Policies
and procedures
Age range
People often ask about the average age of our students. It's different every quarter, but student ages can range anywher from 18 years old to past retirement age.
While the great majority of our students are adults, the question sometimes comes up about whether it's all right for people under 18 to attend. The answer is, if you're under 18, we'd need to talk first with your parent or legal guardian to make sure the class is workable for you. If it isn't, we may be able to refer you to another class. In some cases, we may ask a parent or legal guardian to attend along with an underage student, or to bring a book and park in a nearby classroom in case of an emergency. If you're under 18 and interested in a class, please ask your parent or legal guardian to contact us. They can call us at 206-420-1309 or drop an email
Fees and refunds
When you sign up, you'll be charged two fees:
1) the course fee (tuition), and
2) a small registration fee ($5 for UW students, or $10 for members of the general public.) Due to U.W. and A.S.U.W. policy, the registration fee is not refundable unless a class is cancelled, or unless the class date or location is changed in such a way that makes you unable to attend.
Why do U.W. students pay less?
The Experimental College, which sponsors most of the classes, is a program of the ASUW (Associated Students University of Washington), the student government on the U.W. campus. Students pay dues to the ASUW, so the lower course fee and registration fee is a way of giving value back to the students.
What happens if a class is cancelled?
We don't cancel classes often, but if it does happen, you will receive your choice of either a full cash refund of both the course fee and registration fee, or a tuition credit good for the full amount paid, good toward any of the other classes listed on the Classesandworkshops home page, in any future quarter.
What happens if a student signs up for a class, then doesn't attend?
If you sign up for a class, then change your mind or are unable to attend, and notify us before the first meeting, you will receive your choice of either 1) a refund of the entire fee you paid for the class, minus the $10 registration fee, or 2) a tuition voucher for the full amount paid.
What if a student needs to miss a class session?
If you attend some meetings of a class but miss some meetings, you can make up the meetings you missed the following quarter without repaying the course fee. Due to U.W. policy you would need to pay the registration fee again, but not the course fee.
So, for example, if you sign up for the drawing class, but miss the second meeting, you can attend the second meeting the following quarter. The UW would charge you the $5 or $10 registration fee again, but you would not have to pay the course fee (tuition) again.