LOS ANGELES

ONTARIO

PHOENIX

We also understand if you are unable to attend hands-on clinical training, no matter what the circumstance may be. For that reason, WCUI will always allow the option to not attend on-campus or off-site labs and externship sites. Please reach out to your Instructors, Externship Directors, or Campus Leadership if you have any questions or need any guidance. 

As future sonographers, MRI technologists, and nurses, we understand the knowledge you gain in your courses, especially in hands-on clinical training can impact your career. We will continue to monitor the situation in California, Arizona, and throughout the US and make changes to maintain our campus safety as you pursue your education at WCUI. 

As we develop the appropriate steps for WCUI, we will keep you informed of any changes. This is a complex and quickly changing situation that reminds us that we are all part of a broader community and have a responsibility to look out for one another. 

ON-CAMPUS COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Coming Soon!

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF)

Below is the WCUI Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Report. To download a copy of the report please follow the link here (Updated: August 27th, 2020): WCUI Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Report

West Coast Ultrasound Institute (OPE ID: 03639300) received education stabilization funds under Section 18004(a)(1) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), Public Law No: 116-136. This Fund Report applies to the student portion received under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund that is designated exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.  

The institution appreciates that Congress and the President have made these critical funds available for eligible students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. We take receipt of these federal funds seriously and are distributing them in accordance with the CARES Act and implementing guidance.  

The institution is making the below information available for transparency purposes and in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Electronic Announcement of May 6, 2020.[1] For questions or concerns regarding this Fund Report, please contact Andrew High, COO, at andrew.high@wcui.edu.

1. The institution signed and returned to the Department the Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. These grant funds represent no less than 50 percent of the funds provided under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act. The institution has used, or intends to use, these funds to provide emergency financial aid grants to students.
2. The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement [for] Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students is $902,941.00.
3. The total amount of emergency financial aid grants distributed to students under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is $770,000.00.
4. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and thus eligible to receive emergency financial aid grants under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act, as of the date of this Fund Report is 1,232.
5. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act as of the date of this Fund Report is 1,232.
6. The methods used by the institution to determine which students receive emergency financial aid grants and how much they would receive under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act are provided at Attachment A.
7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants are provided at Attachment B (Below)

ATTACHMENT A – HEERF

WCUI has established a HEERF Fund to make emergency grants immediately available to eligible students. To be eligible, a Student must be (as of Friday 5/1/2020): 

• Actively enrolled at WCUI;
  • In good academic and financial standing;
    • Must be in good financial standing: Student is eligible if he or she has only missed payments for the current term. Student is not eligible if he or she has missed payments before the current term.
    • WCUI has 3 levels of SAP compliance
      • Warning (least severe): Students are eligible
      • Probation: Students are eligible
      • Provisional: Students are NOT eligible and;
• Title IV eligible (under Section 484 in Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965). Students who have not yet filed a FAFSA, but meet Title IV eligibility criteria, are also eligible.

HEERF Student Fund

• Total: $902,941
• Projected First Disbursement (85% of fund): $770,000
• Projected Second Disbursement (15% of fund): $132,941

Disbursement Policy for HEERF Student Fund

• First Disbursement: WCUI will distribute 85% of the fund equally to all eligible students. This formula will be $770,000 / # of eligible students. In order to receive these funds, students must sign WCUI’s HEERF Certification.
  • Final Numbers Round 1
    • 1,232 eligible students
    • $770,000 / 1,232 = $625
    • Actual Total Round 1: $625 * 1,232 = $770,000 (85.277%)
    • Actual Round 2 Availability: $132,941 (14.723%)
• Second Disbursement: WCUI will retain approximately 15% of these funds for future student emergencies related to COVID-19 on an as-needed basis. Eligible students will need to apply for these funds using WCUI’s HEERF Application Form. WCUI will consider the following factors in making decisions:
  • Financial responsibility for:
    • food expenses  
    • housing expenses 
    • expenses related to course materials to attend school 
    • expenses related to technologies associated with attending online classes 
    • health care expenses 
    • childcare expenses 
  • Exceptional Need due to COVID-19:
    • Students will be able to request additional funds based on the above parameters. Not all student requests will be approved.
  • All students applying for the Second Disbursement of HEERF funding will be required to submit an application as well as a written statement demonstrating exceptional need. 
    • WCUI HEERF Application Form – Applications will be accepted starting September 8th, 2020
• Third Disbursement: After all Second Disbursement requests have been considered, if there are any HEERF funds remaining as of 4/28/2021, WCUI will distribute those funds in equal installments to all eligible Students, following the same Eligibility Requirements used for the First Disbursement.

ATTACHMENT B – HEERF

The institution has provided the following instructions, directions, or guidance to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants:

• Student acknowledges that the HEERF grant funds provided by WCUI to Student are for use by Student for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, including any eligible expenses under a student’s cost of attendance, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, childcare and other expenses.
• Student acknowledges that WCUI is required by Section 18004(e) of the CARES Act to report to the Secretary regarding how grants were distributed to students, the amount of each grant awarded to each student and how the amount of each grant was calculated.
• Student certifies that he/she is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; has a valid Social Security number; has registered with Selective Service (if applicable); has a valid high school diploma or its equivalent; and is not in default on a Title IV loan.

STUDENTAID.GOV STUDENT LOAN ANNOUNCEMENT

WCUI Alumni, through this time we want to ensure we provide you the information you need that could lend any benefits or relief. We’ve recently received details from Studentaid.gov about student loan payments during the COIVD-19 outbreak and have sent out a notice to all of you regarding the information we’ve received. In the letter below we provide details on this order and how you could qualify:

Please see the letter we sent out to WCUI alumni for details: HERE

What does this announcement mean for you? A wealth of benefits, which include:

• Your student loans interest rates set to 0% for at least 60 days
• The option to suspend your payments for at least two (2) months
• Greater flexibility during the national emergency
• An opportunity to increase your emergency savings
• Peace of mind

Should you have any questions, your WCUI family is an email away. Please view the following links to contact your respective campus representatives:

• LOS ANGELES CONTACT SHEET
• ONTARIO CONTACT SHEET
• PHOENIX CONTACT SHEET

*The above is based on information release from studentaid.gov. For full details and to confirm you qualify for this benefit, please refer to https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus

COVID-19 FAQS

WHAT IS KNOWN

• The virus causing COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified and causes a respiratory illness ranging from a mild cold-like illness to severe pneumonia.
• Most (81%) of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in China had mild disease, including most children.
• Similar to influenza, the people who are most likely to have severe disease and complications from COVID-19 are older individuals (>60 years old) and those with other medical conditions like heart and lung disease or diabetes.
• There is no vaccine or treatment currently available for COVID-19 but the National Institutes of Health is evaluating treatments and developing a vaccine already. 
• We recommend that WCUI students, faculty and staff refrain from non-essential travel, including business or personal, to international and local areas which the CDC has determined to have experienced a “widespread sustained(ongoing) and sustained(ongoing) community transmission” of the COVID-19.
• If you travel to an area that had previously or during the course of your travels becomes an area of widespread sustained or sustained community transmission, you will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days following your return home by WCUI. For a list of travel advisories, visit travel.state.gov and the CDC website.

Students who self-quarantine as a result of travel to impacted countries will be excused from classes during this period. However, as WCUI School of Medical Imaging and Nursing remains operating as normal, these students will be expected to complete their coursework upon their return.

Students who have or are going to travel must contact your Campus Director:

• Los Angeles Assistant Campus Director: Mieke Wibowo, mieke@wcui.edu
• Ontario Campus Director: Brian Chilstrom, brian.chilstrom@wcui.edu
• Phoenix Campus Director: Sophia Perkovich, sophia.perkovich@wcui.edu

HOW THE VIRUS SPREADS

• COVID-19 is believed to spread primarily the same way the common cold or flu spreads—through respiratory droplets that are produced when someone coughs or sneezes.
• People who are most at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 are those who have been in close contact (within about 6 feet) with someone who has the disease
• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread of the virus might be possible before a person has symptoms; there have been reports of this with COVID-19, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW 

• If you are ill, especially with acute respiratory symptoms (not allergies or chronic conditions), you should stay home and not return to school until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the help of any fever reducers.  See the CDC’s tips for what to do if you do become sick.
• Always cover your cough and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.  Immediately throw the tissue away.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you touch your face, use the restroom and before and after you eat.
• If you are not able to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol until soap and water are available to wash your hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone showing signs of illness.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Should you have specific concerns or questions about your health, please contact your health care provider.

CONFIDENTIALITY

While we are cognizant of our role in aiding to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on our campus, we want you to know that maintaining your confidentiality is paramount. Should you discover that you have been diagnosed with Coronavirus, we ask that you let us know so that we may be proactive in addressing the possible spread of the virus. While we would notify the staff, students, and faculty who may have been exposed to the virus, we will not reveal your identity.

NO RETALIATION

WCUI will not retaliate, or tolerate retaliation, against a student, staff or faculty who is diagnosed with, or may have been exposed to, the Coronavirus, or who may miss school or work due to possible contraction of, or exposure to, the Coronavirus, or to take care of a family member who has become ill from the virus. Should you have specific concerns or questions about your health, please contact your health care provider. Otherwise, please contact us with additional questions – we are here to assist. Everyone at WCUI is working hard to be proactive and ensure that everything is being done to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff.

For more resources about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and protecting your health and those around you, please visit:

The World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Helpful documents and videos: 

What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

World Health Organization (WHO) – What is Coronavirus Video

CDC Handwashing Video

Thank you,  

WCUI Administration

UPDATES

• UPDATED: This page was updated on August 27th, 2020 with our latest HEERF Report.
• UPDATED: This page was updated on July 16th, 2020 with the latest details of our education plan to continue online & the technology we are using to support our students’ education. In addition, protocols for students in Externship and in Clinical Labs has been updated.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on June 2, 2020 with updated information about WCUI’s allocation of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)  in compliance with Section 18004 of the CARES Act.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on May 14, 2020 with information about WCUI’s allocation of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)  in compliance with Section 18004 of the CARES Act.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 27, 2020 with a link to WCUI’s Spring Education plan for students starting our Spring 2020 term.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 24, 2020 with an announcement on Student Loan relief provided by Studentaid.Gov
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 20, 2020 with an announcement for New WCUI Students under the WCUI COVID-19 Plan
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 19, 2020 with an update to the latest WCUI COVID-19 Plan. WCUI will be closing all physical campuses until further notice.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 16, 2020 with an update to the latest WCUI COVID-19 Plan for Vocational Nursing students at our Los Angeles and Ontario, California campuses.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 15, 2020 with an update to the latest WCUI COVID-19 Plan for final exams and final presentation in the remaining Winter 2019 quarter.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 14, 2020, with an update on the latest WCUI COVID-19 Plan for lecture/laboratory classes remaining in the Winter 2019 quarter and the beginning of the Spring 2020 quarter.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 13, 2020, with an update for WCUI students in Externship or going into Externship for the Spring 2020 term.
• UPDATED: This page was last updated on March 12, 2020, with the latest WCUI COVID-19 Plan for the end of the Winter 2019 quarter and the beginning of the Spring 2020 quarter.