Policies

Student Handbook

The 24–25 student handbook is now available. Please note that the handbook may not always be completely accurate. For the most up-to-date policies, guidelines and information, please refer to our website.

Missed Lessons

Notify your instructor in advance if a student will be absent. No make-up lessons are offered for student absences due to conflicts, travel, or illness, but students are encouraged to work with other students in the studio to swap lessons within their instructor’s studio. Please notify your Artist-Faculty if you swap lessons. If a student is absent without notification, the teacher will attempt to contact the student. After the second consecutive missed lesson without notice, OCoM reserves the right to dismiss the student, with the date of the second lesson as the official withdrawal date.

If the student needs to temporarily reschedule their lessons due to other circumstances, such as a conflict with another extra-curricular that happens consecutively for more than one week in a row, students will be told to reach out to their instructor first to see if they have flexibility for a change in schedule. If so, the student will reach out to Admissions who will work with the Artist-Faculty to reschedule the lesson in Opus1.

If an Artist-Faculty member needs to miss a lesson, they will submit a request for Paid Time Off. Once approved, your teacher will reach out to you to let you know about the cancellation. They’ll also cancel the lesson in Opus1 and issue you a Seminar credit in Opus1. These credits expire 18 months after they are earned. Students can choose to attend a Seminar that fits their schedule.

Tardiness

Students who are late may not receive their full lesson time. Instructors will wait for one-third of the scheduled lesson time. Students are asked to do the same if their teacher is late.

Dismissal

The Omaha Conservatory reserves the right to dismiss any student due to frequent absences, disciplinary problems, overdue tuition payments and/or noncompliance with the Omaha Conservatory’s policies.

Withdrawal/Refund Policy

OCoM’s 40-week school year has four withdrawal periods, and withdrawal requests must be made at least two weeks before the end of each period.

To withdraw from lessons, follow the process below:

• Email admissions@omahacm.org, and CC your instructor
• The Admissions team will send you a link to a form to fill out indicating your withdrawal

Written notice is required for individual lessons, and verbal or text notifications are not accepted.

You will be charged a $25 withdrawal fee, and payment is due for a minimum number of lessons according to the add/withdrawal dates listed below.

Why am I paying for lessons I will not receive? (i.e., only receiving one lesson in December, but being charged for the whole month)

OCoM’s tuition operates similarly to a subscription service and is calculated on an annual basis, not per lesson. The total tuition for the academic year is divided into 12 equal monthly payments, meaning you are charged the same amount each month, regardless of the number of lessons in that specific month. This means the last payment for services received occurs after the services themselves. For example, the tuition due in the month of July finishes paying for the lessons received over the school year.

This system not only enables us to maintain the quality and consistency of OCoM’s offerings, but also ensures that our Artist-Faculty can continue to teach and receive benefits such as a steady paycheck and paid time off! When you withdraw, you are responsible for tuition through the end of the current withdrawal period. If you have paid the annual tuition in full, you will receive a refund for the months following your designated withdrawal period (i.e., if you withdraw during the October 6-December 7 period, you will be refunded for January-July’s tuition).

Class Withdrawal Policy

To withdraw from classes, a student must email admissions@omahacm.org as well as filling out the Asana form. A $25 withdrawal fee applies. Written notice is required for class withdrawal, and verbal or text notifications are not accepted. A refund will not be issued if withdrawal takes place after the class start date, and class tuition will remain due in full. If the student is on a monthly payment plan, they may choose to continue with the payment plan, or pay the amount in full at time of withdrawal.

Add /Withdrawal Dates

OCoM’s 40-week academic calendar is divided into five 8-week segments. Withdrawals are processed at the end of weeks 8 (October 6, 2024), 16 (December 8, 2024), 24 (February 23, 2025), and 30 (April 13, 2025). Withdrawls must be requested at least two weeks prior to the upcoming withdrawal processing date. Students will be billed for the remaining dates in the 8 week segment until the official withdrawal date. If withdrawal occurs in the last two weeks of the segment, the student will be responsible for the next 8 week segment as well. Students can choose whether or not to attend lessons during this period. The conservatory reserves the right to make special considerations according to student circumstances; to be considered, an appeal must be made to admissions@omahacm.org at time of withdrawal notice.

Medical Leave

For serious health issues, students can withdraw per policy or continue paying tuition to hold their spot. The withdrawal fee may be waived in cases of hardship. Students may also work with their teacher to develop alternative musical explorations to accommodate an illness or injury (focus on theory or bowings only, only playing the left-hand piano part, etc.).

Recording

For Individual Lessons, Classes, and Coachings

Recording of individual lessons, classes, or coachings by students is prohibited without the consent of the instructor. Occasionally recording lessons or classes (or portions of lessons or classes) facilitates the educational nature of the Omaha Conservatory’s mission. In the event an individual lesson or class will be recorded, the instructor will obtain prior consent from the student if they are over 19. Otherwise, prior consent will be sought from the student’s caregiver.

Emergency School Closings

Change of Lesson Length

To change lesson length, send written notification to the Programming team at admissions@omahacm.org. Discuss the change with your instructor first. The original lesson length will be maintained until the next 8-week segment begins; week 8 (October 6, 2024), 16 (December 8, 2024), 24 (February 23, 2025), and 30 (April 13, 2025) to allow for billing and scheduling adjustments.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Omaha Conservatory of Music continues its firm commitment to the principle of equal employment opportunity. We provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination under applicable local, state, or federal law. We make employment decisions consistent with this principle of equal opportunity. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

Virtual Lessons

Location

Set-up for virtual lessons must occur 10 minutes prior to the lesson so students are ready to join at lesson time. Test equipment prior to the first lesson and consult with your teacher as needed. Set-up for your virtual lesson should be in a common area of your house. If you are under 19, you must have your caregiver(s) within the vicinity of your set-up. If you are in your bedroom or other private area of your house, the instructor reserves the right to end the lesson and ask you to call back after an appropriate set-up has been made.

Attire

Please wear clothes that you would normally wear to school or an in-person lesson. Pajamas are not allowed. If a student is in their pajamas or other inappropriate clothing, the instructor has the right to end the lesson and ask the student to log back after they have changed clothing.

Online Etiquette

Be respectful. Be courteous. Be professional. Etiquette expectations for virtual and in-person lessons are the same.

Offensive Group Class Behavior

Offensive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Report offensive behavior directly to the instructor via email or by phone. Do not use the message boards in the virtual lesson window for this purpose.

Technology requirements

• Broadband or high-speed connection
• Access to a desktop, laptop, or smart phone with a built-in camera and microphone — headphones are suggested for clean audio reception.
• If on desktop or laptop, a browser such as Firefox or Chrome that will work with Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc. (See Zoom’s web client recommendations here)
• In the event the Omaha Conservatory’s technology prevents a lesson from occurring, your instructor will reschedule the lesson. In the event the student’s technology is not functional, the lesson will follow the Omaha Conservatory’s make-up policy.

Purchasing Virtual Lessons

Virtual lessons can be purchased directly at omahacm.org. Invoices may also be emailed upon request. Please note that your payment authorizes only one person to access and participate in the virtual lesson or virtual group class.

Recording

Students are strictly prohibited from recording individual lessons. Instructors cannot record a session without consent of the student (if over 19) or their caregiver. Occasionally, recording individual lessons and classes facilitates the educational nature of our mission. By participating in a group class, you have the option to turn off your video if you do not wish to be recorded. Sharing course content with others or publishing it is strictly prohibited. Should you share your course content with another person, your access to the lesson and all its material may be immediately revoked.

Photo Release

You grant and give to Omaha Conservatory of Music [“OCM”] the absolute and irrevocable right and permission with respect to the photographs and video footage that OCM or its agents or employees have taken or will take of you or my child in which he/she may be included with others during virtual lessons. You waive all rights you or your child may have to such photographs and video footage. The Conservatory will not use the student’s full name in relation to any video or photographs obtained during lessons or classes. You understand and acknowledge that since your child’s participation is completely voluntary, neither you nor your child will receive any financial compensation or remuneration for OCM’s use of the photographs or video footage. You hereby relinquish any right that you or your minor child may have to examine or approve the completed product or products or the promotional copy or printed matter that may be used in conjunction therewith or the use to which it may be applied.