Workshop Policies & Forms

Dear Students and Parents,

We know you will have a great experience at our workshop, but we do have some policies we need to enforce to make the week enjoyable and safe for everyone. We’ve summarized these policies below and will provide a program handbook to students and parents.

Refunds

• Full refund until July 1 minus $40 handling fee. You may receive a 50 percent refund from July 2 through the day prior to the workshop. We’re sorry, but people who register, do not cancel and do not appear at the workshop will not receive a refund.
• Students who are sent home from the workshop for disciplinary reasons will not receive a refund. Students who choose to leave the workshop early for any reason will not receive a refund.

Payment

• Workshop fees must be paid in full before we allow students to check in – even if the  school is paying for part or all of the tuition. Students — Please verify payment with your adviser and/or school office before coming to the workshop. We will not allow ANY student to check in with unpaid tuition for ANY reason. Students who owe a balance at registration must pay by cash, money order, cashier’s check or credit card. Sorry, we will not accept a personal check at registration.
• Students who register for the workshop after the registration deadline MUST pay by money order, credit card or cashier’s check and pay a $30 late fee.
• Bounced checks will be assessed a $30 service fee and the student will be removed from registration until a credit card payment, money order or cashier’s check for the amount of the workshop plus the service fee has been received. If the original course the student signed up for has been filled when the replacement fees arrive, the student will need to make another selection.

Coming To and Leaving Campus

• Workshop participants may not leave campus without permission of the workshop student director. This includes crossing Grand River Avenue. Many area restaurants will deliver to our residence hall and there are on-campus convenience stores in the nearby International Center and several other university buildings.
• No students are to be in a car for the duration of the program without workshop staff permission.
• If students must leave the workshop for any reason, parents must write out a permission note, and it must be given to the workshop student director. Parents or another individual designated by parents should sign the student out at our workshop office and back in again upon return.
• Visitors must check in with the workshop office and are not allowed into the residential wings of the dorm. Overnight guests are not permitted.
• For safety reasons and because of limited parking, MIPA strongly discourages students from driving themselves to the workshop or commuting. If a student must drive himself or herself, there is a parking fee of $10 that must be paid with the registration fee. Students must turn in their car keys to the workshop office for the duration of our program. MSU and/or MIPA cannot be responsible for any damages to vehicle or for any tickets a student may receive because of wrongful parking. Students who do not notify workshop staff that they have a car on campus may be sent home and no refund will be given.

Lost or Stolen Items

The workshop or university will not be held responsible for lost or stolen items, such as cameras, cell phones, iPods, computers, etc. Please make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Students are encouraged to keep their rooms locked at all times.

Permission to Ride in a Vehicle Driven by Workshop Staff

• Your son or daughter may be riding in a vehicle if he or she is in an off-campus class or needs a ride to the on-campus health facility, etc. Please understand there are risks inherent in any activity. We need you to assume the risks and accept the consequences involved in your child’s participation in the program.
• Any vehicle your child would be in will be operated by workshop instructors/staff or a professional bus driver.
• MSU or workshop personnel will not transport your child to a medical facility in an emergency. An ambulance will be called if your child needs emergency transportation. Workshop personnel will accompany your child.
• By signing our policy form, you will release MIPA, Michigan State University, its Board of Trustees, employees, workshop personnel, volunteers and students from any and all costs, claims, injury or illness resulting from your child’s participation in the program. You are advised to consult your own health and auto insurance carriers in case of injury.

Medical Issues & Special Needs

Please contact the MIPA office to discuss any special needs. MIPA can make arrangements for students with special dietary needs to talk directly with cafeteria staff.

Students and parents should report any preexisting medical conditions, including allergies, on the health form. Students with a life-threatening allergy or health issue should carry prescribed medications or devices (such as an epi-pen or asthma inhaler) with them at all times during the program. MIPA cannot store or administer medications.

MIPA staff members are not authorized to give any sort of treatment. We can only make a determination of whether there is a life-threatening situation or a serious injury that requires medical attention and arrange for transportation. A first aid kit is available for minor issues.

If the situation is life-threatening or a serious injury, workshop staff will call an ambulance, and the student will be taken to a local emergency room. Parents will be notified immediately.

If the situation is not life-threatening and is considered minor by the workshop directors, staff will help make arrangements for a student to visit the campus clinic or an area urgent care clinic.

Please contact us with any questions.

Student Conduct Rules

• Attend all workshop activities, including classes and evening sessions.
• You may not leave campus during the program without the permission of the workshop office.
• Be in the residence hall at 10 p.m. and in your room by 11 p.m.  You are not permitted to leave your room, the floor or the dorm between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. (unless prior arrangements have been made with workshop office). MIPA floor counselors will provide supervision on all student floors overnight.
• You may not switch rooms without approval of workshop personnel. Do not trade keys or access cards.
• You are responsible for the room and shower keys you are issued upon check-in. You will be charged for lost keys/access cards at the following rates: Room key — $75, shower key — $15, access card — $20.
• You may not possess or use alcohol, illegal drugs, fireworks or weapons. University policy forbids smoking in university buildings.
• Do not tamper with fire alarms, safety or security equipment.
• Do not damage university or personal property. Students/parents will be financially responsible for such damage.
• Do not create excessive noise or horseplay, including removal of screens from windows or throwing items from the windows. Close your blinds when dressing and after dark.
• Violence of any kind will not be tolerated. Do not harass other workshop participants or staff. Hazing or bullying (physical, verbal or cyber-bullying) will not be tolerated.
• Do not enter the residential area of the opposite gender.
• Sexual harassment, sexual abuse and other sexually inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. Report issues immediately to workshop staff.
• Cameras and other digital recording equipment are prohibited from areas where privacy is expected (restrooms, showers, etc.)
• Do not drive a vehicle to the workshop without the permission of a parent AND the workshop office.
• Violation of federal and/or state laws will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
• Dress is casual — and sensible. Clothing should not expose undergarments or excessively expose the body.  Students who wear inappropriate clothing will be asked to change.
• This list is not all-inclusive. Students will be provided a program handbook upon registration.

Consequences

• Workshop personnel may send home any student who does not abide by these rules or who endangers the health, safety and well-being of participants. If a student is dismissed from the workshop, parents will be called to come pick up their child immediately. A letter to parents and/or school officials may follow disciplinary action.
• Violation of federal and/or state laws will result in immediate dismissal from the program.

Journalists Working!

• As this is a journalism workshop, participants may be interviewed, photographed or videotaped for class assignments or as part of news coverage by our Upstart student journalist team. Students who appear in such news coverage typically are identified by name.
• Participants may also be photographed or videotaped for use in MIPA or MSU promotional and educational materials.

Questions?

Contact the MIPA office.

MIPA must have signed health and policy forms on file before a student is allowed to check in at our summer workshop.

• Health Form (PDF) for the student, including medical history, health insurance policyholder information and health insurance policy number.
• Policy Form – (PDF) reviewing workshop rules.

Send completed forms