OIG Academy Policies and Terms of Use

The following policies apply to the Office of the Inspector General's OIG Academy classes and trainings.

OIG Academy Online Program Terms of Use

Please read these Terms of Use (“Terms”) carefully before accessing the OIG Academy online class materials. These terms apply to every OIG Academy online class, and you must accept them when you register for a class.

Your access and use of the OIG Academy online class materials is conditioned on your acceptance of and compliance with the Terms outlined here. By registering for a class, accessing or using the online class materials, you agree to be bound by these Terms and the mechanisms used to verify attendance and ensure the integrity of the credit-granting process. In addition, by registering you acknowledge that the OIG will send you emails on related topics. The OIG will not share your email with another entity.

Upon a determination by the Office of the Inspector General that a student has violated these Terms, the student shall have their access to OIG Academy online class materials revoked, shall be unenrolled from the class, and shall not receive credit for any coursework completed. No refunds shall be provided to the student who is unenrolled under such circumstances. A student may appeal this determination in writing to the Office of the Inspector General.

1. Access and Use

   Access and use of the OIG Academy class material is restricted to students enrolled in the OIG Academy class offered through the Office of the Inspector General. You, the enrolled student, are solely responsible for any activity which occurs on or through your account. You are prohibited from allowing other individuals to use your account to access online class material.

   You are solely responsible for ensuring the security of your account, including password protection.

2. Completion and Submission of Assignments and Assessments

   Students must complete and submit their own assignments and assessments. Unless otherwise directed by OIG Academy staff, students shall neither receive assistance from other people nor provide assistance to current or future class enrollees, including sharing test and quiz questions and answers, or other class assignments.

3. Prohibited Conduct

   Students are prohibited from engaging in any conduct via the OIG Academy class and online platform which is deemed inappropriate by the Office of the Inspector General. Such prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to:

   • Sending public or private messages that discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;
   • Threatening, harassing, or otherwise abusing fellow students or instructors;
   • Posting images, video, or links to websites containing images or video of any nudity, pornography, violence, gore, or other inappropriate material;
   • Providing links to malicious or third-party websites; or
   • Engaging in or promoting criminal activity.

   The Office of the Inspector General, as well as its employees, agents, officers, contractors, consultants, and vendors, shall not be liable for the actions or statements of any students taken on the online platform or otherwise in connection with the OIG Academy online classes.

   The presence of content posted by students on the OIG Academy online platform shall not constitute an endorsement of the content by the Office of the Inspector General or its employees, agents, officers, contractors, consultants, and vendors. Nor shall failure by such parties to remove a student’s content be deemed an endorsement or approval of such content.

4. Intellectual Property

   The Office of the Inspector General owns all rights, title, and interests (including copyrights and other intellectual property rights) in all OIG Academy class materials, including all video, images, and written content. The Office of the Inspector General reserves all rights for its exclusive use and control over such materials.

   All materials and resources provided to students are to be used only for the purpose of completing the OIG Academy class. Students shall not share or distribute any class materials for any reason. Reproduction or distribution of any material without express written permission of the Office of the Inspector General is prohibited.

5. Consent to Recording

   The Blackboard Collaborate environment can record audio, video, chats and any other files, documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during a webinar session. By joining a webinar, you automatically consent to such recordings.

6. Reservation of Rights

   The Office of the Inspector General reserves the right to amend these Terms from time to time. Use of the online class materials constitutes acceptance and agreement to any adjustment to these Terms.

7. Attendance

   Students must participate fully in class. Full participation means that the student must be in attendance for the entire scheduled class time and complete any class requirements within the allotted time. The OIG Academy verifies attendance in live webinars using random attendance polls and/or in-class assignments. Attendance is verified in self-paced classes through timely assignment completion. If you cannot attend the scheduled class in its entirety, please contact the OIG Academy program before the class date at [e-mail].

   The OIG Academy reserves the right to remove students from any class or withhold credits from students who do not participate in class as required.

8. MCPPO Exam Retake and Class Incompletion Policy 

   IMPORTANT: Students who do not score 70 or higher on their first exam attempt may take the exam up to two more times within 14 days of the initial exam date. If the student does not score 70 or higher a second time, the student may request a brief tutoring session before taking the third and last exam attempt. To request a tutoring session, the student must email [e-mail]. The 90-minute exam consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Students may request an accommodation for extended exam time by emailing [e-mail]. No exceptions are allowed for this 14-day exam period. If a student cannot complete the exam within this 14-day period, they will be transferred into a mutually agreed upon future class session.  

   If a student does not pass the exam after three attempts, the student may retake the same class in the future at no cost. The OIG Academy and the student must mutually agree upon the future session of the class the student will retake. The student must email [e-mail] to schedule a class retake. Students are under no obligation to retake the class. However, there will be no refunds or credits issued. This same exam policy will apply to the class retake. A student who does not successfully complete the class a second time will not receive a refund or credit. If the student would like to enroll in the class again (a third time), the student will be required to pay any required class fees, and the process will begin anew.  

9. Awarding Designations and Certifications

   The OIG Academy's webpage, publications and other public materials may include names of MCPPO Designation holders and School Project Designer/Owner’s Project Manager and Charter School certificate holders. Information may be placed in a searchable electronic database and include designation/certificate issuance and/or expiration dates. By applying for a designation and/or taking and passing applicable examinations, you expressly agree to the use of the aforementioned information by the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General’s OIG Academy.

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact the OIG Academy at [e-mail].

Attendance and Refund Policy

If you cannot attend a class, you must notify the OIG Academy within 48 hours of the start of the class.

Due to the limited number of seats available for each class, registrants must send a notice of non-attendance to the [e-mail] at least two days (48 hours) before the start of a class to receive a refund, request a one-time transfer to another class or send another attendee in their place. This allows the Office to give other registrants an opportunity to attend the class when a seat becomes available due to non-attendance.

Registrants will no longer be charged a $100.00 fee for non-attendance. The Office will no longer “carry” payment credits for registrants to use at a later date. Refunds will not be made for failure to comply with this attendance policy.

1. Notice: If you cannot attend a class, you must notify the OIG Academy of non-attendance via email to [e-mail] at least two days (48 hours) before the start of the class. Provided you give notice at least two days in advance, you have three options: (a) receive a full refund; (b) transfer to another class; or (c) transfer your registration to another person. If notice is not given at least two days (48 hours) before the start of class, no refund, transfer or alternate attendee will be granted.
   • Refund: With this option, you will receive a full refund. Please indicate in your notice of non-attendance that you would like a refund.
   • Transfer to another comparable class:  With this option, you may transfer to another scheduled class of the same cost (if it is not at maximum capacity) one time within the same fiscal year. If the transfer request cannot be accommodated, then a full refund will be issued.
     Note: If you cannot attend the class you transferred to, then you will receive a full refund if you provide written notice via email to [e-mail] at least two days(48 hours) before the start of the class.
   • Transfer to alternate attendee: With this option, you may designate another individual in your jurisdiction to attend in your place. If, after the transfer, the alternate attendee cannot attend the class, then you will receive a full refund, provided you notify the OIG Academy of non-attendance via email to [e-mail] at least two days (48 hours) before the start of the class. No additional transfers will be allowed. If notice of non-attendance is not given at least two days (48 hours) before the class, no refund will be granted.
2. Attendance: Students must participate fully in class. Full participation means that the student must be in attendance for the entire scheduled class time and complete any class requirements within the allotted time. The OIG Academy verifies attendance in live webinars using random attendance polls and/or in-class assignments. Attendance is verified in self-paced classes through timely assignment completion. The OIG Academy reserves the right to remove students from any class or withhold credits from students who do not participate in class as required.
3. Requests for refunds made by registrants receiving tuition funds from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including cancellations, withdrawals or terminations, may be made in writing to [e-mail] or by way of U.S. mail and are subject to the separate MCPPO Program Refund Policy related to students funded by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) - GI Bill Assistance Program.

Accessibility and Nondiscrimination Policy

ACCESSIBILITY POLICY

Reasonable accommodations may be available upon request; if such accommodations are required to access or complete the online course materials, please contact the Office of the Inspector General to inquire via phone at [phone] or email at [e-mail]. Please be advised that some accommodations may not be possible due to the limitations of the online platform, and you may be required to take the course in-person.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or Vietnam-era or disabled veteran status in its employment or admission policies, or in the administration or operation of, or access to, its programs and policies. The Office of the Inspector General does not discriminate on the basis of disability; see Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Inquiries pertaining to the Office’s nondiscrimination policy relating to the OIG Academy may be addressed by calling [phone].

Last updated:	September 14, 2023