Terms of Service & Learner Agreement

Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Last Updated: August 15, 2025

1. Organizational Information

Thrive Learning Community, Inc. ("Thrive," "we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational non-profit corporation registered in the State of North Carolina. Our principal office is located at 1240 Ridgewood Boulevard, Suite 305, Raleigh, NC 27604. Our federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 46-5182093. We are an authorized adult education provider under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title II, administered in North Carolina by the NC Community College System, and we hold North Carolina Department of Public Instruction education provider license #EDU-20147.

2. Eligibility & Enrollment

To enroll in Thrive programs, you must be at least 18 years of age (or 16 years of age with a documented educational waiver approved by your school district), reside in the state of North Carolina, and not be concurrently enrolled in a K–12 educational institution. No minimum prior education level is required, and immigration or citizenship status is never a factor in enrollment eligibility. Enrollment is subject to available capacity in the requested program and class section. We reserve the right to place learners on a waitlist when classes reach maximum enrollment.

3. Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is essential to academic progress and is a requirement of our federal and state funding agreements. Enrolled learners are expected to attend at least 80% of their scheduled class sessions. If you must miss a class, we request that you notify your instructor or the program coordinator in advance whenever possible. Absences exceeding three consecutive sessions without prior notice or documented extenuating circumstances (medical emergency, family crisis, workplace schedule conflict) may result in administrative withdrawal from the class section. Withdrawn learners remain eligible to re-enroll in a subsequent session without penalty. We recognize that adult learners face unpredictable life circumstances, and our program coordinators will work with you individually to accommodate genuine scheduling conflicts before resorting to withdrawal.

4. Learner Code of Conduct

Thrive Learning Community is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all participants. All learners, volunteers, and visitors are expected to adhere to the following standards of conduct:

• Treat all learners, instructors, staff, and volunteers with dignity, courtesy, and respect
• Arrive on time and prepared for class activities
• Refrain from disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning of others
• Respect the physical facilities, equipment, and instructional materials provided
• Maintain academic integrity by completing assessments and assignments honestly
• Refrain from the use, possession, or distribution of alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, or weapons on any Thrive campus or satellite site
• Report any concerns about safety, harassment, or misconduct to a staff member immediately

Violations of the code of conduct will be addressed through a progressive response process: verbal counseling, written warning, temporary suspension, and, in severe cases, permanent dismissal. Learners facing conduct proceedings have the right to present their perspective and to appeal any decision through the grievance procedure described below.

5. Fees, Refunds & Financial Assistance

Core programs (GED Preparation, ESL, and Adult Basic Literacy) are provided at no cost to eligible learners, funded by federal and state grants. The Workforce Digital Skills Certificate program carries a tuition fee of $150, and Lifelong Learning workshops are $45 per session. For fee-bearing programs, payment is due at the time of enrollment. Sliding-scale fee reductions and full fee waivers are available to any learner who demonstrates financial need, which is assessed through a confidential income verification form. Refunds for fee-bearing programs are available as follows: full refund if withdrawal occurs before the first class session; 75% refund if withdrawal occurs within the first two weeks; 50% refund if withdrawal occurs within the first four weeks; no refund after the fourth week. Refund requests should be submitted in writing to the program coordinator or the main office.

6. Loaner Equipment Policy

Learners enrolled in the Workforce Digital Skills Certificate program or other technology-dependent programs may borrow a Chromebook laptop for the duration of their enrollment at no cost, subject to availability. Loaner devices remain the property of Thrive Learning Community and must be returned in working condition within seven calendar days of program completion or withdrawal. Learners are responsible for reasonable care of the device. Loss, theft, or intentional damage of a loaner device may result in a replacement fee of up to $250, though hardship exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

7. Intellectual Property & Materials

All instructional materials, curricula, assessments, handouts, and digital content provided by Thrive Learning Community are the intellectual property of Thrive or its licensors and are provided for the personal educational use of enrolled learners only. Materials may not be reproduced, distributed, sold, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission.

8. Grievance Procedure

Thrive Learning Community maintains a formal grievance procedure for learners who believe they have been treated unfairly, experienced discrimination, or have a complaint about program quality or staff conduct. To file a grievance, submit a written statement describing the concern to the Director of Instruction at 1240 Ridgewood Boulevard, Suite 305, Raleigh, NC 27604, or email [email protected]. Grievances will be acknowledged within five business days and investigated within 30 calendar days. The complainant will receive a written response detailing findings and any corrective actions taken. If the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, they may appeal to the Executive Director, whose decision is final. Learners may also file complaints with the NC Community College System's Adult Education Division if they believe the grievance involves a violation of federal or state adult education regulations.

9. Non-Discrimination Statement

Thrive Learning Community does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, veteran status, citizenship status, immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This non-discrimination policy applies to all aspects of our programs, services, employment, and volunteer operations. Inquiries or complaints regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to our Chief Operations Officer at (919) 555-0237 or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

10. Limitation of Liability

Thrive Learning Community provides educational services in good faith and with reasonable professional care. However, we do not guarantee specific educational outcomes, employment results, or credential attainment. Our programs are designed to maximize learner success, but individual results depend on learner effort, attendance, aptitude, and external factors beyond our control. Thrive's total liability for any claim arising from participation in our programs shall not exceed the amount of fees paid by the learner for the specific program in question.

11. Amendments

Thrive Learning Community reserves the right to update these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated to enrolled learners via email and posted on this page. Continued participation in programs after the effective date of amendments constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

For questions about these terms, please contact: Thrive Learning Community, 1240 Ridgewood Boulevard, Suite 305, Raleigh, NC 27604 | Phone: (919) 555-0237 | Email: [email protected]