Payment Information and Policies

When you sign up for your HIOBS course, you pay a deposit as part of the enrollment process. This deposit includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee and goes toward your full tuition due. There is no deposit required to enroll in courses for Veterans. The standard deposit is $500 on all courses, except for Grieving Teens, which is $300. We accept all major credit cards.

Your credit card information is not saved on file after this initial deposit, and so you will need to pay your tuition balance using our online portal, or over the phone. Full payment for a course is due 90 days before course start, or within 5 days of course enrollment if you enroll within the 90-day window. You may PAY YOUR TUITION BALANCE HERE.

If you have not paid your course tuition within 90 days of course start, you may lose your spot on the course. We are happy to arrange payment plans, we accept 529 plans through third parties, and have financial aid available so please let us know if you have specific financial constraints. 

For a full description of our Deposit, Tuition, Cancellation, Transfer, Early Departure/ No-Show, and Waitlist policies please see pages 3-5 of the Admissions Handbook. 

Application Process

Every HIOBS course has a Course Page on www.hiobs.org with all the relevant documents you need access to for your admissions process. Please refer to the Welcome Email for which documents your Course Advisor has requested you to download. If you have trouble accessing the website, please contact your Course Advisor.

Late return of the application and forms will delay the review of other customers’ applications and will jeopardize your spot on course. If your application or tuition is past due your spot may be made available to other applicants. Overdue application materials will be considered inactive and cancellation penalties will apply.

Failure to provide accurate complete information could compromise your or other participant’s safety and course quality. Our goal is for every student to have a successful course. By sharing all physical, emotional or behavioral conditions, we can help you choose the course that will provide you with the highest chance for success. Additionally, undisclosed conditions that result in early departure are not eligible for a refund.

Please report injuries, illnesses, new medications or changes to your prescription to your course advisor. If you arrive on course with an unreported medical condition or other diagnosis or if you have changed the type or amount of medications since submitting your medical form, and have not told us about it, you may not be allowed to begin your course!

Student Non-Discrimination Policy and Diversity Statement

Hurricane Island Outward Bound School prohibits discrimination against any student or applicant because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, qualified individuals with disabilities based on disability, or any other category which may be protected by applicable state or federal law. Hurricane Island Outward Bound School also promotes respect for all people, and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics nor differences based on gender identity or expression.

Other Information

Divorced parents and third party payers; we only require one legal guardian signature. It is up to you to fulfill any obligations or decision-making agreements with your former spouse/ other adults who are involved in the process. Similarly, you are responsible for informing a third-party payer of the cancellation penalties and any subsequent financial obligation is yours.

Transfers

You may transfer from your initial course to another, but such transfers may incur an additional cost. You may transfer from one course to another one time for no penalty provided it is more than 60 days from the course start date.

A $100 Transfer Fee will apply to any subsequent transfers more than 60 days from the course start date. For transfers less than 60 days from the course start date, 50% of the payment is transferrable and you will forfeit 50% of your payment. Outward Bound will not issue a refund for any transfers less than 30 days from the course start date.

Waitlists

To be enrolled on the waitlist for a course, we require the $500 deposit, your completed paperwork, and an individual student interview. If a spot opens up on course, we will offer it to the first applicant who completed the paperwork and interview, not to the applicant who enrolled first. You will have 24 hours to respond to the offer of a spot should it open up. If you elect not to take the open spot offered or do not respond within 24 hours, the $150 enrollment processing fee will not be refunded. If a spot has not opened by 30 days before the course start, we will refund the deposit if you wish to drop off the list at that time. If we are unable to offer you a spot, we will refund the entire $500 deposit. Waitlist spots sometimes become available as close as 5 days before the course!

Cancellation Policy

If you are the parent of a student, you are investing in the growth and development of your child as well as giving the gift of an amazing opportunity. If you are the student, you are investing in your continuing education. Please review the Cancellation Policy thoroughly. If you are the parent of a student, we recommend you review this policy with your child, as you will be relying on him or her to put considerable effort into the course and be an active, responsible and safe participant.

Outward Bound’s general payment terms and conditions are based on the investment we make in planning, staffing and delivering our courses. These expenses are not recoverable in the case of short-notice cancellation or transfer. By applying for a HIOBS course, you are accountable for the information contained here and within the Admissions Handbook.

We acknowledge there is a lot to read but all the information is important as you are about to make a significant commitment of money and time. 

We STRONGLY RECOMMEND you purchase one/ both of the following:  

• HIOBS TUITION PROTECTION PLAN - purchased through HIOBS when you pay your tuition balance on the due date.
• TRIP INSURANCE – purchased through a third party vendor. There are plans available that include “cancel for any reason.” Some options must be purchased within 7-10 days of submitting your deposit.

Cancellation Penalties

If you cancel for any reason (including, but not limited to cancelations due to schedule changes, lack of motivation, summer school, work conflicts, unreported pre-existing conditions, illness or injury) fewer than 90 days from the course start date (regardless of your enrollment date), the cancellation penalties listed below will apply to the full published tuition (or for scholarship recipients, the full amount due). The penalty is not based on the amount paid to date but the amount due on the day you cancel. If you have purchased the HIOBS Tuition Protection Plan, you will be covered for some cancellation reasons and become eligible for a tuition refund (please read the policy here).

Participant Cancellation

There are no tuition penalties if a student cancels more than 90 days before the course start date. Outward Bound will refund $350 of the Deposit fee (retaining the $150 non-refundable enrollment fee) and 100% of the Tuition fee payment.

If you cancel 90 days or fewer from course start, the cancellation penalties listed below will apply to the full published tuition or the full amount due (if any) for scholarship recipients. The penalty IS NOT based on the amount paid to date on the day you cancel.

HIOBS does not refund tuition and fees if you are unable to attend or complete the course due to unexpected events, low or decreased motivation, illness or injury - except for some conditions in the case of purchasing the Tuition Protection Plan.

Time to course start         We retain

>90 days                         $150 enrollment fee

89-75 days                      $500 deposit

74-60 days                      $500 deposit and 25% of the remaining course tuition

59-45 days                      $500 deposit and 50% of remaining tuition

44-0 days                        100% of tuition

Outward Bound cannot refund tuition within 45 days of course start if you are unable to attend or complete the course due to illness, injury or family emergency unless you have purchased the TPP. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip insurance to cover unexpected expenses that might occur due to cancellation or early departure (e.g., travel expenses and/or emergency evacuation) through a third party. 

DEPOSIT REFUNDS: Of your original deposit, the enrollment processing fee ($150) is non-refundable.

There are a few situations where the enrollment processing fee will be refunded: 1. If you are on the waitlist and a spot does not open up; 2. If the course is canceled by Hurricane Island Outward Bound School; or 3. If you apply for financial aid, and then must cancel because you are still unable to attend the course due to insufficient funds. If you are not cleared to participate, we will retain the $150 enrollment processing fee but refund the balance of tuition paid.

Course Cancellation

If HIOBS cancels your course prior to the course start, you will be given the opportunity to either cancel your application and receive a full refund or transfer to another course within a 12-month period. If you transfer to a new course, you will retain all of your current Admissions documents and processes. Any tuition paid from the cancelled course will be transferred to the new course, and we will either (a) refund you the difference in tuition if the new course has lower tuition, or (b) charge you for the balance if the new course has higher tuition.

If your HIOBS course is cancelled after the course starts, and you are not being asked to leave the program for reasons of expulsion listed below, you will be given the opportunity to receive pro-rated course credit for a future program at HIOBS. 

Early Departures and No-Shows

If a student does not intend to or is not able to show up for course start on the day, you must let us know that immediately. If there is a delay in travel, we can often work around it, but if the student is not intending to be on the course at all we will possibly need to make course and crew adjustments. There is no refund in this situation.

We strive to support and encourage students to successfully complete their course. Our instructors are experienced in helping students push past doubt and actively try to solve any issues that seem to be preventing them from fully engaging. If a student is exhibiting these behaviors on course, instructors typically start by working with the student individually, then contacting the base camp for additional resources or calling a parent, then, if the problems persist, removing the students from the course.  If a student is determined to leave the course or is not willing to fully participate and follow instructions, then for their personal safety and the safety of the group, we simply cannot and will not make them stay. Parents will be contacted to arrange for their child’s travel home, and no refund or pro-rated course credit will be issued. 

Expulsion will result if we determine that a student is: 

• Unwilling or unmotivated to participate in course activities;
• Unable or unwilling to adapt to the physical and interpersonal rigors of the expedition;
• Posing a danger to self or others through misconduct or unsafe practices;
• Defiant, harassing, or otherwise compromising the emotional or physical safety of others;
• Using alcohol, drugs (including misuse of prescription drugs) or tobacco; or
• Engaging in sexual activity

There is no refund in this situation.

Tuition Protection Plan (TPP)

The plans highlighted below help protect your financial investment with Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS).  

We strongly recommend that you purchase the HIOBS Tuition Protection Plan for Pre-Course Cancellation and Early Departure, and/or invest in a third-party Trip Insurance plan, which has the potential to cover course tuition, airfare and/or emergency evacuation. Coverage depends on the Trip Insurance option purchased.     

If you elect not to purchase the TPP and need to cancel for any reason, you will be held to the terms of the Cancellation Policy.

**For those who purchase the TPP whose tuition payment due date is within 30 days of course start, pre-trip cancellations are not eligible for refunds, but early departures are still eligible.

**For those who purchase the TPP AFTER their tuition payment due date has passed, pre-trip cancellations are not eligible for refunds, but early departures are still eligible.

**For those who arrange a payment plan with our finance department, the Tuition Protection Plan must be purchased by the tuition payment due date, as outlined in the welcome email.

Coverage

• Pre-course Cancellations: If purchased by the tuition payment due date outlined in the applicant's Welcome Email, the TPP plan will cover pre-course cancellation due to illness, injury or family emergency (ie death, or serious illness/injury of a family member). To be eligible for a pre-course cancellation refund of tuition with the TPP, a written request must be provided at the time of cancellation. Written documentation from a medical professional must be provided to HIOBS within 2 weeks of cancellation from the course to receive a refund.  No refunds will be issued for cancellations due to undisclosed conditions, low or decreased motivation, schedule changes/ conflicts, or travel issues.  The non-refundable enrollment fee of $150 is not eligible for a refund, and neither is the TPP fee itself. Applicants are responsible for any travel change fees associated with the cancellation. If your tuition payment due date is within 30 days of course start, you are not eligible for Pre-Course Cancellation coverage. If you purchase the TPP after your tuition payment due date, you are not eligible for Pre-Course Cancellation coverage. If you do not purchase the TPP, any refund will be based on the Cancellations/Transfer/Early Departure Policies (a graduated refund matrix within 45 days of course start, please refer to Policies above).  

• Early Departures: The plan covers early departure from a course due to illness, injury or family emergency (ie death, or serious illness/injury of a family member). To receive a pro-rated refund as part of the TPP, we must receive a written refund request from you within 7 days of course departure, and written documentation from a medical professional must be provided to HIOBS within 2 weeks of course departure. No refunds will be issued for departures due to undisclosed conditions, motivation, homesickness, behavioral issues or expulsions.  Refunds will be prorated based on the number of days of course missed upon course departure.  The non-refundable enrollment fee is not eligible for a refund, and neither is the TPP fee itself. Participants are responsible for any travel and medical costs associated with an early departure. If your tuition payment due date is within 30 days of course start, you are only eligible for Early Departure coverage. If you purchase the TPP after your tuition payment due date, you are only eligible for Early Departure coverage. If you do not purchase the TPP, there is no refund for early course departure of any kind. 
• **For participants who take an Outward Bound course at another school prior to the HIOBS course, the Tuition Protection Plan will only cover Early Departures for the eligible reasons outlined above. Pre-course cancellations for any reason are not eligible. We advise in these circumstances to purchase third party insurance.  
• If your course is cancelled by HIOBS, the Course Cancellation policy above will apply.

The Tuition Protection Plan can be purchased at any time up to 7 days before the course start. Please refer to details above for conditions of Pre-Course Cancellation and Early Departure coverage.

**If you choose to transfer to a non-HIOBS course, the TPP will be refunded if the transfer is greater than 60 days before the start of the original HIOBS course. If you transfer to another course within HIOBS, the TPP and costs will transfer with you, there will be no refund on the price difference if any apply.

Trip Insurance

These plans can be purchased by a third party vendor of your choice.  Some plans may cover course tuition, airfare and/or emergency evacuation. Many vendors sell this type of insurance. One website that can provide you with some options is www.insuremytrip.com. Ruby Fredericks is an agent who is familiar with Outward Bound programs in general and can advise you. Outward Bound is not affiliated with any agency and does not receive any commission. In the case of an early departure or cancellation, you would contact them directly, we can provide support documentation when requested. 

Ruby Frederick, CTA - Southlands Travel
Phone: 303-680-5241
Email: [email protected]