In order to ensure optimum class size, equal access, and maximum benefit to all workshop participants, the following policies will be strictly adhered to. Please read them carefully (we strongly suggest you print a copy for your records).

Class Size and Schedules
Unless otherwise stated, individual workshop classes are limited to a maximum enrollment of 15 students per instructor. At the discretion of the director and the instructor, we may cancel or combine classes that do not have at least four students enrolled by the registration cut-off date indicated on the schedule. Early registration is strongly advised to secure your place in the workshop class of your choice, and to allow the earliest possible confirmation of class schedules.

While every attempt will be made to adhere to posted schedules, we reserve the right to adjust workshop schedules, combine classes, or assign alternate instructors as necessary. All registered students will be notified of any changes or cancellations within two (2) business days after the registration cut-off date indicated on the schedule. If your class is cancelled or rescheduled, you may request transfer to another workshop or full refund (no administrative fees will be assessed on refunds for classes cancelled by us).

Instructor Preference
You may indicate an instructor preference when registering (instructor bios are available by clicking on the instructor's name in the Schedule, Workshop Description, or Faculty pages). We will make every effort to accommodate students' instructor requests, but final placement may depend on class size and overall enrollments.

Registration Cut-off Date
The registration cut-off date for each workshop is indicated on the workshop schedule. Unless otherwise stated, the cut-off will be six (6) calendar days after the first day of the class. These deadlines are used to determine final class schedules, and may be extended at our discretion. Any class that appears on the schedule is open for registration. It is the student's responsibility to acquire required textbooks by the class start date. Mailed-in registrations cannot be confirmed until received; we recommend that all registrations-by-mail be mailed at least one week prior to the posted cut-off date to ensure timely processing. Registrations received after the cut-off date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Tuition Payment
For immediate online registration, tuition is payable in full with VISA or Mastercard. The transaction will take place over a secure internet connection; your personal information and credit card number will be encrypted so it cannot be read by anyone except the professional staff of Writers Online Workshops. If you prefer, you may elect to register by phone or by mail (those options will be offered to you during the registration process). If you elect one of these options, you will be directed to complete the online form FOR YOUR RECORDS AND/OR MAILING PURPOSES ONLY. This information is not transmitted to us, and you will not be registered for your class until the form and payment are received. You may either mail the form with a check or money order, or you may call us with the class information and your VISA or MasterCard number. Contact information for both options will be provided once you have completed the form.

Cancellations & Refunds
We're confident that you will enjoy and benefit from your online workshop experience, and your paid registration guarantees a place for you. Because that place cannot be filled after the registration cut-off date, if circumstances do force you to withdraw, the following refund policies apply:

If you cancel within 24 hours of registration (according to the date/time stamp on your registration form), you are entitled to a full refund or credit toward another workshop.*

If you cancel your registration after 24 hours, but prior to the workshop start date, you are entitled to a full credit toward another workshop* or a full refund, minus an administrative fee of $25.

* Workshop credits must be applied to another registration within six months; refunds against workshop credits will be assessed the $25 administrative fee.

If you cancel before the end of the first session, you will receive a full refund, minus a $25 administrative fee and a $50 cancellation penalty, or you may—at the discretion of the director and the instructor(s) involved—transfer to another workshop.

No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations after the end of the first session. If we cancel or reschedule a workshop class, you are entitled to a full refund or transfer without any assessment of administrative fees.

In order to cancel your registration, you must notify us by email at wdwowadmin@fwpubs.com; refund calculations will be based on the date/time the email is received by us. Your email message must include: your full name, user name and password, the name and date of the workshop class, and your return email address. Failure to "attend" class, failure to submit assignments, and/or notifying the instructor DOES NOT constitute official cancellation. Refunds take 4-6 weeks to process, and will only be given via the same form of payment you used when registering.

Program Software Requirements
The "Go to Class" interface has been designed for ease of use. You can post comments directly to any of the discussion areas, including those associated with the Lecture Hall, Critics' Corner, and your Personal Notebook. You can use any word processing program (offline) and copy and paste your writing assignments into your Personal Notebook. No special software is required to participate, but you will need a current version of Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator (version 4.5 or higher of either browser); we strongly recommend Internet Explorer, as it consistently delivers the best screen displays and site functionality, especially for Mac users (on some Mac systems, Netscape Navigator and versions of Internet Explorer prior to 4.5 will not allow complete functionality in all areas of the site). We recommend that you upgrade to the current version of your browser before attending class. You can do that by going to your browser manufacturer's website and clicking on the free download.

Class Confirmation
You will receive email notification of acceptance of your registration within two business days (Monday-Friday). After the registration cut-off date, once all classes have been confirmed, you will receive a final confirmation email with notification of the activation of your user account, your textbook reading assignments for the workshop, and details regarding use of the "Go to Class" interface. Once your account has been activated, you will have access to all of the student areas of the campus; please plan to visit at least once before your class start date to make sure you can navigate the site without difficulty and that you understand how to use all of the "Go to Class" components. If you have any trouble, go to the Tech Support area in Student Services and check out the trouble-shooting FAQ's. Report any unresolved problems to Tech Support at techsupport@wdwow.com or by clicking on the "Contact Tech Support" link in the Student Services area.

"Attendance" and Assignments
These are not academic classes; you will not be graded on either your attendance or your writing assignments. However, you will get the most out of your workshop if you participate fully. This means doing all of the assigned textbook readings, "attending" lectures and participating in all group discussion areas. A certain amount of flexibility is an element of the asynchronous design of these workshops. There is no set time that you need to be online to take part in any of the scheduled activities; you can log on at 3:00am if that's the best time for you. You will be given ample time to do all of the readings and assignments, but within each session of the workshop there will be certain deadlines that must be adhered to: Lecture Hall discussions become "live" at the beginning of each session; assignments must be submitted by posted target dates (roughly halfway through each session); and new work will be made available for group critique each session. All assignments, discussions, etc. related to a workshop session must be completed within that session (although some components will be archived for review/preview purposes). You will receive a complete description of all schedules and deadlines with your final workshop confirmation.

Degree Credits
These online workshops are not graded, and we do not confer any type of academic credit. However, many colleges and universities do accept non-accredited distance education course work on a case-by-case basis. This decision is solely at the discretion of the undergraduate program to which you apply and inquiries should be directed to that program's administrative staff.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Credit for our workshops may be granted by many professional organizations or by local, state or national licensing boards (we recommend you contact your own board or organization to verify its requirements).

A Continuing Education Credit (CEU) is defined as "ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction." The number of CEUs offered is indicated in the Workshop Description for each course, and is calculated based on an average course participation (on- and/or offline) of two hours per week. Upon completion of your workshop, you may request a Certificate of Completion and course outline for presentation to your board or organization (an online request form will be available with your final lecture). In order to receive a Certificate of Completion, you must complete and submit all send-in assignments associated with your workshop.

Tax Information
Current U.S. tax law permits deductions for tuition, books, supplies and similar expenses incurred to maintain and improve professional skills. Tuition payments may also be eligible for Lifetime Learning tax credits. For current tax information, always consult your local tax professional. (Please note that these are non-vocational workshops and are not intended to provide instruction that results in the acquisition of occupational skills or professional certification).

International Students
Proficiency in English is required for all online workshops. The "First Steps" workshops are good refreshers of basic English grammar and usage, but they are not intended to meet ESL requirements. There are no additional charges for students outside the U.S., but tuition must be paid in U.S. funds (all prices posted on our website are in U.S. dollars).