Tuition Protection Agreement
Accreditation and Approvals: Lakewood College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), Washington D.C. The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Visit their website at http://www.detc.org.Lakewood College is registered with the State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, #06-11-1800B.
Acceptance: Upon acceptance of this Enrollment Application / Agreement by the school, this document constitutes a training agreement by which the school and the applicant will abide with all its terms. Your Enrollment Agreement is a legally binding contract when signed by the student and accepted by Lakewood College at its offices in Ohio and is governed by Ohio law. If this application is not accepted, all monies paid will be refunded within 30 days.
Tuition/Expenses: All expenses shall be paid by the student. There are no charges other than those stated in this Enrollment Application / Agreement. There will be no change in the tuition rate for students once they have started the program. PAYMENTS: Your first monthly payment will be due on the 15th day of the next full month after we accept your Enrollment Agreement. The monthly payments that follow will be due every month on the 15th. Your payments will be deducted every month until your tuition is paid in full. If you signed up for automatic debit, your card, checking account or savings account will be charged every month until your tuition is paid in full. You are responsible for updating credit card or account information should the card expire, to avoid late or returned payment penalties.
School Policies: The school reserves the right to dismiss a student for failure to comply with student regulations, unsatisfactory academic progress or non-payment of tuition. This Distance Education program is designed to be completed on or before the “course end date” on Page 1 of this enrollment agreement. If you require more time, please contact the College. The school reserves the right to change or modify, without notification, the program content, materials, staff, tuition, and fees as necessary, with approval of the State of Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools, if required. In no event will any changes diminish the competency of any program or result in tuition changes for currently enrolled students.
Textbooks and Materials: Lessons, texts, and course materials are included in the tuition for the course you select. At its sole discretion, the College reserves the right to substitute course materials of equal or superior value.
NOTE: If you are paying by check, it will be sent to your bank for payment electronically through the automated clearing house. If there are insufficient funds in your account, we might resubmit for payment and a collection fee may be imposed. If you prefer, you can pay by credit card or call us to arrange another payment method.
Graduate Services: Lakewood College, as any school, college, university or other type of education institute, cannot guarantee a job or offer of employment. However, the Lakewood College Student Services Department will assist each student/graduate with career and professional development information.
International Students: International students assume payment of customs duties and any difference in exchange rates. All payments must be made in U.S. currency and the applicant must be able to read and write the English language. Graduate services may be limited or nonexistent.
Automatic Payment Program: If your enrollment date is between the first and the 30th of the month, your credit card, checking account or savings account will be charged on the 15th calendar day of the following month and each calendar month thereafter. If at any time your credit card is declined, your account will immediately become suspended. You must bring your account current to be reinstated as an active student.
Shipping and Handling: Shipping and handling is $35.00 to residents of the continental United States. International residents will be charged shipping and handling fee according to their residence.
Non-Refundable Fees: All programs will include a $35.00 shipping and handling fee which is nonrefundable. There is also a $99.00 registration fee which is nonrefundable. Further, there is a $149 extension fee for students failing to complete their courses in a timely manner: 6 months or less for the mediation program, 9 months or less for the paralegal program, 15 months or less for the combination program. This extension fee provides students an additional 12 months to complete their programming beyond the original course completion date which is calculated according to their registration date.
International Students: Tuition payment must be in U.S. funds only. Students in Canada and foreign countries will be responsible for payment of any applicable customs duties. Students residing outside of Canada must make payment in full to participate in any of the programs at Lakewood College except for US Military members serving overseas.
Special Circumstances: In case of student illness or accident, death in the family or other circumstances beyond the control of the student, the student shall be entitled to special consideration: Lakewood College, at its option, may settle the account for an amount which is a lesser charge to the student than that called for by Lakewood College’s established policy.
Other: You will be charged a late fee of $10.00 for each monthly payment which is not paid within 10 days of its due date. If you submit as a payment under this Agreement a check, draft or money order which is dishonored, you will be charged a fee of $20.00 if 10 days have elapsed since we mailed you notice of such dishonor at your last address shown in our records without such check, draft or money order being made good (but no late fee will be charged by us on the first monthly payment which would not have been in default if such dishonor had not occurred). NOTE: If you are paying by check, it will be sent to your bank for payment electronically through the automated clearing house. If there are insufficient funds in your account, we might resubmit for payment and a collection fee may be imposed. If you prefer, you can pay by credit card or call us to arrange another payment method.
Buyer’s Right to Cancel:
Lakewood College is confident that the program you have selected will be everything we claim. To assure you of this, we provide this cancellation and refund policy. You may request cancellation in any manner, but a written request is recommended. Your signature on the enrollment form indicates that you have read and understood the terms of this Agreement, that you have read and understood any literature you have received from us and that you believe you have the ability to benefit from the course you have selected. If the student officially withdraws from the program, the refund policy is as follows:
1. If Lakewood College is notified of cancellation within five calendar days from midnight of the day on which the enrollment agreement is signed, the student will be refunded all money paid to the school. 2. If Lakewood College is notified of cancellation after such time, but before any assignment/test has been submitted to Lakewood College for evaluation, you will be refunded all money paid to the school, except for the $99 registration fee. 3. If Lakewood College is notified of cancellation after five calendar days from midnight of the day on which the enrollment application/agreement is signed and after one or more assignments/quizzes have been submitted to Lakewood College for correction or evaluation, the tuition will be as follows:
• Upon completion of the student’s enrollment after Lakewood College receives the first completed assignment or quiz, and up to and including completion of 10% of the program, the student is obligated to Lakewood College for the registration fee of $99, plus 10% of the full program tuition.
• Upon completion of the student’s enrollment after having completed 10% of the program, and up to and including completion of 25% of the program, the student is obligated to Lakewood College for the registration fee of $99, plus 25% of the full program tuition.
• Upon completion of the student’s enrollment after having completed 25% of the program, and up to and including completion of 50% of the program, the student is obligated to Lakewood College for the registration fee of $99, plus 50% of the full program tuition.
• Upon completion of the student’s enrollment after having completed 50% of the program, the student is obligated to Lakewood College for the full tuition of the program and there will be no refund.
All programs will include a $35.00 shipping and handling fee which is nonrefundable if materials have already shipped to the student before cancellation.
4. The student is charged only for the amount of the program completed based upon the formula shown above and measured by the number of assignments/quizzes/tests submitted to Lakewood College. 5. If it is determined that a student is not due a refund, the student will be notified of the determination within ten calendar days of the decision, and a full explanation will be made. Students are not required to return any materials in order to receive a refund. If you fail to make any payment within 10 calendar days of its due date, the College may cancel this Agreement. Your entire tuition obligation will become due and payable immediately and you will no longer be entitled to any refunds unless you cure the default within 15 calendar days of our notice to you.
Conflict Resolution:
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or breach thereof, no matter how pleaded or styled, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the Arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. In no event shall Lakewood College be liable for any consequential, punitive or multiple damages of any kind.
Complaint and Grievance Procedure:
STEP 1: A student who has a problem should first discuss it with his/her instructor through e-mail or telephone. If a telephone conference is requested, the student and instructor should schedule a time convenient to both parties. This is the appropriate and professional way to resolve problems. Complaints should be specific, noting dates, times, and the exact nature of the grievance.
STEP 2: If the student and instructor are not able to resolve the grievance, the student may request in writing (either by e-mail or regular mail) a conference via telephone with the Director of Student Services (if the instructor is involved in the grievance, he/she will be present at the conference). STEP 3: If the problem is not resolved after the conference, the student may request a telephone conference with the Director of Education (the instructor will also be present if he/she is named in the grievance). Every effort will be made to resolve all complaints in a satisfactory manner to the student and the school. For Ohio residents: If the questions or concerns are not resolved by the school, the student may contact the Executive Director, State of Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools, 35 East Gay Street, Suite 403, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Phone 1-877-275-4219.
Notice to Buyer:
You must understand the contents and agree to abide by the terms of this agreement. Do not sign this agreement before you read and understand both the front and back of this agreement or if it contains any blank spaces. You are entitled to an exact copy of the agreement you signed. Under the law, you have the right to pay off in advance the full amount due. You must further understand that this enrollment agreement shall be a legally binding contract on either party when accepted by Lakewood College and is governed by Ohio law.
Any holder of this consumer contract is subject to all claims and defenses which the debtor could assert against the seller of goods or services obtained pursuant hereto or with the proceeds hereof. Recovery hereunder by the debtor shall not exceed the amount paid by the debtor hereunder.
I acknowledge that I have had the opportunity to view and/or print the College catalog by visiting www.accri.org/schoolcatalog.html I agree with the school policies and procedures as stated. I acknowledge that I have received and read a copy of this agreement and that I am at least eighteen years of age. I further acknowledge that I have completed a high school diploma or its equivalency (i.e. GED) and will provide Lakewood College a copy of such within 30 days of enrollment. I further attest that I have at least three years of full time work experience if I have chosen the Mediation Certificate Program or the Combo Mediation-Paralegal Program.
You also acknowledge that you have read and understand all pages of this Agreement and that you have read and understand any literature you have received from us, and that you believe you have the ability to benefit from the program you have selected. You also understand this contract will cease to be in effect 18 months for the Mediation Certificate program, 21 months for the Paralegal Diploma Program and 27 months for the Combination Mediation-Paralegal Program from the original date of acceptance, and no requests for refunds will be considered thereafter.