Attending
a Private Vocational Institution
Be an informed
consumer | Registered
PVIs | Correspondence/Distance
Education | Questions
to ask a PVI | Enrolment
Contract | Complaints
| Contact
Private
vocational institutions offer employment training in a wide range
of occupational fields including office and business applications,
broadcasting, computers, electronic technology, cosmetology, health
care, massage therapy, security, transport driving, and many others.
In most cases, private vocational institutions are privately owned,
operate as for-profit businesses and are governed by The Private
Vocational Institutions Act and Manitoba Regulation 237/02.
Be an informed consumer
As a potential consumer planning to enrol in a private vocational
institution, it is your responsibility to make sure the program
is right for you. Spend as much time and consideration choosing
an institution as you would choosing a career.
- Check out future job markets in your field of interest and
contact potential employers. Ask what training they look for when
hiring employees.
- If you haven’t decided what career path you want to take,
you can view Labour Market Information to get more career information.
- Take the time to seriously investigate and compare
all institutions that offer the training that interests you. Make
appointments to visit these institutions and ask for a program
outline.
Completing a program does not guarantee employment. However, a
program should provide graduates with the skills required to meet
the minimum employment standards for a particular occupation.
Registered private vocational
institutions
To see if your institution is registered, the Private Vocational
Institutions Office maintains a list of currently registered private
vocational institutions.
Correspondence/Distance Education
programs
Some institutions offer programs that may be taken by correspondence
or distance education. Only those institutions that are located
in Manitoba are registered by the Department of Advanced Education
and Training.
Questions to ask a potential
private vocational institution
You will want to ask questions
about the institution’s admissions requirements, training
duration, costs, rules, policies, job placement assistance, and
job opportunities.
Enrolment contract
Once you have applied for admission and have been accepted by the
institution, you will be asked to sign an enrolment contract which
should contain, among other details, the following items:
- name and address of the institution and the name of the program
- start and end dates of the program, duration, and tuition refund
policy
- date you entered into the contract with the institution
- name, mailing address, and signature of the student (or guardian)
- program costs and a payment schedule (if you are paying by
installments)
The contract may also contain the institution’s rules and
regulations. Carefully review them and make sure that you can abide
by them before you sign the contract. Be sure to get a student handbook
if one is available.
Once you have signed the contract, the institution must give you
a copy. Keep your contract in a safe place for future reference.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about a private vocational institution,
it is your responsibility to attempt to resolve any conflict by
contacting the institution’s administration. If you cannot
reach a resolution with your institution, you have a limitation
period of one year from the date of the alleged offence to submit
a formal written and signed complaint to the Private
Vocational Institutions Office describing your concerns.
The Private Vocational Institutions Office does not function in
an advocacy role on behalf of either the student or the institution.
Instead, it assumes the role of facilitator between the parties
to ensure compliance with the Act and the Regulations. All complaints
are confidential and information regarding the complaint, investigation
and resolution are provided only to the parties involved.
The Private Vocational Institutions Office will:
- determine whether the complaint is valid
- confirm that the date of the alleged incident falls within
the one-year limitation
- determine whether the complainant has met with the administrator
of the private vocational institution
If there appears to be grounds for a formal complaint, the Private
Vocational Institutions Office will:
- request that the complainant place any concerns in writing
to the institution, with a copy to the Private Vocational Institutions
Office
- if necessary, schedule an appointment for an interview with
the Project Officer from the Private Vocational Institutions Office
- request documentation (example, a copy of the enrolment contract
and written permission from the complainant to access information
pertaining to his/her student record on file with the institution)
- work with the complainant and the institution to resolve the
conflict, where possible
While an investigation may result in some action being taken
against an institution, the Private Vocational Institutions Office
has limited authority to pursue a full tuition refund on behalf
of a complainant.
Please note that anonymous, frivolous and unfounded complaints
are not pursued.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Project Officer
Private Vocational Institutions Office
401-1181 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3G 0T3
Phone (204) 945-2725
|