General Policies

Academic Year: The Birthingway academic year begins, generally, the end of March.There are three terms each year. Spring is 14 weeks. Fall is 15 weeks. Winter is 11 weeks. Midwifery core classes are held one day per week, on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, from 9:00am until 4:00 or 4:30pm. Supplemental and elective courses are held on non-core days, evenings, and occasional weekends.

Attendance: Attendance is required at all classes and assigned clinicals as well as at the "Meet and Greet" and Student Orientation/Welcome Reception. Absences are excused only for illness or attendance at a birth. One unexcused absence per course, per term, or a total of two per term, or four per academic year, are allowed before a student may be asked to leave the program.

Behavior: Students should behave in a "professional" manner in dress, speech, and demeanor. The public's view of midwifery is created through individual impressions of midwives and midwifery students – each of us represents both ourselves and all other midwives to the world. While three-piece dress-for-success outfits are not required (or even appropriate!) common sense standards of appearance (clean, hair neat, not too much make-up, reasonable fingernail length) and behavior (appropriate language, voice not too loud, gentleness with clients, fairness and honesty in interactions) are expected.

Childcare: As an institution of higher learning, but one that tries to travel the path of mutuality and support, we have tried to strike a balance among Birthingway’s values of support for mother-child bonding, shared learning inside and outside of the classroom, and informed decision-making.  Therefore, we encourage students to know their options when considering having a child during their Core Years. As stated in our Maternity Leave section, we encourage students to take a Leave of Absence for up to a year after the birth. 

If the student chooses to remain in school, we will allow the student to bring her nursing baby to class up to four months of age, recognizing that babies begin to become more vocal and distracting to the learning of others (and mom) around this age. After this, her childcare provider may bring the baby to her to nurse at each of her breaks, but the baby must be cared for off-site, as we do not currently have safe facilities for the care of children. In addition, we recognize that some of our courses deal with difficult issues that can cause strong emotional responses from student participants (such as abortion, or sexual and domestic violence). Students will want to be aware of these potentials in their classes as they determine whether or not to bring their babies to class. Finally, for safety concerns, no child of any age will be allowed in classes involving sharps (including Critical Care Skills I, II, and III, Hematology, and Suturing) and children under the age of ten should not be left anywhere in the building without adult supervision.

Clinical Placement Support: The Faculty Coordinator assists students in finding preceptors and attends student/preceptor issues. Apprenticeships are available through midwives nationally and internationally.

Community Involvement: Birthingway is not just a school; it is a community. Membership in a community requires honesty, hard work, self-motivation and commitment. In addition to pursuing her own path, each student assumes responsibility for the school's successful functioning by participating in college functions, meetings and committees.

Confidentiality: Students must maintain the confidentiality of information obtained from clients, as well as during peer review, classroom discussion, and in other professional settings. This means not discussing specifics of client care and outcomes outside of the clinic or classroom setting, even with other midwifery students or midwives. A confidentiality agreement is signed each year.

Course Completion: Each course in the program must be completed (80% of all work completely correct, 20% partially correct) before the student can receive a graduation certificate. Courses are “graded” as complete, incomplete, or withdrawn, with the exception of the prerequisite Anatomy and Physiology and Writing courses, which receive letter grades.

Drugs: Birthingway holds a strict policy against students attending classes, clinicals, births, or other practice settings in any condition other than clearheaded, able to concentrate and make good decisions. Smoking of any kind is not allowed on college property, in the college building or at college events.

Expulsion from the program can result for individuals who attempt to work in an intoxicated state (whether from alcohol, marijuana or street drugs), and who do not take seriously their responsibility to the women and babies they work with.

Ethics: Students should strive to interact with clients and others in an ethical manner, in keeping with MANA's "Statement of Values and Ethics."

Student Evaluations: Each student will be evaluated periodically, on the basis of assigned classroom presentations, class participation and preparedness, and regular exams. Additionally, clinical skills will be evaluated in class as well as by each precepting midwife, based on the book Practical Skills Guide for Midwifery, 3rd ed. by Weaver and Evans.

Student Records: Student records are confidential. For release of transcripts and other records, a student must be in good financial standing with Birthingway College of Midwifery. To correct records, students must submit to the registrar a challenge with documentation to support the requested revision.

Note: Policies include, but are not limited to, the above. For complete College policies see the current Catalogue.