REGISTRATION, PAYMENT, CANCELLATION, AND REFUND TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Catalogue
- All Professional Learning Offerings

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia (“PSAANS”) delivers professional learning, member services, resources and related programs for public school administrators and educational leaders in Nova Scotia.

1.2 PSAANS delivers professional learning primarily through the Instructional Leadership Academy (“ILA”), the Educational Leadership Development Program (“ELDP”), and other professional learning opportunities and modules offered by PSAANS from time to time (collectively the “Programs” and each individually a “Program”).

1.3 This Policy reflects and represents PSAANS’ equitable access and learning-centered approach to education, establishes consistent standards and processes for admission, payment, cancellation, and refunds for its Programs, and is intended to be equitable and transparent.

2. POLICY SCOPE

2.1 This Policy applies to applicants and registrants of the Programs, including registrants who are actively participating in the Programs.

3. DEFINITIONS

3.1 Applicant means an individual who has applied or is applying for registration in one or more of the Programs.

3.2 Registrant means a successful Applicant to one or more of the Programs.

4. ADMISSION

4.1 PSAANS’ current Program offerings are available online at brightspace.psaans.ca and courses.psaans.ca.

Unless otherwise stated in specific Program requirements, Applicants are considered eligible for an offer of admission to a Program when they have submitted complete applications by the required date and have met all other admission requirements, which may include but are not limited to:

(a) Educational and/or professional criteria;

(b) Leadership experience; and

4.3 The minimum admission requirements for any Program are set out online at brightspace.psaans.ca and courses.psaans.ca.

4.4 PSAANS will assess applications and Applicant qualifications according to objective, transparent guidelines. Non-academic requirements and equivalencies will be assessed in a manner that ensures consistency and fairness.

4.5 Subject to exceptional circumstances determined by PSAANS, changes to admission requirements will be published at least six months before the Program intake in which they are to take effect.

4.6 PSAANS may make a conditional offer of admission prior to the successful completion of one or more of the published admission requirements. The conditions and deadline for their fulfilment will be communicated when the offer is made. If the conditions are not met by the deadline, the offer will be revoked.

4.7 If all seats in a given Program section are filled, subsequent qualified Applicants will automatically be placed on a waitlist in order of application completion date.

4.8 PSAANS recognizes that various historical conditions have resulted in the underrepresentation of equity-seeking groups within education and is committed to achieving representational equity through improved access to its Programs, in order to foster a diverse and inclusive leadership body within the Nova Scotia education system. PSAANS may designate one or more reserved seats in each Program section, prioritize or offer guaranteed seats to Applicants who meet certain criteria, recognize diversity in the application process, and/or establish Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with provincial and community groups and organizations relating to admissions decisions.

4.9 Subject to exceptional circumstances determined by PSAANS, Applicants accepted to a Program are not eligible to defer participation in the Program without making a fresh application.

5. APPEALS

5.1 Applicants who believe they have been unjustly denied admission due to an error in process or who believe that they deserve special consideration due to mitigating circumstances may discuss the matter with PSAANS Director of Professional Learning (or designate) immediately upon receipt of their admission decision.

5.2 If a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, Applicants may submit a written appeal to the PSAANS Executive Director for review. Appeals of admission decisions must be submitted within two weeks of the date of issue of the notification of an admission decision.

5.3 The letter of appeal must include the decision that is being appealed, a statement of the grounds for the appeal, a detailed account of the circumstances relating to the appeal, and copies of any relevant documents.

5.4 The decision of the PSAANS Executive Director (or designate), is final and binding.

6. CANCELLATION, WITHDRAWAL, OR REVOCATION OF ADMISSION

6.1 Applicants may withdraw their application at any time prior to acceptance. Registrants may also withdraw from a Program at any time. Applicants and Registrants must clearly communicate their withdrawal of an application or registration by submitting a written notification to the PSAANS Director of Professional Learning (or designate). Eligibility for refunds is determined by section 7 below.

6.2 PSAANS may cancel an application or revoke an admission decision due to:

(a) Fraud or dishonesty in the application;

(b) Failure to pay the required registration fees prior to the commencement of the Program;

(d) Such other circumstances as determined by PSAANS, acting reasonably.

6.3 Non-attendance does not, in itself, constitute withdrawal. Withdrawals are effective when a student withdraws from a Program or Programs by providing clear and unequivocal notice, in writing to the Director of Professional Learning (or designate).

6.4 In the event that PSAANS cancels a Program session after offers of admission have begun, a PSAANS representative will contact all Applicants to explain the cancellation and to advise them of their options.

7. PAYMENT AND REFUNDS

7.1 Applicants who otherwise meet the criteria for admission into a Program may only be admitted as a Registrant once payment has been made in accordance with the requirements of that specific Program. Where the Program requirements do not specify the payment date or deadline, Applicants are expected to complete full payment no later than the day prior to the commencement of the Program in question.

7.2 In the case of a withdrawal by a Registrant:

(a) Where the Registrant provides appropriate notice of withdrawal more than 30 days prior to the commencement of the Program AND prior to the payment deadline set by the specific Program admission requirements, the Registrant will be entitled to a full refund;

(b) Where the Registrant provides appropriate notice of withdrawal less than 30 days prior to the commencement of the Program OR after the payment deadline set by the specific Program admission requirements but prior to the commencement of the Program, the Registrant will [be entitled to a partial 50% refund];

(c) Registrants who seek to withdraw after the commencement of the Program will generally not be entitled to a refund of their Program fees, except at the absolute discretion of the PSAANS Executive Director, which shall only be done in exceptional circumstances.

7.3 In the case of a revocation of registration by PSAANS (including removal of a Registrant from an active Program), refunds will be subject to the specific conditions of the revocation decision, as determined by the appropriate decision-making authority and the policy or policies governing the decision to revoke registration. However, Registrants are generally not entitled to refunds where the decision to revoke admission to a Program arises from misconduct on the part of the Registrant.

7.4 PSAANS may delay the start of a Program up to two weeks or, if any Program sessions are cancelled during the term of the Program, schedule alternate make-up sessions, including by extending the term of the Program as necessary. No such delay or rescheduling (including by extension of the term of the Program) will be considered a cancellation of a Program and no refunds will be issued to Registrants, subject to exceptional individual circumstances as determined by PSAANS.

7.5 In the event that PSAANS cancels a Program prior to its commencement, all Registrants will be entitled to a full refund. If PSAANS cancels a Program after its commencement, Registrants may receive a partial or full refund, or a deferral offer, to be determined by PSAANS in the circumstances.

8. POLICY ADMINISTRATION

8.1 PSAANS’ Board of Directors has oversight of this Policy. The Board of Directors has assigned administration of this Policy to the Director of Professional Learning.

8.2 This Policy will be reviewed and updated as needed, at least every three years.

8.3 If Members have any questions about this Policy, they may contact the Director of Professional Learning.

8.4 The current version of this Policy can always be found in the Members Hub portion of www.psaans.ca.

8.5 Subject to requirements of law, PSAANS expressly reserves the right to change, modify, or delete portions of this Policy without notice.

Last updated: August 19, 2026