Administration: Policies & Procedures

Participant Enrolment Agreement

INFORMED PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

The programmes of New Ventures West and the Centre for Coaching are designed to provide high quality education, development and training in coaching. Our commitment to this aim and to integrating people’s lives is best served by working only with appropriate people and only during the appropriate time in their lives. As such, we ask that you be aware of the following information about our programmes so that we can establish the kind of relationship that will work for all of us.

THE NATURE OF OUR PROGRAMMES

Our programmes are intended to make a difference in the quality and integrity of life — your life and the lives of the people in your network of relationships. As such, they entail rigorous inquiry, considering new views, and having current views called into question. Such an inquiry can obviously be disruptive to the views on which you normally rely. We therefore recommend that you consider whether you are in a position to deal effectively with this kind of questioning at this time.

INTENDED AUDIENCE FOR OUR PROGRAMMES

We offer to work with people who are physically, emotionally and psychologically well, and who are coping adequately with the everyday demands of life. Our intention is to cover ground that is beyond a basic success in life — ground that addresses issues of integration, fulfilment, and contribution.

OUR AVAILABILITY

We are available to you throughout the programme. If you have a question or issue, please contact one of the faculty or the programme manager.

COMMITMENT REQUIRING SIGNATURE FROM EACH STUDENT BEFORE ENROLLMENT

• I understand what you have declared the appropriate basis for participating in the programme. I qualify for the programme.
• I will be responsible for my wellbeing and for my participation throughout the programme.
• I hold New Ventures West and the Centre for Coaching responsible only for the orderly presentation of the programme and neither for screening the appropriateness of my participation nor for what I make of the programme in my life.

Application Policy

Payment/Fees policy(s)

These policies are effective as of the time you submit your deposit.

The deposit amount is R11 500 (including VAT) for CfD and R 18 000 (including VAT) for PCC.

Our courses are limited in the number of students we can accommodate per course. We operate on a strictly first-come, first-served basis. On receipt of your application, we will process your form and hold a seat for you, but your seat is only secured once your deposit amount and supporting documents have been received.

DEPOSIT: The deposit amount is non-refundable.  Please note that if you are not accepted into the programme for which you’ve applied, your deposit will be fully refunded. Once the class is fully booked, your application will go onto our waiting list and you will be notified of any changes.

The tuition fee is due and payable in full two weeks before the programme begins.  You are welcome to request an alternate payment plan, which will incur a small administration fee, but the financial obligation for the tuition is incurred before the programme begins.

Refund policy

Each year we have a waiting list of highly committed applicants. Your seat is one of only a few available each year and we need to implement a strict cancellation policy to ensure that all participants are sure that they have carefully thought through the personal, time and financial commitments that are required in order to be able to complete this world-class, rigorous course.

• Should you cancel, in writing, more than 30 days before the course start date, you will qualify for a refund of the fees less the deposit amount.
• Should you cancel, in writing, 29 working days or less prior to the course start date, you will then forfeit 100% of the full fees, if we are unable to fill your seat. If we can fill your seat, you only lose your deposit amount. If, however, we cannot fill your seat at that short notice, then the full programme fee becomes immediately due and payable.
• WITHDRAWALS: once you have started the programme, and if you withdraw at any time for any reason whatsoever, we will not refund your tuition. If the tuition is being paid in installments, the full amount becomes immediately due and payable.

NOTE:  Any cancellations or withdrawals must be made in writing via Email. Please be sure to receive an acknowledgement of receipt from the Centre.

Transfer of Credit policy

If you are unable to complete your Coaching for Development (CfD) programme due to extenuating circumstances, in a particular calendar year, we will allow you to transfer to another Coaching for Development (CfD) programme in the same calendar year at no extra charge. You may not substitute another person in your place. Please note this only applies to the CfD programme and not for our Professional Coaching Course (PCC).

Our integral methodology and programme teaching design are set up in such a way that it builds slowly and experientially, embedded in the physical experience of learning and being with your fellow students. Because of this, we do not allow participants to transfer hours from other ICF-accredited programmes as a way of  reducing the number of hours required to achieve course completion.

Illness Policy

We always try to accommodate absences resulting from emergencies such as severe illness, accidents, and so on however, adjustments can be challenging.  Therefore we are not able to accommodate requests for transfers for any other reason, such as work scheduling issues, family reunions, or the World Cup, for example.

Partial Completion Policy  

Partial Completion Policy with respect to attendance

Students are required to attend all contact days in order to be able to complete their respective programmes.

You may only transfer to another CfD programme in the same calendar year. You may not substitute another person in your place.

Partial Completion Policy with respect to assignments

Should it not be possible for a student to complete their assignment/submissions by the official date of completion, an additional 6 months will be granted in which to complete and upload. All submissions will need to then be assessed by a mentor coach to be to the standards required by the programme. Only then will a certificate be issued to the participant.

Should there be exceptional circumstances occurring in the participant’s life at this time and should an additional 6 months be required in which to complete the submissions, the following steps are required at the end of the initial 6-month extension.

• The student should submit a written request to the Programme Manager outlining their request for an additional 6 months.
• This request should state a timeline and action plan for delivery of outstanding submissions.
• The request will then be sent to the Academic Director for consideration, and possible approval

In summary, this means that the Centre for Coaching can grant a maximum of 12 months extension to any student who has completed their attendance requirements. Any student unable to submit all their assignments prior to the close of these 12 months, will be unable to qualify and will not receive a certificate.

Note that should the student feel the need for additional mentor coach support after closure of the programme that they enrolled in, then this will need to be by private arrangement between the student and a mentor coach of their choosing. The funds for this are not included in the course fees and will need to be arranged and paid for by the student directly to their chosen mentor coach.

Complaint/Grievance policy 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, relationships do not go as planned. Should you have any concerns or uncertainties with your Pod Mentor, other members of faculty and/or the Course Leaders, please be in touch with one of our Senior Mentor Coaches, the Programme Manager, or one of the Directors of the Centre for Coaching. They are dedicated to ensuring smooth mentoring and relationships on the programme, and will iron out any wrinkles that might arise with tact, delicacy and agreed levels of confidentiality.

Please do speak up and do not sit in discomfort about anything at all. On this programme, where we strive for maximum inclusion and psychological safety, it is important that you know your voice will always be listened to, addressed and of course learnings and coaching moments drawn from it as well. As coaches and faculty, we know we need to be continuously learning, growing and developing, and often things that we are blind to, provide us with the greatest opportunity for growth.  For this reason we see any form of feedback or breakdown as an opportunity for our growth and it is welcomed, no matter how hard it might be to deal with.