the requirements of Iowa Code Section 261.9(1)(e) and (f), and discloses these policies to students in its Student Consumer Information at: https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/pdfs/Drug-and-Alcohol-Abuse-Prevention.pdf https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/pdfs/tampacampuscrimestatistics.pdf https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/pdfs/clearwatercampuscrimestatistics.pdf
- Iowa Code Section 261.9(1)(g) requires a school to maintain a special policy concerning institutional charges for members of the Iowa National Guard or reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces, or the spouse of such a member if the member has a dependent child, when the service member or spouse must withdraw from the school because the service member has been called to active (Iowa) state or federal military duty or service. The Academy complies with the requirement of Iowa Code Section 261.9(1)(g), and discloses these policies to students in its school catalog addendum at https://portal.ultimatemedical.edu/public/uma/images/PDF/Catalog/UMA%20Catalog% 0Addendum.pdf. The Catalog will be updated with this policy upon the next, regularly scheduled Catalog publication date.
- This law requires a school to develop and implement a policy for employees who, in the course of their employment, attend, examine, counsel, or treat a child and who suspect the physical or sexual abuse of that child. By cross-reference from existing administrative rules for registration [283-21.2(261B), subsection 7], this new policy now applies to certain registered schools. However, implementation of this policy is not required for a distance education program provider who has no compensated party conducting operational activity at an Iowa location. Ultimate Medical Academy has not applied for registration renewal to conduct any type of operational activity in Iowa.
Student Consumer Information: In its registration application, UMA affirms its willingness to comply with the requirements of Iowa Code Chapter 261.9, as stipulated by Iowa Code Section 261B.4(8). Chapter 261.9 requires disclosure to students of information about the school’s programs, charges, tuition refund policies, whether a certificate or diploma awarded by the school is applicable toward a degree program the school offers, and the identity of the school’s accrediting agency. These disclosures are duplicative of the federal Department of Education’s student consumer information disclosure requirements for a school that participates in the federal student aid programs and the Academy discloses them in its catalog and online catalog addendum at https://www.ultimatemedical.edu/student-information/.
UMA affirms on the application that it will comply with the provisions of Iowa Code Section 261B.7. Effective July 1, 2012, these provisions of Iowa Code were modified to state that,
provided the school does not claim “approval” or “accreditation,” the school must disclose to students that it is registered by the Commission and provide Commission contact information for students who have questions or complaints about the school. The Academy provides this information to Iowa students on its state agency contact site and in its Catalog:
- http://www.ultimatemedical.edu/agencycontactinformationonline.pdf
- https://portal.ultimatemedical.edu/public/uma/images/PDF/Catalog/UMA%20Catalog.pdf
Financial Responsibility: Ultimate Medical Academy submitted copies of an independent audit conducted by TJS Deemer Dana, LLP, dated May 2, 2014, and covering the institutional fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. At the time of this audit report, Ultimate Medical Academic remained a for-profit institution. The auditing firm expressed its opinion that UMA’s financial statements are free of material misstatement and the results of the auditing firm’s tests disclose no instances of noncompliance.
- A for-profit institution that participates in the federal student aid programs must maintain a composite score, based on a three factor financial responsibility ratio, of at least 1.5 in order to be determined “financially responsible” without additional oversight. The independent auditors’ report states that UMA’s composite score for the year ending on December 31, 2013 was 1.6.
- A for-profit institution is prohibited from deriving more than 90% of its revenue from Title IV aid. The independent auditing firm tested UMA’s calculation that, for the year ending December 31, 2013, UMA derived 87% of its revenue from Title IV aid.
Full-Time Iowa Resident Faculty Member or Program Coordinator: UMA has no Iowa-based faculty at this time. The school is not required to have Iowa-resident faculty since it has applied for registration renewal solely to offer distance education programs in Iowa.
Instructional/Supervisory Staff Qualifications : The Academy provides a summary of the educational credentials of its faculty, including the subject matter each faculty member or instructor teaches, in its online catalog addendum dated May 24, 2016.
Of a total of 322 full-time and adjunct faculty members, all have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the curriculum in which they provide instruction, or a bachelor’s degree and one or more professional certifications in a related health sciences field. Faculty members with master’s degrees total 215, who have educational expertise in health care management, public health, business administration, organizational management, education or teaching, instructional technology, adult education and distance learning, curriculum and instruction, science education, educational administration, education technology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, information systems, computer science, medical science, nursing, gerontology, English, mathematics, accounting, finance, human resource management, or communications fields. Additional faculty holds terminal degrees in education, law, chiropractic medicine, pharmacy, medicine, health administration, educational leadership, administration and supervision.
Commitment to Iowa Students and Teach-Out: The Academy’s application includes a statement signed by CEO Steve Kemler in which Mr. Kemler affirms the Academy’s commitment to offering distance education programs to Iowa residents. Mr. Kemler also states that, to best serve the students of Iowa, in the unlikely event that Ultimate Medical Academy
