Tuition and Fees

With the decision by the Board of Trustees to raise tuition for the first time in over 8 years to $8,400/year ($700/month). WISR’s Board of Trustees has decided that modest tuition increases of about $25/month probably may be necessary every year or two. WISR’s faculty and Board devote considerable energy and thought to keeping WISR’s tuition as affordable as possible, while still maintaining an extraordinarily high level of quality of education. The vast majority of each student’s tuition goes toward instructional costs, with minimal amounts being spent on administrative and institutional overhead costs. Whenever a tuition increase is necessary, the Board will announce about May 1 of each year the tuition rate for the coming fiscal year (July-June).

Upon enrollment, or re-enrollment in the case of students who have taken a break from their studies at WISR, a non-refundable $250 enrollment fee, is due, $50 is used for the admissions application process and fee, and $200 to register the student in the degree program in which they are enrolled or taking courses.

Students may choose to pay their tuition by using their Visa, Master, and Discover Card credit cards. Those wishing to make a credit card payment should contact WISR’s Chief Financial Officer (bookkeeper@wisr.edu) or President, either over the phone or by email. Students may also pay tuition to WISR through PayPal by entering WISR’s e-mail address for the merchant account: mail@wisr.edu. Also, students in other countries often make payments to WISR by direct wire transfers to WISR’s bank.

Unfortunately, WISR students only have access to outside, private scholarships, but not to Federal grant and loan programs. Because WISR is very small by design, and is not accredited, our students are not eligible for Federal and bank-funded student loans. Furthermore, lending institutions are not required by law to defer student loan repayments that WISR students may have acquired elsewhere prior to enrolling at WISR. In some cases, WISR students have successfully negotiated this with lenders, but because WISR students are not eligible for student loan monies, the lenders are not obliged to defer the student’s payments.

Fortunately, our tuition is much more affordable than the tuition at most other institutions, and students may make monthly payments throughout their enrollment at WISR.

Students never pay for tuition for any period of time covered in their enrollment agreement if they withdraw or graduate before the end of the period specified in that enrollment agreement. (See refund policies below). If a student withdraws from enrollment during a period for which tuition has been paid, they will receive a refund according to the refund policies stated below.

Students may take a Leave of Absence for a minimum of six (6) months, at any time, with notice by the end of the month prior to the Leave. Students may not take a leave for a just a couple of months; it is expected that most students will take vacations, get ill, and have special family and job demands and crises that may make it difficult or even impossible for them to attend to their WISR studies for several months out of the year. WISR operates on a 12-month calendar so that students can be heavily involved in their studies for as little as 8 or so months out of the year, or for all 12 months of the year. However, if a student believes that he or she will not be able to get much done in the coming 6 months, for any reason, personal, financial, job, health or other reasons, then it is best to take a break for 6 months or longer, until the student has the time, energy and/or funds to be engaged in her or his studies more than a little bit. During a leave a student may attend seminars (but not for credit or to meet WISR requirements) to stay somewhat connected to WISR, but may not meet with her or his faculty adviser or receive credit for work performed during the leave period. Work performed during a leave is considered the same as prior experience and is not eligible for credit as such. When the student is ready to re-enroll–at any time after the six-month minimum period–he or she may re-enroll by paying $250–$50 for a re-application fee, and $200 for them to re-register in the degree program they are pursuing or for the degree program in which they are taking courses–when resuming their studies (naturally, the student is not charged tuition during the period of their Leave). However, if the student owes back tuition, they will not be allowed to re-enroll unless they first negotiate with a Board representative an acceptable and realistic re-payment plan on top of the regular tuition that they will be paying once re-enrolled.

A student may withdraw at any time. Notice of Cancellation of an Enrollment Agreement must be in writing to WISR’s President, and a withdrawal may be effectuated by the student’s conduct, including, but not necessarily limited to, a student’s lack of attendance. If a student is disenrolled for lack of attendance, they have the opportunity to appeal to the Faculty Executive Committee, and then to the Board. Students are expected to be in touch with faculty twice per month, or at least once per month unless they notify faculty of special circumstances (e.g., health or vacation where they will be unavailable for longer than a month). The student will receive a refund of any tuition already paid according to the following guidelines. If a student withdraws after the first instructional session begins, but before the end of the first month of enrollment or re-enrollment (that is, after the cancellation period described above), they are entitled to a full refund of all charges, prorated on a daily basis. That is, their tuition refund will be computed by calculating all monies for which they have paid tuition for an enrollment period, then charging them the daily rate for the period enrolled and refunding them the balance of the tuition monies paid for that enrollment period. That is, in no case will the student be responsible to pay tuition for days for which they have contracted in the Enrollment Agreement, when they have chosen to withdraw before the end of that period and when they will not then be enrolled for some of those contracted months. WISR will also refund money collected for a student’s tuition from a third party on the student’s behalf. Refunds will be paid within 30 days of cancellation or withdrawal. A student who withdraws and wishes to later re-enroll is subject to the policies on Leaves of Absence (see above).

SAMPLE REFUND CALCULATION:

Student Enrollment Agreement began November 1, 2021 (and through October 31, 2022)

Days in Agreement:  365

Withdrew: April 1, 2022

Days Enrolled: 151

% Year Enrolled:  151 days divided by 365 days = 41.37%

Tuition owed: $8,400 x 41.37% = $3,475.07

If student had paid for six months when they withdrew (6 x 700) = $4,200

Then the student would have a refund of $4,200 (what they paid) – $3,475.07 (pro rata portion for the number of days in the year they were enrolled) = $724.93

Students making monthly payments have until the end of the month to make their payment for that month without the payment being late. The first month in a fiscal year that a student is late in making their tuition payment, they will be assessed a late fee of $25/month. However, in any additional month(s) in that fiscal year in which a student is late or behind in their tuition payment(s), they will be charged a $50/month late fee.

Because WISR makes every effort to keep its tuition affordable by charging a little as possible, and since students are allowed to improve their cash flow by making monthly payments, it is absolutely crucial that students make timely payments of their tuition (by the last day of the month in which the tuition is due). Students who fall two or more months behind in their tuition payments are subject to disenrollment for a minimum of 6 (six) months, and will not get credit for work done during that period, and will be charged the non-refundable $250 re-enrollment fee upon return to enrollment at WISR, assuming they also have taken care of their owed tuition and late fees, either by paying in full, or by paying a portion and successfully negotiating with the Board financial representative a payment plan that they will adhere to.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

You have the right to cancel your agreement for a program of instruction, without any penalty or obligations, and receive a full refund of all monies paid to WISR including the $50 application fee and the $200 enrollment fee, through attendance at the first class session or the seventh calendar day after enrollment, whichever is later. After the end of the cancellation period, you also have the right to stop school at any time; and you have the right to receive a pro rata refund if you have completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period in your program through the last day of attendance.

DISTANCE EDUCATION CANCELLATION POLICY:

The student shall have the right to cancel the enrollment agreement and receive a full refund including the $50 application fee and the $200 enrollment fee before the first lesson and materials are received. Cancellation is effective on the date written notice of cancellation is sent. The institution shall make the refund pursuant to section 71750 of the California Code of Regulations. If the institution sent the first lesson and materials before an effective cancellation notice was received, the institution shall make a refund within 45 days after the student’s return of the materials.

• If you are enrolled in an Online Program, the course session will be held online using Google Education Suite, a Learning Management System.
• An institution offering a distance educational program where the instruction is not offered in real time shall transmit the first lesson and any materials to any student within seven days after the institution accepts the student for admission.
• An institution shall transmit all lessons and materials to the student if the student has fully paid for the educational program and, after having received the first lesson and initial materials, requests in writing that all of the material be sent. If an institution transmits the balance of the material as the student requests, the institution shall remain obligated to provide the other educational services it agreed to provide, such as responses to student inquiries, student and faculty interaction and comment on lessons submitted by the student, but shall not be obligated to pay any refund after all of the lessons and materials are transmitted.

STUDENT’S RIGHT TO CANCEL:

The student has a right to cancel their enrollment agreement and obtain a refund. Such cancellation must be in writing to the President at WISR, 1812 San Pedro Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707. The student has a right to cancel and obtain a full refund of all monies paid, including the $50 application fee and the $200 enrollment fee, through attendance at the first instructional session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later. If a student withdraws after instruction begins, but before the end of the first month of enrollment or re-enrollment, they will be refunded all except the $50 application fee and the $200 enrollment fee, and a pro-rated portion, on a daily basis of the tuition paid in advance. Notice of Cancellation of an Enrollment Agreement must be in writing (email or letter) to WISR’s President, and a withdrawal may also be effectuated by the student’s conduct, including, but not necessarily limited to, a student’s lack of attendance.

The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if either of the following applies: you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 1747 North Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95834, (916) 431-6959 or (888) 370-7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
2. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120-day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120 day period before the program was discontinued.
3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law, or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
6. You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of non-collection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 94803, 94877 and 94923, Education Code. Reference: Section 94923, 94924 and 94925, Education Code.”

Any questions a student may have regarding this catalog that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at 1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 225, Sacramento, CA 95833, or P.O. Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818  www.bppe.ca.gov  Telephone (888) 370-7589 or by fax (916) 263-1897

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (888)370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the bureau’s internet Web site www.bppe.ca.gov

Indeed, WISR takes the position that consumer protection and student rights are important to a healthy postsecondary education system in California. WISR has an impeccable history of perfect compliance with state law since we were first approved* in 1977 [*Under current State law, “Approved” means, “approval to operate” which means compliance with state standards as set forth in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (California Education Code, Title 3, Division 10, Part 59, Chapter)], and there have been no complaints against us in that entire time. Furthermore, in order to promote consumer protection, high quality education, and institutional integrity and credibility among institutions of private postsecondary education, WISR has taken a leadership role with about a dozen other institutions to form the Association for Private Postsecondary Education in California (APPEC).

Please consult our online catalog section on “Non-Degree Learning” to find about tuition charges for students seeking to receive credit for only one or two independent study courses, for MFT or LPCC courses, for one or two particular courses in other WISR degree programs, or for non-credit instruction.