Registering for a Class

Members can register for classes during office business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM) over the phone, or in person, up to 2 business days prior to the start of the course or workshop. At that time, your file will be accessed to verify that you qualify for the specific class and that any volunteer labs have been completed.

Our basic classes are free with membership, however most of the advanced classes do require a small fee. For classes requiring a fee, registration must be done in person during regular business hours. Payment must be made in full at the time of registration. All fees are non-refundable. Checks (payable to CMPAC) and cash are accepted. No credit cards can be accepted at this time.

It is strongly recommended that you register for a class as early as possible, as many of our popular classes fill up well before the start dates. No registrations will be taken less than 2 business days before a class, and walk-in registrations are not permitted. If no one has registered for a class 2 business days before it starts it will be cancelled.

Missing a Class

Attendance at all classes is required to pass the class, however we understand that things do come up. If you will need to miss a course session, contact the office in advance about scheduling a make-up class with the instructor. IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE POSSIBLE TO SCHEDULE A MAKE-UP TIME. Emergency situations will be handled by the Operations Manager.

Without prior notice, if you do not attend a class, any fees are forfeited and an additional penalty fee may be charged before you can register again for any classes. Repetitive no-shows and late cancellations may result in suspension of course registration for a period of time.

Workshop Cancellations

If inclement weather, insufficient enrollment, or instructor illness necessitates canceling a course, we will notify registrants by phone. The course dates may be altered if sessions are affected by weather. In case of overall cancellation, the registrants will be moved to the next available course date unless they choose otherwise.

Class Size

To ensure quality training and a good teacher/student ratio, class size is kept relatively small. When the maximum number of registrants has been reached, the course will be closed. If openings come up, registrants in the next session’s class will be contacted to move up to the earlier class. If demand warrants, CMPAC may add additional classes in future quarters.

Labs

Several courses require the completion of lab sessions. In the studio classes (Basic Studio and Control Room), these take the form of required crewing on other producer’s programs. CMPAC can help you find programs to perform your labs on, but producers will also be able to contact you directly through our Volunteer List. You should also take the initiative to complete your labs as quickly as possible.

Testing Out

For those who have prior experience in television production, you may “test out” of courses by taking the required written and practical tests. You must schedule a test out with the Operations Manager, and pay a non-refundable fee of $20 per class. If you do not pass the tests, you will be required to take the appropriate course for certification.

Dress Code

We keep the facility cool to help maintain the equipment. Make sure to dress warmly! For the studio classes in particular, make sure to wear footwear which will be comfortable while standing for long periods.

Certification

No one may use the facility or operate the equipment until they have passed the appropriate course. Following the successful completion of each course, you will receive a certificate in the mail. Your certification will also be noted in our files. At that point please consider adding yourself or updating your listing on the Volunteer List.

Volunteering

Access 21 exists because of its volunteers. Our producers depend on you! A television program takes a whole team of people, not a single person. Volunteering is also the surest way to gain valuable experience in the areas in which you are certified. Television Production is a hands-on field, and your skill level and knowledge can increase only by doing. To be added to the Volunteer List, or to update your information, fill out one of the Volunteer Forms available in the Administration offices and outside the Studio Coordinator’s office. An updated list is released each month.