Details of the Agreement

The tutorial program is fairly simple but it can help to clarify everything in a single page. On the student's side it is expected that the student maintain regular or at least weekly email contact with the instructor, there is no limit on the number of emails the student can send but there is a minimum limit of at least once per week. Other arrangements can, of course, be made in the case of illness, unexpected events or other matters but barring such concerns or arrangements the tutorials work best if regular and continual progress is maintained. In the first nine weeks of each class two assignments need to be completed, the study guide portion of the multiple choice questions and one essay question from the end of each study packet. In the last week a final project, a paper, exam or other mutually agreed upon endeavor will finish the class. Extensions on the final project or the tutorial in general for a week, two or more are entirely feasible but need to be worked out by mutual agreement as this helps me keep a handle on my work-load and time schedules. It is recommended that the student create a specific email file for the course correspondence but this is a recommendation only.

On my side or the instructor's side I intend to respond to all emails within a single working day (Monday-Friday) as this is simply good office and educational policy and prevents back-logs and delays from developing. Emails or assignments submitted late Friday may not be answered until Monday but I usually work at least six days a week and if you have not heard from me within 48 hours during the working week (Monday-Friday) it is time to send another email or call about the delay.

The student can cancel the tutorial at any time and for any reason with the un-used portion of the fee being returned. If one decides to cancel the class half-way through the class, half of the fee will be returned. For purposes of determining how much of the class has been completed the number of weeks in the class will be used. In a ten-week class there are ten weeks so if a student cancels after seven days, the fee for nine weeks or 90% of the fee will be returned. If a student cancels after two weeks, 80% will be returned. The first week of the course will be defined by the Monday of the week on which the first assignment, question or contact about the course was submitted by a registered student. If the student submits the first assignment or question on a Sunday, the Monday of that week will be used as the first week of the class in terms of refunds. The first week will be defined to begin at 12:01 am, my time or US Central Standard Time of the Monday of the week the first assignment was submitted.  If a student registers and cancels without asking any questions, submitting any assignments or contacting myself the processing fee charged to me by paypal will not be remitted or refunded, a cost of a little less than $12.  This charge is only assesed in the case of canceling without contact, it is not assessed in regard to other refunds and is there simply to keep me from losing money on a student.

Questions submitted before the tutorial begins, before the student pays the fees and are not counted against any refund. Thus if you ask a question about the class before signing-up for the class this contact is free and is not used calculations of refunds. It is hoped the student will complete the entire tutorial but as life can bring the unexpected I do want to include some method of returning un-used portions of the fee.

Because the text-books are purchased from another source no fees can be returned on the books but it is possible to sell them, most likely at a loss, in the used book market.

I reserve the right to cancel any tutorial, will the appropriate refund as discussed above, in the case of a terrible illness, abusive or heavily problematic students or other unexpected concerns but hope that this will never be the case. I deeply enjoy teaching philosophy and hope you will enjoy the tutorials as well.