M. Christine Schneider, Director 271-4011

ENROLLMENT: Enrollment into DUCSOM is on a semester basis. The 2011-2012 calendar is as follows:

Fall: 16 weeks Beginning August 22, 2011
Spring: 16 weeks Beginning January 16, 2012
Summer: 8 weeks Beginning June 4, 2012

Tuition is pro-rated for students enrolling after the start of the semester.

TUITION AND FEES:

Fall: $416.00
Spring: $416.00
Summer: $208.00 eight weeks
Pro-Rated Charge: $ 26.00 per half-hour times the number of lessons
Enrollment Fee: $ 30.00 (New Students Only, charged per Family)
Two payment Plan: $ 7.00
Three payment Plan: $ 10.50
Discount forfeiture: $ 24.00

• The standard lesson length is thirty minutes; longer lesson times are available.  Tuition for forty-five and sixty minute lessons is calculated at the pro-rated charge.
• Lessons discontinued on or before the second lesson receive a 75% tuition refund. Students who discontinue lessons after the second week of the semester are still responsible for full payment of the semester’s tuition and enrollment fee (if applicable).
• Contact the DUCSOM director, not the studio instructor, regarding refunds.
• Adjustments regarding the number of lessons are not made after the lessons begin.
• Tuition is not credited from one semester to another. 
• Delinquency in payment of tuition and fees results in suspension of instruction.
• Eligible Drake faculty and staff receive a 10% tuition reduction.

TERMS OF PAYMENT:

Tuition and fees must be PAID IN ADVANCE. Payment is accepted in cash (exact amount only), by check (made payable to DUCSOM) or by credit card (MasterCard or VISA). 

Tuition and fees can be

• Mailed to:
  
  Cashiers Office
  2507 University
  Des Moines, Iowa  50311-4505               

• Paid by phone, 515-271-3805, or in person at the Cashiers office in Old Main, M-F,  8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Include your account number with all payments.

Available payment options are:

• One-payment of the full tuition and all applicable fees.       
• Two-payment plans (billed in the first two consecutive months of the term)—one-half of the tuition and any applicable fees plus a service fee of $7.00 to be included with the first payment.  For the fall this plan is available until September 9; in the spring it is available until February 3.          
• Three-payment plan (billed in the first three consecutive months of the term)—one-third of the tuition and any applicable fees plus a service fee of $10.50 to be included with the first payment. For the fall this plan is available until September 9; in the spring it is available until February 3.
• After the first tuition statement’s due date, the discount forfeiture is assessed to any non-payment plan balance. Do not hesitate to contact the DUCSOM office regarding tuition concerns.

ATTENDANCE & MAKE-UP LESSONS: Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance.  To maximize your course of instruction and progress, regular attendance is expected.  Your enrollment reserves a specific lesson time.  Notify the instructor, not the DUCSOM office, concerning any absences.  Instructors are not required to make up lessons due to student absences.  At the instructor’s discretion, a make-up lesson may be offered if time is available within an instructor's regular teaching hours.  A make-up lesson cancelled by the student is not offered again.  If an instructor cancels a lesson, a make-up is offered.  In the event of your local school closing due to inclement weather, if Drake remains open (please listen to your local television and radio newscasts or call the Drake cancellation line at 271-4545) DUCSOM will be giving lessons.  Missed lessons due to weather are made up at the discretion of the instructor.

LOCATION OF LESSONS:  All lessons are given in studios located in the Harmon Fine Arts Center at 26th and Carpenter.  Parking is available on the street or, with a parking sticker, in the parking lot located directly east of the building on 25th Street (Lot 1). Handicap accessible parking is available, without a parking sticker, in Lot 1. Parking stickers can be purchased at the Cashier's Office in Old Main.

RECITALS:  Recitals by our students occur periodically throughout the year; please consult your instructor regarding dates and times.  Students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in recitals.  The Drake Music Department also presents events throughout the year that are free and open to the public.  A schedule of events is available by calling Marilyn Dean, Manager of the Fine Arts Facilites, at 271-2018.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Christine Schneider at 271-4011.