Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions below. For more information on program policies, see the Mini Courses Policies page.
Registration Questions
Yes! Mini Courses and Workshops are open to the public.
You can register online on the Norris Box Office website. Please email minicourses@u.northwestern.edu if you have any questions.
About a week before your course meets for the first time, you will receive an email detailing the time, location, and other relevant logistical information for your course to prepare you for your first session.
You cannot register for a course or workshop if the class is full and tickets have sold out. You may be added to a waitlist, and will be informed if a spot in the class opens up.
You are not able to register for a course once the first session has begun. We often offer similar courses every quarter, so we encourage you to register for that course in subsequent quarters.
Mini Courses and Workshops may be cancelled for many different reasons, with the most common based on low enrollment numbers or instructor conflicts. Should a course be cancelled, all registered students will be notified via the email address provided during registration. Full refunds will be provided for any canceled class.
No, we do not allow participates to switch into different sessions of the same course after registration is closed.
Subsidies range from $10 - $30 and Mini Courses does not require any proof of income in order to qualify for one. We have a finite funding course, so we rely on an honor system to ensure that funding is granted to those who need it.
The subsidy application usually opens a week before registration opens. Learn more about subsidies.
If you are approved for one, the subsidy is applied to the registration fee on an unregistered course. Subsidies are not given on courses that students have registered for and are requesting a subsidy portion refund.
Limitations:
- Subsidies may not be used towards 1 Session Courses and any Drink courses
- Subsidies are not granted to students who have already registered for a course.
- Subsidies may not be used in combination with any other discount.
- Subsidy if approved, is good for 1 course per person per quarter.
Withdrawal and Cancellation :
- Fees and policies are still applicable on all subsidy assistance registrations.
No, all Mini Courses are for adults only, age 16 and up.
Supplies, Credits and Logistical Questions
Unless stated otherwise, all supplies for your courses are included in your registration.
No, we only offer recreational, non-credited leisure classes and workshops. We cannot offer credit or grades for our Mini Courses or Workshops.
Yes! You can email us, or submit the Letter of Completion Request Form two weeks prior to the last session of your course. You will receive your letter/certificate 7-14 business days after your submission.
There is a new parking structure as you enter Campus Drive from the South. Parking is free after 4 p.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. At other times, you must park on city streets. You may buy a temporary parking pass at the University Parking Office, located on the ground floor of the Segal Visitors Center, before using the parking garage. Norris University Center is located at 1999 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208.
We do not offer refunds for absences from class. Attendance at the first sessions of a course is mandatory. We encourage you to reach out to our office and your instructor about accessing missed course material.
We send out updates via our email listserv and social media pages! If you would like to be added to our email listserv, please complete our mailing list form. You can also follow our Facebook and Instagram pages.
No, patrons must present a valid ID on the day of their course to be allowed into the class. We encourage you to take a scan of your ID or passport so you have it with you at all times. We do not offer refunds for a missed session due to a lack of ID.
Cancellation and Withdrawal Question
All courses and workshops require a 5-business day notice before the start of the course for a full refund. This means that if your course is scheduled on Wednesday, you must submit the online refund request form the Wednesday before the start of the course.
To request a full refund, both steps must be completed:
- The completion of the online refund request form
- The purchase of the $5.00 convenience fee
It may take up to 10 business days for the money to return to your account.
We do not issue refunds for indifference to the course curriculum. You may wish to leave suggestions and feedback on the evaluations we send out at the end of every quarter so that we can continue to improve the Mini Course experience.