Online Class (12-week) FAQ

Are there any live sessions? What if I work shift work/unusual hours or I'm in an international time zone?

Our 12-week classes are not self-paced; each class will advance as a group, week by week. Students can login anytime to work as needed and you have the entire week to work on that section. We will use a variety of ways to allow for student participation and interaction. All instructors are willing to be flexible when it comes to turning in your work late, with the understanding that you CANNOT save all your submissions until the last week of class and turn it in all at once. It is impossible for an instructor to grade an entire class worth of work for multiple students at the same time, so if you try a bulk submission at the end, the instructor will reject it.

Please be aware that while you can log in at any time to do the work, you must at least start participating in the class by week 4 or else your registration will be deleted. See the Participation Policy section for more info.

Do I have to be employed as a crime analyst or by a law enforcement agency to participate?

No, you don't! We welcome anyone, regardless of employment or membership status to participate. If you want to learn about crime analysis, then we want to teach you! Some of our classes do have guidelines regarding the difficulty level or intended audience, but those are guidelines only, and we do not enforce any kind of verification or experience check. If you think you're ready to take an intermediate or advanced class, then that's your choice! But if you have questions on whether a class is appropriate for your specific circumstances, you can 1) check out our training roadmap and 2) email us and we can talk about your specific situation. 

Some exercises may ask you to provide examples of your work products, or discuss a problem in your jurisdiction, or what kind of data you have access to. If you don't currently work for an agency, that's okay! There are open source data portals, you can find examples of work products on the IACA website, or you can conduct open source searches to find what you need. None of the exercises or assignments in any class will lock you out if you aren't a current crime analyst. Ask your instructor if you need specific help. 

How does Moodle work?

For those of you who are new to Moodle, here is a quick guide provided by the company: https://docs.moodle.org/311/en/User_quick_guide. You can also find more documentation here: https://docs.moodle.org/311/en/Main_page. There are mobile apps available! We are always willing to help you as well should you have any questions. 

Please note that when you're not actively enrolled in a class, your Moodle account will be suspended because we are only allowed so many active users at one time. The Certification Committee also uses Moodle for testing, so if you need your Moodle account reactivated, just email us and we'll reactivate you.

Can I change my email or username on Moodle? What if I lost my password?

You can change your own email address through the account settings in Moodle. If you have changed your name or if we've misspelled your name and would like a correction, email us and we can correct your username for you. There is a self-serve password reset on the login page, but you can also email us for help with your password.

How do I get in touch with my instructor?

Each instructor will have a section in their class in Moodle that has "about" info which should include their email address. If you're unable to find it or you need help getting in touch with them, email the Training Committee at [email protected] and we'll help you get in touch with your instructor.

Please remember that all of our instructors have duties, responsibilities, and jobs outside the IACA. It may take a few days to get a response to your email, so please be patient. If you haven't gotten a response to your messages, email the Training Committee and we can help you. It's the instructor's choice if they want to use a work email address for correspondence with students, but absolutely do not contact anyone else at that employer about an IACA class.

How can I find the IACA Training Series class schedule for this year?

Refer to the course catalog for a list of all IACA Training Series classes, their dates and locations. By clicking in the link for each class, you can read the course description along with information on the location, instructor and course materials. You can also find out how many seats are left in each class.

How can I register for an IACA Training Series course?

Students can register for an IACA Training Series class by visiting the Training Series page for the appropriate type (in-person, online, or webinar). All registrations are handled online and payments can be made using a credit card, money order, or check. You can register on behalf of someone else, as well as up to five people at once. Please note however, that if you register a group of people, the additional names will be charged the non-member price, so it's best to have individual members register themselves. 

We do offer a bulk discount if you have more than 10 or more students for your agency/organization. Please contact the Training Committee at [email protected] for details and to register a group. The size of the discount is dependent on the size of the group.

Will I receive a certificate? When will I receive it?

If you successfully complete this course, you will be awarded 60 hours of Continuing Education credits (if you’re an IACA member) or a PDF certificate of completion for 60 hours (if you’re a non-member). Members can also request a PDF certificate if you want one. We are unable to award certificates/CEUs if the registration fee is unpaid.

It may take between three weeks to a month for us to award certificates/CEUs, because we're trying to wrap up one quarter and start the next at the same time, and there's only a short window of time in between sessions. You WILL receive an email from the IACA regarding the outcome of your class either way, but please be patient.

When do I have to pay for a class?

Payments for IACA classes must be received 10 business days prior to the first day of class. If you wish to register but are within the 10 day window, or know your agency will not be able to make the payment in time, please contact us at [email protected] as we’re willing to be flexible with you. Student cancellations/withdrawals from class must be received by the Training Series Coordinator via email 15 business days prior to the first day of class. We are happy to flexible with you as long as you communicate with us!

Training substitutions can be made of another student from the same agency, but written notification must be made to the Training Coordinator via email. If a cancellation or withdrawal occurs within the 15 day period, class tuition will not be refunded to a student/agency and cannot be applied to future IACA classes. Exceptions to this cancellation policy can only be made by the Training Series Coordinator on a case by case basis.

Transfer Policy

We understand that students may not be able to finish a class  Students seeking to transfer must directly request this by emailing [email protected]; assumptions or indirect requests won't be processed. Transfers are allowed only for the same course topic, and any topic change will be treated as a new registration, although exceptions may be granted by the Training Director. When requesting a transfer, students must specify the desired quarter, but please note that placements aren't guaranteed due to potential class capacity limits; however, we strive to accommodate schedules. Students must independently save and resubmit their work from the original class as Moodle data resets each quarter, and they must engage from day one of the new session. Each class can be attempted up to four times, with the first two transfers costing $50 each, and the third attempt being $150. Subsequent attempts require full registration fees, except in circumstances such as family emergencies or medical issues, where fees may be waived by the Training Director. Note that if a student fails to participate during a transfer, their transfer privileges are forfeited, necessitating full fee payment for future attempts.

Participation Policy

If you fail to participate in any class, your registration fee will not be refunded. Students will be removed from 12-week classes and their registration cancelled if they have not logged in to Moodle by the end of Week 4. If you "no call no show" (fail to participate and don't notify us you're withdrawing), you forfeit the option to "pay later" for a training class and future registrations will be denied and you will not be granted access to the class until we receive payment.

Student Code of Conduct

The International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment for all adult continuing education students in the law enforcement field. To achieve this goal, we have established the following Student Code of Conduct Policy to outline expected behavior, foster professionalism, and ensure a positive experience for all participants.

Expected Behavior

All students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines while participating in IACA classes, whether in person or online:

1. Respectful Language: Profane, abusive, or obscene language directed towards another student, instructor, or IACA staff is strictly prohibited. It is essential to maintain a respectful and professional tone in all communications.

2. Harassment and Bullying: Students must refrain from engaging in aggressive or belligerent messages, harassment, or bullying, whether in written or verbal form. All forms of harassment, including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, will not be tolerated.

3. Professionalism: All interactions with other students, instructors, and IACA staff should be on-topic and related to crime analysis, the class curriculum, or matters relevant to the IACA community. Inappropriate or unprofessional behavior, such as discussions on topics where opinions vary widely and can elicit strong responses (e.g., politics or religion), are not appropriate within this setting and should not be discussed.

4. Respect for Diverse Opinions: We encourage open dialogue and diverse perspectives within the bounds of respect and professionalism. If someone holds a different opinion than you, please maintain civility and move on without engaging in confrontational or disruptive behavior.

5. Artificial Intelligence Use: The IACA maintains a strict policy prohibiting the use of AI for generating written text in coursework, such as essays, discussion posts, and similar assignments. As an adult learner advancing your career or an aspiring crime analyst, reliance on AI for writing undermines the educational process and personal development. However, students are permitted to use AI tools for creative purposes, such as generating fake names a link chart assignment for example, to enhance learning without replacing the core skills being developed. Any student that is caught using AI for written text will receive a grade of 0 on that assignment. Repeated violations of this policy will result in expulsion from the course without a refund. 

Consequences for Violation

Violations of this Student Code of Conduct Policy may result in the following consequences:

1. Removal from the Class: Individuals found to be in violation of this policy may be immediately removed from the class without a refund of the registration fee.

2. Ban from Future IACA Classes: Depending on the severity and recurrence of the violation, a ban from future IACA classes may be imposed at the discretion of the IACA Training Director.

Reporting Violations

If a student witnesses or experiences behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, they are encouraged to report it to the IACA Training Director or class instructor as soon as possible. Reports will be handled discreetly and confidentially, with appropriate action taken to address the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.