Students must complete the application process to Worsham College to be accepted into their program of choice. This can be done entirely online or a hard copy may be mailed separately.  Please follow the instructions on the application carefully and include all supporting documentation including official transcripts, letters of recommendation and additional required essay for the online program. The application deadline is two weeks before classes for the semester in which you wish to enter the program.

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Students are not able to freely transfer between modalities.  The in-person program and online program result in two different degrees and do not have the same courses or credit hours.  A student may request to move into a different program but must understand they will likely have to complete additional coursework. The student can speak to the program director or registrar for more information.

Federal regulations require colleges to establish and apply reasonable standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for the purpose of the receipt of financial assistance under the programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Each institution must design criteria which outlines the definition of student progress towards a degree and the consequences to the student if progress is not achieved. Therefore, students receiving Federal Student Financial aid must maintain “Satisfactory Academic Progress” at Worsham College in order to remain eligible for Federal aid consideration.

The Worsham College SAP policy is applied consistently for all Worsham students, at the end of each term. In order to achieve satisfactory academic progress, a student needs to meet attendance, GPA, Timeframe, and Pace Requirements, which are explained below.

Students will complete a total of 80 quarter or 63 semester hours at Worsham College. These credits are divided into four terms. Students may not miss more than a total of 100 hours over the course of the program. A student who is absent for two consecutive weeks without contacting the College, will be considered withdrawn from the program.

Worsham College students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. GPA is the total number of Worsham College grade points acquired, divided by the total number of credit hours taken at Worsham College that carry grade points.

Worsham College’s Curriculum is structured by program rather than individual classes. As such when a student withdraws, they are withdrawing from the entire program, not a course. Worsham College assigns a grade of “W” for each course attempted that term in which the student withdrew from the program. When a course with a “W” is repeated, only the last grade is used in the computation of the cumulative grade point average.

Transfer hours accepted toward a student’s degree program at Worsham College will be treated as hours attempted and completed for all SAP evaluations. Worsham College assigns a grade of “T” for transfer hours. “T” hours do not count in the GPA calculation.

If a student receives an “incomplete” (“I”) for a course, it is considered credits attempted but not earned. When the incomplete is replaced by a passing grade, then those credits are considered to be completed. The completed grade will replace the “I”.

The minimum GPA at each SAP evaluation is 2.0. SAP Evaluation is conducted at the end of each term. If when SAP is reviewed, a student falls below the 2.0 GPA, the student will be placed on warning status.

Worsham College utilizes the following grading scale:

All students must complete their degree within 150% of the credit hours required for their officially-declared credential (150% rule). Worsham College has two possible degrees (the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and the Associate of Science (AS) and the Diploma.

The average timeframe to complete the Diploma and AAS programs at Worsham College is 80 quarter credit hours, making the 150% maximum timeframe 120 “attempted” quarter credit hours.

The average timeframe to complete the AS at Worsham College is 63 semester credit hours, making the 150% maximum timeframe 95 “attempted” semester credit hours.

Students must successfully complete 67% of their attempted courses as recorded and documented by the Registrar’s Office. Attempted hours are defined as the hours for which the student is enrolled in a term. Earned hours are defined as the sum of hours for which a student has earned a grade of A, B, C, or D.

Grades of F, W, I, and T are considered attempted hours but not earned grades. If when SAP is reviewed, a student falls below the 67% cumulative standard, the student will be placed on warning status until next term.

If it is determined that a student failed to meet the progress standards, the student will be placed on warning status. The student will receive written notification via email regarding their warning status and the specific requirements they must fulfill in order to resolve the warning status. A student will be placed on warning status for one term. If at the end of the term the student has still failed to meet the requirements, the student will be considered not making satisfactory progress, and will lose eligibility for federal financial assistance.

Students who are returning to the institution after a temporary interruption are reinstated under the same Satisfactory Academic Progress status as they had prior to their departure. A temporary interruption is an interruption in training of not more than 180 days, including but not limited to, approved leaves of absence. A leave of absence is granted only to students who wish to temporarily interrupt their training for personal reasons. A request for a leave must be made in advance in writing. The Veteran’s Administration and higher education funding agencies will be notified immediately when students are granted a leave of absence.

Federal student financial aid is interrupted when a student fails to make satisfactory progress. Aid will be reinstated when the student improves their attendance or academics to a level such that minimum standards have been met. Federal aid for any term that occurs with a period of unsatisfactory progress will be permanently forfeited.

When a student becomes ineligible for financial aid due to failure to meet SAP standards, an opportunity is given to appeal for further financial aid consideration. A student may file a SAP Appeal on the basis of:

Appeals are considered on an individual basis. Documentation is required to support the basis of the appeal. Appeal documentation must be submitted either via email or in person to the program director. Depending on the nature of the appeal, and/or the student’s academic record, additional documentation may be required of the student before the appeal can be accepted. For example, the student may be asked to provide supporting documentation from a doctor, counselor, etc. The student must also document what changes have occurred to remedy the special circumstance that led to inadequate academic progress. The student must demonstrate that the special circumstance directly contributed to poor academic progress in the term that they did not meet standards. A student is allowed only one appeal.

Completed SAP appeals will be reviewed within 15 business days. The student will be notified by email if the appeal is accepted or denied. If the email is returned undeliverable, a letter will be mailed to the student’s current residence at the address listed in their application. Students should keep email and addresses of residence up to date.

Please note: Per federal financial aid regulations, appeals are not automatically accepted and may be denied based on failure to maintain the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards set forth at Worsham College.

A student may appeal a denial decision by the Program Director to the Board of Directors. If a student elects to do so, a written appeal must be submitted, via email or in person to the Academic Dean of Worsham College. The board in turn shall review the appeal within seven calendar days of receipt.

A student is placed on probationary status after a SAP appeal has been filed and approved. Probation terms are one term in length. The student is given specific requirements that must be met in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. If the requirements are not met by the end of probation term, the student will become ineligible for financial aid.

Textbooks that are required for a course are listed in the course syllabus. Students may purchase the textbooks from the Worsham College Bookstore, TextbookX, or any provider so long as the ISBN matches.

An individual must be physically able, with or without the use of auxiliary aids and services, to perform the disinfection, surgery, suturing, and restoration required in embalming dead human remains in a competent and timely manner. Applicants requiring modifications in courses or the provision of auxiliary aids or services should consult with Worsham College regarding the provisions for those modifications or auxiliary aids or services.

Worsham College may require evidence, in the form of documentation, from a physician or other professional to demonstrate that an applicant requires the modifications or auxiliary aids, or services requested.

With the increasing number of female embalmers within the profession, a serious exposure problem has been brought to light with several research studies regarding women who are exposed to formaldehyde and other chemicals and the potentially adverse effects on pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and their newborns. This research came to the attention of Worsham College in August 2002 and points to the potential danger of formaldehyde exposure and other solvent-type chemical exposure on pregnant women. Therefore, if you become pregnant prior to, or while you are attending the Embalming/Anatomy Laboratory portion of the curriculum, you have the option of continuing in the Program, or making arrangements to take the Embalming/Anatomy Laboratory portion of the program in its entirety at a later date. For your protection and safety, Worsham College suggests that you discuss the potential exposure risk with your healthcare provider.

An individual must be physically able, with or without the use of auxiliary aids and services, to understand and process information received from other persons and to effectively communicate, in a cogent manner, information to third parties.

Applicants requiring modifications in courses or the provisions of auxiliary aids or services should consult with Worsham College regarding the provisions for those modifications or auxiliary aids or services.

Worsham College may require evidence, in the form of documentation, from a physician or other professional to demonstrate that an applicant requires the modifications or auxiliary aids, or services requested.

All Worsham students have the right to be evaluated in the classroom on the basis of satisfactory progress, academic achievement, and fulfillment of educational requirements, with freedom of expression protected and respected. All Worsham students have the right to obtain clear statements of their academic obligations and responsibilities. A student will have the right to appeal through the established college procedures any action brought or taken by the college against the student which can reasonably be expected to affect the student’s status within the college. Students may not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy and marital status), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, or, to the extent covered by the law, veteran status.

Individuals who believe they have been harassed or discriminated against may file a complaint through the college by speaking with the program director, Leili McMurrough.

Updated August 2023