VITIS HOUSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Complaints and Appeals
Vitis House aims to provide a consistently superb level of service to students. We want to make sure we provide high quality standards at all times. But, if you have a complaint, please email us at cheers@vitishouse.com to the attention of the owner, we would like to hear about it to improve our service and taking whatever action is needed to put mistakes right and to prevent them from happening again.
We are committed to ensuring to all students that the act of filing a complaint will in no way prejudice the complainant.
If you need to make a written complaint, please add name, address, contact information, full details of the complaint, supporting information if needed, dates, locations, any witnesses and details of any previous attempts to resolve the identified dissatisfaction. We will reply within 3 working days of receipt.
If the complainant is related to a WSET course and you consider the complaint still unresolved by Vitis House, the next step will be to submit an appeal in writing and marked for the attention of the WSET’s Quality Assurance Team at qa@wsetglobal.com. The appeal must be submitted within 10 working days of the cause of dissatisfaction.
Conflicts of Interest Policy
We are committed to identify, monitor and manage actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest. This is essential to safeguard the integrity of Vitis House and WSET qualifications. We will take steps to mitigate the effect of a conflict of interest and sanctions to students or staff can be applied.
A Conflict of Interest exists where an individual has interests or loyalties that could adversely influence their judgement, objectivity or loyalty to WSET when conducting activities associated with WSET qualifications.
Examples can include:
• The undertaking of any assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned;
• The undertaking of any moderation of assessment of candidates by an individual who has a personal interest in the result of the assessment for any or all individuals concerned;
• The tutoring of candidates by an individual involved in the assessment process;
• The undertaking of a WSET qualification by any individual employed by Vitis House;
• The invigilation of a WSET assessment by any individual involved in the delivery of training leading to the assessment;
• The investigation of a non-compliance incident by someone who is unable to act impartially.
Some of these Conflicts of Interest can be managed and are therefore acceptable. For example, the marking of WSET Level 3 tasting assessments by Internal Assessors is verified by WSET to mitigate the risk of a Conflict of Interest. Similarly, where an employee of the WSET or one of its APPs undertakes a WSET qualification, measures can be put in place to maintain the integrity of the assessment, provided this has been notified to WSET in advance.
All Conflicts of Interest need to be declared to Vitis House, it does not matter if they are manageable or not, they all need to be declared. Please email us at cheers@vitishouse.com to the attention of the owner, so we can take the proper actions to mitigate them. Conflicts of Interest will be declared to WSET’s QA team.
Privacy Policy
Vitis House and WSET are committed to protect your privacy. We aim to respect any personal data you share with us when you register as a candidate. We will share your name, date of birth, gender and email address with WSET and this information will be handled in accordance with WSET’s Data Protection Policy.
We will only send you information regarding the course or event for which you are registered or future Vitis House events.
For us to provide you with products and services related to our courses, we on occasion share some of your personal data with certain approved suppliers, however we always seek to make sure that your personal data is secure at all times.
If you would like us to stop sending you emails for marketing purposes simply let us know by contacting cheers@vitishouse.com
Diversity and Equality Policy
Vitis House is committed to upholding the principles of diversity and equality in all our courses, seeking to ensure that all students are treated fairly and equally at all times. Vitis House ensures that access to WSET qualifications is not discriminatory, we promote open access to WSET qualifications (having regard to the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcohol and assessment competence standards).
Vitis House ensures that access to WSET qualifications is not discriminatory. WSET ensures that the format and content of all specifications, examinations and WSET Awards materials do not discriminate unlawfully against anyone on the grounds of disability, age, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation (having regard to the legal minimum age for the retail purchase of alcohol and assessment competence standards).
We allow candidates with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to register to our courses.
Student must identify special needs at the time of enrollment.
Reasonable Adjustments Policy
A reasonable adjustment is any action that helps to reduce the effect of a disability or difficulty that places the candidate at a substantial disadvantage in the assessment situation.
Vitis House and WSET seeks to assess all candidates in a way that puts them at no disadvantage, or advantage, over other candidates.
Reasonable adjustments must not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom reasonable adjustments are not being made, or affect the reliability and validity of the assessment outcomes as detailed in the applicable Specification.
Student must identify special needs at the time of enrollment. Please send us an email at least 45 calendar days before the course cheers@vitishouse.com. Add your name(s), date of birth, gender, email, address and documentation provided for reasonable adjustment request. The information provided will be handled according to our Privacy Policy in place, any information pertaining to reasonable adjustments will also be shared with WSET and will be subject to their Privacy Policy. Reasonable adjustments may involve:
• Changing standard assessment arrangements, for example allowing candidates extra time to complete the assessment activity;
• Adapting assessment materials, such as providing materials in large text format;
• Providing access facilitators during assessment, such as a sign language interpreter or reader;
• Reorganising the assessment room, such as removal of visual stimuli for an autistic candidate.
Reasonable Adjustment application will be submitted to WSET, and the specific adjustment will be agreed upon between WSET and Vitis House.
Special Consideration Policy
Special consideration is an action taken after an assessment to allow candidates who have been disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury, indisposition or adverse circumstances at the time of the assessment to demonstrate attainment.
Special consideration will not give unfair advantage over candidates for whom special consideration is not being applied, or alter the assessment demands of the qualification as detailed in the applicable specification. To request a special consideration, please send us an email at least 5 business days after the exam day at cheers@vitishouse.com and please include your name, date of birth, gender, email, address and documentation provided for the special consideration request with supporting evidence. The information provided will be handled according to our Privacy Policy in place, any information pertaining to special considerations will also be shared with WSET and will be subject to their Privacy Policy, which can be found at: wsetglobal.com
Malpractice and Maladministration Policy
Vitis House protect the interests of our students and safeguard the integrity of WSET qualifications by ensuring compliance with WSET Policies and Procedures. Non-compliance with Vitis House and WSET Policies and Procedures generally falls into one of two categories:
Maladministration, where non-compliance is accidental rather than intentional; and Malpractice where non-compliance is intentional or the result of negligence.
Whether a situation is maladministration or malpractice will be determined by Vitis House and WSET following an investigation.
If you think an incident has occur, please email us immediately at cheers@vitishouse.com Please include a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the suspicions and allegations.
WSET® Students Cancellations/Refunds
All WSET courses sales are final once registration is completed and we have sent the materials. You can be transferred to another date 45 days in advance. No changes are accepted 45 days prior the course. Student can be transferred to another date 45 days in advance. Transfer fee for L1 is $150, for L2 $250 and for L3 is $375. Unfortunately, no transfers are allowed 45 days prior the first day of the course. Make sure you submit your transfer request by email cheers@vitishouse.com.
For WSET L1, L2 and L3 Online Students: no changes or cancellations are allowed after registration is completed.
WSGTM Students Cancellations/Refunds
All WSG courses sales are final once registration is completed and we have sent the materials. You can be transferred to another date 60 days in advance. No changes are accepted 60 days prior the course. Student can be transferred to another date 60 days in advance. Transfer fee is $375. Unfortunately, no transfers are allowed 60 days prior the first day of the course. Make sure you submit your transfer request by email cheers@vitishouse.com.
SSA Sake Somelier Cancellations/Refunds
All SSA courses sales are final once registration is completed. If you have any question, please send us an email to cheers@vitishouse.com.
Vitis House Wine Classes Changes/Cancellations/Refunds
ALL CLASS SALES ARE FINAL. You can transfer your spot (for the same day) to someone else at no cost. Please send us an email with the name of the person attending on your behalf.
Classes and courses are subject to cancellation due to government safety measurements, severe weather conditions or low attendance.
Others
Attendance policy
In order for students to complete their program, they are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions. Those whose absences exceed more than 20% of the program are considered at-risk for successfully passing the certification exam.
Dietary Restrictions
If your class or event involves food and you have dietary restrictions, please let us know at least one week in advance so we can best accommodate you.
Locations
Since we offer courses in different locations, please refer to your registration page for your class location details. Our main address is:
The Loading Dock
1053 E. Whitaker Mill Rd. Suite #115 Raleigh, NC 27604
Please arrive at least 20 minutes early to ensure you complete your registration before the start of class. Please bring your ID. We ask that you do not wear perfume/cologne, scented deodorants, scented lotions, etc. as it interferes with your fellow participants’ ability to smell the wines.
Parking
Parking will be available in all our locations, but locations and prices may vary. A private trans- portation service is always recommended.
Dress Code
We strongly suggest a business casual/comfortable attire to all our classes.
Dining & Hotel Options
We are more than happy to assist you finding the best accommodations and dining options near us. Feel free to email us cheers@vistishouse.com if you need suggestions.
Social Media
We want to see how much you enjoy the time you spend with us. Feel free to post your experience and don’t forget to tag us on Facebook, Instagram and write a review on Google.
Filming and Photography
By assisting to a class of course at Vitis House, you agree to be photographed, filmed, and recorded and consent to the following: I hereby irrevocably authorize and grant permission to Vitis House LLC, their successors and assigns, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and others authorized by them (collectively, “Grantees”), to use, separately or together, my name, picture, or other likenesses, including but not limited to my voice, video representation, on-camera performance, initials, photographs, and biographical data concerning me as embodied in the videotaped appearance of me, in whole or in part, in connection with Vitis House in any and all media now or hereafter known (including, without limitation, broadcast and cable television, industrial social media, and internet) throughout the world, in perpetuity.