Tuition-Fee Refund and Retirement Program Policies

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Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2005 02:45:55 +0900

Subject: From Japan

From: David Ottaviano <dottaviano@mail.canacad.ac.jp>

To: headsnet <headnet@news.uronramp.net>

 

Dear Colleagues:

 

Our school, Canadian Academy, uses the ISS Financial Network for our

retirement programs. ISS has served the international community for 50 years

and is now providing retirement investment services for international

schools through the Raymond James Financial Services firm in the USA. These

services are dollar based and are tailored to both U.S. and non US citizens.

The cost for schools to administer these programs is minimal to none. In

fact we have saved money because in Japan money set aside for retirement is

taxed at a lower rate so it is benefit to our staff and our Board of

Trustees.  Contact James Barnette at james.barnette@raymondjames.com for a

customized proposal for your school.

 

David Ottaviano, Ed.D.

Canadian Academy

 

 

 

Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 15:02:28 -0500

From: "Michael Farr" <mfarr@kcparrish.edu.co>

Subject: FW: policy reimbursements and retirement

 

 

DEAR HEADNETTERS,

 

POLICY ON REIMBURSEMENTS VARIES GREATLY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL.  POLICY ON RETIREMENT IS USUALLY DICTATED BY LOCAL LAWS.

 

WHAT FOLLOWS ARE SOME OF THE MORE INTERESTING COMMENTS I RECEIVED.  THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED.

 

MIKE FARR

 

 

We generally retain as much as possible--registration and capital assessment

are non-refundable under all circumstances.  Tuition is non refundable after

specific dates each semester.  We make exceptions for serious

situations--death in the family, an unexpected transfer out of Italy by an

Embassy, company, etc.

 

Our retirement policies are completely controlled by Italian labor law.  We

have no policies other than the laws.  Our teacher retirement policies are

the same. US citizens get social security; Italians and EU get the Italian

system, which is much better than social security!!

 

We have a tough policy on family withdrawals.  We charge a $6000

non-refundable fee annually and will continue charging it until we have

repaid the loan to build the new school.  Immediately following the

financial crisis of August 1998 in Russia, we altered our tuition refund

policy.  We had been refunding 100% for any quarter not attended.  We

changed it to 50% justified by the fact that virtually all our expenses are

committed by the day school opens.

 

We have no required date for retirement.  We, of course, pay teachers a

superannuation, but unfortunately for our Russian employees, it is illegal

to set up retirement accounts for them outside the country and so they are

dependent on the meager state pensions.

 

We do the following:

Non refundable Application Fee:  from grades 1-12.  Purpose is to review

transcripts and records and assess whether we will accept the student.

If we decide to reject the student, this is non-refundable.  For preK

and K, there is no application fee because we do not do screening for

the little ones(yet).

 

Non-refundable Deposit/Entrance Fee:  This is paid upon acceptance in

order to hold the spot for the student (535 euros).  It is also paid in

April-May for those indicating that they will return in September.  We

do not count anyone on the list until this is paid.  Waiting lists also

pay this fee.  We will refund those on the waiting list IF we cannot

accept the student. However, if the parent changes their mind and goes

elsewhere, or does not come to Barcelona (this happens) it is non-refundable.

 

Tuition fees:  These can be paid in advance with a discount or monthly

through the bank. If a family leaves, for example, in January, we pro

rate and return tuition (if it was paid in advance) or simply stop

charging through the bank from that month.  (This policy is the one I

would like to change, thus I would like to hear from others)

 

REtirement:  this all goes according to labor laws and social security

in Spain.  We have no control and must abide by the local laws. We even

have pre-retirement, which means that from the age of 62 the teacher can

opt to work only 4 period per week.  The difference is paid by Social

Security. It has its advantages and disadvantages because theoretically,

we must hire an 'unemployed' teacher in place of the one who is going

out on retirement.  Now how do you do that in Spain when you are looking

for a native English speaking teacher who is registered at the

unemployment office?  We have had to do a little juggling to manage it.

 

We state in our policy that the capital assessment (entrance fee of $3000)

is non-refundable. In actual practice, if someone leaves within a few weeks,

if asked, we reimburse a portion. But this would certainly only be

considered for departure within six months of enrollment.

 

Our retirement policies for blue-color workers are governed by local law.

 

We just cancelled a non-refundable capital fee for a student who

only stayed 2 weeks.  The situation prompted us to create a policy that

would cancel this $6,000 fee for any student who remained less than 30

calendar days.  A minimum fee of half-semester tuition is due for one day of

attendance. Then the rest of the year is due.  We are reviewing our fee

policies, but generally we reimburse nothing.  So far we have no retirees

from our school as we are just 20 years old.  Good Luck, Mary

 

At ECA in Caracas we do not reimburse.  People have the option of paying in

two installments during the year. So, if people leave during the first

semester, we will not get the second semester tuition. We have a one time

only capital fee that is not reimbursed.

 

 

Here is Lisbon, laws are so specific on retirement that we do not (and

cannot) have policies different.

 

Admission Fees--Registration--this is not refunded under any circumstances.

 

Admission Fee--Capital--this is refunded if the child never starts school

(i.e. parent registers child but then family is transferred or parent

changes mind before child steps foot in class).  Once the child has attended

even one class, no refund.

 

Tuition--Attendance in any quarter 10 days or less, one month's tuition is

owed.  Attendance day 11 or beyond, full quarter is owed.  Some of our

parents pay the year up front (for discount).  If they leave and

give proper notice, we calculate based on the above but the discount is

eliminated.

 

**** In most schools i have been in there is no refund UNLESS the family

made an arrangement in advance. Up front it is stated that is a non

refundable fee and is normally paid in advance before starting school.

There are, of course, always exceptions for hardship or unusual circumstances.

 

we are pretty strict on this: the capital fee is

non-refundable no matter what (that's a one time fee when students

enter: $6,000, going up probably to $6,500 next year). We sometimes

allow a family under unusual circumstances to pay less than the full

amount (say a family that is only here for one semester), but the

exceptions are few and far between.

 

On tuition families are liable for the whole semester if the child

attends any part of it. I have one case now of a student who, for

health reasons, is withdrawing--I think there can be some flexibility

for such situations, but I am new here and don't know how often this

comes up. Basically, the school has learned to take a hard line--how

else can it budget effectively?

 

Regarding your other question, our policy specifically on retirement

isn't very helpful, I should think, but it says: 1)Benefits. The

school will pay required contributions of length of service (CTS) and

pay social security benefits. 2) Honors. The Board of Directors shall

honor all retiring employees who have given extensive and valuable

services to the school with an appropriate resolution and recognition

setting forth its appreciation of the services rendered.

 

If you have specific questions about other issues, I can forward the

text. We seem to have a policy for everything here!

 

At AIS Budapest we do not reimburse any of the building fee (currently

$2.500 each year) or registration fee ($250 one-time payment), but we do

reimburse tuition.  Tuition is due on a trimester basis, so for those who

prepay the year, we do reimburse in full for trimesters not attended.  For

those leaving during the trimester, we do reimburse tuition on a sliding

scale as follows...

                        attend >34 days            no reimbursement

                        attend 28 - 34 days      20% reimbursed

                        attend 21-27 days        40% reimbursed

                        attend 14-20 days        60% reimbursed

                        attend 1-13 days          80% reimbursed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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