Non-Accredited Education Disclosure

1. Overview and Purpose

This Non-Accredited Education Disclosure is provided by Helix BioMedical, a faith-based healthcare organization operating under Section 508(c)(1)(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and incorporated under Wyoming law. The purpose of this disclosure is to ensure that all prospective students, current participants, and their sponsors or guardians have clear, accurate, and complete information about the nature of Helix BioMedical's educational offerings before enrolling and during their participation.

Helix BioMedical believes that access to cutting-edge life sciences education should not be limited to those who can afford or access traditional degree-granting institutions. Our programs in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, synthetic biology, protein engineering, and related disciplines are designed to be accessible, rigorous, and practically oriented. However, intellectual rigor does not imply -- and should never be confused with -- the formal accreditation status recognized by federal educational authorities. We are committed to full transparency about this distinction so that every student can make an informed decision about whether our programs serve their specific goals.

This disclosure applies to all educational offerings of Helix BioMedical, including in-person laboratory courses, online and hybrid instructional modules, student research program participation, workshops, seminars, and any certificate or credential issued by the organization. If you have questions about how a specific program does or does not meet your individual educational, professional, or licensing needs, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] or call (702) 825-0288 before enrolling.

2. Accreditation Status

Helix BioMedical is not accredited by any regional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, including but not limited to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), or any other institutional or programmatic accrediting body. Our programs are not accredited by discipline-specific accrediting organizations such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

Helix BioMedical has intentionally chosen to operate as a non-accredited organization because the accreditation process is designed for traditional degree-granting institutions operating under a different educational model than ours. Our mission is to provide accessible, faith-aligned, community-embedded life sciences education that can be delivered through mobile and hybrid formats, with a focus on direct research experience and practical application. Pursuing accreditation would require organizational structures, financial commitments, and bureaucratic processes that are incompatible with our agile, mission-driven operational model at this stage of our development.

This decision does not reflect a deficiency in the quality of instruction, the expertise of our faculty, or the scientific validity of our curriculum. It reflects a deliberate choice to serve communities and learners who are underserved by traditional accredited institutions. We are transparent about this status precisely because we respect our students and want them to make fully informed decisions.

Students who need accredited education for specific purposes -- such as applying to graduate school, satisfying employer tuition reimbursement requirements, obtaining professional licensure, or qualifying for federal student aid -- must seek that education from an accredited institution. Helix BioMedical cannot and does not represent that its programs fulfill requirements that specifically mandate accredited coursework.

3. What Students Receive

Enrollment in Helix BioMedical educational programs provides students with substantive benefits that carry real value in the right contexts. Students receive direct, hands-on instruction in CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNA design, gene editing protocols, biosafety procedures, laboratory technique, and the practical operation of molecular biology equipment. This hands-on experience is often difficult to obtain in traditional academic settings, where access to laboratory resources is constrained by institutional size, funding, and the demands of large student populations.

Students enrolled in the protein engineering research pipeline receive access to GPU-accelerated computational tools including AlphaFold-based structure prediction, ESM-2 protein language model inference, CRISPR guide RNA optimization tools, and biomolecular simulation frameworks. Instruction in the use of these tools -- which represent the current frontier of computational biology -- provides genuine practical skill development that is directly applicable in research, biotech industry, and independent science contexts.

All enrolled students receive instructional materials, laboratory safety training, access to organizational mentors and affiliated researchers, and the opportunity to contribute to ongoing research projects under faculty supervision. Students who complete research contributions may be acknowledged in internal publications, technical reports, or -- at faculty discretion and subject to external venue requirements -- in external research communications. Upon completion of program requirements, students receive a formal certificate of completion and a documented record of the specific competencies and training hours accumulated during their program.

Perhaps most importantly, students receive membership in a community of practice organized around a shared commitment to responsible science, faith-aligned ethics, and community health service. Networking opportunities, mentorship relationships, collaborative research projects, and the professional associations formed through participation in Helix BioMedical programs represent practical value that extends beyond any credential.

4. What Students Do Not Receive

Enrollment in and completion of Helix BioMedical educational programs does not confer any of the following: an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree; any academic transcript recognized by accredited institutions; eligibility for federal or state student financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act; academic credit that an accredited college or university is obligated to accept; professional licensure in any healthcare or scientific discipline; or board examination eligibility for any licensed profession.

Certificates of completion issued by Helix BioMedical are organizational credentials that document participation and skill development within our programs. They are not equivalent to, and should not be represented as equivalent to, academic degrees, professional certifications issued by national certifying bodies, or credentials recognized by state licensing boards. Students who represent Helix BioMedical certificates as equivalent to accredited academic credentials on resumes, applications, or professional profiles do so at their own risk and without organizational endorsement.

Students do not receive employer-recognized continuing education units (CEUs) unless Helix BioMedical has entered into a specific written agreement with a recognized CEU-granting body for a particular program. Students should verify CEU status for any program before enrolling if CEU recognition is important to their professional development goals.

5. Not a Substitute for Formal Education

Helix BioMedical's educational programs are best understood as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, formal accredited education in the life sciences, healthcare, or related fields. Our programs are designed to extend the knowledge and skills of students who are already enrolled in or have completed accredited programs, to provide accessible entry-level exposure to emerging technologies for community members without traditional educational access, and to support independent researchers and self-directed learners who are pursuing knowledge outside of conventional academic pathways.

Students seeking careers as licensed physicians, registered nurses, pharmacists, clinical laboratory scientists, or other regulated healthcare professionals must complete the accredited educational programs and licensing examinations required by their respective state licensing boards. Helix BioMedical training does not satisfy any portion of these formal requirements. Similarly, students seeking academic positions, regulatory affairs roles, or research positions that specify degree requirements from accredited institutions cannot substitute Helix BioMedical program participation to satisfy those requirements.

We strongly encourage all students to conduct their own research into how our programs align with their specific professional and academic goals before enrolling. We are pleased to provide honest, detailed information about our programs' scope and limitations to help students make the best decision for their circumstances.

6. Credit Transfer Limitations

Academic credit transfer is governed by the policies of the receiving institution, not the granting institution. Because Helix BioMedical is not accredited, accredited colleges and universities are under no obligation to accept our course completions as transferable credit. In practice, most accredited institutions will not accept non-accredited coursework for transfer credit, particularly for required courses in accredited degree programs.

Some institutions have policies that allow consideration of non-traditional learning experiences, portfolio assessments, or prior learning evaluations for certain types of credit. Students who believe Helix BioMedical coursework might qualify under such policies should contact the registrar or academic advising office at their target institution directly and obtain a written determination before enrolling. Helix BioMedical cannot guarantee that any institution will provide credit recognition, and the organization accepts no liability if a student enrolls in anticipation of credit recognition that does not materialize.

Helix BioMedical will provide enrolled students with detailed documentation of course content, learning objectives, instructional hours, assessment methods, and competencies demonstrated to facilitate prior learning evaluations at receiving institutions. This documentation support is a courtesy service and does not guarantee any particular outcome from a credit evaluation process.

7. Certification and Completion Documentation

Students who successfully complete Helix BioMedical program requirements receive a Certificate of Completion that specifies the program name, duration, instructional hours, key competency areas addressed, and the date of completion. These certificates are signed by the program director and bear the Helix BioMedical organizational seal. They are generated on archival-quality paper stock with a unique identifier that can be verified through the Helix BioMedical records system.

In addition to the certificate, graduates receive a Competency Documentation Record that provides a detailed, itemized description of the specific skills, protocols, and knowledge areas covered during their program. This document is designed to be useful in portfolio presentations, job applications in the private biotech and research sectors, and prior learning evaluation submissions. The Competency Documentation Record does not constitute a transcript in the academic sense of the term, but it provides a level of specificity about learning outcomes that many informal education records lack.

Records of program completion are retained by Helix BioMedical for a minimum of seven years following completion. Graduates may request additional copies of their certificates and competency records by contacting the organization. A reasonable administrative fee may be charged for duplicate documentation requests. The organization reserves the right to withhold documentation from students who have outstanding financial obligations or who are subject to academic integrity proceedings at the time of the request.

8. Student Responsibilities

Students enrolling in Helix BioMedical programs accept several important responsibilities as conditions of participation. First and most fundamentally, students are responsible for conducting their own due diligence regarding whether program participation serves their specific goals, given the non-accredited nature of our programs as described in this disclosure. Enrollment constitutes acknowledgment that this disclosure has been read, understood, and accepted.

Students are responsible for completing all mandatory safety training before participating in laboratory activities, following all posted biosafety protocols and laboratory rules, using biological materials and equipment only for authorized purposes under direct supervision, reporting any safety incidents or concerns immediately to program staff, and maintaining the confidentiality of proprietary protocols or unpublished research findings as directed by faculty.

Academic integrity is expected in all coursework, assessments, and research contributions. Plagiarism, fabrication of data, misrepresentation of results, and unauthorized collaboration on individual assessments are prohibited and constitute grounds for immediate dismissal from the program without refund. Students are also responsible for the accuracy of biographical information, prior education credentials, and professional background details submitted during the enrollment process.

Students who develop research findings, protocols, or creative works during their participation should review the Intellectual Property Policy available at /legal/intellectual-property to understand their rights and obligations regarding work product developed in connection with Helix BioMedical programs. Questions about intellectual property rights should be raised with program administration before beginning any research activity.

9. Faculty and Instructor Qualifications

Helix BioMedical is committed to ensuring that instruction is delivered by individuals with relevant expertise, practical experience, and a demonstrated commitment to the organization's mission. Faculty and instructors are selected based on their professional experience, demonstrated competency in the subject matter they teach, and alignment with the organization's ethical and faith-based values. Many instructors hold advanced degrees from accredited institutions, including doctoral degrees in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, or related fields.

However, Helix BioMedical does not require all instructors to hold academic degrees as a condition of teaching. Some instructors are selected based on significant professional experience, industry expertise, or specialized technical knowledge that may exceed the practical preparation offered by conventional academic programs. This is consistent with a competency-based approach to education but means that students cannot assume all instructors hold traditional academic qualifications.

Helix BioMedical will provide, upon request by enrolled or prospective students, a summary of each instructor's relevant qualifications for the specific program in which the student is enrolled or considering. This information will describe professional experience, relevant certifications or training, and the scope of the instructor's expertise. Faculty credential summaries are maintained by program administration and are available by contacting [email protected].

Faculty at Helix BioMedical are not conferred teaching credentials, faculty tenure, or academic rank by the organization. Instructors teach under service agreements or volunteer arrangements. The organization reserves the right to replace instructors, adjust teaching assignments, or modify program delivery personnel at any time, with the goal of maintaining instructional quality while remaining operationally flexible within our mission-driven model.

10. Program Changes and Continuity

Helix BioMedical reserves the right to modify, suspend, restructure, or discontinue any educational program at any time. The rapidly evolving nature of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, synthetic biology, and computational protein engineering means that curriculum must be updated regularly to remain relevant and accurate. The organization will make commercially reasonable efforts to notify enrolled students of material curriculum changes in advance, but cannot guarantee that all changes will be communicated before they take effect.

In the event that a program is discontinued before an enrolled student completes their program requirements, Helix BioMedical will work in good faith to provide students with a path to completion through an alternative program format, a prorated refund of fees paid, or documentation of competencies achieved through the date of discontinuation. The specific accommodation available will depend on the circumstances of the discontinuation and the student's individual progress at the time.

Program fees, schedules, prerequisites, and delivery formats are subject to change. Students are encouraged to review current program information on the Helix BioMedical website before enrolling and to confirm current program details with organizational staff. Published program information represents the organization's best current description of program offerings and does not constitute a binding contractual commitment to deliver programs in exactly the format described, given the operational realities of a community-based, mission-driven educational provider.

For all questions related to program enrollment, content, qualifications, or the information contained in this disclosure, please contact Helix BioMedical at [email protected] or (702) 825-0288. We are committed to honest, thorough responses to all prospective and enrolled student inquiries.