Division of Community Learning Policies
View policies for the Division of Community Learning and other divisions below.
General | BW Community Arts School | Community Athletics & Recreation | Community STEM Initiatives
General Registration and Program Policies
Credit card payments are preferred; participants may pay either in full at registration or select a payment plan option with a credit card on file.
For approved circumstances, check, purchase order and/or cash payments can be arranged and must be received within 10 days after the participant registers, or 14 days before the start of the first class to be guaranteed a spot. These payments can be mailed. Checks returned due to insufficient funds will be charged a $30 insufficient funds recovery fee.
Make checks out to: Baldwin Wallace University
Mail checks to:
Division of Community Learning
275 Eastland Rd.
Berea, OH 44017
Participants who find themselves in the following scenarios will not receive a refund:
- Illness or positive COVID-19 test leading up to or during a program. Participants will be asked not to return until cleared or for the program's duration.
- Absences or cancellations that happen during the duration of the program.
- Cancellation happens after the department's refund policy.
- Participant is dismissed based on lack of interest, frequent absences, frequent tardiness, behavioral problems, delinquency in payment of fees and/or failure to abide by policies.
Acceptable Use Policy for Internet Access for General Public and Minors
Baldwin Wallace University (BW) Information Technology (IT) provides internet access through the University's wireless and wired network in order to allow our students, faculty, and staff access to a wide array of internet resources. For guests who are visiting our campus, the University maintains a publicly accessible and rate limited wireless connection that gives users access to off campus internet resources.
Access to information on the internet via BW public guest wired/wireless networks
BW supports the principle of academic freedom and the rights of users to open access to information resources as spelled out in the American Association of University Professors' 'Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure.' No content filtering of internet resources occurs on either the wired or wireless network on our campus. All users of the campus internet and/or network resources are bound by all IT Policies found at: http://help.bw.edu/policy.html
Minors on campus and access to the internet via BW public guest wired/wireless networks
Unsupervised minors are a segment of the population who may not have the maturity or education to make appropriate use of resources available through the campus network or internet. Therefore, it is our policy that parents are responsible for their children's usage of the campus internet and networked resources. Minors, individuals under the age of 18, will have the ability to access our publicly available guest wired and wireless networks and are bound to the policies found at: http://help.bw.edu/policy.html
Baldwin Wallace University, the BW IT department, faculty, and staff members are not responsible for the information found on the internet by minors. Parents should be aware that the internet does allow access to materials which may be deemed objectionable or offensive. If this level of access is a concern, it is recommended that your child not be permitted to bring a device capable of accessing this content or that the parent installs parent control software on the device and configure it prior to the minor coming to campus. There are a number of solutions available, and parents should consult local electronics stores or web resources for the solution that best meets the need of the parent and the device their minor is using.
Community Arts School Policies
Classes - Refunds for a class, minus a 10% processing fee, are given only within 10 days after the date of class registration. Faculty contracts are based upon the number of students enrolled, so are dependent on that expected tuition.. You will be charged the full tuition amount if you withdraw more than 10 days after your registration date and before the end of the session. If you are on a payment plan, the remaining tuition is due upon cancellation.
Ensembles - Full refunds, less a 10% processing fee, are given only when a participant withdraws from the ensemble before the first rehearsal. First time participants who withdraw from an ensemble before the third rehearsal will be eligible for a refund of 75% of tuition. No refunds will be offered to returning members or after the fourth rehearsal for a first-time participant.
Authorized Adults and volunteers are prohibited from releasing minors to anyone other than the authorized parent, legal guardian, or other person who has been given advance written authorization by the parent or legal guardian. Authorized Adults and volunteers are required to check identifications if they do not know the person who is picking up a minor. The first check of identification must be a driver’s license. The Authorized Adult or volunteer may provide a pick-up card as the identification for the remainder of the program. No minor is to be released to any person who is visibly intoxicated, appears to be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, or otherwise constitutes a danger to the minor.
Minors of driving age may drive themselves if their guardian has agreed in the registration. Cars must be parked in the allotted location for the program. Minors cannot access or drive their vehicle for the duration of the program.
Late pickup of minors. Authorized Adults are to inform parents of the importance of picking up their child during designated times. It is not the responsibility of the University to transport minors' home on behalf of parents or authorized persons who are delayed.
If Baldwin Wallace University closes or cancels classes due to inclement weather, ALL Community Arts School activities are automatically canceled.
In the event of inclement weather, notifications regarding Community Arts School programs can be found:
- On Community Arts School social media or bw.edu/cas homepage
- Participants will receive text notification for weather cancelation of CAS programming sent to the phone number used at registration.
Cancelation of weeknight classes and ensembles will be announced by 3:00 p.m. Cancelation of Saturday morning programs will be announced by 8:00 a.m.
Dance private lessons will be canceled if CAS classes are canceled.
Music Private lessons are canceled by the teacher. The Community Arts School will leave this decision up to the private lesson teacher to determine if their lessons will be canceled. Contact your teacher directly if you suspect your lesson may be canceled.
In the unlikely event of an emergency closing, lessons and classes will not be rescheduled and tuition will not be reimbursed. Lessons and classes canceled a second time on the same weekday day (i.e. two Monday closures) within the same season will be rescheduled.
Community Athletics and Recreation Policies
If Baldwin Wallace University closes or cancels classes due to inclement weather, ALL Community Recreation activities are automatically canceled.
In the event of inclement weather, notifications regarding Community Recreation programs can be found:
- On Division of Community Learning social media or website
- Participants will receive text notification for weather cancelation of Community Recreation programming sent to the phone number used at registration.
In the event that wind or weather impacts outdoor or water activities, indoor recreational activities will take their place. Refunds will not be provided for a change in schedule or activities.
The Outdoor Adventure Program Includes Paddle Sports - Kayak, Canoe and SUP
Safety Instructions
Please wear clothing that can get wet (a swim suit, shirt/shorts over it if desired). Shoes are optional for Stand Up Paddleboarding and required for kayak and canoe. All participants will be required to wear a properly fittedlifejacket provided by BW Campus Rec and appropriately fitted by certified staff. Please bring a towel, sunscreen, water and any necessary medications. It is important that if you have an allergy that proper medication is available and the staff of BW Rec Sports is made aware of any conditions. In addition, if there are any medical conditions that need to be disclosed (asthma, seizures, allergies, etc.)
Dress for the weather. We recommend for warm temperatures that you dress in cottons and bring eye/head protection. In cooler temperatures, it is important to wear clothing that wicks water/moisture away from the body. Materials such as polyester and wool are best.
In the case of inclement weather we will take shelter. Programs will take place in the rain, but if thunder or lightning are in the area then we will immediately remove all participants from the water. All Paddling Courses taught by BW Rec Sports follow American Canoe Association (ACA)
Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
To be eligible to participate in paddle sports, individuals must acknowledge the ability to perform the following essential eligibility criteria:
- Breathe independently (i.e., not require medical devices to sustain breathing)
- Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water
- Independently hold head upright without neck / head support
- Manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion
- Manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
- Follow instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance of a companion
- Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face up while wearing a properly fitted life jacket*
- Get in/out or on/off of a paddlecraft independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance*
- Independently get out and from under a capsized paddlecraft*
- Reenter or remount the paddlecraft following deep water capsize independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance*
- Maintain a safe body position while attempting skills, activities and rescues listed in the appropriate Course Outline, and have the ability to recognize and identify to others when such efforts would be unsafe given your personal situation*
* To participate in adaptive programs, participants must acknowledge only the first six EEC listed above. Entry-level adaptive programs will involve teaching and practicing EEC #7-11.
Community STEM Initiatives Policies
Authorized adults and volunteers are prohibited from releasing minors to anyone other than the authorized parent, legal guardian, or other person who has been given advance written authorization by the parent or legal guardian. Authorized adults and volunteers are required to check identifications if they do not know the person who is picking up a minor. The first check of identification must be a driver’s license. The authorized adult or volunteer may provide a pick-up card as the identification for the remainder of the program. No minor is to be released to any person who is visibly intoxicated, appears to be under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, or otherwise constitutes a danger to the minor.
Minors of driving age may drive themselves if their guardian has agreed in the registration. Cars must be parked in the allotted location for the program. Minors cannot access or drive their vehicle for the duration of the program.
Late pickup of minors. authorized adults are to inform parents of the importance of picking up their child during designated times. It is not the responsibility of the University to transport minors' home on behalf of parents or authorized persons who are delayed.