11 University of Regina and Conservatory Policies

Criminal Record Checks

The Conservatory requires each private instructor to undergo, at their own expense, a vulnerable sector criminal record check every 3 years. The Conservatory has the right to withdraw any offer, either verbal or written to any person based on the information provided by the criminal record check.

Criminal Record Checks will be due at the beginning of the teaching year (September 1) for returning teachers. Teachers will be notified by SISNC when their Criminal Record Check is due.

Mitigating Risk

In 2019-2020 the Conservatory engaged in a risk assessment with the University of Regina regarding Private Lessons. Several areas of risk are outlined below – these areas are both personal and financial and were noted as things that have happened in the past and/or are happening currently.

Technology and Students

• • When emailing minor students, instructors must always copy parents
  • Be mindful of cell phone use in music lessons, do not share inappropriate content
  • Pictures or videos of students may only be created for educational purposes, and must be deleted immediately after using them with your student

Working with Students

• • Paperwork containing student information (e.g. names, birth date, phone number, and email) must be kept in a secure location to comply with Canadian privacy laws – do not leave this information on a table or shelf in a shared studio or in the mail room
  • When correcting a student’s posture/position instructors must ask for and receive consent from the student before touching them. Ensure the student is comfortable with what is happening. We recommend instructors meet with parents and students at the beginning of each year to discuss how the students’ posture may need to be corrected and explain how consent will be obtained.
  • Instructors are expected to treat each student and staff member with dignity and respect. If parents or students fail to treat instructors with respect, further lessons can be refused, please contact SISNC to report incidents and for assistance.
  • Physical abuse, verbal abuse and sexual misconduct are absolutely prohibited

 Keeping Students Safe

• • It is the Instructor’s responsibility to clearly communicate changes in regular schedules with students, parents, and SISNC, with as much advance notice as possible. Any use of substitute teachers must be approved, in advance, by the Conservatory Head.

When a Teacher Leaves the Conservatory

If you decide to leave the Conservatory, please let the Head of the Conservatory know as soon as possible.

You are welcome to make suggestions to the Head of the Conservatory about who you would like to see your students go to, however it is the responsibility of SISNC staff tol make arrangements to place your students with a different instructor if they want to continue lessons.

In signing a contract with the Conservatory, teachers agree to not recruit Conservatory students to study with them elsewhere for 12 months after they leave the Conservatory.