SAFETY:
The number one priority at SOCAPA is the safety and well-being of our students. Any behavior detrimental to the safety or enjoyment of the experience will not be tolerated. Please see our detailed Supervision Policy at the end of this page.

SUPERVISION:
The number one priority at the School of Cinema and Performing Arts is the safety and well-being of our students. SOCAPA has a full staff of qualified supervisors on-duty at all times during the program. All of our counselors and teaching assistants are at least twenty-one years of age and have strong leadership skills and experience. Most have degrees in either visual or performing arts from prestigious universities and many have been through Residence Assistant training programs.

On evenings and weekends when students are not in class or on shoots, SOCAPA provides a full schedule of activities until 10pm. All students, regardless of supervision level, must check in on their floor by 10:30pm. Our supervisors make rounds and conduct sporadic room checks after lights-out at 11pm, and resident staff are on-duty through the night. Students are not allowed in the dormitory rooms of members of the opposite sex.

SUPERVISION LEVELS:
There are two levels of supervision, which correspond to the different age groups of our students. High School (13*-16) and Pre-College (16-19*). These levels apply to evening and weekend activities and other times when students are not in class. Families of our 16 year-old students must choose which level of supervision they would like for their child. If a family would like their child to be in a more restrictive level (for example, a family of a 17 year-old student would like their child to be in the high school level of supervision), please contact our office to discuss.

Pre-College Program (Ages 16-19*):
Students 16 years or older qualify for the Pre-College Program. After the first week of mandatory evening activities, pre-college students are given some evenings off, allowing them blocks of free time that they can structure to meet their individual interests and needs. Students may sign out using the Buddy System during their free time. Students in the Pre-College Program are mature and take personal and group responsibility seriously and are able to handle increased freedom.

High School Program (Ages 13*-16):
The High School Program provides highly structured evening and weekend activities throughout the program. During limited amounts of free time, students may sign out to explore the surrounding area, get supplies, or scout photo and film locations using the Buddy System. In addition, the Buddy System allows students to have some independence during class time and structured evening/weekend activities by allowing them to explore limited surrounding areas while still being with the larger group.

*Please note that 19 year-old students are invited to join us at our Manhattan Campus during Sessions 2 and 3 only. 13 year- old students are invited to join us in New York at the Brooklyn campus during Sessions 2 and 3 only. See program dates for details.

Buddy System:
Pre-College and High School students can go off campus during limited free time by signing out in the office and providing destination, purpose and contact information. Each student must be accompanied by another SOCAPA student. Each buddy group must have a cell phone with them and they must stay together at all times. Upon return, students sign back in with the staff. Please contact our main office if you have any questions about these supervision levels. We encourage you to discuss the option as a family and agree on conduct guidelines prior to arrival.

Signing out with a Family Member or Friend of the Family:
If parent/guardian would like to sign out a student for any period of time (for example to go out to dinner with Auntie Alice who lives near campus), we require a completed, you guessed it . . .

This form shoul be signed and faxed (or e-mailed) to our office 48 hours prior to the sign-out time. The form details to whom we should release the student, when they should be released and for how long, and a contact number where the student will be. Students must notify a supervisor upon departure and return. Students must be back no later than check-in (10:30pm) unless spending the entire night (10:30pm – 8:00am) off campus.

DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY:
Alcohol or drugs are strictly prohibited on all our campuses. SOCAPA supervisors have the right to search for illegal substances. Students who violate this policy will be immediately expelled from the program.

PAYMENT POLICY, DEPOSIT, TUITION & REFUNDS:
A non-refundable, $500 deposit is required to secure a spot in all of SOCAPA’s Summer Programs. The final tuition balance is due no later than May 1 (Please note that we may be able to accept more students after this payment deadline. Call our office to arrange). If we have not received payment by May 1, SOCAPA reserves the right to cancel unpaid applicants with no return of fees. Prior to April 1, all tuition, except the $500 deposit, is fully refundable. For cancellations between April 1 and May 1, we will refund 50% of the tuition and fees. After May 15, there are no refunds, except in the form of camp credit. Camp credit is good towards any of our summer 2010 programs and is transferable to family members with the same last name. In the case that camp credit is issued prior to June 15, the amount of camp credit will be the amount paid to SOCAPA less a $1000 cancellation fee. For cancellations after June 15, camp credit will be issued for one half the amount of the tuition portion of the invoice – there will be no refund or camp credit for the Room & Board portion of the invoice. For this reason, SOCAPA highly recommends that students secure travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, interruption and/or medical emergency. For more on travel insurance, please visit: Assurance Solutions.

Students sent home in violation of our rules, for medical reasons, at the discretion of the student, family, or SOCAPA will receive no refund.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
SOCAPA reserves the right to cancel any program before its start date. In the unlikely event that cancellation should occur, you have the option of a complete refund or transfer to another program. Registrant waives any and all damages that may otherwise arise out of any program cancellation and agrees to accept as liquidated damages said registration fees. We highly discourage making nonrefundable or nonchangeable travel arrangements to and from our programs.

COMMUNICATION:
Our Manhattan office is reachable by phone and e-mail twenty-four hours a day. In addition, the resident assistant on duty will have an emergency cell phone on their person at all times. Illness and problems are handled immediately and the family is always contacted directly.