IOMB Student Agreement: Rules and Regulations

1. The operating hours of The Institute of Medical Boards and all instructors is 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. For weekend hours please refer to the schedule.
2. If you require any time for individual sessions past 5 PM on weekdays, and anytime on weekends, you will be charged accordingly at $75 per hour; as long as you can be accommodated by the instructor.
3. Mock Boards are on weekends. A proctor will be there during the Mock at 7:30 AM to take attendance and help all students settle in and start the exam. Also the room to be used for this activity is to be prepared either the night before the mock (after 6:00pm) which means the classroom must be vacated by all students at 6:00pm the day before the Mock and no student is allowed to enter until Mock day.  The purpose of doing this is to simulate the Prometric environment as much as possible to prepare students for the actual test day.   
4. If you book a session with an instructor during the times set aside for meetings and you are late, the instructor will only wait for 5 minutes then the session will be cancelled and/or given to the next student.
5. DO students only: you will be refunded for 2 x COMSAE (LEVEL 1) and 1 x COMSAE (LEVEL 2) if you opt to take a COMSAE instead of an NBME .
6. Everyone here has the same goal in mind: to stay positive, learn in a conducive environment, make progress on test taking skills, keep anxiety down and pass the test. Please be respectful and mindful of each other. This is a small program and working together will help to achieve the best results!
7. Please remember that we cannot study for you. We are here to guide, help, and assist you as you prepare for your boards. You MUST take ownership of your education and be responsible for your work. Participation in all parts of the program is mandatory for optimal results.
8. Respect and trust your instructor and our program (buy in on day 1). Your instructor, and the way we teach, have helped many students be very successful on boards. If you are going to challenge your instructor, and not believe in the program, then you are doing yourself a disservice. You came here for us to help you, so let us do our job.
9. You came to The Institute of Medical Boards to do as instructed, not as you please. If you choose not to follow instructions this will have detrimental consequences on your performance and you risk being dismissed from the program without refund.
10. Do NOT try to reinvent the program. This program was established in 1982, and since then it has been evolving along with the system to prepare students to achieve their higher level of performance and has helped thousands of students to pass their boards and move on with their careers. If you want results, you WILL see them, as long as you follow instructions. 
11. Under no circumstances students should meet to criticize and/or slander The Institute of Medical Boards good name and reputation during or after the program.
12. Any student that is identified causing harm to the program will be referred for immediate dismissal without refund; this includes students that create negative rumors and those that spread them without notifying the instructor immediately. To avoid this, we have an open door policy; to address any concerns that are affecting your learning experience. We are here to help you, let us help you and reach out to your instructor and voice your concerns respectfully.  We are whole heartedly committed to your success and we will work with you. 
13. We do have an open door policy and we will listen to your concerns; however keep in mind that listening to suggestions or ideas does not mean the foundation of this program will change. After careful examination with The Institute of Medical Boards, suggestions will be analyzed and a final consensus will be reached and the faculty and staff will stand by the final decision.
14. If you miss more than 2 days of the program you will be dismissed. Exceptions are illnesses and family emergencies. You will be required to provide a note from your physician and you will be responsible for covering the material you miss (this applies to all absences, no matter the reason).
15. If you have to leave the program for an emergent reason*, and cannot return to the program, there are two options available: (1) you are able to transfer the remaining balance (this will be pro-rated according the time spent in the current program) of your paid tuition to another program start date OR (2) you are able to transfer the remaining balance (this amount will be pro-rated according to the time spent in the current program) to one-on-one sessions. These sessions are pro-rated and billed at $150 an hour as per our individual “Skype” sessions.
16. IOMB may reach out to your school regarding your attendance and/or any disciplinary warning.

*Emergent reasons are (there are NO exceptions to this list):

1. Mothers and/or fathers for the birth of their child.
2. Absence related the to the placement for adoption or foster care to proceed.
3. A serious health condition “Where the health care provider finds the individual unable to perform the functions required of the student and the student must be absent to receive medical treatment for a serious health condition.
4. To care for the student’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent (this does NOT include “parent in-law”, or any other family member) who has a serious health condition.  For example: when the family member is unable to care for his or her own medical, safety or other needs, because of the serious health condition or needs help in being transported to the doctor; or to provide psychological comfort and reassurance to the family member with a serious health condition. A doctor’s note will be required.

Post Program:

1. If you wish to repeat the program you must have 100% attendance, unless there was a family emergency (see above what constitutes a family emergency) or your own health emergency, (a doctor’s note will be required) and it must be evidenced that you were invested in the first program. The instructor will be consulted with regards to this matter. Repeating the program is at the discretion of the Board of The Institute of Medical Boards as well as the Instructor who taught you previously.
2. If you would like sessions with an Instructor post program the rate is $100 per hour. Therefore make sure you make the most out of the designated weeks of the course. Sessions are only available if an Instructor is available.
3. If you return home after the program, you are welcome to contact us at no charge via email of text. We will be happy to respond accordingly.

The Institute of Medical Boards LLC:  Code of Conduct Agreement.

1. Students are expected to meet the same standards of behavior as are required in their regular school and/or hospital.
2. Major violations include:

• The use of drugs or alcohol
• Arrest during the program whether innocent or guilty
• Abusive language
• Threatens to harm self or others
• Bringing weapons to class
• Abuse of accommodation (Hotel and Hotel staff) or The Institute f Medical Boards (IOMB) property and/or staff
• Sexual or other harassment towards other students or staff of IOMB
• Bullying (any deliberately hurtful behavior, with the desired outcome of frightening
• Intimidating, excluding or degrading a person; this includes, but is not limited to, physical assault, verbal abuse, teasing, and spreading of rumors or private information about a person and may be done by any method of delivery, such as verbal, written or electronic)
• Stalking (purposely and repeatedly engaging in behavior directed at a specific person which reasonably causes that person alarm, distress, fear or a change of normal behavior)
• Ridiculing, belittling, dismissing, marginalizing any other student enrolled in IOMB programs or any IOMB staff member
• Demanding a change in our curriculum
• Disrespecting any of our instructors
• conspiring and/or encouraging/persuading other students to be dissatisfied with the teachings and/or schedule of IOMB will not be tolerated
• Refrain from taking pictures during class. IOMB material is protected by copyrights and also each student’s and/or staff’s privacy must be protected at all times.  If you wish to take a photo, make sure you ask for proper permission both from the instructor and/or classmates that might be involved in the photo.  Recording via audio and or video is absolutely prohibited especially without consent
• Slandering The Institute of Medical Boards’ good name and reputation individually or conspiring to do so
• Students speaking on behalf of a group or on behalf of another student. (Each student must represent himself or herself)
• Creating a negative environment in class

This type of behavior will result in immediate dismissal without refund. IOMB has the right to make the distinction if a student has violated any of these rules.

The Institute of Medical Boards is not responsible for student’s personal belongings. Any lost or stolen property will not be replaced by IOMB or its affiliates. 

Under no circumstances will IOMB staff provide prescription medications to any students.  If you have been properly diagnosed by a physician and require treatment while during the program you must make the proper arrangements accordingly prior to starting the program with your physician.  No exceptions. 

If a student has any violations against them or any disciplinary warning and/or action has been documented, IOMB can request this information and IOMB has the right to dismiss such a student attending the program, with no refund.

Students may NOT attempt to solicit any IOMB instructor, faculty, or staff member during or after the program for private tutoring and offer compensation for such. This is a severe breach of contract and penalties will be carried out.

Any failure to comply with this agreement can result in dismissal from the program without refund and will also result in declined applications for further programs. 

Release of Liability and Refund policy

Student shall release, indemnify, and hold The Institute of Medical Boards LLC (also known as IOMB), its trustees, officers, employees, students and agents harmless from any and all actual or threatened liabilities, claims, suits, actions, damages, settlements and expenses incurred by or claimed against IOMB, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising out of Student’s breach of this Agreement, injuries to persons or damages to property in connection with Student’s participation at IOMB, Student’s activities and use of the IOMB facilities or equipment, whether from an occurrence at the property of the IOMB itself, during such use, before or after such use, going to and from such use in or about available parking areas, or otherwise, and NOTWITHSTANDING ANY NEGLIGENCE THAT MIGHT BE ALLEGED AGAINST, OR ATTRIBUTED TO IOMB. Student further agrees to pay any court costs or attorney’s fees incurred or paid by IOMB to enforce any obligation imposed under this Agreement.

Student understands that full tuition is required before or on the first day of the program for which they are enrolled. Students leaving the program for which they have paid tuition will NOT receive any refund of fees paid. If a student does not pay the full tuition on the first day (unless prior arrangements have been made with the directors of The Institute of Medical Boards) they will be liable to pay full tuition plus 5% interest for every late day, or be dismissed from the program.

ONLY THOSE TERMS IN WRITING ARE ENFORCEABLE. NO OTHER TERMS OR ORAL PROMISES NOT CONTAINED IN THIS WRITTEN CONTRACT MAY BE LEGALLY ENFORCED.  THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY ONLY BE CHANGED BY ANOTHER WRITTEN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY ALL PARTIES.