There are a number of strategies for dealing with exam fees. If you are currently charging for exams, you can change it to a graduation fee
- The graduation fee subsidizes the free private lessons students get to make up classes.
- You usually need to bring additional staff.
- You have to spend time preparing for graduation.
You can create income and raise tuition at the same time by offering current students to pay off all remaining graduation fees until black belt at a 50% discount (non-refundable). This would be all exams with the exception of their black belt exam, which is typically more expensive.
- $40 for under-rank graduation
- $300-$500 for black belt
You can raise tuition and include graduation fees in the tuition.
The benefit of moving to the graduation process is:
1. Less stress for staff because:
- No more failing students.
- Clear, quantifiable standards of attendance will replace the subjective standards of the past.
- No more pressure about things going awry during exams.
- Great teaching requirement for leadership team by requiring them to teach 20-minute privates.
- Smoother transition from Semester to Semester.
2. Higher student retention because:
- No more exam stress.
- Clear quantifiable standards of attendance to progress.
- Complimentary extra private lessons to reach the standards each term.
Free private lessons have many advantages:
- Great marketing tool. You offer free privates while others charge.
- You don’t have to teach them. Teaching privates is a one-way road to burn out.
- You use it as an incentive and learning process for your leadership team.
Limit the number of free privates and charge if a student requires or requests more.
The disadvantage to free privates is you lose whatever potential income you might have gained from not charging. That is a decision you have to weigh and make.
