At Atlanta College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ("ACLAS," "we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to providing an exceptional educational experience through our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Master of Computer Science (MCS), and certificate programs. To ensure transparency and fairness, we have established this Refund Policy, which governs all payments and refund requests related to our programs. We urge you to review this policy carefully prior to enrollment, as it forms part of your agreement with ACLAS upon registration.
1. Key Terms
- 1.1 Registration Confirmation: "Registration confirmation" refers to the email sent to the student upon successful payment processing and enrollment verification.
- 1.2 Program Start Date: "Program start date" is defined as the first day students gain access to course materials following payment confirmation. Access is typically granted 3-5 business days after payment is received and verified.
2. Payment Options
- 2.1 Payment Structure: Tuition fees for the BBA, MBA, DBA, MCS, and certificate programs may be settled either as a single, one-time payment or through an installment plan, as selected during enrollment. Specific fee amounts are detailed on our program pages: [insert link].
- 2.2 Non-Refundable Nature: Upon successful payment completion and registration confirmation, all fees are deemed non-refundable. Due to the fully online nature of our programs, once course access has been granted (typically within 3-5 business days after payment verification), the service is deemed fully delivered and no refunds will be issued under any circumstances. Students are encouraged to understand and agree to this policy before registering. Payment signifies acknowledgment of and agreement to this non-refundable policy.
Scenarios Where Refunds are Not Possible
No refunds will be issued in the following scenarios, without limitation:
- Withdrawal from the course due to personal scheduling conflicts.
- Dissatisfaction with course content or materials after accessing them.
- Failure to complete coursework or participate in the program.
- Failure to contact ACLAS or seek help regarding any issues encountered during the course.
- Dissatisfaction with the accreditation status of ACLAS, including the lack of U.S. Department of Education accreditation or GNPEC regulation, as this is disclosed prior to enrollment.
- Lack of recognition or acceptance of ACLAS degrees or certificates by employers, educational institutions, governments, or other entities, as recognition varies and is your responsibility to verify.
- Dissatisfaction with the content, structure, quality, or outcomes of programs or courses, including curriculum, assessments, or instructional materials.
- Preference for a different delivery method (e.g., in-person instruction instead of online, self-paced learning).
- Technical issues on your end, including but not limited to internet connectivity, device compatibility, or software limitations, provided ACLAS’s systems are operational.
- Personal circumstances, such as financial hardship, change of mind, inability to complete the program, relocation, health issues, or other personal or professional commitments.
- Failure to meet program requirements, including passing assessments or complying with academic policies.
- Misunderstanding of program costs, payment terms, or installment plan obligations, as these are disclosed prior to payment.
- Currency exchange rate fluctuations or third-party payment processing fees.
- Allegations of fraud, non-existence of ACLAS, or other baseless claims, which are addressed through our verification processes and legal recourse.
- Enrollment in a program with the intent to seek a refund after accessing course materials or completing assessments.
- Violation of ACLAS Terms of Service, including but not limited to prohibited actions, resulting in account suspension or termination.
- Delay in requesting a refund beyond any legally mandated period, where applicable.
- Any access to digital course materials, regardless of duration or extent of usage.
3. Refund Policy
- 3.1 Overpayment: In the event of an overpayment (e.g., duplicate transactions or excess funds), ACLAS will refund the surplus amount if it exceeds $10. If the surplus is less than $10, it will be credited to the student’s account balance. Such refunds will be processed within five (5) to ten (10) business days of verification using the original payment method. The actual time for funds to appear in your account may depend on various payment gateways and the processing times of banks in different countries, which are beyond our control, including any currency conversion fees or international banking charges incurred.
- 3.2 Course Cancellation: Should ACLAS cancel any program or course for any reason (e.g., insufficient enrollment, operational changes), affected students will receive a full refund of the fees paid for that specific program or course.
- 3.3 Processing for Course Cancellation: Refunds will be issued automatically to the original payment method within ten (10) business days following cancellation, and students will be notified via email. No additional action is required from the student in such cases.
4. Course Registration Deferral Policy
- 4.1 Deferral Option: If you wish to postpone your enrollment to a later term, you may request a deferral before the program start date by contacting info@aclas.college.
- 4.2 Approval: Deferral requests are subject to administrative approval and will be communicated within five (5) business days.
- 4.3 Fee Handling: Approved deferrals will result in fees being credited toward your future enrollment at no additional cost. However, if you choose not to enroll after an approved deferral, no refund will be issued for previously paid fees.
5. Appeals Process
- 5.1 Right to Appeal: If you believe your situation justifies an exception to this Refund Policy beyond the provisions described, you may submit a formal appeal.
- 5.2 Submission Requirements: Appeals must be emailed to contact@aclas.college and include:
- A comprehensive written statement detailing the circumstances.
- Relevant supporting documentation (e.g., financial records, legal notices).
- 5.3 Review Process: Appeals will be evaluated by an ACLAS review committee within fifteen (15) business days of receipt. The committee's decision is final and binding, with notification provided via email.
- 5.4 No Interim Relief: Submission of an appeal does not pause other obligations (e.g., payment deadlines) unless explicitly approved.
- 5.5 Abuse of Dispute Mechanisms: Abuse of payment dispute or chargeback mechanisms, including but not limited to: filing baseless chargebacks after accessing course materials, using false reasons to request refunds, or attempting to obtain improper economic benefits through threat of dispute, may result in immediate suspension of all services, credential revocation, and listing in the Academic Revocation Registry.
6. Shipping and Academic Document Request
- 6.1 Eligibility: Graduates who have successfully completed their academic programs and received their official e-certificate and transcript are eligible to apply for official academic documents (hard copies).
- 6.2 Application Timing: Applications for hard copy official academic documents can only be submitted after the electronic certificate has been officially issued.
- 6.3 Package Contents:
- One (1) hard copy official certificate
- One (1) hard copy transcript
- One (1) leatherette ACLAS certificate holder
- 6.4 Fees and Non-Refundable Nature: Fees for academic documents are as follows, and note that these fees are non-refundable:
| Item | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Official academic documents package | $399 (includes global shipping) |
| Remote area surcharge (if applicable) | +$75 (based on courier classification) |
| Express processing (optional) | +$299 (shipped within 5 business days, subject to approval) |
| Apostille service (Hague certification) | $300 (optional add-on, shipped together) |
All fees are in U.S. dollars and must be paid in full before processing.
- 6.5 Processing and Delivery Timeline:
- Standard processing: 10 to 20 business days after payment confirmation.
- Express processing: 5 business days, subject to approval and availability.
- Apostille service: 10 to 15 business days after payment confirmation.
- 6.6 Shipping Policy: All official academic documents are processed and shipped in monthly batches on the 10th of each month. Full payment must be completed by 10:00 AM EST on the 9th to be included in that month's shipment. Orders with payments received after this deadline will be processed in the following month's batch.
- 6.7 Customs and Duties: Customers are responsible for any customs duties or taxes imposed by their country for the shipment of academic documents.
7. Customer Responsibilities
- 7.1 Address Accuracy: Customers are responsible for providing accurate and complete shipping addresses for their academic documents. Any additional charges incurred due to address corrections or re-routing after shipment are the responsibility of the customer.
- 7.2 Order Review: Please carefully review all order details, including academic documents, quantities, shipping address, and total costs before completing payment. Order modifications may not be possible once payment is processed.
- 7.3 Communication: Customers must provide valid contact information for order updates and delivery coordination. It is the customer's responsibility to monitor their email for important order communications.
8. Limitation of Liability
- 8.1 General Limitation: Our liability is limited to the original purchase price of the tuition fees and educational services. We are not responsible for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
- 8.2 Credential Recognition: ACLAS shall not be liable for any losses, damages, or consequences arising from the non-recognition of its credentials by third parties or institutions. It is the student's responsibility to verify the accreditation and recognition of the college and its programs before enrollment.
- 8.3 Force Majeure: Events of force majeure (natural disasters, political unrest, etc.) may affect program delivery times and are beyond our control. We shall not be held liable for failures or delays in program delivery caused by such events.
9. Policy Updates and Cross-References
These terms and conditions may be updated periodically without prior notice. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of any policy changes. Current terms and conditions are always available on our website.
For additional details, please review our Disclaimer for information on credential recognition and our Terms of Service for further enrollment terms.