Policies
RCM’s Commitment to a Safe and Respectful Community
- We are dedicated to creating a learning and working environment where every student, faculty member, staff member, and visitor feels safe, respected, and supported.
- Our schools uphold comprehensive, zero-tolerance policies that address harassment, abuse, discrimination, misconduct, and any behaviour that threatens the well-being of the members of our community.
- We provide clear and accessible reporting pathways, and all reported concerns are addressed appropriately and handled with care, while maintaining confidentiality as much as possible.
- Our policies and procedures are reviewed regularly to ensure they reflect legal principles and current best practices across leading music schools in Canada.
- Privacy Policy
Our Commitment
The Royal Conservatory ("The RCM") is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. We value you, and give you our assurance that we are committed to upholding the trust you've placed in us as one of Canada's oldest and largest cultural institutions. The RCM's privacy policy ("Policy") outlines the collection, use, retention, management and disclosure of your personal information with respect to our website: https://www.rcmusic.com, (the “Website”) and our services (the “Services”). Please note that "personal information" means any information about an identifiable individual, such as name, home address, home phone and fax numbers, email address, birth date, age, proof of age, personal health information and credit card information. This Policy follows the privacy principles set out in the federal government's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Please note that by visiting The RCM's web site and/or by providing personal information to The RCM, you accept the terms and practices described in this Policy, as amended from time to timeRCM Privacy Principles
Accountability
The RCM is responsible for personal information under its control.
Identifying Purposes
The RCM collects personal information primarily to register and communicate with students and candidates, fulfill ticket requests and process donations. This personal information may also be used for a variety of promotions, and to keep you informed of seasonal and special offers, other events and occasional fundraising opportunities in support of The RCM. The RCM may also occasionally contact you to conduct market research or surveys in an effort to continually improve our product and service offerings. However, it will be your choice as to whether to participate in any market research or survey of The RCM. The RCM may present offers in conjunction with other arts or cultural organizations if deemed to be of value to RCM patrons. Personal information may be used in the collection and/or enforcement of payment of tuition and/or other fees to The RCM. The RCM does not engage in list exchanges, or allow personal information collected by The RCM to be provided to any other organization.
The RCM also uses personal information for its risk management and related purposes. Personal information may be disclosed by The RCM for certain emergency and other purposes as permitted and/or required by applicable laws.
Additionally, The RCM is required by law to collect and use personal information, including personal health information, to facilitate The RCM’s compliance with public health requirements. The RCM discloses aggregated and deidentified statistics derived from this personal information to specific governmental authorities as required by applicable law.
At any time, you may ask The RCM to stop sending you email and/or other information by contacting us at [email protected], and any unsolicited email The RCM sends to you will tell you how to decline further unsolicited email.
Like many other websites, The Website automatically collects certain non-identifying information regarding web site users. The RCM uses common Internet tracking tools associated with standard Internet protocols and web-based systems. This information is typically stored in log files. Log files are transaction records maintained by web servers and used for recording and reporting information, such as: service provider IP addresses, browser versions, referring web sites, search terms used, average number of web pages requested, most visited web pages, average duration of visit, peak traffic times and total visitor traffic. This aggregated information does not identify you and thus does not constitute personal information. We do not report on individual user sessions. We use aggregated information gathered from your visit for web site and system administration purposes in order to help the management of our systems and to better serve our users.
The Website uses "cookies", a technology that installs information on a web site user's computer to permit the web site to recognize future visits using that computer. A cookie is generally used to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies do not give The RCM access to any data or software on your hard drive. You can choose to set your browser to detect and reject cookies, to accept cookies from all sites, or to prompt you whenever a site wants to send you a cookie. Check your browser's "Help&" files to learn how to do this. If you choose to refuse cookies, you may not be able to access some of the interactive features on our web site and moving around The RCM web site could be much slower.
The RCM also uses the Google AdWords remarketing service to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to our site. This means that we might advertise to previous visitors to our site who haven't completed a task, for example using the National Teacher Directory search form to find a teacher. This could be in the form of an advertisement on the Google search results page, or a site in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on someone's past visits to the Website. Any data collected will be used in accordance with our own privacy policy as well as that of Google.Consent
By giving personal information to The RCM, candidates, students, donors and customers consent to the use, retention and disclosure of personal information collected by The RCM in accordance with this Policy. The RCM will only use your personal information for the original purpose for which it was collected, and any new use of that information is subject to your consent. How we obtain your consent will depend on the circumstances and sensitivity of the information collected. For sensitive information, such as credit card information, your express consent to the use of such information will be requested. For certain uses of less-sensitive personal information, consent may be implied, or an "opt-out" method of consent may be used. If at any time you would like to be removed from our mailing lists, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected].
Limiting Collection
The collection of personal information by The RCM is limited to that which is necessary for the purposes identified by The RCM. Personal information is collected by fair and lawful means.
Limiting Uses, Disclosure & Retention of Personal Information.
The RCM will not use or disclose personal information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the consent of the individual or as required by law. Personal information will be retained only as long as required for the purposes identified in this Policy and/or at the point of collection.
Third Parties
The RCM engages service providers, data processors, and individual and other third parties (collectively, “Third Parties”) to help us operate, provide, and market the Website and our Services. These third parties have only limited access to your information, may use your information only to perform these tasks on our behalf, and are obligated to The RCM not to disclose or use your information for other purposes. Our engagement of service providers is often necessary for us to provide our Services to you, particularly where such companies play important roles like helping us keep the Website and Services operating and secure. In some other cases, these service providers aren’t strictly necessary for us to provide our Services, but help us make it better, like by helping us conduct research into how we could better serve our users. In these latter cases, we have a legitimate interest in working with service providers to make our Services better.
Accuracy
The RCM attempts to ensure that personal information is as accurate, complete and up-to-date as is necessary for the purposes for which it is being used. Please notify us of any change to your personal information by contacting us by e-mail at [email protected].
Safeguarding Information
Personal information is safeguarded by The RCM through technological and other security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
Purchasing On-line
The RCM has contracts with third-party, on-line transaction specialists, through which your credit card information is secured. Encryption technology is used to ensure the safe collection and transfer of sensitive credit card information. Your personal credit card number is submitted to these on-line transaction specialists and not to The RCM.
Cross-Border Transfers
Third Parties may store, process and transfer personal information on servers located outside of Canada in jurisdictions whose data protection laws may differ from those of Canada, which may include the United States of America. As a result, personal information may be subject to access requests from governments, courts, or law enforcement in those jurisdictions according to the laws in those jurisdictions. For example, information may be shared in response to valid demands or requests from government authorities, courts and law enforcement officials in those countries. Subject to applicable laws in such other jurisdictions, we will use reasonable efforts to ensure that appropriate protections are in place to require our Third Parties to maintain protections on personal information that are equivalent to those that apply in Canada.
If you have questions regarding our policies and practices with respect to our use of third-party service providers outside of Canada, including with respect to the collection, use, disclosure or storage of personal information by service providers outside of Canada for us or on our behalf, please contact us as set out below.Openness
We reserve the right to change or replace this Policy at our sole discretion at any time. Please check back from time to time to ensure that you are aware of any updates or changes in this Policy. We will indicate at the top of this page the date this Policy was last revised. Your continued access or use of this Website and Services after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the Policy as revised. If we change the Policy in a material way, we will provide appropriate notice to you.
Links to Other Sites
The RCM web site may contain links to other web sites. The RCM is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these other web sites and they are not subject to this Policy. The RCM has no responsibility or liability for your use of any such web site.
Individual Access
Upon request, The RCM will provide you with information on the existence, use and disclosure of your personal information. You may verify the accuracy and completeness of your information, and have it amended as appropriate by contacting us at [email protected].
Contact & Compliance
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about privacy at The RCM or in connection with this Policy, or if you would like to withdraw your consent to the use of your personal information, please contact The RCM Chief Privacy Officer at [email protected]. The RCM hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time). Notwithstanding any withdrawal of consent, The RCM will still be permitted to collect, retain, use and disclose personal information in order to collect payments of amounts owing to The RCM and for its risk management and related purposes.
- Indemnification
You agree to release, save harmless and indemnify The Royal Conservatory of Music Indemnitees from and for all Losses incurred or suffered from or related to your attendance at The Royal Conservatory of Music premises or taking part in any of its programs even if the same arises from the negligence of one or more of The Royal Conservatory of Music Indemnities. You acknowledge that the foregoing is reasonable in view of The Royal Conservatory of Music being a not-for-profit charity.
For the purposes of this provision:
(i) “you” includes you and your dependents and their estates and personal representatives and “your” has a similar meaning;
(ii) “The Royal Conservatory of Music Indemnitees” include The Royal Conservatory of Music, any organization that it owns or controls and their respective officers, employees, directors and agents and their heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; and
(iii) “Losses” include injury, death, liability, damages including to property, cost, expense, charge, judgment, award or settlement arising from or in connection with any claim, suit, arbitration, investigation, directive, prosecution or proceeding. - The Glenn Gould School Policies
- The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy Policies
- Oscar Peterson School of Music Policies
- Terms and Conditions for RCM Online Courses and Subscriptions
Terms and Conditions, Effective October 27, 2022
The mission of The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is to develop human potential through leadership in music and arts education. The terms and conditions set out below are designed to support the RCM’s overarching mission.
All resources, benefits, and fees of the RCM Online Course including the terms and conditions below, are subject to amendment without notice.
1. General Enrollment- To purchase an online course, visit http://www.rcmusic.com/course-catalogue, and follow the onscreen instructions.
- You will receive access to the course within 24 hours, subject to the RCM’s terms and conditions, once payment has been received. Please reach out to Candidate Services if you are unable to access your course after this 24-hour period.
- Any information provided to the RCM for the purpose of registration for this product will be retained by the RCM.
- As the student accessing this course, you agree to provide true and accurate information. When you register, you must provide your real name and location and any other such details as requested for completing your online account.
- Purchase of an online course is for personal use only. The RCM reserves the right to revoke your access if it is determined that your access has been shared.
2. Fees
- Fees are payable to The Royal Conservatory. All monetary transactions are processed by the RCM and must be completed online.
3. Hardware and Software Requirements
To complete the course and exam, you must have access to the hardware and software requirements outlined below:- Hardware requirements, PC users:
- Windows Vista SP2 or higher
- Intel Pentium 4 or higher
- 1 GB RAM
- 500 MB hard drive space recommended
- Sound card
- Speakers or headphones for your computer
- Hardware requirements, Mac users:
- OS x 10.5 or higher
- Intel Mac
- 1 GB RAM
- 500 MB hard drive space recommended
- Speakers or headphones for your computer
- Software Requirements
- The latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari is recommended for the most successful course experience
- Enable cookies (browser settings)
- A DSL, cable, or satellite internet connection is highly recommended (this course requires you to stream audio and video examples that can be very slow on a dial-up connection)
4. Duration
- Your access to the online courses will be available for twelve (12) months from the date of purchase.
- Your access to the online stand-alone examinations will be 120 days from the date of purchase.
5. Course Extension
- Access to the online course can be extended without charge for a limited period of time for the following reasons:
- An extension can be granted without charge for technical issues related to the RCM learning platform. The duration will depend on the circumstances.
- Thirty (30) days can be granted without charge for medical/personal reasons. Students wishing to be granted an extension for medical/personal reasons will initiate the process by consulting with a Candidate Services Representative.
- Access to the online course can be extended by ninety (90) days for a fee. This extension can be purchased in My RCM.
6. Original Content
- All responses provided by students for assignments, unit tests, and/or examinations must be original.
- Students must not use unauthorized tools, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) software like Chat GPT to assist in completing their assignments, unit tests, and/or examinations.
- All student answers are subject to verification of original content. Any assignment, unit test, and/or examination in which plagiarism and/or the use of AI has been detected will automatically receive zero marks.
7. Online Examination Results
- All unit tests and/or examination results are final.
- The final examination may be written at any time within one (1) year of purchase.
- Results will be available within six (6) to eight (8) weeks of completing and submitting the exam. Results may be accessed online by logging into rcmusic.com.
- A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the exam. For information about practical examinations and corequisites, please see “Theory Requirements for Practical Certificates and Diplomas” on page 11 of the Theory Syllabus, 2016 Edition, which is available online for free download.
- Students wishing to be eligible for gold medals and awards must complete their exam by June 30th of the academic year in which they wish to be considered.
- Examinations are not returned to students. A breakdown showing marks earned for each section is provided.
8. Opting out of a Course
- Students wishing to opt out of a course will be charged fees. The student will initiate the opt-out process by consulting with a Candidate Services Representative on the potential impact of opting out. The student will assume the fees required to process the opt-out request.
- A full refund will be provided for courses dropped prior to the start date (login and access will confirm whether the course was started).
- Refund processing timelines are approximately two weeks.
9. Refund
- Purchases of and/or subscriptions to RCM online courses are non-transferable. Purchases of RCM online courses can be refunded if the course has not been started/accessed.
- Refunds will not be provided after 10 days from the purchase date of the course or the completion of the first activity, whichever comes first. Administration fees may apply.
10. Copyright and Proprietary Property
- All copyrights relating to any course materials provided or made available by us or any other party remain the sole property of the holder of the copyright. Therefore, no part of any course materials may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or translated into any language, without our prior written consent.
11. Subscriptions (RCM Online Ear Training)
- Subscription products require a current, valid, and accepted method of payment (“Payment Method”). You can update your Payment Method by going to the "Account" page. If a payment is not successfully settled, due to expiration, insufficient funds, or otherwise, your access to the service will be suspended until we have successfully charged a valid Payment Method.
- In the case of an overdue or declined payment, failure to remit outstanding balances and applicable fees may result in suspension or cancellation of access to the product, resources, and/or benefits.
- Access to the subscription product will begin within 24 hours from the time you purchase the product.
- Payments are non-refundable, and we do not provide refunds or credits for any partial-month membership periods or unused content.
- The subscription fee will be charged on a monthly basis to your Payment Method on the calendar day corresponding most closely to the first payment. The time between the first and second payment will always be a minimum of 30 days. You authorize The RCM to charge your next month's subscription fee to your Payment Method unless you cancel your subscription before your monthly billing date.
- You can cancel your subscription at any time, and you will continue to have access to the service through the end of your monthly billing period. To cancel, sign in to My RCM and click on My Subscriptions. If you cancel your membership, your access will automatically terminate at the end of your current billing period.
12. Trademark
- The Royal Conservatory of Music is a registered trademark, and may not be used without the prior specific and written permission of the RCM.
13. Indemnification
- You agree to release, save harmless, and indemnify RCM Indemnitees from and for all losses incurred, or suffered from, or related to taking part in any RCM programs, even if the same arises from the negligence of one or more of RCM Indemnitees. You acknowledge that the foregoing is reasonable in view of the RCM being a not-for-profit charity.
- For the purposes of this provision: (i) “you” includes you; your dependents; and the estates and personal representatives of the foregoing and “your” has a similar meaning; (ii) “RCM Indemnitees” include The Royal Conservatory; any organization that it owns or controls; and the respective officers, employees, directors and agents of the foregoing and their heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; and (iii) “losses” include injury, death, liability, damages including property, cost, expense, charge, judgment, award, or settlement arising from or in connection with any claim, suit, arbitration, investigation, directive, prosecution, or proceeding.
14. Privacy Policy
- The RCM is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. Please consult the full Privacy Policy for more information.
- Terms and Conditions for RCM Online Teacher Courses
Terms and Conditions, Effective February 2024
At The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), we believe in the importance of music and the arts and their ability to develop human potential. We are committed to the success of all music teachers by providing a variety of resources, programming, and benefits through the RCM Online Teacher Courses. The terms and conditions set out below are designed to help us achieve those ends as part of The RCM’s overarching mission.
All RCM Online Teacher Course programming, resources, benefits, and fees are subject to amendment without notice.
The terms and conditions below are subject to amendment without notice.
1. General Application and EnrollmentApplications for admission to the RCM Online Teacher Courses can be completed online at https://rcmusic.com/onlineteachercourses. If you experience any difficulties applying online, please email [email protected].
Teachers will receive access to the RCM Online Teacher Courses, subject to their terms and conditions, once the course enrollment has been processed and payment in full, if applicable, has been received.
Teachers are enrolled in the RCM Online Teacher Courses on a first-come, first-served basis. If the minimum cohort size is not met for any session, Teachers will be given their choice of a future session start date.
Teachers must meet all prerequisites for enrollment in an RCM Online Teacher Course and must have reached the minimum age no later than the first day of the course session. No exceptions will be made to the transfer and/ or withdrawal policies due to failure to comply with posted prerequisites.
Piano teachers who wish to apply for exemption from one or more course prerequisites must apply in writing, with detailed justification, by filling out this form: https://www.rcmusic.com/web-forms/piano-teacher-course-exemption-request-form. Please allow up to ten (10) business days for a reply. All exemption decisions are final and not subject to further appeal.
2. Communication
Email is the first line of communication with Teachers. It is the responsibility of Teachers to check their email for program updates and to ensure that their email account remains active.
Teachers are responsible for making timely updates to their RCM Teacher Account and online profile to ensure contact information, including email address, is correct.
3. Fees
Fees are payable to The RCM. All monetary transactions are processed by The RCM and must be made by credit card online.
Tuition fees for RCM Online Teacher Courses may be paid, in full or by payment plan, at time of enrollment.
If a payment is declined, the Teacher will receive a notification by email and is expected to remit payment within ten (10) business days of notification.
In the case of an overdue or declined payment, failure to remit applicable fees and outstanding balances may result in revocation of course access and withdrawal from the RCM Online Teacher Course.
4. Transfer
Only in exceptional circumstances may Teachers participating in the RCM Online Teacher Courses transfer to a different session. Special requests must be submitted in writing to Teacher Services for consideration at [email protected]. Transfers are not guaranteed and are at the sole discretion of The RCM. A $50 transfer fee will apply for approved teacher-initiated transfers. The transfer fee must be paid before the transfer is completed.
5. Cancellations
The RCM reserves the right to cancel an RCM Online Teacher Course session due to insufficient enrollment. If this occurs, the RCM will notify Teachers as soon as possible prior to the start of the session and give Teachers their choice of a future session start date within the current academic year. If this is not possible, a refund to the original method of payment will be issued.
6. Withdrawal and RefundOnly in exceptional circumstances may Teachers request withdrawal or refund. Requests must be made in writing to [email protected].
Teachers who withdraw prior to the applicable course session enrollment deadline will receive a full refund of tuition fees paid.
Teachers who withdraw after the applicable course session enrollment deadline and before the end of the second week of the course session (10 business days) will receive a full refund of tuition fees paid.
After the second week of the course (10 business days), no refunds will be issued.
7. Coursework
In order to successfully complete an RCM Online Teacher Course, Teachers must submit all assignments, discussion forums and knowledge checks. A mark of seventy percent (70%) or higher is considered a passing grade.
Incomplete assignments will be returned to the Teachers for resubmission within seven (7) days (up to a maximum of three times in the course). Teachers have up to 7 days after resubmission is granted to resubmit.
Late assignments will be accepted up until four (4) days after the original due date, with a penalty of one (1) mark deducted for each day of lateness up to four (4) marks. After four (4) days, late assignments will not be accepted and will be assigned a grade of zero percent (0%).
All posts (initial and peer responses) for each discussion must be posted by the specified due date: Tuesday, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). Given the dynamic nature of the discussion forum, there is no opportunity for late discussion contributions.
Late discussion forum posts will not be graded.
Assignment and discussion forum grade appeals must be submitted no later than seven (7) days from the date the grade was assigned. The revised grade may be higher or lower than the original grade and will be recorded as the final grade for the discussion forum or assignment.
The RCM depends upon adherence of all students to high standards of academic behavior. Acts constituting a violation of academic integrity include any form of cheating, plagiarism, misbehavior, and harassment, as well as the failure to take constructive action in the event of committing or observing a violation or apparent violation. Students in violation of these policies may be placed on disciplinary probation at any time. Grounds for dismissal include any form of violation of the policies outlined here. The RCM reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of any participant whose continued enrollment is considered detrimental to the interests of The RCM.
In certain weeks, Teachers will be required to submit an assignment and/or discussion forum postings. The due date and detailed grading rubric for each graded assignment and graded discussion forum is provided on the assignment page and the discussion page. Teachers can access course results in their online Teacher Account following the conclusion of the course. The official mark reflects the facilitator’s evaluation of the Teacher’s work during the course. Requests to review official marks will be considered only in the event of a serious procedural irregularity.
8. Indemnification
You agree to release, save harmless, and indemnify RCM Indemnitees from and for all losses incurred, or suffered from, or related to taking part in any RCM programs, even if the same arises from the negligence of one or more of RCM Indemnitees. You acknowledge that the foregoing is reasonable in view of the RCM being a not-for-profit charity.
For the purposes of this provision: (i) “you” includes you; your dependents; and the estates and personal representatives of the foregoing and “your” has a similar meaning; (ii) “RCM Indemnitees” include The Royal Conservatory; any organization that it owns or controls; and the respective officers, employees, directors and agents of the foregoing and their heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; and (iii) “losses” include injury, death, liability, damages including to property, cost, expense, charge, judgment, award or settlement arising from or in connection with any claim, suit, arbitration, investigation, directive, prosecution, or proceeding.
9. Privacy Policy
The RCM is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. Please consult the full Privacy Policy, online at
rcmusic.com/privacy-policy for more information.
Email Address
T[email protected] - Terms and Conditions for Smart Start
Smart Start Terms and Conditions
At The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), we believe in the importance of music and the arts and their ability to develop human potential. We are committed to the success of all music teachers by providing a variety of resources, programming, and benefits through the online RCM Smart Start Teacher Training Course. The terms and conditions set out below are designed to help us achieve those ends as part of The RCM’s overarching mission.
All Smart Start Teacher Course programming, resources, benefits, and fees are subject to amendment without notice. The terms and conditions below are subject to amendment without notice.
.
1.0 GENERAL APPLICATION and ENROLLMENT- 1.1 Applications for admission to the Smart Start Teacher Training Course can be completed online through a MyRCM account. If you experience any difficulties applying online, please email Smart Start Services at [email protected].
- 1.2 Teachers will receive access to Smart Start Teacher Training Courses, subject to their terms and conditions, once the course enrollment has been processed, the enrollment cohort access date arrives, and payment in full, if applicable, has been received.
- 1.3 Teachers are enrolled in Smart Start Teacher Training Courses on a first-come, first-served basis. Cohorts generally have a minimum of six (6) and a maximum of 20 (twenty) participants. If the minimum cohort size is not met for any session, Teachers will be given their choice of a future session start date.
- 1.4 Teachers must have reached the minimum age no later than the first day of the course live session. No exceptions will be made to the transfer and/or withdrawal policies due to failure to comply with posted prerequisites.
2.0 COMMUNICATION- 2.1 Email is the first line of communication with Teachers. It is the responsibility of Teachers to check their email for program updates and to ensure that their email account remains active.
- 2.2 Teachers are responsible for making timely updates to their RCM Teacher Account and online profile to ensure contact information, including email address, is correct.
3.0 FEES- 3.1 Fees are payable to The RCM. All monetary transactions are processed by The RCM and must be made by credit card online.
- 3.3 If a payment is declined, Teacher will receive a notification by email and is expected to remit payment within ten (10) business days of notification.
- 3.4 In the case of an overdue or declined payment, failure to remit applicable fees and outstanding balances may result in revocation of course access and withdrawal from the Smart Start Teacher Training Course.
4.0 TRANSFER
Teachers may request a transfer to another cohort only in exceptional circumstances. To request a transfer, teachers must contact the Smart Start Team, at [email protected].
Transfers are not guaranteed and are at the sole discretion of the Smart Start Director.
5.0 CANCELLATIONS
Cohorts for Smart Start Teacher Training Courses generally have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 participants. The RCM reserves the right to cancel a Smart Start Teacher Training Course session due to insufficient enrollment. If this occurs, we will notify Teachers as soon as possible prior to the start of the session and give Teachers their choice of a future session start date within current academic year. If this is not possible, a refund to the original method of payment will be issued.- 5.5 Smart Start Teacher Companion App
Delete Your RCM Smart Start Teacher Companion App Account
Users of the RCM Smart Start Teacher Companion App may request deletion of their account and associated personal data at any time.
To request account deletion:
Email: [email protected]
Include the email address associated with your app account.Upon verification, your RCM Smart Start Teacher Companion account and associated personal data will be permanently deleted within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
If you cannot access the app, you may still request deletion using the email above.
6.0 WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND- 6.1 Only in exceptional circumstances may Teachers request withdrawal or refund. Requests must be made in writing to Smart Start at [email protected].
- 6.2 Teachers who request to withdraw from the training before the date of the first live session may receive a full refund.
- 6.3 Teachers who request to withdraw after the date of the first live session may withdraw but are not eligible for a refund.
7.0 COURSEWORK- 7.1 To successfully complete Smart Start Training, Teachers must submit all projects, discussion forums, and quizzes by the specified due date or as directed by the instructor.
- 7.2 A mark of seventy percent (70%) or higher is considered a passing grade.
- 7.3 All weekly projects are due by midnight on Saturday for weekday live sessions, or midnight on Monday for Saturday live sessions.
- 7.4 Incomplete projects will be returned to teachers for resubmission within three (3) days
- 7.5 Late assignments will be accepted up to three (3) days after the original due date.
- 7.6 After three (3) days, late assignments will not be accepted and will be assigned a grade of zero percent (0%).
- 7.7 Project re-submissions are accepted at the instructor's discretion and must be submitted within three (3) days of receiving a grade.
- 7.8 Assignment Makeup information: Students must work with their instructor to find a suitable makeup assignment.
8.0 INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to release, save harmless, and indemnify RCM Indemnitees from and for all losses incurred, or suffered from, or related to taking part in any RCM programs, even if the same arises from the negligence of one or more of RCM Indemnitees. You acknowledge that the foregoing is reasonable in view of the RCM being a not-for-profit charity.
For the purposes of this provision: (i) “you” includes you; your dependents; and the estates and personal representatives of the foregoing and “your” has a similar meaning; (ii) “RCM Indemnitees” include The Royal Conservatory; any organization that it owns or controls; and the respective officers, employees, directors and agents of the foregoing and their heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns; and (iii) “losses” include injury, death, liability, damages including to property, cost, expense, charge, judgment, award or settlement arising from or in connection with any claim, suit, arbitration, investigation, directive, prosecution, or proceeding.
9.0 PRIVACY POLICY
The RCM is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. Please consult the full Privacy Policy, online at rcmusic.com/privacy-policy for more information.
EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] - Teacher-Student Confidentiality Agreement
All teachers using the RCM Platform agree to keep confidential all information related to students that is collected, used or disclosed through the RCM Platform. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Personal identifiers (e.g., names, contact details, dates of birth);
- Academic records (e.g., grades, assignments or evaluations);
- Health and behavioural information about a student;
- Any other sensitive or private data shared by a student in the course of using the RCM Platform.
All teachers using the RCM Platform shall only use student information obtained through the RCM Platform, or through providing teaching services to RCM students through the RCM Platform, for educational purposes only. Teachers are expressly prohibited for using student information for any other purpose, including but not limited to personal, commercial or non-educational purposes.
Teachers shall not disclose any student information to a third party unless required to by law or with the express written consent of the student or parent and/or guardian. This may include all sharing of student details in both educational and non-educational contexts, such as on social media or in another public forum.
All teachers using the RCM Platform must ensure that any information accessed through the RCM Platform is kept confidential, including but not limited to their login credentials for the RCM Platform.
If a teacher using the RCM Platform becomes aware of any unauthorized access or breach of student information, they must immediately report such unauthorized access or breach to RCM. This includes, but is not limited to, suspected hacking, theft of data or improper handling of student information.
All teachers using the RCM Platform must comply with applicable law and the RCM Privacy Policy, available at Privacy Policy | The Royal Conservatory of Music . Student information must not be stored by teachers longer than necessary for educational purposes. When student information is no longer needed by a teacher, teachers are required to delete or securely dispose of all student information in accordance with applicable law.
All teachers using the RCM Platform further agree to comply with all applicable privacy laws and regulations when using the RCM Platform. Any breach of these Terms may result in disciplinary action by RCM, including but not limited to suspension or termination of access to the RCM Platform and/or legal action in accordance with applicable privacy law.
You agree, at your own expense, to indemnify, defend and hold RCM, its licensors and/or suppliers, and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents harmless against any claim, suit, demand, action or other proceeding brought or threatened by a third party as a result of your breach of these Terms.
Any legal action concerning these Terms shall be interpreted under the laws of the Province of Ontario and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the province and federal courts located in Ontario, Canada. - Performing Arts Policies
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- RCM Faculty Code of Conduct
Faculty Code of Conduct for The Royal Conservatory of Music
The Faculty Code of Conduct applies to all faculty at The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), which includes, but is not limited to, Instructors and Administrators to The Glenn Gould School (GGS), The Taylor Academy, and The Oscar Peterson School of Music (OPS). This Code of Conduct is designed to ensure a professional, respectful, and safe environment that upholds the highest standards of teaching, learning, and artistic excellence.
This Code of Conduct establishes clear expectations and responsibilities for faculty members, particularly in the context of interactions with students, parents, guardians, and members of the RCM community (both adult and minors), to promote safety, integrity, and ethical practices.1. General Professionalism
Faculty members shall:- Conduct themselves with integrity, fairness, and respect toward all students, staff, colleagues, and the community.
- Demonstrate professionalism in behaviour, attire, and communication within the RCM and in public settings where they represent the institution.
- Avoid engaging in any activity or behaviour that could damage the RCM's or its members' reputation.
2. Respectful and Inclusive Teaching Environment
Faculty members shall:- Create a supportive and inclusive classroom or studio environment that fosters mutual respect and artistic growth.
- Interact in an environment that is free from favouritism, discrimination, differential treatment or exclusion based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed (religion), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, appearance, ability, marital status, family status, economic status, political beliefs, and/or disability.
- Respect all students' needs and learning styles including accommodations as deemed necessary by Administration at the RCM to support their development.
3. Boundaries and Physical Contact
Faculty members shall:- Avoid personal relationships, intimate relationships, or friendships with students outside the academic setting.
- Disclose any such relationships to Administration immediately to determine the next steps.
- Maintain clear professional boundaries in interactions with students and be aware of personal space boundaries.
- Avoid one-on-one meetings with students, particularly minors, in private, unmonitored spaces outside of assigned teaching.
- Contact Administration for assistance in setting up necessary meetings.
- Ensure that for meetings with minor students outside of assigned teaching, a parent, guardian or school administrator is present.
- Physical contact should be limited strictly to what is necessary for instructional purposes (e.g., correcting hand or arm posture). In such cases, the purpose of the contact must be explained in advance, and consent must be obtained before proceeding.
- Physical contact for caregiving, safety, and support purposes within the Smart Start Program is acceptable, provided it occurs in open and visible areas, and it is deemed appropriate and necessary.
- Ensure that physical contact occurs only when necessary for a clear pedagogical purpose.
- Remain sensitive to students’ comfort and offer alternative demonstration methods if needed.
4. Teaching Commitments
- Faculty members are required to fulfill their teaching responsibilities in person and on-site at the RCM or at an RCM-arranged off-site location, except when classes or studio teaching are temporarily required by the employer to be held online.
5. Use of RCM Space
Faculty members shall:- Ensure proper and responsible use of all RCM facilities (including use of all RCM music property, i.e. instruments) to only be used for RCM-approved teaching activities related to their employment.
- Ensure that all teaching activities are conducted within RCM spaces align with the institution's curriculum and policies.
6. Communication and Privacy
Faculty members shall:- Contact adult students or parents/guardians of students who are minors only through RCM-approved communication channels (e.g., RCM email, and official messaging platforms such as Microsoft Teams) and/or via their designated administrative contact.
- Avoid sharing personal contact information or engaging in online or social media interactions with students. This includes engaging in all online interactions (i.e. social media posts).
- Protect students’ privacy by responsibly managing personal and academic information in compliance with privacy laws.
7. Harassment and Misconduct
Faculty members shall:- Must not engage in any physical, verbal or written form of harassment, bullying, discrimination or misconduct, including emotional abuse.
- Avoid inappropriate actions or behaviours, including, but not limited to, making inappropriate or insensitive jokes, comments or gestures that could create an unwelcoming or toxic environment.
- Follow the RCM’s zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination, as set out in the RCM’s Human Rights, Inclusion and Equity Policy.
8. Safeguarding and Mandatory Reporting
Faculty members shall:- Promptly report concerns about abuse, harassment, discrimination, neglect, or inappropriate behaviour to the appropriate dean(s) or directors of administration.
- Follow the RCM’s safeguarding policies and complete required training sessions on safeguarding and professional ethics.
- Avoid behaviour that could be perceived as excessive attention, including gift-giving or personal communication with students outside of academic and professional settings.
9. Artistic Freedom and Ethical Responsibilities
Faculty members shall:- Uphold academic and artistic freedom while remaining sensitive to the diverse expressions, values and beliefs of the student body and other faculty members without creating fear of reprisal.
- Provide constructive, fair, and unbiased evaluations of student work.
- Avoid using their position to exploit students for personal, professional, or financial gain.
10. Conflict of Interest
Faculty members shall:- Disclose any personal, familial, or financial relationships with students or other RCM stakeholders that could lead to conflicts of interest or perceptions of bias.
- Avoid engaging in private lessons, performances, or other activities with students or other RCM stakeholders that conflict with their obligations to the RCM.
11. Disciplinary Actions
Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in, but are not explicitly limited to:- Verbal or written warnings.
- Employment-related restrictions or changes.
- Suspension or termination of employment.
- Reporting to legal authorities for any criminal conduct.
12. Resolution of Concerns and Disputes
Faculty members shall:- Direct any concerns, disputes, or grievances to the appropriate dean(s) or directors for formal resolution.
- Maintain professionalism and confidentiality by refraining from discussion of such matters with other faculty members and/or members of the RCM community, including students.
- Follow institutional protocols for conflict resolution to ensure fairness and transparency.
- RCM Human Rights, Inclusion and Equity Policy