AP Student Policies 

Soil Food Web School


Table of Contents

1. Eligibility & Admissions

2. Program Structure

3. Program Duration

4. Time Commitment & Engagement

5. Prerequisites and Course Progression

6. Termination of Enrollment

7. Assessment & Certification

  •  Assessment Requirements
  • Microscopy Proficiency Assessments (MPAs)
  • MPA 1 Recorded Assessment:
  • MPA 2 Live Assessment:
  • Failure, Retakes & Results
  • Accommodations & Appeals

8. Lab-Tech Status

  • Awarding Status
  • Maintaining Status
  • Directory Listings

9. Mentorship

  • Mentorship Model
  • Mentor Assignment
  • Scheduling, Attendance & Cancellations
  • Session Participation
  • Mentor Availability

10. Equipment

11. Student Code of Conduct

12. Cancellation & Refunds

13. Transfers

14. Commercial Conduct

15. Questions and Contact


Eligibility & Admissions

Enrollment in the Advanced Programs is restricted to students who have successfully completed the Foundation Courses


Program Structure 

The Advanced Programs consist of four applied courses designed to build competency through progressive learning and real-world application:

  • Soil Microscopy
  • BioComplete Compost Production
  • Biological Liquid Amendments
  • Field Trial

These courses collectively form the Soil Food Web Complete Practicum.

The program replaces the legacy Consultant Training Program (CTP), Grower Training Program (GTP), and Certified Lab-Tech Program (CLP), and consolidates them into a unified, flexible learning pathway.

Completion of all four courses earns students Soil Food Web Consultant status. 

Completion of the Soil Microscopy course earns students Soil Food Web Lab-Tech status.

Courses may be taken individually; however, certain progression requirements apply. 

Additional courses, such as our new Comprehensive Agriculture Program will become available in the future. 


Program Duration 

Students are granted a maximum duration from the date of their initial enrollment to complete all required components of the program before their enrollment expires. These durations represent significantly more time than is expected to complete the coursework to account for seasonality, life events, and extenuating circumstances. It is expected that most students will be able to complete the full practicum in 18-24 months.  

The durations are as follows:

  • SFW Complete Practicum: 42 months (3.5 years) 
  • Soil Microscopy: 6 months
  • BioComplete Compost Production: 16 months
  • Biological Liquid Amendments: 10 months
  • Field Trial: 10 months


Failure to complete all required courses within the maximum 3.5-year timeframe will result in the expiration of program enrollment. Students who do not complete within this period may be required to re-enroll under the policies and pricing in effect at that time in order to continue.

Once course durations end, students will lose access to their mentor, but still retain course materials and access to office hours and online communities. 

Extensions to program duration may be considered on a case by case basis. 


Time Commitment & Engagement 

The program is designed to balance flexibility with structure and be compatible with full-time professional and personal commitments. However, successful completion requires consistent engagement.

On average, students are expected to dedicate 4-8 hours per week, depending on the course and stage of progression. 

Consistent engagement is strongly recommended to ensure skill retention and competency development.


Certain phases, particularly the Compost Production and Field Trial courses, may require significantly increased time commitment due to their practical and real-world nature.

Students are responsible for:

  • Managing their own time and schedule
  • Maintaining consistent progress
  • Attending scheduled mentor sessions
  • Applying mentor feedback
  • Completing all required coursework and assessments
  • Communicating proactively where support is needed


Prerequisites and Course Progression 

Students may begin the Advanced Programs with either Soil Microscopy, or BioComplete Compost Production.

Completion of the Soil Microscopy and Biocomplete Compost Production are prerequisites for advancement to Biological Liquid Amendments.

Completion of Biological Liquid Amendments is a prerequisite for advancing to the Field Trial.

Students must complete all required components of a course - including lessons, mentor sessions, quizzes, and assessments - before progressing.

The School may enforce progression requirements through the Learning Management System (LMS), including restricting access to future content until prerequisites are met.


Termination of Enrollment 

Enrollment in the Advanced Programs may be terminated under the following conditions:

  • Failure to complete a program within the maximum program duration.
  • Breach of the Student Code of Conduct.
  • Failure to comply with any program policies, procedures, or terms and conditions.

Students may also voluntarily withdraw from the program at any time by providing written notice to the School at [email protected].

Notice of termination or acknowledgement of voluntary withdrawal will be sent to students in writing via email. Termination will include the reason(s),  effective date,  and any relevant next steps (if applicable).

Upon termination 

  • Access to mentorship, assessments, resources, and course progression will cease.

All termination decisions are final and made at the School’s discretion.


Assessment & Certification 

Assessment Requirements

All courses include formal assessments designed to evaluate applied competency.

Assessments may include:

  • Quizzes (mandatory, progression-gated)
  • Practical demonstrations
  • Written or essay-based submissions
  • Project-based evaluations

Students must pass all required assessments to successfully complete a course.

Assessments are graded using standardized rubrics to ensure consistency and fairness.

Microscopy Proficiency Assessments (MPAs)

The Soil Microscopy course includes two mandatory assessments:


MPA 1 Recorded Assessment:

Students must submit a recorded video demonstrating microscopy competency, including sample analysis, organism identification, and interpretation.


MPA 2 Live Assessment:

Students must complete a live assessment involving sampling scenarios and applied reasoning, conducted by an approved examiner.

Students must successfully complete both assessments to obtain Soil Food Web Lab Tech certification.


Failure, Retakes & Results

Where assessment requirements are not met, students will receive feedback and may be required to retake the assessment.

The School reserves the right to limit the number of retakes. 

Final results are determined based on standardized evaluation criteria. 

The School reserves final authority over all assessment outcomes.


Accommodations & Appeals

Students with learning or other disabilities may request reasonable accommodations, including: 

  • Extended time
  • Adjusted assessment formats
  • Pacing support during live assessments

Requests for accommodation must be submitted in advance.

Assessment results may be formally contested through a structured review process 


Lab-Tech Status

Awarding Status 

Students who successfully complete the Soil Microscopy course will be awarded Soil Food Web Lab Tech status.


Maintaining Status

12 months after completing the course, students will be encouraged to complete a reassessment to ensure skill retention. 

There are no additional fees for retesting. 

If a student fails the reassessment they will receive feedback and may be required to retake the reassessment.

Lab-tech status will be marked as inactive for any students who do not successfully complete the reassessment, however their profiles will still be listed in our directory. 

Every 12 months thereafter, students will be encouraged to complete an assessment to maintain their active status. 


Directory Listings

Students can voluntarily withdraw from being listed in our directory at any time by sending an email to [email protected]

The Soil Food Web School reserves the right to unlist any lab-tech at its discretion for reasons including, but not limited to, violations of the student code of conduct and extended periods of inactivity. 


Mentorship 

Mentorship Model

Mentorship is a core component of the Advanced Programs and is designed to support student learning through structured guidance and feedback.

Students are provided with:

  • A set number of scheduled 1:1 sessionS
  • Guidance on course content and practical application
  • Feedback on assignments, assessments and project work
  • Beyond mentoring sessions, additional student support is available through weekly office hours, student online communities, and ongoing email correspondence with one's mentor.

Mentors are responsible for:

  • Providing clarification and direction on course material
  • Supporting the student’s learning process
  • Offering feedback to help develop competency

Mentors are not responsible for:

  • Motivating or managing student participation beyond reasonable support
  • Completing work on behalf of of the student
  • Provide consulting services outside the scope of the program

Students remain fully responsible for their own progress, engagement, and completion of all program requirements.


Mentor Assignment

Mentor assignment typically occurs within 0-2 weeks, subject to:

  • Completion of onboarding requirements
  • Confirmation of equipment readiness
  • Mentor availability


Mentors are assigned based on:

  • Availability
  • Time zone alignment
  • Language preferences (where applicable)

All mentors are qualified and trained to deliver the programs. 

Mentor assignment is managed by the School and cannot be guaranteed to meet all preferences.


Scheduling, Attendance & Cancellations

Students are responsible for scheduling and attending all mentor sessions.

  • Mentor sessions are typically available Monday through Friday
  • Students must attend all required sessions as part of course completion


Cancellations:

  • Students may cancel a mentoring session with at least 48 hours notice prior to the scheduled start time 
  • Repeated failure to provide at least 48 hours notice may result in  suspension of program access 
  • Students are expected to cancel sessions through the designated scheduling system to ensure availability for other students


Session Participation

Mentor sessions are designed as one-to-one interaction between the enrolled student and their assigned mentor.

  • Participation is limited to enrolled students only
  • Partners, colleagues, or third parties are not permitted to attend mentor sessions unless explicitly approved by the mentor
  • Failure to comply may result in the session being declined or terminated


Mentor Availability

Out of office

  • Mentors will make their availability clear to their students at the beginning of student enrollment
  • Mentors will contact students when they will be unavailable for an extended period of time
  • Mentors are expected to respond to student inquiries within a timely manner


Mentor Reassignment

Student-Initiated Reassignment

  • A student may request mentor reassignment by submitting a request in writing to [email protected].
  • A clear reason must be provided  (e.g., time zone challenges, communication barriers etc.)
  • Requests are reviewed by the School’s administration and are not guaranteed.

Mentor-Initiated Reassignment

  • A mentor may request student reassignment where necessary (e.g., availability constraints) 
  • Requests will be submitted to the School with justification to be shared with the student
  • All requests are reviewed and approved at the School’s discretion


 Administrative-Initiated Reassignment 

The School may reassign a student at any time, including but not limited to:

  • Mentor unavailability
  • Mentor departure
  • Operational requirements
  • Each Admin-initiated reassignment includes an additional 15 minute meeting for students to meet their new mentor and to confirm the student's current course status.


Equipment 

Students enrolled in the Advanced Programs are responsible for acquiring and maintaining all equipment required to successfully complete course requirements.

Each course includes a defined set of equipment necessary for participation in practical activities, assessments, and applied learning. 

Requirements vary by course and may include, but are not limited to, microscopy equipment, composting tools, brewing systems, and field measurement instruments.

Students must ensure that all equipment meets the minimum technical specifications outlined in the official course equipment lists. 

These lists are provided by the School and are considered mandatory reference documents for equipment selection.

The official equipment lists for each course are as follows:


These documents outline required and optional materials, minimum specifications, and example configurations. They are intended to guide students in making appropriate purchasing decisions.

The School does not require students to purchase specific brands or suppliers. 

Any equipment selected must meet the stated minimum specifications. 

The School does not warrant, endorse, or assume responsibility for third-party products, suppliers, or availability.

Students are solely responsible for:

  • Procuring all required equipment
  • Ensuring compatibility between equipment components (e.g., microscope and camera systems)
  • Covering all associated costs, including shipping, taxes, and import fees
  • Maintaining equipment in working condition throughout the program


Failure to obtain the required equipment, or obtaining equipment that does not meet minimum specifications, may result in:

  • Delayed mentor assignment
  • Inability to participate in required activities or sessions
  • Delayed progression through course content
  • Inability to complete assessments


Students are expected to assess their individual requirements and, where appropriate, consult with their mentor before making significant equipment purchases.

The School is not responsible for any delays, costs, or limitations resulting from equipment selection, availability, or performance.



Student Code of Conduct

Students are expected to maintain professional and respectful behavior at all times. This includes: 

Respectful communication with mentors, staff, and peers

  • Maintaining academic integrity (no plagiarism or falsification of data)
  • Not sharing course materials or login access
  • Not misrepresenting status or affiliation
  • Not using the program for unauthorized commercial purposes
  • Adhering to all platform rules


Harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in:

  • Removal from the program without refund
  • Revocation of certification
  • Restricted access to resources


Cancellation & Refunds

Students will be eligible for a refund within 30 days of purchasing the program, so long as they have completed less than three sessions with their mentor. 

Refunds of the purchase price minus the transaction fees will be provided to the student. 


Transfers

Enrollments are non-transferable.


Commercial Conduct

Commercial Conduct

  • Students and graduates of the Advanced Programs may offer paid consulting, analysis, and advisory services using the knowledge and skills developed through their training. The following standards apply when doing so.


Use of Credentials and Affiliation

  • Students and graduates may represent their Soil Food Web Lab-Tech or Consultant status accurately and in accordance with their current certification standing. Students who have not yet completed certification may not represent themselves as certified or imply that they have done so.
  • No student or graduate may represent themselves as an agent, employee, or official representative of the Soil Food Web Foundation or Soil Food Web School without explicit written authorization.


Use of School Materials

Course content, materials, assessments, and resources provided through the Advanced Programs are licensed for personal educational use only. These materials may not be:

  • Reproduced, distributed, or resold in any form
  • Incorporated into third-party courses, workshops, or training programs
  • Used as the basis for commercial curriculum without prior written authorization from the School


Commercial Conduct Standards

Students and graduates representing themselves as Soil Food Web practitioners are expected to uphold the standards of the School in all professional engagements. This includes maintaining accuracy and integrity in their analysis, recommendations, and representations of the Soil Food Web approach. Conduct that misrepresents the methodology, brings disrepute to the School or Foundation, or causes harm to clients or third parties may result in revocation of certification and removal from the School's directory.


Liability

  • The Soil Food Web Foundation and Soil Food Web School provide education and training only. Certification does not constitute a guarantee of outcomes, and the School assumes no liability for the results of consulting, advisory, or analytical services provided by students or graduates to third parties.
  • Students and graduates are solely responsible for the advice and recommendations they provide in a professional capacity. By completing the program and offering services to others, students and graduates agree to hold the Soil Food Web Foundation, Soil Food Web School, their directors, staff, and instructors harmless from any claims, losses, or damages arising from their professional activities.
  • Students and graduates who offer paid services to clients are strongly encouraged to obtain appropriate professional indemnity insurance prior to doing so. This coverage protects both the practitioner and their clients in the event of disputes arising from professional recommendations. Requirements vary by jurisdiction; students are responsible for understanding and meeting any applicable insurance or licensing obligations in the regions where they practice.


Questions and Contact

For questions regarding policies, permitted commercial use, or partnership opportunities, contact [email protected].


For any additional concerns or needs related to your programs please contact [email protected].