| School Policies |
General
International Students
Tutoring
Refunds
Other Financial Matters
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General (all students)
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- A student may enroll anytime, not just at the beginning of a course. Matriculation at mid-session, however, depends on availability of space. Midsession enrollees, if they wish to continue, must nevertheless reenroll for the subsequent session during Registration Week (the seventh week). See below regarding prorated tuition credits.
- The following grading system is used for all courses:
- 90 and above
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Excellent |
- 80 - 89
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Good |
- 70 - 79
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Pass |
- 69 and below
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Repeat |
Factors that influence a student’s grade are course- and instructor-specific but normally include absences, tardiness, class participation, as well as homework and test results.
- A student must receive at least a 70 in the Intensive Course to proceed to the next level.
- A student will be expelled if (after a minimum of one written warning) he is openly rebellious or disrespectful, disruptive, poses a danger to anyone associated with the school, exhibits a willful lack of progress, or otherwise disregards school policy. In the classroom, the instructor will issue a verbal or written warning followed by an administrative written warning if academic or other behavior is unacceptable. This policy will be adhered to unless the severity of the situation warrants immediate expulsion. (Expulsion does not absolve a student of his financial obligations to the school.)
- Only English is permitted in the classroom. (Students are also encouraged to speak English on breaks and outside the classroom.)
- No cell phones or other noise-creating communication devices are allowed in the classroom.
- Important deadlines. All of the following are due three (3) weeks in advance of a new session, more specifically, by Friday of the fifth week of a current session:
- Requests for courses, course or program changes, or changes from morning to evening classes (or vice versa) must be received in writing using the Course Change/Request form.
- Requests for vacation must be received in writing using the Vacation Request form. (Vacation requests are required for international students and requested for all students.)
- Application for the Test Preparation program.
- To aid in counseling and planning, the school requires that all students participate in the school’s progress reporting and verification of continuation survey. (This latter information is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a formal request or notification.)
- In the event a student or students are late, a teacher is not required to wait more than thirty minutes.
- It is the student’s responsibility to notify the school about changes in any of the following: address, telephone number(s), fax number, e-mail address(es).
- It is the responsibility of on-campus students to periodically check (two or three times per week) the main office and student messages bulletin boards.
- Please allow 3 business days to process all administrative or document requests. (Allow 5 business days for the I-20 and all supporting documents once the application is complete.)
- Students who enroll or start mid-session (or who are tested after the fifth week of a session and wish to start the following session) may be asked to move from morning to evening or from evening to morning classes. Or, at the school’s option, students may be tutored if there is no available course at the appropriate level or time.
- Students must make separate applications (in addition to the standard school application) for either the Leadership Development or Test Preparation programs. Once enrolled in either of these programs, course changes within and between programs may be made using a Course Change/Request form. Exception: students applying for Test Preparation courses for the first time must submit a Test Preparation application.
- Unless a Course Change/Request form is submitted on time, students who re-enroll are assumed to automatically continue the course or sequence of courses in which they are currently enrolled. It is the student’s responsibility to request (on time) a course or course change.
- The maximum number of students in any given class is nine. The school will open a class for as few as two students, or one student for Test Preparation courses.
- Students who graduate from AEI’s seven level Intensive English Program (IEP) are strongly encouraged to attend graduation unless they are scheduled to be outside the state of Georgia on Graduation Day. (Students who do not participate are not eligible to receive a diploma.)
- In case of possible severe weather or other emergency situation, please call the school. The telephone will have a message indicating whether classes have been canceled. If classes are to be canceled, a message will be available no later than 6:30 AM (morning classes) or 3:00 PM (afternoon/evening classes).
- Office hours: 9 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday and Saturdays 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. (Except for holidays and one-week seasonal breaks. See the school Academic Calendar.)
- Students must agree to abide by all school policies, including but not limited to those enumerated here and in the Student Handbook, incorporated herein by reference.
- Prices and policies are subject to change; changes apply upon re-enrollment.
- For all disputes involving refunds or charges: Before legal action is initiated, all parties agree to seek mediation by the Justice Center of Atlanta. Costs (estimated to be between $250-300) will be borne equally.
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International Students (students holding or applying for an F1 Visa)
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- Students approved for change of status must begin at the next available session or within two weeks, whichever is sooner.
- Enrollment in either the Leadership Development (LD) or Test Preparation (MTP) Program is contingent on meeting program prerequisites. Students who enroll for either the LD or MTP program but are required to complete the Intensive English Program are financially responsible for the difference in tuition.
- Students applying for reinstatement to F1 status are required to begin study no later than the start date indicated on their I-20. All school policies that apply to F1 students also apply to them. (For example, they may not break for vacation until after four sessions.)
- F1 students are required to make normal progress in their studies. Normal progress is defined as follows: International students must attend at least 70% of their classes (see below) and achieve a grade (in all classes) of not less than 70%.
- Specific minimum attendance requirements (for each eight week session) are as follows:
- Students enrolled in either Leadership Development or Test Preparation courses must choose to be available for classes either in the mornings (8:00 AM – 12:30 PM) or in the evenings (4:30 – 9:00 PM). Classes are scheduled within these time frames for either one or two days per week for a total of three hours per week. The school cannot guarantee or necessarily honor student preferences for more specific class times.
- The USCIS requires that it be notified within 10 days of a change in address. Such notification can be made to the school and the school in turn will notify the USCIS.
- (Prospective) students not approved for a student visa at a US Embassy or for a change to F-1 status by the USCIS are eligible for a 75% tuition refund. Proof of the government’s denial is required within 60 days. (Exception: A 50% refund applies if - for whatever reason - the initial entry, change of status, or reinstatement process is not completed, or if a government denial is (in whole or part) the result of actions or decisions by the student, guardian, representative, sponsor, or other related parties or agent(s), including if the denial or incomplete process is based on the denial of an earlier application for extension.)
- If a student is denied a visa or change of status and elects to reapply, then for purpose of a refund, the application is considered new. (A new application fee may be required.)
- Students are eligible for a vacation after “one academic year” or eight months of continuous study. Requests for vacation for a subsequent session must be received in writing using the Vacation Request form by Friday of the fifth week of a session. Students who intend to transfer or stop studying at AEI after the vacation may not apply. They must intend to return and are financially responsible for the session subsequent to their vacation.
- A nonrefundable $100 Continuing Enrollment Fee is required for students approved for vacation as well as for those approved for medical leave. The $100 will be credited against future tuition and is due during Registration Week for students approved for vacation or within 3 weeks of an approval for medical leave. Otherwise, a late fee of $50 applies.
- International students must request a transfer out (using our Transfer-out Request form) on or before the Friday of the fifth week of a session, and present proof of acceptance no later than the last day of the same session. Students who do not meet these requirements and do not re-register for a subsequent session are financially obligated for one full session tuition. Please see the school’s Transfer-out Request form (incorporated here by reference) for additional information.
- Change of status or reinstatement applicants must complete at least (three) 3 sessions or graduate from the IEP before they are eligible to transfer.
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Tutoring
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- Enrollment and financial commitment are for a minimum of sixteen hours; i.e., two hours per week for eight weeks.
- For new students, tuition is due in full before beginning. For continuing students, tuition is due the week before each subsequent period of tutoring.
- One-hour sessions are 55 minutes to allow a break for the instructor. Two-hour sessions include a ten-minute break.
- Vacation breaks, holidays, and teacher workdays are observed with respect to all tutoring schedules. (See school Academic Calendar.)
- Once a tutoring schedule has been arranged, it may not be changed.
- The school does not issue refunds for tutoring once a schedule has been arranged. For further information concerning refunds, see below.
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Refunds (all students)
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- All application fees are nonrefundable.
- No refunds are available if a placement test is administered or after the class or session in which a student has registered begins. Otherwise, students who have not begun study are eligible for a 50% tuition refund, provided no other refund policy applies.
- All refund requests must be submitted in writing.
- No credit, financial or otherwise, is available for absences (courses or tutoring). Exception: serious and extended illness (more than half the schedule), in which case the courses may be repeated at no charge or a make-up tutoring schedule arranged. A doctor’s note is required and a new schedule must be arranged within one year.
- Allow 15 business days to process refunds, using the school Academic Calendar. All refunds are payable by check in U.S. dollars.
- For additional refund policies specifically regarding international students and tutoring students, see above.
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Other Financial Matters (all students)
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- Full payment is required before a student is considered officially enrolled.
- If for any reason a student enters class or takes a placement test prior to full payment, that student is financially responsible for one full session.
- Tuition and other payments are due (for continuing students) Registration Week (the seventh week of each session) by Friday at 8 PM. A $50 fee applies for late payments.
- Course tuition normally includes books. (Exceptions: tutoring, repeat students for Leadership Development and Test Preparation courses, and as otherwise indicated in school media materials.)
- Students who enroll after the first week of a session (midsession enrollment) will receive a prorated tuition credit. (This does not apply to continuing F1 students.) Credits are based on rounding up to full weeks and will be applied only to the following session.
- No credit is issued for days absent except in the case of a serious and extended illness (more than half the course), in which case students are given the option of repeating the course (one session) within one year at no charge. A doctor’s note is required.
- A charge of $25 is due for all returned checks or other refused transactions. Returned checks must be replaced by cash or money order within one week. Otherwise, students may not enter class.
- Students are liable for all reasonable costs associated with collection, including collection agency and attorney fees.
- New students who have enrolled and have not begun class may postpone their matriculation. Written notification must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of a session. A postponement charge of $75 will be applied to the student’s account. (Does not apply to students waiting for a change of status.)
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Revision 10/17/07 |
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