Pre-College Policies

CCA’s Pre-College is a residential summer program (with commuter options available) reserved for high school students who completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school earlier the same year. Students must also be at least 15 years old but no older than 18 years old by July. A high school transcript is required in the Pre-College application process to determine grade level.

If you are looking for CCA Youth Programs for middle school students or younger high school students, please explore our Young Artist Studio Program (YASP) or Atelier program, respectively.

To ensure a positive and safe learning environment for all, admitted students and their parents or guardians are required to sign a CCA Pre-College Conduct Policies contract. Violations of any conduct policy during the duration of the program may result in dismissal from Pre-College without a refund or credits earned.

Students are expected to attend class every day (Monday–Friday, 9:30 am–4:30 pm) and arrive on time for the entire four-week program. Three late arrivals or early departures (10 minutes or more) will count as one unexcused absence. Three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

We take attendance in the morning and after lunch break. If a student arrives after attendance has been taken, it’s their responsibility to notify the instructor and instructional assistant to be marked late rather than absent.

Absences or late arrivals relating to significant personal illness or injury, grave family emergencies, academic commitments, and religious observance will be excused. For medical or family emergencies, please email our team within 12 hours of the incident. For academic commitments or religious observance, advance email notice is required. Email us at [email protected]. The total number of excused and unexcused absences may not exceed five days of programming.

In addition to daily classes, students have evening studio hours to complete projects and assignments. These sessions run during the final three weeks of the program, from 4:30–8 pm. Week two studio hours are optional, but attendance in weeks three and four is required to complete coursework. We encourage students to take advantage of this extra time to develop their projects and succeed in the program.

Before the start of Pre-College, parents and guardians are required to inform us of the following:

• Any medical conditions, including known mental health conditions, that may impact your student’s participation in the program
• Any learning disabilities/differences or health issues

Please submit this information via email to [email protected], and be sure to specify if you would like this information shared with your student’s instructors and college staff.

Health insurance requirement

All in-person Pre-College students must have health insurance coverage for the duration of the program. Proof of insurance must be submitted before the start of the program. Those who fail to submit proof of insurance will not be allowed to attend.

If you need to obtain health insurance, Pre-College students can enroll in one month of CCA Student Insurance Plan coverage while attending the program. Coverage for July 1-31 costs $351.60 and includes medical, dental, and vision coverage through Aetna insurance, including a One Medical membership.

To purchase CCA student insurance coverage, email [email protected] and identify yourself as a CCA Pre-College student or parent/guardian interested in purchasing insurance coverage. Include an email address where you would like an enrollment link sent in response to your request.

Dietary considerations

All in-person Pre-College students are required to purchase a meal plan. Meal plans for students staying on campus provide three meals a day on weekdays and brunch and dinner on the weekends. Lunch meal plans for commuter students include lunch for five days per week. Our kitchen team at Makers Cafe on campus is prepared to accommodate most dietary restrictions and food sensitivities.

Students with disabilities

For information about disability services at CCA, email [email protected]. We consider all accommodation requests, but please be aware that there may be limits as to what CCA can reasonably provide. Our Access and Wellness Office recommends a minimum of five weeks’ notice for all requested accommodations.

CANRA (Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act)

Because minors attend Pre-College, we follow CANRA law, which requires us to report to child protective authorities if we receive any information about possible abuse of children of the program, as well as wherever and by whomever the possible abuse may be occurring. Pre-College program administrators are trained in CANRA, and other personnel of the program are required to immediately inform an administrator if any such information is received.

Withdrawal/refund requests must be made via email to [email protected]. The time stamp on the request will be honored as the withdrawal date. Phone calls are not an acceptable communication method for withdrawing from Pre-College. No refunds will be issued for Pre-College participants who have been withdrawn from the program by CCA for violations of school policies or regulations. Please allow two weeks to process all refund requests.

Important dates

Tuition refunds

• May 15 — Receive a 100% tuition refund (minus the nonrefundable $55 application fee and nonrefundable $500 tuition deposit) if your withdrawal request is time stamped on or before this date
• May 16-30 — Receive a 50% tuition refund (minus the nonrefundable $55 application fee and nonrefundable $500 tuition deposit) if your withdrawal request is time stamped on or before this date
• After May 30 — No tuition refunds

Housing refunds

• May 22 — Receive a 100% housing refund if your withdrawal request and license cancellation is time stamped on or before this date
• After May 22 — No housing refunds

Meal plan refunds

• June 15 — Receive a 100% meal plan refund if your withdrawal request is time stamped on or before this date
• After June 15 — No meal plan refunds