Terms, Conditions, Policies, and Financial Relationships

Please be sure to fully review all of the policies before registering.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations requests received on or before Tuesday, September 1, 2020, will be issued a refund less a $75 processing fee. No refunds will be given thereafter except in the event of extenuating circumstances such as hospitalization or death. Requests for registration cancellation must be submitted in writing via email to info@gwco.org. If you are not able to attend one or more sessions, GWCO will not prorate or refund any part of your registration fee. Substitute attendees will be permitted. Substitution requests must be in writing via email to info@gwco.org no later than 7 days prior to the event start. 

Technical Failure Policy

It is the responsibility of the registrant to confirm system requirements and test their computers prior to the start of each virtual session. If a technical failure is the fault of the service provider and the session is not able to be broadcast as planned, GWCO reserves the right to reschedule the session. If an attendee experiences a technical failure on their end, GWCO is not responsible for refunding the participant or providing applicable CE hours.

Recording Release

Each virtual session may be recorded, including chat transcripts. These recordings may be provided for later viewing and may be used for promotional purposes, advertising, and other print and online materials at the sole discretion of GWCO. By registering for GWCO's Virtual Congress you consent to be recorded by GWCO when attending live sessions.

CE Policy & Process

GWCO is determined to provide attendees with continuing education credit. Please review the details below to better understand the CE offerings being provided during this Virtual Event. 

In addition to the information provided below, each state has specific guidelines for optometrists and paraoptometrics seeking CE credit. Please check with your state accreditation board for a full list of virtual CE requirements. GWCO cannot guarantee any attendee a certain number of credit hours. 

COPE - Council on Optometric Practitioner Education

As a COPE provider, GWCO is required to follow the COPE Provider Accreditation Manual. 

According to this manual and the 2020 Extended Rules, Interactive online CE will be equivalent to a live in-person session. No post-session test will need to be administered for this virtual event. In order for attendees to earn COPE credit, attendees must be present for a certain amount of time during a session. Please see the table below for more information.

This means that if an attendee enters a GWCO Congress Zoom session late or leaves a zoom session early, therefore missing more than the allotted buffer time, then the attendee will not be eligible for COPE credit for that particular session. All GWCO Virtual Congress sessions will be monitored by COPE administrators to ensure attendance.

CPC - Council on Optometric Practitioner Education

As a CPC provider, GWCO is required to follow the 2020 CPC Education Requirements. 

In order for attendees to earn CPC credit, attendees must be present for a certain amount of time during a session. They must also complete a quiz of 10 questions for every allotted credit hour. 

Approved Attendance Time: (50 minutes=1 hour=1 CEC)

This means that if an attendee enters a GWCO Congress Zoom session late or leaves a zoom session early, therefore missing more than the allotted buffer time, then the attendee will not be eligible for CPC credit for that particular session. All GWCO Virtual Congress sessions will be monitored by COPE administrators to ensure attendance.

Delivery of CE Certificates 

After the GWCO Virtual Congress, we will gather and finalize all attendee information and then send out applicable CE certificates. 

ABO/NCLE - American Board Opticianry/National Contact Lens Examiners

As an ABO/NCLE provider, GWCO is required to follow the 2020 ABO/NCLE Education Requirements. In order for attendees to earn ABO/NCLE credit, attendees must be present for a certain amount of time during a session. They must also complete a quiz/exam of 20 questions for every allotted credit hour with an 80% pass grade.

Approved Attendance Time: (50 minutes=1 hour=1 CEC)

This means that if an attendee enters a GWCO Congress Zoom session late or leaves a zoom session early, therefore missing more than the allotted buffer time, then the attendee will not be eligible for ABO/NCLE credit for that particular session.

All GWCO Virtual Congress sessions will be monitored by CE administrators to ensure attendance.

Code of Conduct

GWCO events are community events intended for education, networking, and collaboration. We value the participation of everyone and want all attendees to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Accordingly, all attendees are expected to show respect and courtesy to other attendees throughout all events hosted in the GWCO space. To make clear what is expected, all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, organizers, and volunteers at any virtual event are required to conform to the following Code of Conduct. Organizers will enforce this code throughout the event. In registering for and/or participating in this event, you consent to comply with the following Code of Conduct.

Encouraged behavior: Examples of encouraged behavior that contributes to a positive environment include:

• Using welcoming and inclusive language
• Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences
• Gracefully accepting constructive criticism
• Focusing on what is best for everyone at the event
• Showing empathy towards other participants
• Unacceptable behavior

We do not tolerate the following:

• Spam (verbally or in chats), including saying or re-posting the same word/content repeatedly in order to disrupt the conversation
• Harassment, bullying, and intimidation

Harassment and bullying are defined as:

• Negative comments about race/ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, physical appearance, citizenship, or other protected categories
• Intimidation or threats, including sharing images or text especially to threaten
• Unwelcome sexual attention, including sharing images or text especially to sexually harass
• Threatening or other endangerment of minors or any persons
• Any activity meant to convey or cultivate hostility
• Ad hominem insults or other attacks
• Encouraging the above behavior

Financial Relationships

All GWCO staff and members of the GWCO Planning Committee did not have any financial relationships to disclose.