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Home > Westminster Conservatory > Private Instruction & Class Information > Conservatory Policies
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Conservatory Policies

FULL ACADEMIC YEAR REGISTRATION
The academic calendar for Westminster Conservatory runs from September to June, totaling 34 weeks. At the extension sites, academic calendars may vary slightly. Students registering for study at the Conservatory will be charged for the full academic year if they are beginning lessons or classes the week of September 8, 2008. Students starting lessons or classes later than this date will be charged from the week they begin through the end of the academic year.


PAYMENT POLICY & SCHEDULE
Students must pay in full when the first bill is due or make monthly payments with payment in full being received by the due date listed below. Students who do not make their monthly payments or who have not paid in full by the due date may not be able to continue their lessons at the Conservatory. There will be a $30 charge for all returned checks.

October 4, 2008

  • Payment due for fall term tuition for private lessons and group classes. Students not paying in full by October 4, 2008 will be billed monthly with a 1.5% finance charge assessed on the unpaid fall balance. Payments must be made each month with the final payment being due by December 1, 2008.
  • Payment due for full-year tuition for performing ensembles and the Young Artist and Young Musicians Programs. Students not paying in full by October 4 will be billed monthly with a 1.5% finance charge assessed on the unpaid balance. Payments must be made each month with the final payment being due by December 1, 2008.

December 1, 2008

  • Students whose accounts are not paid in full by this date may not be able to continue in the spring term.

January 5, 2009

  • Winter withdrawal deadline

February 7, 2009

  • Payment due for spring term tuition. Students not paying in full by February 7 will be billed monthly with a 1.5% finance charge assessed on the unpaid balance. Payments must be made each month with the final payment being due by March 31, 2009.

March 31, 2009

  • Students whose accounts are not paid in full by this date may not be able to register during priority fall 2009 registration for returning students.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
All withdrawals must be submitted in writing, by fax, or by email to the office. Non-attendance or verbal withdrawal to a faculty or staff member is not an official withdrawal.


WITHDRAWAL BEFORE THE 4th SCHEDULED LESSON, CLASS OR REHEARSAL

Which program offerings can students withdraw from?
All classes, private lessons, or performing ensembles    

How do I withdraw?
Submit a letter in writing, by fax, or by email to be received in the Conservatory office before the fourth scheduled lesson, class, or rehearsal

What are the student’s total charges?

  • All lessons, classes, and rehearsals scheduled prior to receipt of written withdrawal by the office. If the withdrawal is received less than 2 business days before a lesson, class, or rehearsal, the student will be charged for that lesson, class or rehearsal. The charge for withdrawal from the Young Artist and Young Musicians Programs is forfeiture of the non-refundable $500 tuition deposit.
  • Materials fees where appropriate
  • Non-refundable registration fee

Withdrawal AFTER the 4th Scheduled Lesson, Class, or Rehearsal

How do I withdraw?
Submit a letter in writing, by fax, or by email to the Conservatory office

What are the student’s total charges for withdrawing from private lessons?

  • All lessons scheduled prior to the receipt of the withdrawal letter by the office. If the withdrawal is received less than 2 business days before the scheduled lesson, the student will be charged for that lesson as well.
  • A penalty equal to the cost of 4 additional lessons
  • Non-refundable registration fee

What are the student’s total charges for withdrawing from a class (including Young Artist Academic Program)?

  • Full tuition for the term
  • Materials fees
  • Non-refundable registration fee

What are the student’s total charges for withdrawing from a performing ensemble (including Young Artist/Musicians Program)?

  • Tuition for the full academic year
  • Materials fees
  • Non-refundable registration fee


WINTER WITHDRAWAL
Winter withdrawals are effective as of the end of the fall term. (See your extension's calendar for fall term ending dates)

Which program offerings can students withdraw from?
All lessons or classes except performing ensembles and Young Artist/Musicians Program
                   
How do I withdraw?
Submit a letter in writing, by fax, or by email to be received in the Conservatory office no later than January 5, 2009

What are the student’s total charges?

  • All scheduled fall term lessons and classes
  • Materials fees
  • Non-refundable registration fee

Note:  Emergency closings or teacher cancellations will be made up by the teacher. Students will only receive credit if the teacher is unable to offer a make up.  (See section on missed lessons below)  Credit will not be given for student cancellations or non-attendance.

Exceptions to these policies will be made only in rare cases of extended illness or other emergency situations and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.


CHANGE REQUESTS

Requests for changes in teacher, program of study, or lesson length must be received in the Conservatory office in writing prior to the fourth scheduled lesson or class. If the change request is received less than 2 business days before a scheduled lesson or class, the student will be charged for that lesson or class. Class changes may not be made after the fourth scheduled class. Students wishing to make changes for the spring term must do so by the winter withdrawal deadline of January 5, 2009.

To facilitate placement for teacher change requests, it is recommended that you download and complete the Student Profile Form and submit the form with the change request.

Students enrolled in private instruction that are granted a change in teacher at any other time during the year will be charged a penalty equal to the cost of 4 additional lessons from the studio the student is leaving. All change requests must be submitted in writing to a Conservatory office.

Westminster Conservatory will honor all change requests if possible, based on availability. If the Conservatory cannot accommodate the requested change, the student may choose to continue the original course of study or withdraw according to the guidelines in the withdrawal policy listed above.


MISSED LESSONS & MAKE-UP POLICY
Regular attendance at lessons, classes, and rehearsals is expected. Students are charged for all lessons, classes, and ensembles for which they register, including those missed due to student absence (including illness, vacation, schedule conflicts, etc.) As a courtesy to your teacher, please notify your teacher in advance of any absence. Since a teacher has reserved a weekly teaching time for a student, teachers are not required to make up missed lessons due to student absence. However, if time is available during a teacher’s regular teaching hours, a make-up lesson may be given at the discretion of the teacher.

If a teacher cancels a lesson/class or if the Conservatory closes for any reason, a make-up lesson/class will be offered at a mutually convenient time. A maximum of 2 make-up options will be offered to the student for each cancelled lesson and 1 make-up option will be offered for each cancelled class. A credit is not available for make-up lessons or classes that are agreed-upon and then missed by the student. 


TUITION ASSISTANCE
To the extent that funds permit, Westminster Conservatory offers financial aid to qualifying families in the form of reduced tuition. Tuition assistance is determined on a sliding scale that considers family financial resources, the number of dependent children, the number of family members studying at the Conservatory, and the programs in which the the student(s) are enrolled. Recipients must maintain reasonable progress and attendance and keep all payments current. Financial aid application forms are available at any Conservatory office.  To download the financial aid application, click here.


ONGOING REGISTRATION
The Conservatory operates on a 34-week academic year beginning every September. Exceptions to this calendar may be made at the extension sites. Students may register at any time in the academic year. Once a student is scheduled with a teacher, lessons or classes will be pro-rated for the remainder of the year and the student will receive a bill for the pro-rated number of lessons. Students who do not remit full payment by the due date on the first bill will be assessed a monthly finance charge of 1.5% on the unpaid balance. Final payment due dates for each term are listed above.


WAITING LIST
If a requested lesson or class is full, a student may choose to be on the waiting list. To be added to the waiting list, a registration form must be submitted listing the days and times the student is available. Students should include their credit card number on the registration form. The credit card will be charged with the registration fee and the appropriate deposit once the student is placed with a teacher. When an opening becomes available, it will be offered to the first student on the waiting list who indicated availability at the time of the opening. To remain on the waiting list for the following academic year, students must fill out a new registration form. A student cannot remain on the waiting list for a specific teacher if lessons have been arranged with another Conservatory teacher.


SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT
A discount of 15 percent is offered to senior citizens (age 60 and older) in most offerings. Some programs, however, (such as Opera Outings) cannot be discounted.


LESSON DISCONTINUANCE POLICY
The Conservatory reserves the right to discontinue any student whose work or behavior is unsatisfactory; this includes frequent absences, tardiness, behavioral problems, lack of progress, or failure to abide by Conservatory policies. Students may also be discontinued if payment for lessons or classes is past due. In such cases, a student will be responsible for all lessons scheduled prior to the date the lessons are discontinued by the Conservatory.


CLASS CANCELLATION POLICY
The Conservatory reserves the right to cancel classes with insufficient enrollment. In the event of cancellation, a full refund will be issued.


PHOTOGRAPHY RELEASE
From time to time, Conservatory classes and events are photographed or videotaped for promotional purposes. These images may be used in brochures, with press releases, and in other publicity-related and informational materials for the Conservatory. Enrollment and/or participation in Conservatory programs and events—both those mentioned in this catalog and those that may arise during the course of the school year—constitutes permission granted for use of likeness in the above-mentioned manner.

Westminster Conservatory of Music - (609) 921-7104 - wccConserv@rider.edu

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