Hayes School of Music

Policies for Minors (Youth)

• In June 2020, the University implemented a set of policies to protect minors participating in on-campus or virtual programs.
• These Minors on Campus policies affect all participants under 18 who are not matriculated college students.
• The parent/guardian must complete registration in Iris and submit the appropriate permission form(s) in order for a minor to join their CMS program.

Supervision of Lessons

• App State's Minors on Campus policies do not allow one-on-one contact between a minor participant and a program staff member. One staff member may not be alone with one child or two children. 
• For this reason, we require an additional adult to be present either in person or virtually (over Zoom) in a private lesson for one or two minors. Parents and guardians should consider this when scheduling lessons. 
• To supervise online private lessons, the parent or guardian should be in the room or within view of the minor child at all times during private lessons. If the parent is at a different location, the parent may supervise by joining the same Zoom meeting as the student. The teacher must inform the parent of the need for supervision, but then it is the parent's responsibility to supervise at that point. 
• All program staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect; this includes a duty to report if children 7 or younger are found to be home alone.
• If these policies prevent you from registering or affect your ability to take lessons, please contact us at asucommunitymusic@appstate.edu. 

Lessons for Minors in the Broyhill Music Center

• For face-to-face lessons held in the practice rooms during regular CMS lesson hours (Monday-Thursday 4:00-8:00 and Friday 4:00-6:00), a CMS staff member will be present to supervise lessons. Family members of the minor student do not need to supervise if a CMS staff member is in the hall. 
• For face-to-face lessons held in faculty offices, the CMS teacher may request a CMS staff member to supervise. If a CMS staff member is not available, an adult family member must remain through the duration of the the lesson in one of these ways:
  • Sit in the practice room or faculty office.
  • For an office or practice room that has a window to the hall, the supervising adult may sit in the hall immediately outside the room.

Minors on Campus Policies Affecting Online Activities

• Program staff may not record audio or video of minors in online programs. 
• Program staff may not text with minors, nor communicate on social media. 
• However, a staff member may email a minor as long as a parent/guardian is cc'd to all communication.

Official Policies and Resources

• Conference and Camp Services’ page about Minors on Campus
• Appalachian’s Guidelines on Video Conferencing Youth Programs (PDF)
• Appalachian’s Guidelines on Acceptable Behavior with Minors (PDF)
• List of resources for App State youth programs
• Policy 111.1 - Minors on Campus

Students or other children under the age of 13 should not be left unsupervised within the School of Music building, the Community Music Building, or outside grounds for any reason at any time. CMS, CMS Faculty, App State, or the Hayes School of Music will NOT assume responsibility for your child should an accident occur while they are unattended.