Student handbook

Letter from President

Dear brave healers:

By choosing to be a practitioner of acupuncture and oriental medicine, you are starting to heal yourself as well as submit your life as an agent of service to the patients, the community, and society.

Once you start school in BACM, your life will be filled with things you never think about before or never have time to do: wisdom from a few thousand years ago; science you might try to learn by yourself but never find the time to learn; technology that you can actually master and may invent something new.

The years in BACM will be challenging. But you will find your life being more meaningful for the rest of your life. In addition, by helping others, you don’t need to worry about getting laid off or fired, as you can support yourself financially.

There is a slogan in China: Action is better than talking. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get started.

President

Weihui (Wendy) Li

09/05/2020

Introduction

Boston Academy of Chinese Medicine (BACM), located in Needham, Massachusetts, is a non-profit Academy of higher education and research center that will focus on Chinese Medicine, including Acupuncture, Herbal medicine. With the advances of science and technology that are developed in the past centuries, this ancient wisdom of health will also be empowered with them.

BACM offers two programs presently: Master of Acupuncture, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The first batch aims to start its first class in Spring 2022. It is currently being reviewed by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education for the granting of Master’s and Doctoral degrees. Once approved by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the institute and programs will invite the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) for visit and apply for the pre-accreditation.

With the Master of Acupuncture degree or Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree, and by passing the board of medicine tests, the students can apply for a license to practice acupuncture and/or herbal medicine throughout the United States.

Mission, Visions and Student Learning Outcomes

o Mission

To educate and cultivate brilliant healers, teachers, and leaders in Chinese medicine who revolutionize the future of healthcare and improve lives; to conduct research, share research findings, and improve usability, scalability, security, reliability, and performance of Chinese Medicine.

o Visions

BACM is leading innovation in delivering Chinese medicine and integrative health science education to practitioners and the public.  BACM is a catalyst for the adoption and integration of technology and integrative health science principles, practices, and research, empowering individuals to gain and maintain health and enjoy life.

o Core Values

All members of the BACM community embody the intention of improving lives exponentially. We lead by example and by practicing the values of:

✔     Integrity

✔     Mindfulness

✔     Compassion

✔     Critical Thinking

✔     Collaboration

✔     Education

o Student Learning Outcomes

At the end of the program, graduates in the Master of Acupuncture program will be able to:

✔    Master traditional Chinese medicine theoretical foundations, clinical diagnosis, and treatment strategies.

✔    Understand modern medicine in the fields of chemistry, biology, physiology, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and nutrition.

✔    Keep up with the recent advances in scientific and technological findings on acupuncture through regular literature reviews.

✔    Integrate modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine to improve patient care and patient satisfaction.

✔    Prepare and pass the national board exams and get licenses to practice acupuncture.

✔    Create and implement business plans, policies, procedures, marketing/outreach plans to support success in professional practice.

✔    Comply with HIPAA regulations, professional and ethical standards.

At the end of the program, graduates in the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program will be able to

✔    Master traditional Chinese medicine theoretical foundations, clinical diagnosis, and treatment strategies.

✔    Understand modern medicine in the fields of chemistry, biology, physiology, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and nutrition.

✔    Keep up with the recent advances in scientific and technological findings on acupuncture through regular literature reviews.

✔    Integrate modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine to improve patient care and patient satisfaction.

✔    Prepare and pass the national board exams and get licenses to practice acupuncture and herbal medicine,

✔    Create and implement business plans, policies, procedures, marketing/outreach plans to support success in professional practice.

✔    Comply with HIPAA regulations, professional and ethical standards.

✔    Develop the ability to think critically and creatively, synthesize knowledge, and use research findings and the scientific and scholarly literature to support acupuncture and oriental medicine professional practice.

✔    Develop knowledge and understanding of how to engage in collaborative interactions involving acupuncture and herbal medicine practitioners and other health care practitioners.

✔    Improve the fields of acupuncture and oriental medicine by teaching others as professors or pursuing academic research.

Accreditation, Memberships and Approvals

o Accreditation

BACM has been in touch with the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for freestanding institutions and colleges of acupuncture or oriental medicine that offer such programs. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/212-2434; fax 301/313-0912.

Once BACM starts to run, BACM will get pre-accreditation status from ACAOM. Please refer to the link here: https://acaom.org/policies/accreditation-procedures/ for the accreditation procedure.

The Master of Acupuncture, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at BACM will also get accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/212-2434; fax 301/313-0912.

o National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM ®) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization established in 1982. The NCCAOM is the only national organization that validates entry-level competency in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) through professional certification. NCCAOM certification or a passing score on the NCCAOM certification examinations are documentation of competency for licensure as an acupuncturist by 43 states plus the District of Columbia which represents 98% of the states that regulate acupuncture. 76 South Laura Street, Suite 1290 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Tel (904) 598-1005, Fax (904) 598-5001, www.nccaom.org.

This catalog is published for the purpose of informing students, prospective students, and others interested in the operations of BACM, primarily regarding the educational programs and policies of the school. All information is judged to be accurate at the time of publication.

However, the contents hereof are subject to change without prior notice. Please note that all reasonable efforts are made on an ongoing basis to supplement in loose leaf hardcopy format any changes, additions, or other revisions to the text of this catalog that may come into existence prior to the publication of the following edition of the catalog.

Campus

Campus & Academic Offices	10 Kearney Road, #151, Needham, MA, 02494
Clinic	223 Worcester St, Natick, MA, 01760 10 Kearney Road, #151, Needham, MA, 02494 126 Union St, #2, Marlborough, MA, 01752
Mailing Address	223 Worcester St, Natick, MA, 01760

BACM is located in Needham/Natick Massachusetts within easy driving distance of Boston. Students have access to public transportation and part-time job opportunities. BACM offers classrooms, library, and internship clinic as well as student lounge for the students to study comfortably and effectively. Various educational equipment such as computers, electronic projectors, online resources etc. will ensure the students have an advanced learning environment. In addition to the regular classroom furnishings, audiovisual equipment including electronic projectors, book projectors, LCD and computer equipment will be available for instructional usage. Supplemental studying materials such as the anatomical models, charts, herb samples, and various electronic software will be made available in classroom settings and in the library. Medical Equipment used within the scope of acupuncture treatment is also provided in the Academy clinic for practical training purposes.

School Clinic

Acupuncture Internship

BACM will have its own clinic to provide students with acupuncture internships. The clinic is also a place to provide residents of the town of Needham and around health services. By observing, assisting, and independently practicing in a supervised environment, students have the opportunity to apply clinically the knowledge learned through their didactic instruments as well as hands-on practices. Equipment within the scope of acupuncture will be used for instruction.

Herbal Pharmacy

The Herbal Pharmacy will have stocks of over 400 Chinese herbs, concentrated herbal granules, and many commonly prepared formulas. During clinical training, students learn how to become competent in herbal formula preparation and become proficient in identifying individual herbs by their Pin Yin and Latin names.

Educational Resources

Library

The school library will house a collection of acupuncture and oriental medicine medical books, in English and Chinese, as well as journals, newsletters, and other periodicals, all in digital format. Kindles will be available for the students to read these digital books. A printer will be available if the students prefer to read hard copies.

Student life

BACM places a high value on the quality of student life both in and out of the classroom. We provide an environment that encourages involvement in a wide variety of activities of an academic and nonacademic nature, including clubs, community service opportunities.

Student Housing

BACM does not assume responsibility for student housing, does not have dormitory facilities under its control, nor offers student housing assistance. The Student Services Staff can advise students on local affordable rentals. Housing located within a 5-10 miles radius is available year-round and the cost ranges from a $1500 studio to a $2500 two-bedroom apartment.

Parking

The campus has parking lots. Students can also park on the streets surrounding the campus. Street parking is not metered or limited by time.

Job Placement Service

BACM will not provide jobs for graduates. But BACM will facilitate the students with career development.

Americans with Disabilities Act

BACM is committed to accommodating students with physical and learning disabilities. Accommodations and other support services are tailored to meet the needs of the individual student and are intended to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Degree Programs

BACM is offering two programs: Master of Acupuncture, Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

● Admissions Requirements

Applications for May, September and January admissions, including all supporting documents, are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, space permitting.

All applicants who meet the admissions requirements are considered for admission upon submission of:

●       Completed application form.

●       Official college transcript(s) sent directly from all the college(s) previously attended to BACM’s admissions office.

●       Current resume or CV outlining educational and professional development.

●       Two letters of reference sent directly to BACM from professionals, instructors, and/or employers who know the applicant and know that the applicant’s skills and ability to perform graduate-level studies.

●       Copies of any professional licenses or certificates if applicable.

●       Copy of driver’s license or passport.

●       Nonrefundable application fee of $50

●       Proof of English language competency if English is not the applicant’s first language.

o   1. Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (TOEFL® iBT) a. Acceptable scores: TOEFL iBT Total Score – 80 and TOEFL iBT Speaking Score – 26; or

o   2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) a. Acceptable scores: IELTS Overall Score 6.5 (Academic Format) and IELTS Spoken Band – 8.0; or

o   3. completion of two years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of baccalaureate or graduate level, English-based education in an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. English must have been the language of instruction and the language of the curriculum used.

●       Completed a 250-500 words essay, with the following required elements:

o   Previous experience

o   Future professional goals

o   How the program can help to achieve those goals

●       Immunization Records (MMR)

For Master of Acupuncture degrees, the followings are requirements:

●       A bachelor’s degree or higher, or the equivalent, from an accredited institution.

●       Students may be considered for admission if they have completed at least 90 baccalaureate level semester credits (135 quarter credits) from a regionally accredited institute, college, or university with a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5. They need to demonstrate the competencies to complete the Master’s degree with strong referral letters from credible recommenders or credible experience in the health-related field.

●       The capacity to practice professional services and provide patient-centered care.

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is a clinically focused postgraduate program leading to a clinical doctorate degree. Graduates are leaders in the field, either as skilled practitioners for varieties of complex conditions, clinical researchers, or professors for future students. They are to develop strong clinical judgment skills and use research findings to improve clinical decisions and future education.

The requirements for Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine admissions are:

●       A bachelor’s degree or higher, or the equivalent, from an accredited institution.

●       The capacity to practice professional services and provide patient-centered care.

●       One systematic review paper in the healthcare field to demonstrate the capacity to conduct research.

Applicants who already hold with Master of Acupuncture degree and desire to reach the highest level of achievement within the profession are encouraged to apply to Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. There are additional requirements to meet for the consideration of Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree for an applicant with a Master of Acupuncture degree:

● Has completed Master’s degree in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

● Complete an essay, demonstrating their competency of research ability.

For candidates of “Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine”, they can choose to get a Master of Acupuncture degree without completing the full Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree, if they successfully complete all the requirements for Master of Acupuncture.

Prior Learning

For both Master of Acupuncture and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the students need to finish the following courses prior to admission to the programs with 2.5 or above out of 4. However, the student can also take these courses from accredited institutions as a co-requisite after being conditionally admitted to the programs;

●       Biology

a)     Minimum 45 lecture hours, 3 credits hours (no lab required)

b)    Minimum 2.5 GPA

●       Anatomy and Physiology

a)     Minimum 90 lecture hours, 30 lab hours, and 8 credits hours

b)    Minimum 2.5 GPA

●       General Chemistry & Biochemistry

a)     Minimum 45 lecture hours, 3 credits

b)    Minimum 2.5 GPA

●       Physics

a)     Minimum 45 lecture hours, 3 credits hours

b)    Minimum 2.5 GPA

Interview:

●        Once the applicants have submitted all necessary documents, we will schedule an interview with members of the admissions committee (formed by the professors and instructors). During the interview, the applicants will be asked about their career goals, their interest in acupuncture and oriental medicine, and the reasons for wanting to attend BACM.

International Students who need I-20

●       Currently, BACM has not been authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enroll international students yet who need I-20. Once it is authorized, BACM will welcome students from foreign countries and will issue an I-20 and enroll non-immigrant international students.

● Readmission

The academic Committee must evaluate the student’s standing. If more than five years have elapsed since the last prior enrollment, the Academic Committee will reevaluate the student’s placement and the student may be required to take a placement test; if this is failed, he or she needs to retake the class.

Students must contact the Academic Committee to be sure all prior financial commitments are complete no less than 30 days before the semester starts. A letter of full acceptance will be sent to the student after the student file and prior financial commitments are complete.

● Leave of Absence Policy

A Leave of Absence (LOA) refers to a specific time period during a student’s ongoing program of study when he or she is not in academic attendance. It does not include non-attendance for a scheduled break in a student’s program. Upon returning from an approved LOA, a student must complete any coursework he or she begins prior to their LOA.

For the BACM program, a written request must be made, and the LOA may not exceed a cumulative one hundred and eighty days within any twelve months period.

For a LOA to be approved, the student must do the following:

● Provide a written, signed, and dated request, prior to the time period in which the leave is to occur, unless unforeseen circumstances prevent the student from doing so.

● This request must be approved by the Academic Committee.

● Foreign students may apply for a limited Leave of Absence if Homeland Security rules, regulations, policies and procedures are adhered to. As stated above, a Leave of Absence must be requested prior to the time the student plans to be away from school. In addition, a foreign student may not apply for a Leave of Absence until the student has attended the Academy for at least one academic year. If the Leave of Absence is not approved and the student no longer attends class, the student is considered to have ceased attendance at the school.

Students returning from a LOA must contact the Academic Committee before registering for classes. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of any policy and/or curriculum changes. Students who have not attended the Academy for one year or more, must apply for re-admission and must meet the current entrance requirements.

● Program Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from the school any time after the add/ drop period (described above) and receive a prorated refund if he or she has completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period in his or her program through the last day of attendance. A registration or administration fee will be deducted from the refund, not to exceed $250.00, as well as a deduction for equipment not returned in good condition within 45 days of withdrawal. If the student has completed more than 60% of the period of attendance for which the student was charged, the tuition is considered earned and the student will receive no refund.

For the purpose of determining a refund under this section, a student shall be deemed to have withdrawn from a program of instruction when any of the following occurs:

● The student notifies the institution in writing of the student’s withdrawal date or the date the student last attended class, whichever is later.

● The institution terminates the student’s enrollment for failure to maintain satisfactory progress; failure to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution; absences in excess of the maximum set forth by the institution; and/or failure to meet financial obligations to the school.

For the purpose of determining the amount of the refund, the date of the student’s withdrawal shall be deemed the last date of the scheduled attendance. The amount owed equals the daily charge for the program (total institutional charge, minus non-refundable fees, divided by the number of days in the program), multiplied by the number of days scheduled to attend, prior to withdrawal. If the student has received federal student financial aid funds, the student is entitled to a refund of money not paid from federal student financial aid program funds.

Withdrawals may be evaluated by the student’s written notice or by the student’s conduct, including, but not necessarily limited to, a student’s lack of attendance.

● Graduation Requirements

Academic requirements may vary slightly each year, so students should refer to the catalog specific to the year in which they entered the program as well as consult with an academic advisor.

On occasion, due to professional and/or legal changes, students may be required to complete additional requirements not included in the curriculum plan under which they entered. Examples of such occasions may relate to changes to licensure requirements or national board examination requirements. BACM will inform the students both through their provided electronic communication method (e.g., email) and through certified mail to the mailing addresses the students provided whenever such occasions happen. It will be the student’s sole responsibility to meet these requirements.

To qualify for graduation, students must meet the following requirements.

● Credit Requirements

Complete all didactic and clinical instruction hours listed below.

Master of Acupuncture

At least three (3) academic years in length (equivalent to at least 27 calendar months, or 90 instructional weeks).

Subjects	Credits Hours	Clock Hours
Oriental medical theory, diagnosis, and treatment techniques in acupuncture and related studies	47	705
Biomedical clinical sciences	30	450
Counseling, communication, ethics and practice management	6	90
Clinical training	22	660
Supervised clinical care of patients	0	500
Total	105	2405

Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

At least four (4) academic years in length (equivalent to at least 36 calendar months, or 120 instructional weeks).

Note: Students who have achieved a Master of Acupuncture degree and have fulfilled prior credit requirements will only have one additional year of instruction to achieve the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Subjects	Credits Hours	Clock Hours
Oriental medical theory, diagnosis, and treatment techniques in acupuncture and related studies	47	705
Didactic Oriental Herbal studies	30	450
Integrated Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic Training	51	1530
Biomedical Clinical Science	40	600
Counseling, Communication, Ethics and Practice Management	6	90
Supervised Clinical Care of Patients	0	1000
Dissertation	4	60
Total	178	4435

● GPA requirement

The grade-point average for the courses counted toward the degree must be 3.0 or above.

● Comprehensive exit exams

Students must complete the written and practical exit exams. The written exit exam is offered each term on the same date as the first-year benchmark exam. Students should take this exam one term prior to their expected graduation date. This exam must be passed with a grade of 70% or better. Students should take the practical exit exam once they have completed the required clinical hours. The practical exit exam is scheduled via the same procedure as the second-year practical exam.

● Financial obligations

Students must fulfill all financial obligations, including library fees, comprehensive exam fees, etc.

● Application for Degree

At least two semesters prior to the term in which the student expects to complete the academic requirements listed above, the student should complete and submit to the Academic Committee the “Application for Degree” form. Prior to submitting this form, the student must pay the finance office the graduation fee of $125. The latest possible time for submitting this form and fee is the first week of the semester in which the student wishes to graduate. Students should obtain an unofficial copy of their BACM transcript, available on their Student Portal, to assist in filling out this form.

● Graduation Certification Form and an Exit Evaluation Survey

In the last few weeks of the term in which they will graduate, students must also complete the Graduation Certification form and an Exit Evaluation survey. The Graduation Certification form requires signatures from the finance office, administrative office, the president office, after completing an exit interview.

● Research project (required for Doctor’s degree, optional for Master’s degree)

All graduates to get the Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree are required to present a dissertation that gives evidence of original and significant research. All dissertations should include the following parts:

✔    Designing the research

✔    Executing the research

✔    Analyzing the data

✔    Interpreting the data

✔    Writing, proofing, or copyediting the manuscript

Graduation Ceremony

The graduation ceremony is held annually in August. If a student intends to graduate within the same calendar year as the ceremony, they may walk and be recognized provided the application for degree and graduation fee has been submitted and paid.

Graduating With Honors Requirements

Students will be evaluated both academically and clinically, as well as evaluated ethically by professors and supervisors. Students with GPA >=3.5 out of 4, clinical performance >=3.8 out of 4 and ethical evaluation >=90 out of 100 will graduate with Honor.