POLICY INFORMATION

Mission and General Info
The Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center (CIADC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, charitable organization, with a mission to provide education, working access, and community to 3D object makers working with materials and processes requiring specialized skills, industrial workspace, and shop tools. CIADC offers programming in four departments: Casting & Molding, Fabricated Metalworking & Forging, Integrated Technology & Design, and Woodworking.

Safety
At CIADC, safety is priority #1.  We know from experience that people can learn, be creative, use shop tools in an industrial space and have fun, all while being safe and allowing others to work safely in the same space.

CIADC has general and department-specific safety protocols that everyone must follow. Each term everyone must participate in a safety review, either during the first class or a department specific safety and tool use certification.  CIADC’s goal with this review is to make safety measures and responses to accidents second-nature.

Work activity is monitored for safety and proper tool use by an instructor during class time and by a monitor during open studio access. Our instructors and monitors are the voice of CIADC during these times and everyone must follow their safety and tool use directions.  In addition, when working outside of class, students and members may only use tools and processes with which they have had training and can use safely and properly.

Failure to follow CIADC’s safety protocols, working in an unsafe manner, or using tools in a manner that could cause premature wear or breakage will not be permitted.  Such conduct can result in sanctions, including suspension or expulsion from CIADC and forfeiture of tuition and fees, as determined by CIADC.  The Executive Director will make the final decision on appropriate sanctions.  In addition, CIADC reserves the right to hold any person that engages in misconduct of this type responsible for resulting damages.

Code of Conduct
In order to provide students, members, staff and visitors with a safe, respectful and inclusive environment CIADC has adopted the following Code of Conduct:

CIADC will not tolerate disruptive conduct or behavior. Accordingly, students, members and staff shall not engage in conduct that: (1) threatens the safety or comfort of any student, member, staff or visitor; (2) is a danger to themselves or any other person at our facility; or (3) interferes with CIADC’s ability to conduct classes, studio access, or other CIADC programs.

Some examples of unacceptable behavior are, without limitation:

• being in class or on the premises under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, verbal abuse, physical violence or threat of physical violence;

• disruptive behavior in class, which undermines the instructor’s authority, or which interferes with other students’ or members’ ability to participate effectively; or

• damaging the property of CIADC, or its students, members, staff, or visitors.

Violations of the Code of Conduct can result in sanctions, including suspension or expulsion from CIADC and forfeiture of tuition and fees, as determined by CIADC.  The Executive Director will make the final decision on appropriate sanctions.

Age Requirements
CIADC offers youth-specific programming (ages 11-19) and adult programming (ages 16 and older) in each of its four departments. Students enrolled in youth-specific programming are only allowed to work during youth-specific hours as designated by CIADC.

Class or Instruction Module Cancellations
CIADC classes and instruction modules require a minimum enrollment level. If the minimum enrollment is not met, CIADC may cancel that program. If the decision is made to cancel, CIADC will contact the enrolled students to discuss alternatives.

The amount paid for tuition for any CIADC-cancelled programming will, at the election of the student, be 1) transferred in-full to another available class or module during the same term, 2) applied in-full as tuition credit for future programming within a 12-month period, or 3) refunded in-full via the same method as original payment. All refunds will occur within 3 weeks of the cancellation date. Tuition credits are not redeemable for cash. Tuition credits for CIADC-cancelled programming may be transferred to another individual only with written notice to CIADC.

CIADC reserves the right to change instructors or class structure, or to cancel programming, for any reason, without incurring any obligations (except with respect to giving refunds or credit for tuition for CIADC-cancelled programming as described above).

Building Closings
No programming will be held on national holidays as stated on our website, or during extremely inclement weather, as determined by the Executive Director. Generally, CIADC follows the decisions of the Chicago Public Schools regarding weather related closings. Notice of unscheduled facility-wide closings will be given by email to affected students/members and will be on our website.  Make-ups for closures will be offered at the end of the term during make-up week.

CIADC Cancelled Single Class Sessions
If CIADC cancels a class, instruction module, or private instruction session date(s) due to a scheduling conflict, instructor illness, etc., CIADC will contact the affected students as soon as possible. A make-up will be offered at the regularly scheduled day/time during the make-up week, or the instruction will be rescheduled in the case of private instruction. If more than one make-up is needed, the instructor will schedule make-ups on dates that work for the majority of the students. CIADC make-ups are considered part of the term, and no refunds or credits will be given for unattended make-ups by students.

Tuition Installment Plan
CIADC offers a Tuition Installment Plan for 10-week adult Classes. Under the Plan, students may pay the tuition cost in 2 equal installments. By paying the 1st installment under the Plan (50% tuition, plus fee), the student agrees to the terms of the Plan, and is responsible for paying the tuition balance in-full (2nd installment) no later than 30 days from the date of the 1st installment (Net30). CIADC charges a $25 non-refundable administrative fee to students who opt to use the Plan. In addition, students who take advantage of the Tuition Installment Plan are subject to the Student Cancellation policies stated below.

Student Cancellations
If a student cancels or drops a class or instruction module after registering, CIADC will refund tuition (subject to a processing fee) based on the following schedule:

Tuition Refund Schedule (student-cancelled or student-dropped)

Notes: (1) Student must actually inform CIADC via phone or email to cancel or drop a class or instruction module. The cancelled or dropped date will be the date/time of student’s communication with CIADC. (2) Start Date is defined as the scheduled 1st session meeting date and time. (3) A student cancelling or dropping a class purchased under the Tuition Installment Plan is responsible for paying the tuition in full, less any refund owed under the policy above. The Tuition Installment Plan administrative fee in non-refundable.

Students who cancel 7 or more days before the start date, may avoid the Processing Fee by electing to either 1) transfer in-full to another available class or module of equal value during the same term, or 2) immediately reschedule the private instruction, or 3) apply in-full tuition credit for future CIADC classes or modules (credit valid for 12-months from the cancellation date). Tuition credits are not redeemable for cash and may not be transferred. A student may only avoid the Processing Fee if she or he has paid the full amount of the tuition owed.

Student Tardiness or Missed Single Class Sessions
There are no refunds, credits, or make-ups for any class, module, or private instruction session date(s) attended late -or-missed by students, whether CIADC is notified in advance or not.

Membership
CIADC also offers individual membership subscriptions. Membership is not required to enroll in our education programs (classes, instruction modules, private instruction, etc.) however, members do receive certain programming discounts, among other perks. Membership is required for current and former students to work during studio access work blocks (as described below). Membership subscription purchase is not refundable or transferrable. There is no reduced or pro-rated membership fee.

Studio Access
CIADC offers studio access scheduled work time outside of class time to current and former students who are 1) members, and 2) certified for the department shop by either being currently enrolled in a department class or by having completed the department Safety and Tool Use Certification (STUC). Certifications must be renewed each term. Studio access schedules are posted at the beginning of each term. Studio access is supervised by CIADC staff for safety and proper tool use. Studio access can be purchased as drop-in -or- in bulk.

Liability Waiver and Photo Release Form
Each student and member must sign a liability waiver and photo release as a condition to having access to our facilities. The current form is available on our website. No person shall use CIADC’s workspaces, tools or facilities without having first signed this form. In the case of any person under the age of 18, the form must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Visitor and Child Policy
For safety and other reasons, no one is allowed in our workspaces unless they are current enrolled, or have advance permission to visit the workspaces from the Executive Director. This includes children of students or members. Visitors must check-in at the front desk upon arrival and be accompanied by CIADC staff during their visit. Visitors must follow safety and other directions from staff when observing work activity.

Children (under 16 years of age) are not allowed to wait in CIADC’s administrative area, including in the reception area, while a parent or guardian works in the facility.

Special Needs and Accessibility
Our lower main level is handicapped accessible. We also have an elevator to aid access from the elevated 1st floor to floors 2 and 3. Please let us know of any special needs or health problems in advance, and we will discuss with you how to best accommodate them.

Policy Changes
CIADC reserves the right to revise its policies, the Code of Conduct and any other matters described in the website or catalogs, including as to programming and fees, as it deems appropriate from time to time.