VEC Policies

ENGLISH ONLY POLICY

At Vancouver English Centre, we believe that it is important for you to speak English at all times in our school. Being immersed in an English-speaking environment will give you the opportunity to improve your English skills.

If a staff member hears you speaking English outside of class time, they may give you a green ticket. If you receive one, please write your name and student number on it and put it in the jar in the Director of Studies' office (Room #1). Each green ticket is worth one point for your language group. Every day, we will display the language group with the most green tickets/points. On Fridays, there will be a prize draw for the language group with the most green tickets that week. The winning students will receive rewards for speaking English.

If a staff member hears you speaking any language other than English, they will ask you for your name and student number. The staff member will write your name and student number on a yellow ticket and will give the yellow ticket to the Director of Studies.

The consequences of receiving Yellow Tickets are:

• FIRST YELLOW TICKET - Meeting with Director of Studies & loss of 3 points for your language group.
• SECOND YELLOW TICKET** - Director of Studies will choose your penalty & loss of 3 additional points for your language group.
• THIRD YELLOW TICKET** - Meeting with the Director of Studies, Management staff and Marketing Director to decide your penalty & loss of 3 additional points for your language group.

**Please note that penalties for the 2nd yellow ticket may include writing an essay or giving a presentation on why speaking English is important. Penalties for the 3rd yellow ticket may include losing weeks from your final certificate or suspension.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

If you are absent for more than 25% of your program in one week, you will not receive credit for that week on your final certificate. For Example: You are registered in an Intensive Program and you miss 2.5 classes in one week. You will not receive credit for that week on your final certificate. Attendance is taken in both morning and afternoon classes. If you are a full-time student and you are absent from school for an entire day, it is considered 2 absences (1 absence for morning class and 1 absence for afternoon class).

LATENESS POLICY

If you are more than 10 minutes late for class, you will have to wait until break time to join your class. You will be marked as ½ absent for missing the first half of that morning class. For Example: Morning class begins at 9:00 AM. If you arrive at 9:20 AM, you must wait until morning break time (10:15 – 10:30 AM) to join your morning class. You will be marked as ½ absent for that morning class.

If you are more than 10 minutes late returning from break time, you will have to wait until the next class to join your class. You will be marked as ½ absent for the second half of that morning class. For Example: Morning break time ends at 10:30 AM. If you return to your class at 10:50 AM, you must wait until the next morning to join your class. You will be marked as ½ absent for that morning class.

If you have an afternoon class, and you arrive at 10:50 AM, then you should go to your afternoon class on time and you will be marked as absent for the morning class.

NO CELL PHONES RINGING IN CLASSROOMS

Cell phones must be turned off in class. Students must not have conversations on cell phones or text in classrooms during class time.

REFUND POLICY

If you must cancel your program, you should inform us, in writing, as soon as possible. We will then explain what refund, if any, there will be. The refundable amount is determined by the date of the cancellation, in relation to the start and finish dates of the program. You can find more information about our refund policy here.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

It is school policy that every student must have adequate medical insurance coverage. Students are required to provide proof of medical insurance on the first day of school. Refusal to comply with this policy may result in expulsion from the school. If you like, we can help you arrange medical insurance.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY

Our Dispute Resolution Policy provides a number of ways to resolve disputes. Individuals should always try to resolve issues informally. If a more formal approach becomes necessary, the institution provides a fair and reasonable mechanism for resolution.

Step One

Step Two

Second, speak to the supervisors of the appropriate departments. If this doesn’t work then go to Step Three.

Step Three

Third, put your complaint in writing to the President. He will request submissions from all involved parties, including witnesses; conduct an investigation and set up a meeting within 48 hours. The president will provide a written decision to all parties within 72 hours. If this doesn’t work, go to Step Four.

Step Four

The parties appoint an outside mediator within 48 hours. The institution will bear the cost of mediation.

KEEP YOUR PERSONAL THINGS SAFE

You should never leave your things unattended anywhere in the school. This includes the lunchroom, classrooms, washrooms, computer labs, etc. For safety reasons, we advise you not to carry your passport or large amounts of money with you. If it is necessary to carry your passport or cash, you should carry them in a secure place on your body. Most places in Vancouver will accept payments by debit or credit card. If you have any concerns about your belongings, you should speak to a VEC staff member.