EDUCATION COMMITTEE - Procedures

Education Committee Procedures Shortcuts
General Intro Class
Workshops Pop-up Classes
Incentives GVR Course Catalog deadlines
Scheduling Clay Studio Classroom Education Committee Meetings
Waivers Return to the list of Documents on this site

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  1. General
    The Education Committee is responsible for planning, scheduling, coordinating and promoting educational opportunities for Studio members.
  2. Introduction to Clay Studio Class (Intro Class)
    This class is REQUIRED for those wishing to become a member of the Clay Studio.
    1. The Intro Class is offered through GVR and will be advertised in the GVR Course Catalog. The instructors are paid by GVR.
    2. A curriculum is established by the Education Committee and approved by the Board.
    3. The Intro instructors establish a supply list and fee for the use of clay, tools, etc. The supply fee is collected by the Intro instructors.
    4. The Education Committee establishes an Introduction to Clay Class Manual. Large amounts of copies for the Manual and/or handouts should not be printed or copied using the studio’s copy machine. Instructors should utilize supply fees for printing or coping the Manual or handouts.
    5. The Education Committee establishes guidelines for recommending new instructors for the Intro class.
    6. Class instructors may recruit “helpers” to help instruct a class or Workshop.
    7. Incentives for: In Lieu of Service Requirement will be given to GVR Class Instructors and Helpers. Incentives are established by the Education Committee. (see: Section VI—Incentives)
  3. Green Valley Recreation (GVR) Sponsored Clay Studio Classes
    GVR establishes a “call date” for GVR sponsored classes to be published in the GVR Course Catalog each year— (these classes are only open to Clay Studio members)
    Call dates are as follows:
    1. The Education Committee will advertise “call dates” and may recruit new instructors for GVR sponsored classes.
    2. All new prospective GVR class instructors must be reviewed and recommended by the Education Committee and forwarded to the Board. The Board approves new GVR Class Instructors.
    3. All classes which require members to pay a fee will be submitted through GVR and will be considered a GVR sponsored class. Registration and fee payment will be handled through GVR.
    4. For Clay Studio approved instructors who want to have their class advertised in the GVR Course Catalog, the process to submit a GVR sponsored class to the GVR Course Catalog and receive approval is as follows:
      1. Fill out the “Request to Teach a Class” form on Clay Studio website by the GVR season call date. The form will be forwarded to the Education Committee Chair, and the chair will verify that the classroom is available on the dates requested.
      2. The Education Committee Chair will email the application to GVR Education Program Coordinator.
      3. The GVR Education Program Coordinator will email a letter of agreement to the instructor, which will be signed electronically and sent back to GVR. To sign the document electronically the instructor just types in their name in the blank space.
      4. When GVR receives the letter of agreement back, a course number will be assigned and sent that to the Instructor, the Education Committee Chair, and the Board President. The Education Committee Chair will schedule the class on the Studio Calendar. At that time, the instructor may begin to advertise the class in the Studio. Members will sign up for the class through GVR. Classes will be posted on the Clay Studio website, on Bulletin Boards and in the Newsletter if one goes out before the class is full.
      5. After the class is completed, the instructor will be paid by GVR. The split is 70% to the instructor and 30% to GVR.
      6. A fee for supplies may be charged if the instructor furnishes supplies. This fee should be listed on the request form along with a list of the supplies that will be provided.
      7. For classes taught in December – April: To not overwhelm the kilns and kiln loaders, no more than 1 product or item per class member may be completed per week.
      8. For a class taught for 4 weeks, only 4 products or items per class member may be completed for the duration of the class.
        9. Large amounts of copies for handouts should not be printed or copied using the studio’s copy machine. Instructors should utilize supply fees for printing or coping handouts.
    5. Pop-up Classes. For classes open only to Clay Studio members, an instructor does not have to have the class listed in the GVR course catalog. A class only advertised in the Clay Studio will be considered a Pop-up Class. Introduction to Clay Studio Class may be set up as a Pop-up class even though non-Studio people can enroll. GVR will advertise the Introduction to Clay Studio Pop-up Class so that non-Studio people will be aware of the class and can enroll.
      A streamlined process has been established:
      1. Fill out the “Request to Teach a Class” form on Clay Studio website. The form will be forwarded to the Education Committee Chair, and the chair will verify that the classroom is available on the dates requested.
      2. The Education Committee Chair will email the application to the GVR Education Program Coordinator.
      3. The GVR Education Program Coordinator will email a letter of agreement to the instructor.
      4. When GVR receives the letter of agreement back, a course number will be assigned and sent that to the Instructor, the Education Committee Chair, and the Board President. The Education Committee Chair will schedule the class on the Studio Calendar. At that time, the instructor may begin to advertise the class in the Studio. Members will sign up for the class through GVR. Classes will be posted on the Clay Studio website, on Bulletin Boards and in the Newsletter if one goes out before the class is full.
      5. After the class is completed, the instructor will be paid by GVR. The split is 70% for the instructor and 30% to GVR.
      6. The expected time between submitting class requests to the Education Committee and receiving the class Registration Number from GVR should be less than 3 weeks. Instructors will no longer have to plan months ahead to teach a class. Pop-up class advertising will occur in-house, and classes may only be taken by Studio members. (The exception to this will be the-- Introduction to Clay Studio pop-up Class—see: “E Pop-up Classes” above) This should also solve the problem of non-members signing up for advanced Clay Studio classes. If an instructor wants a class to be listed in the GVR course catalog, the class will need to be submitted during the “seasonal call” for classes.
      7. A fee for supplies may be charged if the instructor furnishes supplies. This fee should be listed on the request form along with a list of the supplies that will be provided.
      8. For classes taught in December – April: To not overwhelm the kilns and kiln loaders, no more than 1 product or item per class member may be completed per week. For a class taught for 4 weeks, only 4 products or items per class member may be completed for the duration of the class.
      9. Large amounts of copies for handouts should not be printed or copied using the studio’s copy machine. Instructors should utilize supply fees for printing or coping handouts.
  4. Workshops
    1. In-house Workshops and demonstrations are taught by Studio members and are open to Studio members only.
    2. New workshops and demonstrations are approved by the Education Committee. Prospective Workshop or Demo leaders must complete a “Request to Offer a Workshop/Demo” form found on the Clay Studio website. Workshop Leaders are approved by the Education Committee. Perspective Workshop Leaders need to fill out “Request to Lead a Workshop” form found on the Clay Studio Website and submit the form to the Education Committee Chair. The form will be shared with the committee members for approval. The Committee will consider: Experience with respect to Workshop Project, Good Communication Skills, and Basic Studio Operations. Once approved by the Committee, the Chair will inform the perspective leader, and the Workshop can begin to be advertised.
    3. In-house workshops will be free of charge. A Supplies Fee may be charged for supplies provided by the Workshop Leader. The Leader must justify the supply fee when requesting the Workshop.
    4. Incentives for Workshop and Demo Leaders and Helpers are established by the Education Committee.
  5. Waiver Sub Committee
    This subcommittee determines whether a prospective member may be exempted from taking the required Introduction to Clay Class prior to becoming a Clay Studio Member.
    1. The Committee interviews prospective members to review their clay experience and may ask to see examples of their work.
    2. The Committee arranges an orientation of the Studio.
    3. Waiver Committee Chair informs Education Committee Chair of results of Waivered new member.
  6. Incentives for In Lieu of Service Requirement for Clay Studio GVR Class Instructors, Workshop & Demo Leaders, and Helpers:
    1. GVR Class Instructors receive pay from GVR and I month service credit for each day the class is taught. Helpers receive 1 month service credit for each day that they help with a class.
    2. Intro to Clay Class: Instructors receive pay from GVR and 1 month of service credit for each day the class is taught. Intro Class Helpers receive 1 month service credit for each day that they help with the class.
    3. Workshop: Leaders receive 1 month of service credit for each day that the Workshop is lead. Helpers receive 1 month service credit for each day that they help with the workshop.
  7. Scheduling Clay Studio Classroom
    1. The priority for use of the classroom is: 1st—Classes, workshops and demos; 2nd –meetings; 3rd—when not in use by classes or meetings, general use by members is available.
    2. Dates for classes, workshops or demonstrations are scheduled on the Studio Calendar by the Education Committee Chairman.
    3. Meetings are scheduled on the Studio Calendar by the Clay Studio Vice President.
    4. Storage shelves in the classroom are to be used for class storage only.
    5. Sculpture classes that are not taught in the classroom may have storage space on Classroom storage shelves.
    6. When a class, workshop, or meeting is in session, the classroom is closed to entry except to pick up clay stored in bin in back of classroom. If members need projects from storage shelves, they need to pick up projects prior to or after a class, workshop, or meeting is completed.
  8. Education Committee Meetings
    1. The Education Committee may meet monthly during October-April and as needed the rest of the year. Remote communication via phone is possible.

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Education Committee Procedures Revised Dec_2024.docx

updated: 1/5/2026 - jdo