Registration

Sherwood Registration Information

Important Documents

2011-2012 Academic Calendar

Summer Term Dates

May 14 - Registration opens for all returning students
May 21 - Registration opens for new students
June 11 - Summer Term Begins
July 4 - Independence Day, SCHOOL CLOSED
August 18 - Last day of regular summer term classes
August 20-25 - Summer term make-up week

Summer Term Dates (For Early Childhood Classes)

May 29 - Registration opens for all returning students
June 4 - Registration opens for new students
June 25 - Summer Term for Early Childhood classes begins
July 4 - Independence Day, SCHOOL CLOSED
August 18 - Last day of regular summer term classes
August 20-25 - Summer Term Make-up week

How To Register

Students may register for classes and lessons at Sherwood in three ways:

1. Online - To register online, simply click on the red 'Register Online!' button above to visit our online registration center. Please note that online registration is limited to select classes at certain times of the year.
2. By phone - Speak with a Program Coordinator at (312) 369-3100 to register by phone.
3. In Person - Stop by the front desk during normal business hours to register in person.

2011-2012 SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Labor Day: September 5, 2011
Thanksgiving: November 24 - November 26, 2011
Winter Break: December 24, 2011 - January 2, 2012
Martin Luther King Day: January 16, 2012
Memorial Day: May 28
Independance Day: July 4

Financial Aid and Scholarships

IMPORTANT NOTE: The financial aid program is now closed to new applicants for the 2011-2012 school year. Please check back during the summer for information on financial aid for the 2012-2013 school year.

We believe music education should be made available to everyone. One of the most significant barriers to the study of music is cost, especially for the one-on-one instruction that is essential in the development of skilled musicians. Here at Sherwood, we will make every effort to help your family overcome whatever financial obstacles you may have so that we can make music an important part of your life.

Through the generosity of individual, foundation, and corporate donors, Sherwood can keep tuition costs affordable and offer financial assistance to students who connot afford to pay for their own instruction.
Need-based financial aid is available to students ages 18 and under, who are from families meeting certain financial criteria. Aid awards range from 10-60% of tuition costs.
Merit-based Scholarships are available to current Sherwood students who have reached a high level of musical accomplishment. Scholarships are awarded through the Scholarship Competition, held each Spring.
Students may receive both need-based and merit-based awards at the same time. These programs ensure accessibility to students who would otherwise be denied opportunities for a quality music education.

Registration Policies & Procedures

Registration Periods: Registration generally opens four weeks prior to the start of each term. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis. Late registration for classes may be allowed only at the instructor's discretion.
Early Childhood Classes: Students enrolled in early childhood classes must re-enroll each term to continue instruction. Registration for early childhood classes is open through the end of the fourth week of each term.
Ensembles: A full year commitment (Fall and Spring term) is expected from all students enrolled in ensembles, and unless otherwise noted, registration for all ensembles covers both the fall and spring terms.
Suzuki Instruction: A full year commitment (Fall and Spring term) is expected from all students enrolled in Suzuki instruction. Registration for Suzuki instruction is automatically renewed in the spring term unless Sherwood is notified by the parent in advance.
Season Pass: Continuing individual lesson students may opt for the 'Season Pass' option. Students enrolled in the Season Pass must commit to and make a payment for a full year of lessons by the Season Pass deadline of August 1, 2011. In return, students will receive the following benefits from enrolling in the season pass option:
- A $75 tuition discount
- Automatic enrollment in a monthly automated payment plan option at no additional charge
- 50% off tickets to our "Sherwood Presents..." concert series throughout the year
- The convenience of only registering once for the entire year. No additional paperwork to fill out in the spring and no payment deadlines to remember.
Additional Season Pass Details:
- Payment by a credit card is required to enroll in the Season Pass option. Your credit card will be charged automatically on the first of every month (Saturdays and Sundays excluded) from August 2011 - May 2012, a total of 10 payments.
- Students must enroll in the full 17 week term for both the fall and spring terms in order to qualify for the Season Pass option.
- Early withdrawal from the Season Pass program will result in a withdrawal fee of $150.00.
- Students do not need to have confirmed a day and time for their lessons to enroll in the Season Pass option. Sherwood will receive a schedule from your lesson instructor and we will assign your day and time according to the instructor's schedule.
- Students receiving financial aid or scholarship awards from Sherwood are not eligible for the Season Pass discount.

Payment Policy

A student is not considered registered until a payment is made.
Students will not be allowed to attend a class or lesson until a payment is made.
Payment for all tuition and fees is payable in full prior to the first class or lesson.
Students unable to pay in full may opt for the installment plan outlined below.
Payment may be made by credit card online, by phone, or in person. Payment made by cash, check or money order may be made in person only.

Installment Plan Option: Students unable to pay in full at the time of registration may select to participate in the installment plan option.

The installment plan is available for students registering for individual lessons, group classes, ensembles, or Suzuki. The installment plan is not available for 12-week Early Childhood classes.
There is a $20 fee per term to participate in the installment plan.
The installment plan breaks payment up into 4 installments spaced evenly throughout the term.
Remaining balances may be paid off in full at any time.
To participate in the installment plan, we require that a credit card be kept on file with Sherwood, even if you plan on paying by cash or check. If a payment is not made by the payment due date, we will automatically charge the amount due to your credit card on the due date. Any exceptions must be approved by the Operations Manager.

Fall Term Installment Plan Schedule
Installment	Due Date	Payment Due
1^st installment	By first day of class	25% tuition + all fees
2^nd installment	October 3, 2011	25% tuition
3^rd installment	November 1, 2011	25% tuition
4^th installment	December 1, 2011	25% tuition or remaining balance

Spring Term Installment Plan Schedule
Installment	Due Date	Payment Due
1^st installment	By first day of class	25% tuition + all fees
2^nd installment	March 1, 2012	25% tuition
3^rd installment	April 2, 2012	25% tuition
4^th installment	May 1, 2012	25% tuition or remaining balance

Summer Term Installment Plan Schedule
Installment	Due Date	Payment Due
1^st installment	By first day of class	30% tuition + all fees
2^nd installment	July 2, 2012	35% tuition
3^rd installment	August 1, 2012	35% tuition or remaining balance

Fees

Registration Fee: A non-refundable registration fee of $15 is charged to each student once per academic year.
Materials Fee: Some courses require an additional materials fee. See the course descriptions for more information. The materials fee is non-refundable unless Sherwood has had to cancel a course, in which case a full refund for materials will be offered assuming all materials are returned to Sherwood unopened.
Installment Fee: A non-refundable fee of $20 is required each term for students who opt for the installment plan.
Returned Check Fee: A $30 fee will be charged for any returned checks.
Withdrawal Fee: A $25 fee will be charged for all withdrawals from classes or lessons except for withdrawal from the Season Pass option. Withdrawal from Season Pass Individual Lessons will result in a withdrawal fee of $150.00.
Finance Charge: A finance charge of 1.5% per month (18% APR) may be assessed to all unpaid balances more than 30 days past the due date indicated on the invoice. Interest will continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full.

Discounts

Sherwood may offer various promotional discounts throughout the year. The following are standing discounts that always apply:

Senior Discount: Any student over the age of 55 may receive a 10% discount.
Family Discount: Any immediate family member of a Sherwood student (Parent, child, sibling) may receive a $20 discount.
Additional course-specific discounts may apply, please see course descriptions and fees for details.

Make-Up Classes and Cancellations

Excused Absence for Individual Lessons: Students must give a minimum 24-hour advance notice for individual lessons to be considered excused. One make-up lesson for an excused absence will be offered per term.
Unexcused Absence for Individual Lessons: Unexcused absences are absences for which a student has not given 24-hour notice, or for any additional absences beyond the one excused absence provided per term. Make-ups for unexcused absences are not offered, and lessons missed due to unexcused absences are non-refundable.
Tardy Policy: Sherwood maintains a 15 minute tardy policy for individual lessons. Instructors are required to wait at least 15 minutes after the start of the lesson for the student to arrive. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late to their lesson forfeit that lesson and may not receive a make up for that missed lesson. Students are also required to wait up to 15 minutes after the start of the lesson for instructors to arrive. Instructors that arrive more than 15 minutes late to a lesson are required to make up that lesson at no charge to the student.

Make-Up Session for Group Classes or Ensembles:

Make-up sessions for group classes or ensembles are not offered unless Sherwood has had to cancel or re-schedule a class or ensemble. Make-up sessions due to student absence are not offered for group classes and ensembles, and classes missed due to student absence are non-refundable. An exception is made for students enrolled in Music Together. Parents of Music Together students may schedule up to three make-up classes per term by speaking with a Program Coordinator at (312) 369-3100.

Course Cancellation: Sherwood Community Music School reserves the right to cancel a class due to insufficient enrollment, and all paid student tuition and fees will be refunded in the case of course cancellation. Final course cancellation decisions will be made by the end of the second week of each term.

Withdrawals, Refunds and Credits

How to make a withdrawal request: All withdrawal or refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Operations Manager by email to cgorcik@colum.edu. Withdrawal or refund requests cannot be made retroactive and are effective as of the receipt date of the written request. Verbal notification of withdrawal to the instructor or to any member of the Sherwood staff will not be considered adequate notice of withdrawal and will not be honored as such.
Withdrawal before the start of term: Withdrawal requests received from students before the first class session or individual lesson will receive a full tuition cash refund minus the $25 withdrawal fee and $15 registration fee.
Withdrawal from classes or ensembles: Withdrawal from group classes and ensembles after the start of term must be made at least 24 hours before the third scheduled class. Requests made before the third scheduled class will receive a pro-rated credit on their student account, not a cash refund, minus the $25 withdrawal fee and the $15 registration fee. Withdrawal from a group class or ensemble after the third scheduled class will not receive any tuition refund or credit.
Withdrawal from individual lessons or Suzuki instruction: Withdrawal requests received from students after the first individual lesson will receive a pro-rated credit to their Sherwood student account minus the $25 withdrawal fee and $15 registration fee, not a refund.
Limits on use of student account credit: Account credit can be applied for study in a subsequent term which begins up to one year after the original enrollment start date. If the pro-rated credit is not used within one year, it will be forfeited. Credit may also be transferred to an immediate family member's account for use in a future term.
Unused lesson policy: If a student does not receive all paid lessons by the end of the term due to instructor absence, weather related closings, excused absences, etc., Sherwood will credit back the student's account the pro-rated tuition amount for those unused lessons. That credit may be used towards enrollment in a following term. Unused lessons cannot roll over into a following term, only an account credit is allowed.

Disclaimer

Parents/guardians are responsible for supervising the safety of their children at all times while they are on Sherwood/Columbia College Chicago premises. Upon registering yourself or your child for participation in programs at Sherwood/CCC, you acknowledge that you will be waiving and releasing all claims for injuries that you or your child may incur while on Sherwood/CCC premises, or while involved in any program at Sherwood/CCC.

Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago is not a licensed childcare facility, and any child age seven or under taking lessons or classes at Sherwood is required to have a parent/guardian present on the premises at all times during lesson or class time in case of emergency. This policy also applies to all Sherwood programs offered at any of our satellite locations.

Publicity Policy

Photographs of students engaged in instruction, rehearsal, or performance activities at Sherwood may be used in Sherwood's publications, local newspapers, magazines, electronic media, and related publicity materials. Completion of registration constitutes consent and permission by the student and student's parent(s)/guardian(s) to use the student's name and/or image for any advertising, publicity, marketing and packaging.