Policies & student rights

Policies and student rights

Student rights, refunds, attendance, sexual misconduct, respectful treatment, dismissal, and dispute-resolution procedures.

Current controlled documents

Obtain the current policy before acting

For a specific refund, complaint, disciplinary, or student-safety matter, request the academy’s current controlled policy and current contact details.

Request the current policy PTIRU regulatory standards PTIRU complaints and tuition protection

Policy information

Seven student policy areas

The sections below present the substantive policy information and procedures published by the academy.

Historical version: This information reflects the arrangements in effect when it was published and may have changed. For applications, registration, payment, or academic decisions, use the academy’s current documents.

Academic regulations

Student Statement of Rights

Students are entitled to clear information, fair treatment, privacy protection, a way to raise concerns, and access to appropriate academic and accessibility support.

Access to programs and courses that meet applicable educational standards.
Clear information about program requirements, tuition, fees, refunds, and additional costs.
A learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment.
Protection of personal information and student records.
Respectful expression of ideas and opinions in an academic setting.
An accessible process for educational concerns and complaints.
Participation in appropriate academy and student activities.
Academic, accessibility, and student-support services where applicable.
Education and practical preparation relevant to the field of study.
A constructive way to provide feedback on the student experience.

Tuition Refund Policy

The policy addresses tuition and fee refunds when a student withdraws, is dismissed, does not meet admission requirements, does not receive a required work-experience component, or receives a study-permit refusal.

Refund amounts depend on the applicable regulation, the form and timing of notice, the contract and program delivery method, and the portion of instruction completed. The percentages, dollar limits, and deadlines in this historical version have been superseded and are not reproduced here.

Before enrolling or making a payment, students receive the current approved refund policy as part of their enrolment documents.

Withdrawal before classes begin

The policy distinguishes cancellation shortly after the enrolment contract is signed from withdrawal closer to the program start date. Written notice is used to establish the effective withdrawal date.

Withdrawal or dismissal after classes begin

For classroom and distance-delivered study, the calculation considers how much instruction has been provided or completed and evaluated when the withdrawal notice or dismissal decision takes effect.

Admission, work experience, and materials

When a student is admitted without meeting the admission requirements and did not misrepresent their qualifications, the policy provides for refund of tuition and related fees.
When the institution does not provide a required work-experience component, the policy addresses a tuition refund.
Fees paid for course materials that the student did not receive are refundable when the student withdraws or is dismissed.

Study-permit refusal and payment recipient

The policy addresses a study-permit refusal when the international student provides the required refusal document, subject to the program delivery method and whether another letter of acceptance is requested.

A refund is paid to the student or to the person who paid tuition or fees on the student’s behalf, as applicable.

Attendance Policy

Regular, punctual attendance supports progress in a program whose classes, lessons, rehearsals, and performances depend on active participation.

Students prepare for scheduled instruction and notify the instructor in advance when they are unable to attend, either in person or by email.

Unexcused absences may affect a course grade or academic standing. The number of permitted absences, required supporting documents, accommodation process, and available review steps are provided in the current attendance policy.

Sexual Misconduct Policy

The policy is intended to prevent sexual misconduct, support people affected by it, and provide fair processes for disclosures, complaints, reports, investigations, and institutional responses. It applies to students and to other members of the academy community taking part in academy activities.

A person may disclose an experience or make a complaint without making a formal report to police. A formal report asks the academy to take action. The person affected is offered information about available support and accommodation and is not pressured to make a formal report.

What the policy covers

Sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and sexual harassment.
Stalking, indecent exposure, and voyeurism.
Sharing an explicit image or video of a person without that person’s consent and with the intent to cause distress.
Attempting or threatening to commit sexual misconduct.

Making a complaint or report

A student may speak with an instructor or the academy office to make a disclosure or complaint and to ask for support.
A formal report is submitted in writing to the academy office. If the person assigned to receive it is involved in the matter, another senior academy representative receives it.
The academy acknowledges the complaint or report, explains available support and resources, and identifies the person responsible for the response.
The person affected may also choose to report to police or seek community-based victim support.

Response and investigation

The academy meets with the person making the complaint or report, identifies immediate support or safety needs, and gathers the available information.
A formal investigation may include interviews with the complainant, respondent, witnesses, and other people who have relevant knowledge, together with review of documents and other evidence.
Both parties are treated fairly and with dignity. The respondent has an opportunity to answer the allegations.
If a report is withdrawn, the academy may still act when necessary to protect members of the academy community.
The academy may consult appropriate health, counselling, safety, legal, police, or community resources when required.

Findings and action

The academy records whether the report was not substantiated, substantiated in part, or substantiated in full. A substantiated finding may result in a warning, probation with conditions, dismissal from the academy, termination of employment, referral to police, or another response appropriate to the circumstances.

Privacy, fairness, and non-retaliation

Retaliation or threats of retaliation connected with a complaint or report are prohibited. Information is handled confidentially and shared only with consent or when necessary to address an imminent risk, protect others from significant harm, meet a legal duty, or provide procedural fairness in an investigation or response.

Institutional responsibility

The academy is responsible for implementing prevention, education, support, reporting, response, and investigation practices. The current policy must identify role-based contacts, available services, and applicable timelines; students should request that version when they need to make a complaint or report.

Respectful and Fair Treatment of Students

The academy seeks to provide a safe and civil learning environment in which every student is treated respectfully and fairly. These expectations apply to students, administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers on academy premises and during academy activities or events.

Bullying, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination are prohibited. The policy covers written, verbal, physical, and other conduct linked to an actual or perceived personal characteristic when it causes harm, damages property, creates a reasonable fear of harm, demeans a student or group, or substantially disrupts the academy’s orderly operation.

Raising a concern

A student may report improper conduct to the academy office for confidential review. The academy identifies the person responsible for receiving the report, assesses what response is needed under the standard of conduct, and informs the student of the next steps.

Retaliation against a person who makes a good-faith complaint or report, or who participates in an investigation, is prohibited.

Dismissal Policy

Dismissal may be considered when a student does not pay required fees, deliberately prevents a class, lesson, rehearsal, or performance from taking place, engages in academic dishonesty, or commits serious misconduct.

Conduct considered in the policy includes aggression, threats, harassment, discrimination, theft, misuse or damage of academy property, prohibited alcohol or controlled substances, and unlawful activity during academy programs or events.

Available disciplinary responses

A warning.
Rejection of submitted work.
Cancellation of a scholarship or other award, where applicable.
Probation or suspension.
Removal from an examination, course, or program.
Legal action where warranted.

Review and dismissal decision

A concern may be raised by staff, a student, or a member of the public and is referred to the academy for review.
The student is invited to a meeting to hear and respond to the concern. The academy then makes any inquiries needed to decide whether it is substantiated.
The academy may find the concern unsubstantiated, substantiated in part, or substantiated in full.
A substantiated concern may result in a warning, probation with conditions, or a recommendation for dismissal.
The decision and reasons are recorded in writing, provided to the student, and retained in the student file.
A dismissal is delivered in writing with a calculation showing any refund due or tuition owing. Refund treatment follows the applicable current refund policy.

Dispute Resolution Process

The process provides a documented route for resolving a concern fairly and respectfully. Students have an opportunity to explain the issue, submit supporting information, receive reasons for a decision, and use the available review channels.

The published versions contained different acknowledgement, response, and appeal deadlines. Those historical deadlines are not reproduced; the current policy provides the applicable time limits.

1. Informal resolution

The student is encouraged to raise the concern directly with the person involved. A program representative or student-services staff member may provide guidance or help facilitate the discussion.

2. Formal written complaint

If informal discussion does not resolve the concern, the student submits a written complaint to the academy office. It includes a detailed account of the issue, the steps already taken, relevant supporting information, and the outcome requested. The academy acknowledges receipt and explains the next steps.

3. Investigation

The academy reviews the complaint and supporting material, meets with the student where appropriate, and may interview the people involved or witnesses. Relevant documents and other evidence may also be reviewed. Confidentiality and fair treatment apply throughout the process.

4. Resolution and written response

The academy decides the complaint on the available information and gives the student a written response explaining the reasons and any action to be taken. If additional review time is needed, the parties are informed.

5. Appeal

A student may request an appeal on stated grounds, such as a material procedural error or relevant new evidence. A person or committee not involved in the first decision reviews the appeal and communicates the final internal decision in writing.

6. External resolution

After completing the internal process, a student may use an applicable external educational, regulatory, or legal process. A student may be represented by an agent or lawyer and must not face retaliation for making a complaint or participating in the process.