Student Right to Know

Villa Maria College is chartered by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education: 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166 Wilmington, DE 19801, t: 267.284.5600. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and The Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The college’s degree programs are registered by the New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education, Room 977, Education Building Annex, Albany, NY 12234, t: 518.474.1551.

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Physical Therapist Assistant is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), which is an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CAPTE grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, [email protected] / www.capteonline.org.  

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, www.accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503. The CIDA-accredited program prepares students for entry-level interior design practice, for advanced study, and to apply for membership in professional interior design organizations. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree granted by Villa Maria College meets the educational requirement for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ Exam). For more information about NCIDQ Exam eligibility visit: https://www.cidq.org/eligibility-requirements.

The Civil Rights Compliance page can be found here.

The College’s Civil Rights Grievance Procedure is available here.

Academic Grievances must be filed with Department Chairs within 10 calendar days of the end of the course in question. Further information can be found in the College Catalog.

Student Grievances are filed with the Executive Vice President and reviewed periodically by the President’s Cabinet. Additional information can be found here.

Filing a Complaint About a College or University
Students who wish to file a complaint with the New York State Department of Education may learn more and do so here.

Faculty Information

The student to faculty ratio at Villa Maria College is 8:1. Faculty hold terminal degrees in their fields along with significant experience working outside academia in those fields. Profiles of individual faculty members can be found here. A list of all full time faculty with rank and degree information is available in the College Catalog.

Instructional Facilities, Offices, and Amenities

• Art Shop – A fully-equipped woodworking shop is available for art students featuring a broad selection of hand and power tools. A shop safety class is required for active privileges.
• Athletic Center – The Villa Maria College Athletic Center houses a full-size gymnasium, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a fitness center, an auxiliary gymnasium and a large social hall. The Athletic Department offices are located in the Athletic Center.
• Business Office – All business transactions including tuition payments, financial aid refunds, and federal work study checks, are conducted during posted office hours at the Business Office.
• Felician Hall – Felician Hall houses the following College areas: Enrollment Management (Admissions, Financial Aid), Achieve Program, Archives, Physical Therapist Assistant and Occupational Therapy Assistant program classrooms, lab spaces, and faculty offices, and several other faculty offices (Business, Liberal Arts, Psychology).
• Library Services – The mission of Villa Maria College Library is to provide resources and services that support the teaching mission of the college and to assist students in becoming information literate. The Villa Maria College Library is the primary information resource center on campus. The Library is open any time that the Main Building is open, and librarians are available Monday through Friday with extended hours by request. Librarians are available for individualized research assistance as well as group workshops and in-class information literacy sessions. The Library has both group study and individual silent study spaces, as well as a computer lab and two multi-function printer/scanner/copier machines.
  The library holds more than 18,000 print books and subscribes to more than 45 print periodicals. More than 150,000 eBooks and 25,000 electronic journals/magazines are available online through the Library web pages; CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, computer software, and various technological equipment are also available. Library resources are supplemented by a robust Interlibrary Loan System that enables library users to borrow materials from other libraries throughout the world.
• Paul William Beltz Family Art Gallery – The Gallery features numerous exhibits throughout the year that highlight the work of professional artists, local high schools and Villa Maria College’s faculty and students. Gallery openings give family, friends, and members of the community the opportunity to view the talents of these artists in a professional and artistic setting. The Gallery is located on the ground floor of the Main Building and is open to the public.
• Security – A professional security officer is on duty whenever buildings are open. The officer patrols the hallways, classrooms, and grounds regularly. Additional security is present during large campus events. Security can be reached via phones located at the end of each hallway. Dial 2 or 716-870-7176 to reach security. Instructions are also posted next to each phone.
• Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry – With the help of the Food Bank of Western New York, the Sister Mary Josette Food Pantry serves students, alumni and members of the local community. Hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 AM until 3 PM.
• Villa Bistro – Villa Bistro offers a diverse menu of made-to-order deli sandwiches, a fresh oven station, hot lunches, soups and beverages and a variety of other gourmet lunch options. The Bistro also provides catering services. Located in the main building of the campus in the dining hall, the Bistro is open daily to all students and staff during the academic year. Hours of operation may vary.

Descriptions of facilities specific to individual programs (such as labs, studios, and specialized equipment) are included in the program descriptions available in the College Catalog.

Textbook Information:

Textbooks and supplies are now included in the cost of tuition for all students. This means that students do not have to purchase books out-of-pocket. The textbooks needed for each class will be automatically available to students through the College’s learning management system, D2L. Supplies for nearly all classes, including art and health science classes, will also be provided to students at the beginning of each semester.  

Program Information:

Information on each program offered at Villa Maria College can be found at www.villa.edu/academics and in the College Catalog.

Student Diversity

Information on the racial diversity of the Villa Maria College student body is available here.

Athletics

Information on equity in the Athletics programs at Villa Maria College can be found in the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Report. This information can also be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Data Analysis tool (https://ope.ed.gov/athletics/#/institution/search) by searching for Villa Maria College.

Information regarding Title IV compliance with 34 CFR 602.16(a)(1)(x) is provided within the College Navigator.

Information about Villa Maria College Admissions can be found on the Admissions web page at http://www.villa.edu/admissions.

Villa Maria College admits students without regard to protected class status. Villa Maria does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, disability, sex, sexual orientation, domestic violence victim status, marital status, veteran status, military status, predisposed genetic carrier status and any other characteristics or protected status recognized by applicable federal, state or local law.   This policy applies to admissions, all terms and conditions of employment, and any other aspect regarding the conduct of College programs and activities  The Villa Maria College Non-Discrimination Statement can be found at http://www.villa.edu/non-discrimination-statement/. The statement is supplied in English, Spanish, and Polish.

General information about Financial Aid can be found at http://www.villa.edu/financial-aid/.

Types of Assistance available from Federal, State, Local, and Institutional programs can be found at https://www.villa.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-of-aid/.

Students with criminal convictions may not be eligible for federal financial aid. Information on eligibility for those with criminal convictions, including drug law violations, can be found the Federal Student Aid Office of the U.S. Department of Education’s website: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/eligibility/criminal-convictions.

Information on Student Loans, including types of loans and loan limits, can be found at https://www.villa.edu/loans/.

• Initial Loan Counseling for Student Borrowers is available at https://www.villa.edu/admissions/financial-aid/counseling-mpn/
• Exit Counseling for Student Borrowers is available at https://www.villa.edu/admissions/financial-aid/counseling-mpn/.
• A list of preferred lenders for private students loans is available at https://www.villa.edu/loans/.

Villa Maria Cohort Default Rates:

• FY 2015: 12.2
• FY 2014: 16.2
• FY 2013: 12.6
• FY 2012: 17

Information about Federal Financial Aid default rates can be found here: https://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/defaultmanagement/cdr.html

Information about Financial Responsibility Composite Scores can be found here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/data-center/school/composite-scores

Tuition costs will vary depending on a student’s status as part time or full time. Information on tuition costs can be found here.

Many students reduce their out-of-pocket costs through a variety of scholarships, grants, and institutional aid. The Net Price Calculator can give prospective students a cost figure that is closer to their personal cost of attendance.

For students who are unable to complete a semester in which they enrolled, the College Withdrawal/Tuition Adjustment Policy is available here and is posted in the Business Office.

Credit Hour Policy

Information on Villa Maria College’s criteria for determining credit hours is available in the College Catalog. It is also available online at http://www.villa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Credit-Hour-Policy-v.11.30.17.pdf.

Transfer of Credit Policy

Information on transferring credits into a program at Villa Maria College is available in the College Catalog.

Articulation Agreements

Villa Maria College maintains articulation agreements with Alfred State College and Erie Community College for the Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts program, and Niagara County Community College for the Animation Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Approval for transfer credit is contingent upon the terms of the respective agreements.

More information about articulation agreements is available through our Admissions department. Contact information can be found at https://www.villa.edu/admissions.

Other Earned College Credits

There are additional ways to earn college credits that can be applied to programs at Villa Maria College. For complete details, please see the College Catalog.

Retention Rates:

Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time, degree seeking students, who enter the institution in the fall semester and return the following fall:

Average Institutional Retention Rate over the last three years is 56.3%.

Graduation Rates:

The overall graduation rate is also known as the “Student Right to Know” or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree students to see if they complete a degree within 150% of “normal time” for completing the program in which they are enrolled.

Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution (transfers), or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this rate.

Average Institutional Graduation Rate for all programs is 29.78%

Transfer-out Rates:

Continuing Education Rates:

10% of the 2022 graduating class continued their education after graduation.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse policies, procedures, and programs for prevention can be found in the in the Student Handbook (https://www.villa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VMC-Student-Handbook-2024-2025.pdf).

Vaccination policies, along with forms, are available at https://www.villa.edu/campus-life/student-services/student-health-services/.

Campus Security policies, as well as campus crime statistics, is available through the College’s Annual Security Report. The report is available at http://www.villa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Villa-Maria-College-Annual-Security-Report-2016.pdf.

Facilities and Services for Students with Disabilities

Information on facilities and services for students with disabilities is available on the Disability Services web page at https://www.villa.edu/campus-life/student-services/disability-services/.

Career and Job Placement Services

Information on career and job placement services can be found on the Career Services web page at https://www.villa.edu/campus-life/student-services/career-services/.

Registrar’s Office

Course catalogs, academic calendars, and exam schedules are available on the Registrar’s web page at (https://www.villa.edu/academics/registrar/).

Transcripts can be requested by completing the Transcript Request Form. Additional information on transcript requests is available on the Registrar’s web page at https://www.villa.edu/academics/registrar/.

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete and submit the Course Withdrawal Form (https://app.hellosign.com/s/7Ef51b9q).

Students who wish to withdraw completely from the College must complete and submit the College Withdrawal Form (https://app.hellosign.com/s/7Ef51b9q).

Students who find that they must take a leave of absence before returning to finish their degree must complete and submit the Leave of Absence Form (https://app.hellosign.com/s/yXIPMnzp).

Policies and procedures for Course Withdrawal, College Withdrawal, and Leave of Absence are available on pages 36 and 37 of the College Catalog. Information on the financial aid ramifications of these actions is available in the College Catalog.

Student Services and Activities

Information on various student services can be found in the College Catalog.

Information on various student activities can be found in the College Catalog.

Computer Services

Villa Maria College provides a wide array of technology services to students and employees. Information on these services can be found on the Computer Services web page at https://www.villa.edu/campus-life/student-services/computer-services/. Information on how Villa protects the privacy of student and employee information is available at https://www.villa.edu/privacy/.

To avail themselves of these services, students must sign the Student Account Agreement Form and abide by the Internet Acceptable Use Policy (http://www.villa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/INTERNET-STUDENT-ACCEPTABLE-USE-POLICY.pdf).

When using Villa Maria College technology accounts and equipment, students and employees must also follow copyright law. Information on copyright law and file sharing as it pertain to the Villa Maria College community can be viewed in the Student Handbook (https://www.villa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VMC-Student-Handbook-2024-2025.pdf).

Villa Maria College is an equal opportunity employer. More information about Employment at Villa Maria College can be found at http://jobs.villa.edu.

Villa Maria College, in compliance with the amended Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, protects the privacy of students who attend or have attended the College. Therefore, no information from students’ educational records will be disclosed except to parties who have been determined to have legitimate need as defined by the policies of the Registrar’s Office.

Villa Maria College retains the right to release certain public directory information about students, unless a student files an appropriate form requesting that this information not be released.

This data includes the student name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous school attended, and any photograph. Information may be released to official agencies or organizations.

Villa Maria College does not publish nor make a student directory available to non-campus constituencies.

All formal requests for records should be directed to:
Registrar, Villa Maria College
240 Pine Ridge Road Buffalo, New York 14225

Additional information on FERPA can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

Students who are residents of New York State can register to vote by visiting the New York State Board of Elections website at http://www.elections.ny.gov/votingregister.html. Printed NYS voter registration forms are also available at the Switchboard upon request.

Out-of-state students can visit https://vote.gov/ and select the state in which they reside to find out how to register to vote in that state.

Villa Maria College received $2,343,546 in Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provided in the American Rescue Plan in total. Per federal guidance, the institution intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of at least 50% of the emergency financial aid grants to students.

Villa Maria College received $ 1,171,774 for the HEERF student portion of the American Rescue Plan. The estimated total number of students at the institution eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant is 443. The total number of students who have received an emergency financial aid grant is 388.

Villa Maria College used a set formula to determine which students did or will receive emergency financial aid grants and how much funding they did or will receive. The formula prioritized students who requested funding through an application by full time Pell eligible, full time, part time Pell eligible, and part time. The average total grants awarded between March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022 were $625. All students were informed of the availability of funds and invited to apply for emergency aid. As of June 30, 2022, 379 students have received $1,149,668 from the HEERF student portion of the American Rescue Act.

Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of September 2020.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of December 2020.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of March 2021.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of June 2021.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of September 2021.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of December 2021.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of March 2022.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of July 2022.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of October 2022.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of December 2022.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of March 2023.
Click here to read Villa Maria College’s quarterly report for HEERF as of July 2023.