In order to participate in any Gadsden Community School for the Arts activity, students must complete a registration form prior to attending their lesson, class or ensemble. Dance students must also complete a registration form documenting previous dance instruction and experience. In addition, students must pay a $15.00 registration fee each semester for non members of the Hardin Center for Cultural Arts.
Registration forms are available at The Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts located at 501 Broad Street, Gadsden, Alabama 35901.
Ways To Register
Send us your completed registration form along with your registration fee and tuition. Please send to: Mary G. Hardin Center For Cultural Arts 501 Broad Street Gadsden, AL 35901. Attention: Rebecca Stough
Register by phone or fax using your MasterCard or Visa.
If you fax your registration, please be sure to fax both sides of the registration
form. Phone: 543-2787 ext. 22 Fax: 546-7435
If a semester is already in progress, art and dance students will be admitted at the beginning of the month. Music students’ tuition will be prorated to reflect the number of weeks remaining in the semester.
Terms of Payment
Music
One half of tuition plus the registration fee is due at registration. The balance is due in 30 days unless other arrangements are made.
Art and Dance
One month’s tuition plus the registration fee is due at registration. Monthly class fees are due on the 1 st of each month are and late after the 10 th of each month. A charge of 1.5% per month will be assigned on any unpaid balance until it is paid in full.
If payment is not made in accordance with the above terms, students will not be allowed to register for subsequent semesters. A default charge of 1.5% per month will be assigned on any unpaid balance until it is paid in full.
If, in the judgment of GCSA, it becomes necessary to engage the services of a collection agency or attorney to effect collection or to settle any dispute in connection with the above terms, the individual who signs the registration form agrees to pay the collection agency or attorney fees, reasonable expenses, and costs as incurred. The individual who signs the registration form understands and agrees to these terms.
GCSA accepts VISA and MasterCard as well as checks, cash and money orders.
Tuition for classes does not cover the cost of music, books, dancewear, costumes or other supplies.
Absence and Schedule Changes
Students who miss a lesson MUST call 543-2787 ext. 22 and leave a message for the instructor. Students who do not follow this policy will forfeit their right to a make-up lesson.
Make up lessons are not guaranteed. Students will be charged for missed lessons. Instructors will provide make up lessons at their discretion.
In the event a teacher misses a lesson or class, students will be notified as far in advance as possible. Lessons and classes will be rescheduled.
Dance students should refer to the specific policy stated in the handbook for the dance studio for this information.
Tardiness
Because of our faculty's tight lesson schedule, students who are late for a lesson or class cannot be guaranteed their full lesson time. Faculty will wait for a student for one-third of the scheduled lesson time; students are to do the same. If an instructor does not arrive within this amount of time, please notify the GCSA Director or the front desk.
School Closings
Lessons and classes are only canceled when the Hardin Center For Cultural Arts is closed. There will be days when the Center is closed to the public, but is still open for lessons and classes. Please consult individual instructors for class schedules. When the Center is closed for inclement weather, lessons and classes on campus are also canceled. Please listen to local radio and television stations for these announcements.
Refund Policy
In order to withdraw and receive financial credit or a refund, students must submit a written withdrawal request to the GCSA Director immediately.
Non-attendance DOES NOT constitute a withdrawal, and NO deduction is
made for temporary absence from classes or lessons.
Registration fees for all classes and lessons are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Refunds - Music
The refund policy for music lessons is based on the assumption that the student has paid the tuition in full prior to the date of withdrawal. Registration is based on a semester commitment. Therefore, the second half of the tuition payment is not dismissed if withdrawal occurs before the balance is paid. Because of contractual obligations for instruction and other services at the start of the semester, tuition refunds will be based on the following schedule:
A withdrawal made:
• Prior to first lesson - 100% refund
• within first two weeks - 60% refund
• within first three weeks - 40% refund
• within first four weeks - 20% refund
• after first four weeks - no refund
Refunds - Art and Dance
Refunds will only be made in art and dance if the student has paid for instruction in advance (for example, paying for an entire semester instead of on a monthly basis). Refunds will only be issued for the months the student did not receive instruction. Therefore, a student who has completed one class during an instructional month will NOT be eligible for a refund for the balance of that month.
Waiting Area
Parents waiting on students and students waiting for their lessons/classes to begin are to use the designated waiting areas only.
Open Studio Policy
The GCSA maintains an open studio policy, whereby all parents are welcome at any time to observe classes and lessons. Each individual instructor may have certain policies regarding class observation. While parents may contact the specific instructor for their student, the general rule is that parents may observe from outside the teaching space for classes and lessons.
Financial Assistance
To the extent that funds permit, the GCSA offers financial assistance to qualifying students in the form of reduced tuition. In 2003-04, the GCSA will offer over $7,200 in financial assistance. Financial assistance is based on need and considers family financial resources, assets, and number of dependent children. Scholarships are also available based on teacher recommendations and participation in other programs of the Gadsden Cultural Arts Foundation. Aid is limited to one activity per semester for each student. Financial assistance, granted for Fall Semester study is renewable for Spring Semester. Re-application is required for each new academic year. Applications are available at the time of registration each semester and may be requested in person or by phone at 543-2787ext.22
PLEASE NOTE: Students who have received financial assistance in the past and who have defaulted on payments may not be considered for future financial assistance.
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