Arts Academy Policies

Email is the preferred method of communication at the Arts Academy. It’s the best way to stay informed about scheduling, class updates, and any questions about your child’s progress.

For urgent or time-sensitive updates, phone calls or text messages may be used. Texts should only be sent between 9:00am and 7:00pm and used sparingly.

Be sure to speak with your teacher about how they prefer to communicate. If a student is a minor, a parent or guardian should be included in all communications for transparency and safety.

Please check our website regularly to stay informed about when we are in session and when we are closed: https://www.umhb.edu/visual-performing-arts/artsacademy/home

Typical class closures include, but are not limited to: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Holiday (week off in November), Martin Luther King Day, Spring Break (week off in March), Good Friday, and Memorial Day.

The Fall and Spring terms are each 14 weeks in length unless otherwise specified. Students are expected to enroll for the full term or for a designated number of weeks if starting late or with special approval.

The Summer Term is shorter and operates on a more flexible, condensed schedule. It is typically 5 weeks long and runs from May to June. Summer is designed to help students maintain their skills, explore new interests, or try different instruments.

Fall registration takes place in July, spring registration in November, and summer registration in April. You can register online through our website or in person at Room 208 of Presser Hall on the UMHB campus. The Arts Academy Office operates Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM during the fall and spring semesters, with summer hours adjusted to 8 AM to 4 PM.

Tuition can be paid by check, cash, or credit card. A non-refundable deposit is required each semester. Payment plans are available through the registration page, with payments due during the first week of each month for three months. Any tuition balance remaining after the third month will incur a $30 late fee. Students with outstanding balances will not be eligible to register for future semesters at the Arts Academy until the balance is fully paid.

Full Refund Policy: Students who withdraw before the second week of lessons or classes may receive a full refund, excluding the non-refundable deposit.

No Refund Policy:Withdrawals made after the second week of lessons or classes are not eligible for any refund.

Each week students will have a one-on-one 30-minute lesson with their instructor in Presser Hall at UMHB. Longer lesson durations are available upon request.

Consistent attendance is essential for student progress and a positive learning environment. While occasional conflicts are understandable, teachers and families should prioritize regular attendance.

Tardiness

• Lessons will end at the scheduled time, regardless of student arrival time.
• Students who arrive more than 10 minutes late without prior notice may forfeit the lesson at the teacher’s discretion.
• Habitual tardiness will be reported to the Director so the issue can be addressed with the student.

Maintaining regular attendance demonstrates respect for the teacher’s time and the learning process. If a student is dismissed due to repeated absences or tardiness, no refund will be issued for the remaining lessons.

Student-Initiated Cancellations: Students must provide at least 24 hours’ notice of cancellation for a lesson to be eligible for rescheduling. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice may not be rescheduled, but it is left to the teacher’s discretion depending on the situation. No refunds are provided due to student-initiated cancellations.

Teacher-Initiated Cancellations: If a teacher needs to cancel a lesson due to unforeseen circumstances, they will notify the student and/or parent as early as possible and will attempt to arrange a make-up lesson at a mutually convenient time. All lessons are held in person; virtual lessons are not offered unless otherwise directed by the Director under special circumstances.

*There are no make-up sessions offered for missed classes.

Recital Opportunities

The Arts Academy offers at least two solo recital opportunities during the fall and spring semesters for students to showcase their progress and celebrate their achievements. While participation is encouraged, it is not mandatory.

Please note: We do not offer recitals during the summer mini-session unless otherwise specified on the website.

Teacher Approval Required Students who wish to perform must first obtain their teacher’s approval to ensure they are adequately prepared.

Recital Registration

Recital registration is on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited space. Once capacity is reached, registration will close.

The Arts Academy office will email a link to sign up through Planning Center when registration opens.

Scheduling Policy

Please note that families cannot request specific performance times within the program, as the schedule is carefully arranged to ensure a balanced and enjoyable experience for all.

Community Expectations

Recitals are more than performances—they are opportunities to build confidence, share music, and foster a sense of community.

To support this, all performers are expected to stay for the entire recital. We also encourage families to remain for the full program whenever possible, as this helps create a respectful and supportive atmosphere for all students.

Etiquette & Attire

We emphasize proper audience etiquette and recommend semi-formal attire for performers. This helps maintain a professional setting and builds confidence in students as they share their music.

For all UMHB Arts Academy recitals and performances, we ask that students wear attire appropriate for a formal performance setting. While specific concert attire is not required, casual clothing such as shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and athletic wear should be avoided. Instead, students should wear dress pants, skirts, blouses, button-down shirts, or dresses. Shoes should be comfortable for walking and performing. Our goal is for students to present themselves professionally while feeling confident on stage.

Parents and guardians are essential partners in supporting student learning. The following recommendations promote a collaborative and respectful environment during lessons and at home.

Observing Lessons

• Parents and guardians are welcome and highly encouraged to observe lessons.
• For all early childhood music classes, a parent or guardian is required to remain in attendance for the entire class.
• The teacher may also recommend a parent or guardian be present—or not—during lessons based on the student’s developmental or instructional needs.
• When attending lessons, parents/guardians are expected to be quiet, avoid distractions, and refrain from coaching or interrupting. They should serve as active listeners and take notes to support learning at home, following the teacher’s guidance on how notes should be taken.

To ensure the safety and well-being of every child while keeping our schedule on track, we kindly request that parents pick up their children directly from their activity.

Building: Presser Hall, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor Campus

Physical Address: 902 King St, Belton TX, 76513

Mailing Address: 900 College Street, Box 8012, Belton, TX 76513

At the beginning of each semester, every Arts Academy family will receive a UMHB Special Parking Pass. This pass, provided by UMHB Campus Police, allows parking in any campus spaces marked with yellow lines. Please display the pass on your dashboard above the steering wheel with the date clearly visible.

Parking is conveniently available in multiple locations. Guests can park along Moore Ave, in Parking Lot D located behind Crusader Stadium, or in the Presser Parking Lot, which opens for public use after 2:00 p.m. Please choose the option that best suits your arrival time and needs!

The UMHB Arts Academy reserves the right to cancel any class that does not meet minimum enrollment requirements. While we strive to offer all scheduled classes, low enrollment may result in cancellation to ensure the best use of instructional resources and a high-quality experience for all students. In the event of a cancellation, families will be notified promptly, and any tuition already paid for the canceled class will be refunded in full or applied to another class, lesson, or workshop upon request.

To ensure the safety and well-being of every minor child enrolled in the Arts Academy, a parent or an authorized adult is required to remain in the building for the duration of their child’s class or lesson.

Minor students will not be permitted to wait unattended outside or leave the building without the parent or other authorized adult on record with the UMHB Arts Academy.