Preferred Systems, Inc.
Preferred Systems, Inc. specializes in facilitating continuing education, training, behavioral health and violence prevention programs, and minority recruitment services, to government agencies, businesses, and professional organizations.
- As a continuing education provider we develop and facilitate continuing education courses and help our corporate customers grow their training programs and automate their operations. PreferredSystems, Inc.'s mission is to promote the value of credentialing and the required continuing education courses to maintain certification and licenser. Preferred Systems, Inc. achieves its mission by providing personalized services and by making affiliations, which produce quality educational programs in support of credentialing activities that include licensure and certification, competency assurance, accreditation, and training-related certification.
- We use our custom Internet-based software platform for class administration, registration, attendance, certification management, customer satisfaction and more.
- Our behavioral health and prevention programs bring at-risk children and their families together through education groups to strengthen families and increase the likelihood that children will succeed at home, at school, and in the community.
- We don't just teach - we also produce. Our Minority Recruiting division specializes in the recruitment, training, assessment and placement of qualified women and minorities in proper trade positions for large construction projects.
Presenters/Instructors
Presenters must have knowledge and expertise in the content area and take an active part in planning their presentations.
Presenters have documented qualifications that demonstrate their education and experience in the content area they are presenting. Expertise in subject matter is evaluated based on education, professional achievements and credentials, work
experience, honors, awards, professional publications, etc. Presenters participate in planning, and there is documentation of involvement in the planning of their own presentations.
An active role in planning an activity can range from the development of objectives, content outline, or teaching methods to providing input in these areas. The activity and teaching/learning materials are prepared by the presenter or prepared by the planners with input from the presenters.
Disclosure and Resolution of Personal Conflicts of Interest Policy
Having planners and presenters with relevant financial relationships or affiliations with a commercial company does not preclude involvement in a continuing education activity; however, the relationships, or lack of, must be made known to the learners in advance and in accordance with Preferred Systems, Inc. and its Continuing Education guidelines.
A relevant financial relationship is a relationship in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest, or other financial benefit. Financial relationships can also include “contracted research” where the institution gets the grant and manages the funds and the individual is the principal or named investigator on the grant. Preferred Systems, Inc. considers relationships of the person involved in the activity to include financial relationships of a family member. Preferred Systems, Inc. also considers financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months as relevant in terms of creating a conflict of interest. All financial relationships, or lack of, must be disclosed to the learners for twelve months following initiation of the relationship.
If a conflict arises as a result of the financial relationship, disclosure statements must be obtained from ALL planners and presenters to identify and resolve any potentially biasing relevant financial relationships on the part of those who have an impact on the content of the education activity. Planners or presenters who do not provide disclosure statements may not participate in the activity.
When a relevant financial relationship is identified, the provider must inform participants of the following:
- name of the individual
- nature of commercial interest(s)
- nature of the relationship the individual has with each commercial interest
Disclosure of information about provider and faculty relationships must be disclosed to participants either verbally or in writing prior to the program. The source of all support from entities with commercial interests must be disclosed to learners prior to the beginning of the educational activity. When commercial support is other than monetary support, the nature of the support must also be disclosed to learners.
Target Audience and Needs Assessment
The activity is developed in response to educational needs of potential participants. Activities are planned and implemented based on identified needs of the target audience. Educational needs include general professional issues, specific practice problems, or issues related to future trends in practice.
Data gathering for a needs assessment may include asking attendees what their needs are, analyzing the specific identified attendee population and specific professional requirements, and reviewing professional literature. Characteristics of potential learners are also considered in planning the activity.
The method/process used to identify target audience and determine needs is documented.
Education Design Documentation
Educational objectives are written, measurable statements; objectives describe the knowledge, skills and/or attitude changes that should occur upon successful completion of the activity. Determination of the objectives is a collaborative activity between planners and presenters. The objectives are derived from the overall purpose/goal of the activity.
Learner-oriented outcomes are expressed in measurable terms, identified observable actions. Each objective has corresponding content.
Content is related to and is consistent with the activity objectives and each objective has corresponding content.
Each objective has written content that is directly related to that objective. Subject matter relates to each objective.
This outline provides information on the material that will be presented to support the intended outcome and facilitate learner achievement of the objectives.
All courses provided by Preferred Systems, Inc. are updated in accordance to the established policies by the appropriate certification/accreditation authority. Technical courses are updated on a yearly basis.
Non-technical courses every two years or sooner depending upon our renew committee requiring updates as identified by our course offering committee which meets bi-annually to review upcoming identified programs.
Teaching/learning strategies are congruent with content presented and support attainment of the educational objectives. Appropriate resources, materials, and delivery are to be used.
Preferred Systems, Inc. will conduct a sponsor and course evaluation at the conclusion of each course. Each evaluation will address the following areas:
- Achievement of stated educational objectives.
- Content of the program useful, comprehensive, and appropriate and adequately in–depth.
- Effectiveness of the faculty and learning methods.
- Quality of faculty.
- Usefulness of educational materials.
- Appropriateness of learning assessment programs
- Perception of bias or commercialism
Evaluations will be provided to the specific accreditation/certification authority upon request.
1. COPYRIGHT POLICY
GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT
Copyright is the ownership and control of the intellectual property in original works of authorship, which are subject to copyright law. It is the policy of the Preferred Systems, Inc. that all rights in copyright shall remain with the creator unless the work is a work-for-hire (and copyright vests in Preferred Systems, Inc. under copyright law), is supported by a direct allocation of funds through Preferred Systems, Inc. for the pursuit of a specific project, is commissioned by Preferred Systems, Inc., makes significant use of Preferred Systems, Inc. resources or personnel, or is otherwise subject to contractual obligations.
BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND SIMILAR WORKS, INCLUDING UNPATENTABLE SOFTWARE
In accord with academic tradition, except to the extent set forth in this policy, Preferred Systems, Inc. does not claim ownership to pedagogical, scholarly, or artistic works, regardless of their form of expression.
INSTITUTIONAL WORKS
Preferred Systems, Inc. shall retain ownership of works created as institutional works. Institutional works include works that are supported by a specific allocation of Preferred Systems, Inc. funds or that are created at the direction of the Preferred Systems, Inc. for a specific purpose. Institutional works also include works whose authorship cannot be attributed to one or a discrete number of authors but rather result from simultaneous or sequential contributions over time by multiple faculty and students. For example, software tools developed and improved over time by multiple faculty and students where authorship is not appropriately attributed to a single or defined group of authors would constitute an institutional work. The mere fact that multiple individuals have contributed to the creation of a work shall not cause the work to constitute an institutional work.
PATENT AND COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT
All faculty, staff, student employees, as well as non-employees who participate or intend to participate in teaching and/or research at Preferred Systems, Inc. are bound by this policy. They are also required to sign the Preferred Systems, Inc. Patent and Copyright Agreement. Except as described in Section 1.B. above, this agreement assigns rights to copyright-able works resulting from Preferred Systems, Inc. projects. This policy applies, and those subject to this policy are deemed to assign their rights to copyright-able works, whether or not a Patent and Copyright Agreements is signed and is on file.
Royalty income received by Preferred Systems, Inc. for such works will normally be distributed in accordance with
Preferred Systems, Inc. policy (see Section 2.B.2 below).
WORKS OF NON-EMPLOYEES
Under the Copyright Act, works of non-employees such as consultants, independent contractors, etc. generally are owned by the creator and not by Preferred Systems, Inc., unless there is a written agreement to the contrary. As it is Preferred Systems, Inc.’s policy that Preferred Systems, Inc. shall retain ownership of such works (created as institutional rather than personal efforts, as described in Section 1.C, above), Preferred Systems, Inc. will generally require a written agreement from non-employees that ownership of such works will be assigned to Preferred Systems, Inc.
Examples of works, which Preferred Systems, Inc. may retain non-employees to prepare, are:
- Reports by consultants or subcontractors
- Computer software
- Illustrations or designs
- Artistic works
- Educational programs
VIDEOTAPING AND RELATED CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY
Courses taught and courseware developed for teaching at Preferred Systems, Inc., belong to Preferred Systems, Inc. Any courses, which are videotaped or recorded using any other media, are Preferred Systems, Inc.’s property, and may not be further distributed without permission from the Director of Education. Blanket permission is provided for evanescent video or other copies for the use of students, or for other Preferred Systems, Inc. purposes. Prior to videotaping, permission should be obtained from anyone who will appear in the final curriculum.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS OF PREFERRED SYSTEMS, INC.
This Copyright Policy shall not be interpreted to limit Preferred Systems, Inc.’s ability to meet its obligations for
deliverables under any contract, grant, or other arrangement with third parties, including sponsored research agreements, license agreements and the like. Copyrightable works that are subject to sponsored research agreements or other contractual obligations of Preferred Systems, Inc. shall be owned by Preferred Systems, Inc., so that Preferred Systems, Inc. may satisfy its contractual obligations.
USE OF PREFERRED SYSTEMS, INC.’S RESOURCES
Preferred Systems, Inc. resources are to be used solely Preferred Systems, Inc. purposes and not for personal gain or personal commercial advantage, nor for any other non- Preferred Systems, Inc. purposes. Therefore, if the creator of a copyrightable work makes significant use of the services of Preferred Systems, Inc. non-faculty employees or Preferred Systems, Inc. resources to create the work, he or she shall disclose the work to the Director of Education and assign title to Preferred Systems, Inc. Examples of non-significant use include ordinary use of desktop computers, and limited secretarial or administrative resources. Questions about what constitutes significant use should be directed to the Director of Education.
USE OF PREFERRED SYSTEMS, INC.’S RESOURCES
Preferred Systems, Inc. resources are to be used solely Preferred Systems, Inc. purposes and not for personal gain or personal commercial advantage, nor for any other non- Preferred Systems, Inc. purposes. Therefore, if the creator of a copyrightable work makes significant use of the services of Preferred Systems, Inc. non-faculty employees or Preferred Systems, Inc. resources to create the work, he or she shall disclose the work to the Director of Education and assign title to Preferred Systems, Inc. Examples of non-significant use include ordinary use of desktop computers, and limited secretarial or administrative resources. Questions about what constitutes significant use should be directed to the Director of Education.
RECONVEYANCE OF COPYRIGHT TO CREATOR
When copyright is assigned to Preferred Systems, Inc. because of the provisions of this policy, the creator of the copyrighted material may make a request to the Director of Education that ownership be re-conveyed back to the
creator. Such a request can, at the discretion of the Director of Education, be granted if it does not: (i) violate any legal obligations of or to Preferred Systems, Inc., (ii) limit appropriate Preferred Systems, Inc. uses of the materials, (iii) create a real or potential conflict of interest for the creator, or (iv) otherwise conflict with Preferred Systems, Inc. goals or principles.
2. ADMINISTRATION OF POLICY
DETERMINATIONS OF OWNERSHIP AND POLICY IN UNCLEAR CASES
The President of Preferred Systems, Inc., shall resolve questions of ownership or other matters pertaining to materials covered by this policy, (or his or her designee)
LICENSING AND INCOME SHARING
The President of Preferred Systems, Inc., shall resolve questions of ownership or other matters pertaining to materials covered by this policy, (or his or her designee)
- LICENSING
Preferred Systems, Inc. seeks the most effective means of technology transfer for public use and benefit and, toward that end, handles the evaluation, marketing, negotiations and licensing of Preferred Systems, Inc. owned inventions or copyright-able materials with commercial potential.
Computer databases, software and firmware, and other copyright-able works owned by Preferred Systems, Inc., are licensed by Preferred Systems, Inc. Exceptions to this procedure must be approved in advance by the Director of Education.
- ROYALTY DISTRIBUTION
Royalties will normally be allocated in accordance with Preferred Systems, Inc. policy on Inventions, Patents, and Licensing. If copyright protection alone is claimed, royalties normally will be allocated in a similar manner, with the "inventor's share" allocated among individuals identified by the investigator, based on their relative contributions to the work. Where royalty distribution to individuals would be impracticable or inequitable (for example, when the copyright-able material has been developed as a educational project), the "inventor's share" may be allocated to an educational account in the department where the copyrightable material was developed. Such determination will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Education after consultation with the principal investigator and is subject to the approval of the President of Preferred Systems, Inc.
- ASSIGNMENTS
No assignment, license or other agreement may be entered into or will be considered valid with respect to copyrighted works owned by Preferred Systems, Inc. except by an official specifically authorized to do so.
- Artistic works
- Educational programs
USE OF PREFERRED SYSTEMS, INC.’S NAME IN COPYRIGHT NOTICES
The following notice should be placed on Preferred Systems, Inc. owned materials in order to protect the copyright:
Copyright © [year] The Board of Directors, Preferred Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No other institutional or departmental name is to be used in the copyright notice, although the name and address of the department to which readers can direct inquiries may be listed below the copyright notice. The date in the notice should be the year in which the work is first published, i.e. distributed to the public or any sizable audience.
Additionally, works may be registered with the United States Copyright Office using its official forms. Forms may be obtained from the Director of Education, to which questions concerning copyright notices and registration also may be addressed.
COPYRIGHT AGREEMENTS
Each department is responsible for getting a Patent and Copyright Agreement, signed, normally at the time of the individual's initial association with Preferred Systems, Inc. See Section 1.D above.
COPYING OF WORKS OWNED BY OTHERS
Members of Preferred Systems, Inc. community are cautioned to observe the rights of other copyright owners. Contact the Director of Education’s Office or the Preferred Systems, Inc.’s legal counsel at the Quinn Law Firm, for policies pertaining to copying for classroom use.
SPONSORED AGREEMENTS
Contracts and grants frequently contain complex provisions relating to copyright, rights in data, royalties, publication and various categories of material including proprietary data, computer software, licenses, etc. Questions regarding the specific terms and conditions of individual contracts and grants, or regarding rules, regulations and statutes applicable to the various government agencies, should be addressed to the Director of Education.
GENERAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
The Director of Education, and the Quinn Law Firm are available to advise on questions arising under this policy, and to assist with the negotiation and interpretation of the provisions of proposed formal agreements with third parties, as described earlier in this section.
3. OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
TRADE AND SERVICE MARKS
Trade and service marks are distinctive words or graphic symbols identifying the sources, product, producer, or distributor of goods or services. Trade or service marks relating to goods or services distributed by Preferred Systems, Inc. shall be owned by Preferred Systems, Inc. Examples include names and symbols used in conjunction with computer programs or Preferred Systems, Inc. activities and events. Consult the Director of Education for information about registration, protection, and use of marks.
PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
Proprietary information arising out of Preferred Systems, Inc. work (e.g., actual and proposed terms of research agreements, financial arrangements, or confidential business information) shall be owned by Preferred Systems, Inc. "Trade secret" is a legal term referring to any information, whether or not copyrightable or patentable, which is not generally known or accessible, and which gives competitive advantage to its owner. Trade secrets are proprietary information.
4. TANGIBLE RESEARCH PROPERTY
Preferred Systems, Inc. encourages the prompt and open exchange, for others' scholarly use, of software, firmware and
biological material resulting from research.
5. EXPLANATION OF TERMS
COPYRIGHT
COPYRIGHTABLE WORKS
Under the federal copyright law, copyright subsists in "original works of authorship" which have been fixed in any tangible medium of expression from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. These works include:
- Literary works such as books, journal articles, poems, manuals, memorandum, tests, computer programs, instructional material, databases, bibliographies;
- Musical works including any accompanying words;
- Dramatic works, including any accompanying music;
- Pantomimes and choreographic works (if fixed, as in notation or videotape);
- Pictorial, graphic and sculptural works, including photographs, diagrams, sketches and integrated circuit masks;
- Motion pictures and other audiovisual works such as videotapes;
- Sound recordings.
SCOPE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, process, concept, discovery or the like, but only to the work in which it may be embodied, illustrated, or explained. For example, a written description of a manufacturing process is copyright-able, but the copyright only prevents unauthorized copying of the description; the process described could be freely copied unless it enjoys some other protection, such as patent.
Subject to various exceptions and limitations provided for in the copyright law, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce the work, prepare derivative works, distribute copies by sale or otherwise, and display or perform the work publicly. Ownership of copyright is distinct from the ownership of any material object in which the work may be embodied. For example, if one purchases videotape, one does not necessarily obtain the right to make a public showing for profit.
The term of copyright in works created on or after January 1, 1978, is the life of the author plus seventy years. Copyright in works-for-hire is for ninety-five years from the date of first publication or one hundred twenty years from creation, whichever period first expires.
WORKS FOR HIRE
"Work for hire" is a legal term defined in the Copyright Act as "a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment." This definition includes works prepared by employees in satisfaction of sponsored agreements between Preferred Systems, Inc. and outside agencies. Certain commissioned works also are works for hire if the parties so agree in writing.
The employer (i.e., Preferred Systems, Inc.) by law is the "author," and hence the owner, of works for hire for copyright purposes. Works for hire subject to this principle include works that are developed, in whole or in part, by Preferred Systems, Inc. employees.
Preferred Systems, Inc. Grievance Policy
Preferred Systems, Inc. takes any and all complaints concerning its educational offerings seriously, wanting to provide the highest quality of educational offerings possible.
- Notify the program instructor or program monitor of one’s concern.
- If the concern is not addressed satisfactory to the complainant, the participant is then required to address in writing their concerns to the Director of Education who will review the concern and respond to the participant in writing.
- The President of Preferred Systems, Inc. will review all complaints at this level.
Cost and Refund Policy for Courses with Fees Associated
Live Programs – Webinars
A cancellation request must be received 24 hours prior to the start of a class in order to be eligible for a refund. If the cancellation request is not received within a period of 24 hours or more prior to the start of the class, a refund will not be issued. In the event a course is cancelled, you will be given the option to attend the rescheduled class (if applicable) or receive a full refund.
Self-Study and Internet Courses
No refund will be made for online self-study courses, except in cases where attendees are unable to access or complete an online course due to technical difficulties originating from the Preferred Systems, Inc. website or servers. To request a refund, attendees must send a written request prior to taking the online self-study course.
Cancellation Policy
Preferred Systems will cancel any program that does not have enough participants to offer a viable course. Preferred Systems, Inc. will call all pre-registered participants one week prior to the date of offering. We will also place any program cancellation notifications on our web site –
www.preferrededucation.com. Should weather be a contributing factor for calculation, all local news formats will be notified when determination of cancellation occurs as well as notification will be listed on our website
www.preferrededucation.com.
Attendance Policy
Attendance during the entirety of the course is mandatory in order to earn the approved amount of CEUs. Sign in and out each day to verify attendance. Presentation of picture identification is required to sign in and out. No exceptions can be made to this policy.
Grading Policy
Live Programs – Webinars
Grading is determined on a pass/fail basis depending on attendance and class participation.
Self-Study and Internet Courses
Pass score is 70% or more except for Social Worker Continuing Education Credits which is 80% or more.
Confidentiality Policy
It is the policy of Preferred Systems, Inc. to ensure that the operations, activities and business affairs of the Company and our clients are kept confidential to the greatest possible extent. If, during the course of their employment employees acquire confidential or proprietary information about Preferred Systems, Inc. and its clients, such information is to be handled in strict confidence and not to be discussed with outsiders. Employees are also responsible for the internal security of such information.
Employees found to be violating this policy are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, and may also be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties for violation.
All test materials, exams, answer keys, student answers, and other course related material are kept under lock and key within the offices of Preferred Systems, Inc.
Non- Discrimination Statement
Preferred Systems, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age. Preferred Systems is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all aspects of its continuing education activities. Participants who have special needs are encouraged to contact program organizers so that all reasonable efforts to accommodate theses needs can be made.
