Aqua Vitae Institute Division of GLOBAL MIXOLOGY SOLUTIONS INC. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Th 148 N 17 ​ Street, Philadelphia PA, 19103 ​ CATALOG AND CURRICULUM ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Center City Philadelphia Campus Updated: August 2019 Table of Contents i. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 3 ii. CREDIT TRANSFERS 3 iii. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION 3 iv. EDUCATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT 3 v. OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES 4 vi. COURSE CURRICULUM AND CLOCK HOURS OF INSTRUCTION 5 vii. TRAINING FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT 5 viii. INSTITUTE POLICIES 6 ix. GRADING PROCEDURES 9 x. GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINT POLICY 9 xi. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 10 xii. CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY 11 xiii. JOB PLACEMENT AND STUDENT SERVICES 12 xiv. CLASS SCHEDULE & HOLIDAYS 12 xv. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 15 i. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES • Applicant must be 18 years of age or older • Applicant must have completed the tenth grade or its equivalency and signed an educational achievement attestation form. • Each applicant must be interviewed by an admissions representative to discuss the program occupational objective and requirements for completion. ii. TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY There is no transfer credit or academic advanced student standing for students enrolling in this course at Aqua Vitae Institute. All students, regardless of prior knowledge or experience, begin at the same level. There is no guarantee that credits earned at Aqua Vitae Institute will transfer to another institution. iii. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION Aqua Vitae Institute prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted by Aqua Vitae Institute. If you believe you have been discriminated against for any of the above reasons, refer to section x., Grievance and Complaint Policy, within this catalog for instructions to file a complaint. iv. EDUCATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT Aqua Vitae Institute was founded to address the need for a higher level of training for professional bartenders. The name Aqua Vitae, or the Latin for “water of life,” was chosen because it references the original term alchemists used to describe ethanol in an aqueous solution, the studies support the geriatric properties of alcohol in moderation, and the nomenclature of spirits including: Eau de Vie (French), Akvavit (Dutch), Vodka (Russian), Whisk(e)y (from uisgebeatha Gaelic). ​ ​ ​ Over the last twenty years, the food and beverage industry has seen an incredible number of changes in the way cocktails are created, and sold. Fresh ingredients, meticulous care and attention to the preparation of ice, a thorough understanding of spirits and cordials, proper technique, molecular mixology etc. To date, there is no continuously operating facility in the United States that is fully dedicated to teaching bartenders these techniques which are necessary to work in the competitive, dynamic, and rapidly evolving bar scene. Aqua Vitae Institute offers bartenders a way to master the skills necessary to work in the most technically challenging and professional venues. Aqua Vitae Institute furthermore gives bartenders training in bar psychology, how certain behavioral principles can be practiced and utilized to provide an excellent experience for customer and bartender alike. Aqua Vitae Institute recognizes that bar environments change based on consumer demand, so the curriculum is focused on developing a broad set of skills that will serve the student at any bar environment. Aqua Vitae Institute is concerned with the ethics of alcohol service. Students are taught to be responsible professionals, with a moral and ethical obligation to carefully observe and respond to the consumption of their customers. Furthermore, students are taught to recognize signs of intoxication and take appropriate steps to protect customers and innocent victims. As an integral part of the food and beverage industry, our graduates can have a positive impact on the issue of alcohol abuse. v. OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES Upon completion of the Bartending/Mixology Course, graduates will be able to: 1. Understand the appearance, function, proportions and use of the elements of the modern bar. 2. Ably demonstrate high level bar technique and the ability to use contemporary bartending tools. 3. Explain the various glassware, their history, and how they influence the experience of the drinker. 4. Have a working knowledge of selecting the right fruit for garnishing, juicing, and the preparation of mixers. 5. Understand employee conduct, theft prevention, and bar procedures. 6. Learn the historical context, preparatory procedures, templates, variations, and design of the classic families of cocktails: Martinis, Manhattans, Sours, Old Fashioneds, Accent Drinks, Highballs, Cream Drinks, Shooters, Tall Drinks, Digestifs, Beer and Wine Cocktails, Punches, Sangrias, and Mocktails. 7. Understand the various wine varietals, lagers, ales, and specialty beers, opening, pouring, presenting, and discussing of beer and wine. 8. Know the current trends in bartending: Fresh ingredients, homemade syrups, tinctures, infusions and other ingredients, molecular mixology, drink design, soda creation, nitrogen cavitation etc. 9. Learn to develop their palate, how tasting spirits differs from beer and wine, and the various types of spirits and how they are utilized in cocktails. 10.Bar Psychology, and how the principles of body language, rapport, reciprocation, and fashion combine to develop deeper relationships with guests, increased tips and increased profits. 11.Understand the process of finding gainful employment, proper attire, interview preparation, resume and cover letter writing. vi. COURSE CURRICULUM AND CLOCK HOURS OF INSTRUCTION The Bartending/Mixology Course offered is comprised of 12 classes, each one lasting four hours. Bartending/Mixology Course Curriculum Lesson Number Curriculum Clock Hours I-1 Martinis and Manhattans 4 I-2 Highballs 4 I-3 Old Fashioned and Accent Drinks 4 H-1 Sours and Garnishes 4 H-2 Tall and Tiki Drinks 4 H-3 Shooters 4 T-1 Hospitality 4 T-2 Bar Ethics 4 T-3 Wine and Wine Cocktails 4 E-1 After Dinner Drinks 4 E-2 Beer and Beer Cocktails 4 E-3 Mocktails and Advanced Mixology 4 Total Clock Hours 48 vii. TRAINING FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT Both the Institute and the administrative office for Aqua Vitae Institute are located on 148 N 17th St., Philadelphia PA, 19103. The building sits on the corner of 17th and Race, directly across from the Friends Select School. Aqua Vitae Institute contains three classrooms, two of which are designed to replicate two actual bar environments. The first two classrooms are equipped with front and back bars, bar stools, 3-tub stainless steel sinks, ice bins, mixing equipment, an assortment of glassware, an ice machine, surround sound, and all other necessary utensils and equipment to train a student in the field of bartending. All bars are completely stocked with simulated liquor, mixes, and fruit, so that students are able to practice effectively and efficiently. The third classroom is a lecture hall organized specifically for classes centered on theory, beer, and wine. viii. INSTITUTE POLICIES 1. TARDINESS Attendance is recorded at the beginning of each class. A student who arrives after attendance is taken is considered late and may be marked as an excused absence by the instructor. 2. ABSENCES Students must attend each class or lesson one time to receive their Certificate of Completion and be eligible for Job Placement Assistance. A student who is absent is responsible for making up the lesson under the instructor’s discretion. Absence from class may delay graduation. The Institute should be notified in advance when a student is unable to attend a class or the absence will be recorded as unexcused. When the student accumulates four (4) unexcused absences occur during the course, a verbal warning will be given. After six (6) unexcused absences, the Institute reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of the student. 3. MAKE-UP LESSON The student is allowed to make up an absence by attending a subsequent class, reviewing the lesson in their textbook with the instructor, and practicing behind the bar for the requisite four hours per absence. 4. LEAVE OF ABSENCE a. A student may be excused from individual classes at the discretion of the Institute’s Director in the event of sudden illness, death in the family or similarly valid reason. Students must make up work missed within a three-week or they may have their enrollment in the course terminated at the sole discretion of the Institute Director. b. A student may be granted an extended leave of absence by the Institute Director, provided that a request for leave of absence is in writing with a specified expected date of return. If a student does not re-enter within the specified time, and does not notify the Institute, the student will be terminated from the course. 5. STUDENT CONDUCT/TERMINATION Students are expected to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner, as mature adults, at all times throughout the course. A student, who is disrespectful, intentionally disrupts or obstructs the presentation of the instructor or any other Institute activity will be considered for dismissal from the course.