Personal Conduct
A school community depends on the good judgment and considerate behavior of its members. Student status at RISD is not an unconditional right, but a privilege subject to certain expectations and regulations. Students are responsible for knowing and observing RISD/CE policies and procedures. Therefore, the RISD/CE office provides the Summer Studies Student Handbook, which clearly outlines rules and regulations. The handbook is accessible as a downloadable pdf document (only); instructions for locating and downloading the Handbook are provided in your confirmation letter. Students are responsible for reading and knowing its contents. Violations of college policies and regulations may subject students to such sanctions as a warning, probation or dismissal. RISD reserves the right to dismiss students at any time for conduct detrimental to the RISD community or conduct that violates the laws of the United States or the State of Rhode Island.

Admission to Degree Programs at RISD
Admission to the Summer Studies program neither implies nor guarantees admission to a RISD degree program. Those students interested in admission to full-time RISD undergraduate or graduate degree programs must follow the procedures established by the RISD Admissions office. For further information please call Admissions at 401 454-6300. Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, EST.
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Changes, Cancellations + Class Postponements
RISD reserves the right to cancel courses, or to alter fees, scheduling or staffing of courses. If a particular program or course is cancelled, students are informed of the course cancellation soon after May 15, 2009.

Veterans
Veterans should apply directly to the Veterans Administration (VA) Regional Office to verify that their programs of study qualify for VA benefits. A letter from the VA confirming that benefits have been approved for the student’s chosen course(s) must accompany the student’s registration.

Withdrawals + Refunds
To officially withdraw, submit written notification to the CE Associate Director for Student Services in the RISD/CE office, in person or by mail or fax. Refunds are calculated according to the schedules on the next page, and are based on the date the written request is received in the CE office, or if mailed, the date of the postmark. Refunds take six weeks to process. Refunds for payments made by MasterCard or VISA are credited to the account that was charged. Failure to properly withdraw from a course results in a permanent grade of F on the student’s record.

Important: simply notifying the instructor or failing to complete a course does not constitute official withdrawal.

RISD refunds tuition and fee payments in full for registrations that are not accepted or for which registration is closed. No tuition is refunded to students who are asked to leave a program for a violation of school policies or regulations. Tuition, housing and dining deposits, and lab and registration fees are nonrefundable. The percentage of the tuition and housing/dining fees refunded, minus deposits and lab and registration fees, depends on the date the written request is received in the CE office.

six-week courses
by three weeks prior to start of class: 100%
by one week prior to start of class: 80%
during the first week of class: 60%
during the second week of class: 40%
after the second week of class: no refund

three-week courses
by three weeks before start of class: 100%
by one week before start of class: 80%
during the first week of class: 40%
after the first week of class: no refund

shorter schedules
by one week before start of class: 100%
during the week before start of class: 50%
beginning the first day of class: no refund

Study Abroad programs
by four weeks before start of the course: 100%
thereafter: no refund

Study Abroad Supplemental Health Insurance Fee Refunds
The supplemental health insurance fee for RISD Study Abroad students is fully refundable upon cancellation up to four weeks prior to the start of the course. Thereafter the fee becomes nonrefundable.

Please note: RISD strongly suggests that students also obtain travel insurance.

Learning or Physical Disabilities and Psychiatric Assistance
RISD encourages each student to notify the CE Logistics Coordinator at 401 454-6213 any time specific assistance or services are necessary for the student’s full participation in RISD summer courses. Reasonable and appropriate options will be determined to meet the needs of the student in each case. Psychological intervention by RISD Counseling Services, however, is available to summer students on an emergency basis only.

International Students
RISD welcomes students from around the world to participate in its summer programs. Knowledge of the English language is essential and is required of all students. Students not already enrolled in the RISD degree program must provide evidence of a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (or a minimum score of 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test, or at least 93 on the TOEFL iBT internet-based test) in order to be accepted to the Summer Studies program.

All non-US citizens must fill out a Student Visa Information Form (SVI). In most cases, an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for an F-1 student visa is required for study at RISD. If the I-20 is required, the SVI form must accompany complete program registration and materials, payment in full for tuition, housing and dining expenses, and a $150 administrative fee, all of which must be received by March 16, 2009 (earlier submission is strongly recommended). Soon after receipt of the SVI form, a Declaration of Finances Form will be sent to students. It must be returned with information certifying that the student has adequate funds for tuition, living expenses and transportation back to his or her home country.

The deadline is very important, as those whose paperwork is not complete risk being denied entry into the US.

Please contact the International Student Advisor in the International Programs Office at 401 277-4832 with any questions or concerns regading visas and international student status.