Computer Training FAQ's for Orange Coast Database Associates

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Back Home Catalog Resources Contact Us Cancellations | Classroom Computers | Class Hours | Course Prices | Credit Cards | Custom Content | Customer Databases | Directions | Discounts | Enrollment | Equipment | Facilities | Group Training | Internet Discount | Minimum Enrollment | Money-back Guarantee | On-going Support | Out-of-State Training | Payment | Private Training | Rates and Prices | Refunds | Registration Fee | Retakes | Scheduling | Scheduled Classes | Shipping Fees | Software | Start Times | Training Certificates | Travel Cancellations How much lead time will we get if you have to cancel a class? We have a strict no cancellations policy. We do not cancel a class so long as there is one paid-up student enrolled. Custom Content You say your group and private classes can be tailored to our needs. What level of customization is included in the base tuition? The base tuition applies to a standard class using standard materials. However, our instructors are very experienced and flexible. In many cases they can adjust the in-class presentations and exercises to your needs. Often we are able to conduct our classes using your files and/or databases. In addition, we can develop custom content such as PowerPoint slides, scripts, workbooks, etc. in advance. Please contact us for a free estimate. We can even develop the course content based on your database. (see below) Databases Can a custom class use its own database or files instead of ones you supply? Yes, just let us know and we will be happy to provide a free quote if required. In many cases there would be no extra charge. We may need an extract of your database or files in advance of the class to help us prepare your class. But often we can adjust our class presentations and exercises in class. Directions Where are your San Juan Capistrano classes held? In San Juan Capistrano close to Interstate 5. See directions for details. Discounts I want to set up a class for several students. Is there a discount for this? Yes. We do provide substantial discounts for multiple students. This applies whether you want an onsite class at your facility or ours. See Price List for current levels. This is intended to apply to a single order. For example, two orders paid a week apart are treated separately. What is the Internet discount? You receive this if you request information or order a class online. It applies to your first class. For a passport it is calculated on the first class of the four, not the entire passport. Do I get a discount if I buy more than one class? Yes, if you buy a Training Passport. This provides a very substantial discount. See Price List for current levels. Enrollment How do you enroll for a class? We do not have a separate enrollment process. Simply place your order on-line. We will send you an invoice and confirm the dates when paid. What is the deadline for enrolling in a scheduled class? Right up through the Thursday of the week preceding the class. As a single individual can I sign up for an existing group class? No. Due to the nature of the group training environment we cannot allow individuals to "join" custom classes for other organizations. We recommend you sign up for private training or take a regularly scheduled class. What is the minimum enrollment? Due to the semi-private nature of our training, scheduled classes will run so long as there is one student enrolled. Custom group classes require a minimum of two students, three if taught outside the local Orange County area. Out of state clients should probably plan on 5 or 6 at the least. Equipment What equipment should we plan on for an on-site class? One computer per student and one connection for the instructor's laptop or a customer supplied desktop computer. Ideally, all on a LAN with a share drive or folder. A Datashow or equivalent screen projector. (Although we can supply this if need be for a modest fee.) A suitable training room. (or see Facilities below.) Can you supply us with computers or projectors for an on-site class? Yes, although there will be a modest rental charge. We can provide the projector as well as a few laptop computers with some software. Can you supply the software for an on-site class? No. The customer needs to have the proper software installed and configured on the student computers prior to the class (but see above). The instructor will typically bring a laptop with the software they need. Does each student enrolled in a scheduled class have a dedicated computer? Yes, each student will have an individual computer for their exclusive use during the class. Facilities If we prefer, can we ask you to supply the classroom facilities for an "on-site"? The goal with on-site training is to provide convenient, custom training to small groups at your facility. However, if you prefer to train away from your facility we have two options... 1) Reserve our San Juan Capistrano training room. We do not currently charge for this option. 2) Have us arrange a University of Phoenix classroom. These large, comfortable rooms are available at reasonable rates in many major locations throughout Southern California ranging from Palmdale through San Diego. Diamond Bar Palmdale Costa Mesa Pasadena Chula Vista Kearney Mesa Gardena Laguna Hills San Diego San Marcos La Mirada San Bernardino Ontario Oxnard Woodland Hills Culver City Murrieta / Temecula Students supply their own laptop computer. On-going Support Once the class is over can we contact you with questions? Yes. We are happy to answer your questions for a full two months following one of our classes. In addition we encourage our students to take advantage of our consulting and programming services to help with their projects. Training Modalities What is the difference between group and private training? Private training is set up for one person and hourly billing is available for shorter tutoring type sessions. Students in group classes always pay a tuition fee. Both types are scheduled to suit the client's convenience and are customizable. Group classes are typically hosted at the client's location, private classes in San Juan Capistrano. But if desired, we will host the group at our facility or drive to your location for a private class. Do you have "pre-arranged" groups? No, but we do offer many of our courses on a regular schedule in San Juan Capistrano. Microsoft Access classes, for example, run every week. Rates What are the rates for work billed hourly? We do both hourly work and fixed bid. For current rates please see Programming and Consulting rates. Are the course prices per day or per class? Per student per class. For example a two day course advertised at $200 will cost $200 per student, not $400. Our advertised prices are often the lowest available in our area. Refunds What if we have to cancel a class? Do we get the full amount refunded? Tuition is fully refundable with two weeks notice prior to the class start, 50% refundable with 24 hours notice. Customization and other expenses incurred are non-refundable. Do you provide a refund if we can't use all 4 days of our passport? It depends. We figure passport refunds as the difference between the passport cost and the retail cost of the classes taken to date. For example: you took a 1 day VBA class listed for $295. The refund for the three remaining days is $495 - $295 = $200. Another example: you took two MS Access classes listed at $195 each. The refund for the remaining two days is $495 - $390 = $105. If you took three MS Access classes as above there would be no refund for the 4th day. Will you refund our money if we aren't satisfied? For scheduled classes in San Juan Capistrano, yes. If you are not completely satisfied with the class we will refund the fees paid (less materials cost). Registration What is the registration fee? This is a modest fee for private 1-on-1 classes. It is not charged for groups or scheduled classes. Retakes Can we retake a class? Yes, you may retake a scheduled class within six months following the class date. Retakes of group classes and private training require repayment. Scheduling When do classes start? Unless otherwise arranged, class hours are from 9:00AM to 4:00PM for full day classes and 9:00AM to 12:00PM for half day classes. Evening classes are from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. Can we schedule a class on Saturday? Yes. This is fine, but is subject to instructor availability. What about evenings? For group and private classes our modular approach makes this a very feasible concept. However, there may be limitations imposed by instructor availability. Can we take just one or two of the sessions for a given class? Certainly. For example your group may already have some familiarity with how to create tables, work with the datasheet and do simple queries. But you would like some formal training on Forms and Reports (our session 2), or maybe Macros. Give us a call. Our modular approach is a perfect fit for this. We will tailor the class to your needs. Is consulting offered outside normal weekday work hours? Subject to availability, yes. Billed at time and 1/2. Shipping Fee Is there a charge for shipping the course manuals to an onsite class location? Not normally. However, if we have to rush delivery of books from our suppliers in order to accommodate a class on short notice the client will pay the additional charge. Travel What are the travel charges? An hourly rate for instructor travel time plus mileage when outside the local Orange County Area. These are included in the original invoice at estimated levels per Mapquest. See price list for current rates. For classes outside the Southern California area meals, lodging and any applicable airfare and auto rental at cost would apply. Travel time is billed at $300 per travel day. What is the "local Orange County area"? Locations within 40 miles of Laguna Niguel in south Orange County. Roughly all of Orange County, north to Long Beach and the Los Angeles County line, east to Riverside and south to Oceanside and Vista in San Diego County. Do you provide training out-of-state? Yes. See above for costs. You will probably want to have a minimum of 5 or 6 students. Payment When is payment for a class due? You will be invoiced prior to the scheduling of the class. Invoices are due on receipt. Class dates and enrollment will be confirmed upon payment. You may pay by check or credit card. Meals, auto rental and lodging charges, if any, will be billed at completion. Airfare, if applicable, will be billed as incurred. Travel time will be billed in advance with the original invoice. What about payments for fixed bid work? 50% upon approval of the Statement of Work. 50% upon delivery and acceptance. Can you bill students in a group class individually? Yes, we can bill separately if need be. Do you accept credit cards? Yes, we accept both Visa and MasterCard. We also accept American Express cards. Training Certificates Do you award training certificates? Yes, at the conclusion of each class each student will receive an individual training certificate.