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FAQ Version 2.0 | 1.1.21.4

1. What is The New Centre?
The New Centre for Research & Practice is a non-profit Licensed Proprietary School authorized by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) of the State of Michigan, USA as of August 29, 2014. Our LPS license authorizes us to provide graduate-level Seminars and certificates of competency in the arts, transdisciplinary studies, critical philosophy & social and political thought, amongst other fields. The New Centre is not a degree-granting institution and does not seek this form of social recognition. The New Centre provides graduate-level Seminars in a range of fields and disciplines to open new paths in artistic, philosophical and political practice. We aim to provide advanced college and university students as well as junior faculty with Seminar and research experience in theoretical frameworks outside the conventional canons and in their most recent stages of development.

2. What is The New Centre’s policy on discrimination?
The New Centre for Research & Practice does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical characteristics, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law, in its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, employment, or other school-administered programs. The policy is reinforced by The New Centre for Research & Practice, and where applicable, federal laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. The New Centre is an equal opportunity educational institution. Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes, and referrals to designated coordinators under the ADA/Section 504, Title IX, and the Age Discrimination Act may be directed to the Organizing Committee of the New Centre for Research & Practice at +1 (347) 523-6660, 327 2nd Street, Apt 3, Jersey City NJ 07302, 616.439.1338 , or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-1100, 1-800-421-3481, TDD: 877-521-2172.

3. Where is The New Centre located?
The legal office of the The New Centre is located in 327 2nd Street, Apt 3, Jersey City NJ 07302 | 616.439.1338. The New Centre’s graduate-level Certificate Programs, workshops, seminars, exhibitions, residencies, and conferences are offered by scholars and instructors from a variety of locations including the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.

4. Can I get a graduate degree via The New Centre?
The New Centre does not offer degree programs to its students nor does it seek this form of social recognition. We are not accredited as a degree-granting institution by Title IV-recognized regional or national accrediting bodies, and do not plan to be. We provide graduate-level certificates via our Licensed Proprietary School agreement with the State of Michigan that complement, enhance, and intensify MA and PhD degree-seeking activities from accredited colleges and universities, as well as those who wish to attend our Seminars independently.

5. How are the Seminars operated?
At present, The New Centre functions as an exclusively online institution, save for occasional hybrid online/in-person simulcasts arranged by affiliate institutions and programs. Our Seminars are provided in the context of six different Certificate Programs, each of which requires the completion of twelve 1 credit modules offered each academic year.

6. At what academic level are the Seminars offered by The New Centre?
Each Seminar is graded as introductory, intermediate or advanced. The introductory Seminars do not require any special background, but all of our Seminars involve studying graduate-level texts and concepts.

7. How is The New Centre funded?
The New Centre is funded by a combination of partially tax-deductible monetary donations through our fiscal sponsor and tuition-driven revenue sources. We welcome your support: we accept both monetary donations and other forms of assistance.

8. How do I stay up-to-date with developments at The New Centre?
All enrollees are automatically added to the The New Centre’s newsletter mailing list, from which updates are sent monthly. For ongoing, realtime updates, please follow the The New Centre’s Facebook Page and Instagram.

9. How can I enroll in The New Centre Seminars?
At present, we are an open-enrollment institution: anyone may enroll in The New Centre’s Seminars. Those seeking credit must complete the Seminars and Certificate Program requirements. To enroll, navigate to the front page of the website, select Seminars and enroll in the Seminar you are interested in.

10. How much does a Seminar cost?
Seminars are available in synchronous (live) and asynchronous (archived) modes. The New Centre is primarily organized around synchronous, certificate-seeking students who join the Instructors, guests and other Members live via Zoom. This mode costs 225 USD per 1-credit, 435 per 2-credit seminar and 600 USD per 3-credit Seminars.

11. How can I enroll in The New Centre’s Certificate Programs?
You can apply by visiting the Apply section of the website. Each credit earned prior to being granted into one of our Certificate Programs will be retroactively accepted into the program you choose, or can also be accepted interchangeably into any other program.

12. What is a Membership?
General Membership is normally 150 USD per year, or 15 USD on a monthly basis. It provides 24/7 access to all Seminars in The New Centre’s archive, access to research resources and peer-to-peer reference assistance, access to posting your own announcements on the member mailing list, attendance at The New Centre Summer School at a reduced rate and participation and voting rights in The New Centre’s Annual General Meeting. Members are added to the mailing list through which you will receive our monthly email updates regarding our internal Seminars/events, as well as relevant external announcements from our affiliates and members (calls for papers or book proposals, conferences, workshops, etc.). In addition, you will be invited to join our Google+ Community, a social network of students, instructors, researchers, and affiliates involved with The New Centre.

13. What is a Friend of the New Centre Membership?
A Friends of The New Centre Membership is 750 USD for a LIFETIME membership. It provides everything available to Members, as well as one Seminar attendance at no cost, receipt of tax exemption in accordance with financial support and thanks in writing in all of The New Centre’s publications for one year. As do Members, Friends of The New Centre Members also receive library access to all Seminars in The New Centre’s Archive, access to research resources and peer-to-peer assistance, access to posting your own announcements on the Member mailing list, participation and voting rights in the New Centre’s Annual General Meeting. The Friends of The New Centre Members are added to the mailing list through which you will receive our monthly email updates regarding our internal Seminars/events, as well as relevant external announcements from our affiliates and Members (calls for papers or book proposals, conferences, workshops, etc.). In addition, you will be invited to join our Discord community, a social network of Students, Instructors, Researchers, and affiliates involved of The New Centre.

14. Can I audit a live Seminar?
Yes, however, auditors do not get a slot in the Zoom session and must only view instead. Zoom slots are reserved for students paying tuition, be them Certificate Students or external enrollees. To audit, you must be a member in good standing of The New Centre. If you seek to audit a live Seminar or a Seminar session after this time, please contact organizers@thenewcentre.org.

15. How can I access the video archives from Seminars previously offered by The New Centre?
Members can access them after the live events are complete.

16. What is the difference between Students and Members of The New Centre?
Members of The New Centre are those who have chosen to support our mission through their Membership support, which entitles them to certain resources and services. Students are those who have enrolled in our Seminars as paid participants.

17. How are students enrolled in Seminars evaluated?
The New Centre students enrolled in Seminars are not given academic grades or marks but evaluated based on three criteria of Pass, Incomplete, or Extraordinary. The last category is saved for students who throughout the Seminar have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to contribute to the research and practice involved in the course load.

18. What is The New Centre’s refund policy?
CERTIFICATE: After the full or the first installment of tuition and fees for a Certificate at The New Centre for Research & Practice are paid by an applicant, they may request it back. If that request is made in writing to registrar@thenewcentre.org within four days after agreeing to the terms by paying in full or Recurring payments, a refund will be made with respect to whatever portion is paid for at that time; however, 10% of the tuition agreed upon, or a minimum amount of 350 USD, will be kept as a non-refundable processing fee plus any transaction fees charged from the transfer operator. If a refund request is issued after the Student has already Enrolled in Seminars, we will also discount the full price of the Seminars in which that Student has Enrolled. The New Centre will return the tuition in installments within 60 days of receiving the written request, following the rules highlighted above. Monthly-based and other piecemeal forms of Certificate payments are considered actionable commitments on the part of the Certificate Student: if the student has fallen in behind in the monthly or any other form of piecemeal payment, yet has still been taking Seminars, the student remains wholly responsible for paying that portion of the certificate.


SEMINAR ENROLLMENT: Up until the second Session of a Seminar at The New Centre for Research & Practice takes place and the fee has been paid by the applicant, he or she may request their money back by emailing studentservices@thenewcentre.org. If that request is not made in writing or verbally within one day after agreeing to the terms by paying for the services or seminars and receiving an email address and password, in whole or in part, however, 15% of the total plus the PayPal fee will be kept for processing fees. All refunds will be returned within 30 days of the request if made within this time period. Suppose the refund is asked for after the second Session, meaning the person is not eligible for a refund. In that case, we will offer other Seminar options for the person and do our best to accommodate the student in finding an alternative seminar.


FRIENDS OF THE NEW CENTRE: After any portion or the full portion of a Friendship at The New Centre for Research & Practice are paid by the applicant, he or she may request them back in full upon request, if that request is made in writing or verbally within two days after agreeing to the terms by paying for the Friendship, but 15% of the total cost of the Friendship will be kept for processing fees. All refunds will be made within 30 days of the written request. If the written request is not made within two days, the remaining-to-be-paid portions will remain the responsibility of the payee to pay. Invoice and portion-based Friendships are not monthly memberships, for the purposes of this policy. Please see ‘Membership (Monthly)’ in the Student Handbook for that policy.


ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP (ONE OR TWO YEARS): After the full portion of Annual Membership at The New Centre for Research & Practice are paid by the applicant, he or she may request it back in full upon written request, if that request is made in writing or verbally within two days after agreeing to the terms by paying for the Annual Membership and receiving an email address and password, in whole or in part, but 20% will be kept for processing fees. All refunds will be returned within 30 days of request, if made within this time period, but if not made within this time period, the fee will remain the responsibility of the Member who accepted the terms by paying the initial portion. Annual memberships are not monthly memberships, for the purposes of this policy. Please see “Membership (Monthly)” in the Student Handbook for that policy.

MEMBERSHIP (MONTHLY): After any portion or the full portion of monthly membership at The New Centre for Research & Practice are paid by the applicant, he or she may request them back in full upon request, if that request is made in writing or verbally within one day after agreeing to the terms by paying for the monthly membership and before receiving an email address and password. All refunds will be returned within 30 days of the request if made within this time period, but if not made within this time period the payment will remain the responsibility of the monthly member who accepted the terms by paying the initial portion, or by agreeing to accept an emailed invoice. Monthly members who cancel their membership will not be charged for additional months.