Education Committee

General

The following definitions are used in the Class Book:

Class = a formal class situation of generally multiple recurring sessions offering a hands-on learning experience to the students.

Workshop = a one or two-session demo/discussion on a specific topic that includes some limited hands-on experience by the participants.

Seminar = a one-session demo/discussion on a specific topic that does not include any hands-on experience by the attendees.

For the purpose of this document, all instructional sessions are called “classes.”

Club hours are currently 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. Whenever possible, classes will be held outside of normal club hours. The Governing Board recommends twelve (12) students as the maximum number for a class or for a workshop. Seminars may be larger as long as 25% of the club workspace is reserved to accommodate members working in the club but not attending the session.
Classes should be held with safety in mind, e.g., proper use of tools, assuring adequate ventilation, etc. Class areas should be left clean at the close of each class session.
All new instructors must be approved at a General Meeting by the membership.
All potential classes, instructors and field trips require approval of the Club President or the Governing Board before implementation. The Chairperson of the Education Committee will bring such items to the President. The President will then determine if the matter is to go before the Governing Board.
Potential instructors are required to demonstrate their competence and describe their skill set, formal training and experience. At the Club’s discretion, written proof may be required.
Members may submit suggestions and proposals for new classes and field trips to the Chairperson of the Education Committee. Information should include objective(s), curriculum, duration, cost if appropriate and instructor qualifications.
The Treasurer will issue payment to the instructors within five (5) business days of completion of class and submission of completed class form (see details under Instructors/Session Leaders.)

Instructors/Session Leaders

The curriculum and delivery of all classes designated as “Beginning” or “Basic” must include a brief coverage of the rules of the studio/club to the students.
Orientation Leaders are part of the Education Committee. They are responsible for organizing the orientation sessions and contacting the new members to attend a session.
Certain classes may require that students must bring supplies/tools/objects to the class. Conversely, there may be pre-class handouts that the instructor wishes distributed. In both cases, the list/handout must be forwarded to the Education Committee for placement in the class book. This information must be in the Education Committee’s hands before the class registration sheet will be put into the class book.
Upon acceptance as an instructor at the club, and before leading a session, the individual must sign and return (to the President) the Independent Contractor Agreement. (Blank forms should be stored in the 2-drawer file cabinet in the supply room.) The Education Committee, or alternately a member of the Governing Board, is responsible for getting the form to the instructor.
It is important that classes be effective, organized and appropriately priced. As part of the process for instituting a class, the instructor is responsible for:

Determining the objective, curriculum and supplies needed (if any), then submitting it to the club through the Education Committee. The club reserves the right to accept or reject all or any part of the instructor’s submission.

Determining the fee they require for their instructional services. The club has the right to accept or reject the instructor’s fee. The club reserves the right to include non-instructor costs in class fees when they deem it appropriate.

Working with the Governing Board regarding unusual or single-source supplies. As a general rule, all supplies are purchased via the club, and the instructor cannot sell supplies to students on the club premises. However, in those cases where materials are not accessible through the club, but m ay be available via the instructor, the club reserves the right to allow student reimbursement to an instructor for specified supplies.

Working with the Education Committee and the club calendar to determine and schedule time and dates of class sessions.

Establishing the required minimum number of students (if any). The Governing Board recommends twelve (12) students as the maximum number of students for a class or for a workshop. Seminars may be larger as long as 25% of the club workspace is reserved to accommodate members working in the club but not attending the session.

When the minimum number of students has not been met, the class may be cancelled or rescheduled by the instructor and Education Committee. The instructor is responsible for notifying the Education Committee of the lack of sufficient students. The instructor is also responsible for notifying affected registrants.
Fees already paid by a student will be refunded if the class is cancelled. In case of a rescheduled class, the fee will be applied forward or refunded if the student elects not to attend the rescheduled class. It is understood that some classes may have an absolute minimum number of students required. In those cases the instructor is responsible for clearly marking “Fees Non-Refundable After (date)” on the registration sheet in the Class B book. The “date” reflects a date seven (7) days before the class starts. Example: If a class starts on the 21^st of the month, then the Non-Refundable date would be the 14^th of the month.
In order to obtain a full refund of fees paid should a student elect to drop out of class, the student must notify the instructor a minimum of seven (7) days before the start of the class. Unscheduled personal emergencies (illness, death of family member, etc.) are excluded from this policy. After notifying the instructor, the student must request a refund, in writing, to the Treasurer, specifying title of class, dates, times and name of the instructor.
In order for the instructor to receive payment, the following must be done upon successful completion of the class:

Indicate on the class registration sheet (handwriting is fine) the date of completion of the class and the number of students that actually attended. Also clearly indicate those who registered but did not attend. The instructor must sign and date the form.

Remove the registration sheet from the Class Book, fold in thirds, mark “Club Treasurer” on the outside, and place in the slot in the Supply Room door.

Students/Participants/Attendees

To register for a class, the individual must have (1) paid their Club Dues in full, (2) completed Monitor Training and (3) completed a clay or ceramic orientation session before they may register or attend any class. Each registrant must be a member of the Club in their own name. That is, the person being signed up for a class must be a paid-up Club member.
Class registrants are to pay at time of registration. If that is not possible, payment must be made in full no later than three (3) days after registration or the student may be replaced with a paying student. Registrants are responsible for paying in a timely manner. The Club and the Education Committee cannot assume responsibility for issuing reminders to registrants.
Classes fill up quickly and often there are waiting lists. Therefore, if payment is not made as described in the item above, the Club reserves the right to remove or replace the registrant’s name for the class registration list, in order to allow space for as many Club members as possible. As noted above, registrants are responsible for monitoring their due dates and payments. The Club and the Education Committee cannot assume responsibility for issuing reminders.
The instructor is responsible to notify registrants when a class has been cancelled or rescheduled. If a Club member has registered and paid in full for such a class, the following options are available to them upon notification of cancellation/rescheduling:
In order to obtain a full refund of fees paid should a student elect to drop out of class, the student must notify the instructor a minimum of seven (7) days before the start of the class. Unscheduled personal emergencies (illness, death of family member, etc.) are excluded from this policy. After notifying the instructor, the student must request a refund, in writing, to the Treasurer, specifying title of class, dates, times and name of the instructor.
In case of a rescheduled class, the registrant can either (a) register for the rescheduled class and have those monies already paid applied toward that class or (b) not register for the rescheduled class and request a refund of the fee already paid. The student t must request a refund, in writing, to the Treasurer, giving specifics such as title of the class, dates, times and the instructor. The refund will be paid within 30 days after written request has been submitted.
The individual attending the class is responsible for checking the Class Book to determine if certain supplies/tools/objects are required for class. If so, the attendee is responsible for obtaining those items.
It is understood that the Club sometimes has concurrent events in place, such as a class occurring while other Club members are working on their pieces. The Club supports this concurrent use of the facility. However, “auditing” or “just sitting in” on a class without paying the class fee is inappropriate.