Policies and Procedures – Page 2 – 2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Graduate Credit Transfer Policy

Updated June 2024

All transfer credits are evaluated for relevance to the College’s programs and policies. Grades earned at another institution are not factored into the calculation of cumulative grade point average at CCS. The College makes every effort to ensure you get credit for your past graduate-level work, subject to the following conditions:

Coursework taken in the United States must have been completed at a college or university accredited by one of the following regional associations of schools and colleges—Middle States (MSCHE), New England (NECHE), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Northwest (NWCCU), Southern (SACSCOC), Western (WASC)—or by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). International programs and institutions with non-regional accreditation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
For coursework completed outside of the United States, College for Creative Studies requires all transfer students to obtain a professional course-by-course evaluation of all college or university-level work from a professional credential evaluation service like National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) membership.
Courses noted on a transcript as transferred from prior institutions will not be considered for transfer credit. An official transcript must be submitted to CCS from any institution(s) attended before transfer credit can be awarded.
Courses awarded transfer credit are recorded in permanent academic records. Grades of approved courses are not factored into the calculation of a student’s cumulative grade point average at CCS.
Credit will not be awarded for undergraduate level coursework.
Approval of transfer credit is at the discretion of program chairs, following, if applicable, a review of the applicant’s portfolio, or other relevant works. Courses must meet the majority of the learning outcomes required by the equivalent course at CCS to be approved.
The number of possible credit transfers for each program is as follows:
- For the MFA in Interdisciplinary Design Studies, students may transfer up to 30 credits) from a graduate program towards the 60 credits required to complete a two year MFA. For all other MFA degrees, students can transfer up to 9 credits.
- For all MA design degrees, students can transfer up to 6 credit hours from a graduate program towards the 30 credits required to complete the one-year MA.
- Note: A limited number of transfer credits to the MA in Art Education is possible if directly aligned to the learning outcomes of any online courses being replaced. Transfer credit is not possible in lieu of summer residence classes.
- Eligibility for additional credit is determined on a case-by-case basis and will depend on factors such as the alignment of the transferred coursework with the CCS curriculum, the academic rigor of the courses, and the demonstrated proficiency of the student in those subjects. Students should contact the Program Chair to initiate a comprehensive evaluation of their previous coursework.
Up to 3 courses (nine credits) completed at the Graduate level as part of a CCS Bachelor of Fine Arts program may be applicable for transfer upon approval.
Transfer credits may be awarded for courses with a grade of B (3.0) or higher and completed within 10 years of the time of application.
Courses taken at an institution on a quarter or term academic calendar are converted to semester hours before being applied to CCS course requirements.
CCS must receive all official final transcripts, along with any supporting documentation or portfolio artifacts required for evaluation and placement of transfer credit
- before the end of the student’s 1st week of classes (for new/incoming students)
- within a month of completing the course(s) intended for transfer (for current students)

Frequently Asked Transfer Questions

What Is An Official Transcript?

Only transcripts mailed directly from your previous institution(s) to CCS, as well as transcripts sent directly to you and forwarded to CCS in the original sealed envelope, are considered official. Transcripts received by CCS from a certified digital document service such as Parchment or Clearinghouse are all considered official.

What If My Previous College Was On a Different Academic Calendar?

For in-person programs, CCS operates on a semester academic calendar of two fifteen-week long terms. Colleges operating outside the US, as well as those utilizing alternate units of credit, such as a ‘unit’ or a ‘quarter hour’- an academic calendar consisting of 3-4 main terms spanning 10 to 11 weeks per year- will need to be assessed to determine transferability. Since ‘quarter hour’ terms are shorter, a quarter ‘credit hour’ will require less instructional time. For this reason, students seeking transfer credit from intuitions that operate on a quarter-hour calendar (or other alternate structure) may have their courses combined to equal the instruction time and learning outcomes required in the equivalent CCS course.

*The low residency MA in Art Education utilizes the 8 week summer semesters for resident courses. The MA in User Experience Design (Distance Ed) operates with 8 compressed 7-week terms for accelerated completion.

How Long Will It Take To Complete My Degree?

In-person MA and MFA degrees are offered in full- and part-time mode. A full-time MFA degree may be completed in two years, and typically takes four years in part-time mode. The MFA in Interdisciplinary Design Studies can be taken in half that time if 30 credits are transferred (see above). A full-time MA degree takes one year to complete, two years in part-time mode.

The MA in Art Education is a low-residency program lasting 26 months. It runs over seven semesters (including three short summer semesters). Students attend campus for four weeks each July.

The MA in User Experience Design (Distance Ed.) is fully online, and takes 18 months to complete. It comprises 8 condensed 7-week courses for accelerated learning.

New students seeking clarification on time required to complete their degree at CCS should follow up with their Academic Adviser and/or Department Chair after receiving their Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE). Current students should meet with their Academic Adviser to review their degree audit for an understanding of remaining requirements and time required to complete them.

What If I Want To Change Majors

Students wishing to change their graduate design major, or mode of study, should refer to the Change of Graduate Program Policy.

What Happens To My Transfer Credit If I Change My Major?

Students should express their intent to change their major before finalizing enrollment. This allows the admissions office to re-evaluate all potential transfer credit for application to the student’s new major prior to enrollment.

If a current student decides to change majors at CCS, the transfer credit granted upon initial enrollment will undergo re-evaluation by the Program Chair. All relevant courses completed at CCS will be applied toward the student’s updated degree requirements. However, courses previously transferred to CCS may potentially fulfill an elective requirement, but if they no longer fulfill graduation requirements will default to an ‘Other Courses’ category, remaining in the student’s academic record but not counting towards degree completion. If students feel they have previously completed coursework that should be considered after declaring a change of major, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate this review and provide any required documentation or work examples to support the placement of credit.

Grading

Grading is based on performance in coursework, growth in ability, and professionalism. A continuous record of all grades throughout a student’s enrollment is kept in the Academic Advising and Registration Office. Final grade reports are available on the College’s learning management system the week after classes end. Faculty must enter midterm and final grades into Canvas.

CCS uses the following grading system:

Undergraduate Grading Scale

Grade	Rating	GPA	Description
A	Excellent	4.00	grade point
A-		3.70	grade point
B+		3.30	grade point
B	Good	3.00	grade point
B-		2.70	grade point
C+		2.30	grade point
C	Average	2.00	grade point
C-		1.70	grade point
D+		1.30	grade point
D	Poor	1.00	grade point
D-		0.70	grade point
F	Failing	0.00	grade point
NC	No Credit	0.00	no grade point value
P	Passing	0.00	no grade point value
I	Incomplete	0.00	no grade point value
W	Withdrawal	0.00	second through fourth week of class
WN	Withdrawal	0.00	after the fourth week of class
WF*	Withdrawal	0.00	stopped attending course without official withdrawal

Graduate Grading Scale

Grade	Rating	GPA	Description
A	Excellent	4.00	grade point
A-		3.70	grade point
B+		3.30	grade point
B	Good	3.00	grade point
B-		2.70	grade point
C+		2.30	grade point
C	Below Graduate	2.00	grade point (minimum required standard)
F	Failing	0.00	grade point
NC	No Credit	0.00	no grade point value
P	Passing	0.00	no grade point value
I	Incomplete	0.00	no grade point value
W	Withdrawal	0.00	second through fourth week of class
WN	Withdrawal	0.00	after the fourth week of class
WF*	Withdrawal	0.00	stopped attending course without official withdrawal

First Year Experience

The First Year Experience is a comprehensive transitional 1 credit hour course that begins the week prior to classes and continues throughout the first semester. It explores topics and issues that are pertinent to the success of students at CCS as well as building social interaction with faculty, staff and upper class students.

Passing this course is required for all freshmen (excluding transfer students with more than 12 transferable credit hours from an accredited U.S. institution) in order to move on to sophomore level classes.

Exhibitions

Reason for Policy

As an educational institution dedicated to nurturing the highest level of creativity both inside the classroom and out, College for Creative Studies (CCS) wholeheartedly supports the ability of students, faculty, staff, and invited guests to display their work on campus and other venues as may be appropriate. This policy provides guidelines for review, display, oversight, and other considerations of work exhibited under the College’s auspices to ensure, among other things, safety, security, suitability, and the right to freedom of expression.

Scope

The CCS Exhibition Policy is administered by the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs in consultation with the College administration. It is guided by the College’s Statement on Freedom of Expression, which holds that the free exploration, display, and exchange of ideas is fundamental to a democratic society, even, and perhaps especially, those that are considered controversial. At the same time, it recognizes that the right to free expression requires an ethical responsibility on the part of those who create these works, and their educators (as applicable), to consider where they may be displayed and with respect for the audiences who may encounter them. This exhibition policy specifically addresses those venues dedicated for the display of creative work, both on campus and off, sanctioned by the College. It does not bind CCS to sanction expressions carried out in situations beyond its control.

Guiding Principles

The presentation of creative work is fundamental to the educational mission of the College in fostering and promoting research, development, creation, and promulgation of knowledge in the arts and culture among its various and diverse audiences. The specific method and process by which work comes to be displayed under the auspices of College may differ, depending on the venue and the function. However, all work presented to the public under the College’s auspices is curated, which is to say that it undergoes a process overseen by the appropriate staff (i.e., full-time faculty, gallery directors, and/or other staff with the requisite authority) to ensure its suitability for display. The specific procedures and responsibilities for the various exhibition spaces and presentation activities are detailed in the “Venues” section that follows. The College retains the authority to make the final determination on which works are displayed, how they are displayed, and where they are displayed at College-sanctioned venues and special exhibitions.

Venues and Programs

The College has many spaces where creative work may be displayed. These include formally curated spaces as well as those that are improvised, temporary, or less deliberate. In each case, the purpose of the work being displayed and the audience that may encounter it must be taken into account.

Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs

CCS has a number of venues and programs organized under the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs. Below are the specific spaces and programs administered by the Office, as well as the procedures and responsibilities for each:

CCS Center Galleries: A curated space that presents a range of changing, high-quality exhibitions of local, regional, and international contemporary art and design, as well as public programs. The gallery accepts proposals from the CCS community and other constituents. Exhibitions are selected and scheduled by the Director of the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs in consultation with the Faculty Advisory Committee. Located in the Manoogian Visual Resources Center.
Alumni and Faculty Hall: Devoted to exhibitions featuring CCS alumni, faculty, and staff, who may propose them or be invited by the Director of the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs. Exhibitions are selected and scheduled by the Director of the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs in consultation with the Faculty Advisory Committee. Located in the MVRC in the hallway next to CCS Center Galleries.
Permanent Collection Gallery (also known as the Student Showcase): Dedicated to exhibitions of the College’s permanent collection. Located in the hallway off the rear entrance to MVRC.
Permanent Student Exhibition: Rotating exhibition of work by current CCS students from all undergraduate departments. Work is selected by the Department Chairs. Located in the MVRC near the front entrance.
U245 Student Gallery: A student-run exhibition space dedicated to the display of current CCS student work from all departments. Work is selected from a call for proposals by the student gallery manager in consultation with the U245 Faculty Advisor. Located on the first floor of the Art Centre Building.
The Valade Family Gallery: A venue for art in all of its multitudinous forms intended to foster dialogue among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community at large on a variety of issues of contemporary art and design. This space is particularly dedicated to supporting the educational mission of the College’s academic departments and offers a combination of curated and proposed exhibitions as determined by the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs in consultation with the Faculty Advisory Committee. Located on the first floor of the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education (TC)
Garfield Windows: Highlights a range of work by CCS students and alumni in reproduction form for the benefit of the public to help raise awareness of the College and promote its activities. Installation of work is overseen by the Director of the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs and the Marketing Department. The windows are located on the first floor of the Garfield Building on Woodward Avenue.
Woodward Lecture Series: This visiting speaker series has attracted over 100 renowned artists, critics, and scholars to Detroit since 1998. In addition to public lectures, Woodward Lecturers directly engage with CCS students through critiques and round-table discussions, fostering a greater understanding of and appreciation for contemporary art and culture. Lecturers are curated by the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs in collaboration with the Faculty Advisory Committee.

Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs oversees a number of activities to support its pedagogical mission for the benefit of students, faculty, staff, and, where appropriate, the public.

Classrooms/Studios: The College recognizes classrooms and studios as laboratories for investigation of a broad range of issues to further students’ creative development. Ideas presented in these spaces may be in the process of formation and subject to critique by peers, faculty, and other advisors. As such, work in process may find expression in these spaces that might need to be refined or discussed prior to being presented to the broader public. The College recognizes the right and the need for students to conduct investigations that may make some uncomfortable. At the same time, the College calls upon all concerned to exhibit respect for one another in their presentation and discussion of this work.
Hubs/Hallways: CCS has a number of spaces outside of classrooms that are thresholds between areas devoted to instruction and experimentation and those where the public has access and therefore may encounter the work of students in progress. The chair and faculty of each department select the work that is displayed in these areas. Judgment should be used on what to display in these areas for any period of time.
Toyota Lecture Series: Established through an endowment gift from Toyota Motor Company, the series brings prominent designers, critics, entrepreneurs, and scholars in all fields of design to speak at CCS. In addition to public lectures, the Toyota Lecture Series directly engages with CCS students through critiques, roundtable discussions, and workshops. Speakers are selected through a call for nominations, which are reviewed and approved by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Special lectures, workshops, and residencies: From time to time, special lectures and workshops presented by visiting artists and designers and other onsite activities may take place where work is presented and discussed. These activities may be in a single department or include multiple departments and may or may not be open to the public depending on the specific circumstance. These activities are approved by the Department Chair(s).

Special Exhibitions

The College regularly presents a variety of special exhibitions of student work in support of its educational mission, as well to showcase that work for the benefit of the public. Faculty and staff also exhibit their work at various venues on campus and off as part of their professional practice.

Annual CCS Student Exhibition: Opening the day after Spring Commencement, the Annual Student Exhibition showcases work by undergraduate and graduate students in all majors, including Foundation and Liberal Arts. The chair and faculty of each department are responsible for determining all work that is to be included in the Student Exhibition in that department’s section and overseeing its installation. See the Appendix: CCS Annual Student Exhibition Jury Procedures by Department for specific department guidelines. The exhibition is located at the Taubman Center, floors 8-11.
Winter Commencement Student Exhibition: All students graduating in December are given the opportunity to exhibit in the Annual CCS Student Exhibition. However, they are also given an opportunity to exhibit a more limited sampling of their work on the evening of December Commencement. Seniors wishing to exhibit in the Winter Commencement Exhibition must apply to the Department Chair by the due date and follow the procedures as set forth in the Appendix. The exhibition is located at the Taubman Center, Knight Gallery.
North American International Auto Show: Each January, CCS sponsors a booth at the North American International Auto Show to showcase the work of students in the Transportation Design Department and raise awareness among industry peers, the general public, and prospective students of the College as a global leader in design education. Work for the display is chosen by the Department Chair, the Provost, and the President. Location: Cobo Hall.
Other (student, faculty, staff): From time to time, students, faculty, and staff participate in exhibitions, presentations, and other activities at a wide range of venues, including museums, galleries, symposia, and more. Some, such as the Art Practice Department “One Night Stand,” are done under the College’s auspices whereas others, such as participation in a juried exhibition at a commercial gallery, are not. Presentations undertaken to represent the College are covered by this Exhibition Policy and the College’s Statement on the Freedom of Expression. Those undertaken independently are not. The College respects the right of students, faculty, and staff to put their creative expressions in the public domain, with the understanding that they may not reflect the views of the College, and CCS will not be held liable for their reception.

Environmental Concerns at CCS Venues

Traffic Flow: No artwork is allowed to block access to exits or entrances in any way.
Physical Hazard: Any installation must be secured in such a way that no one can be injured. Nothing must be allowed to fall down, tip over, or spill. No work is allowed to hang from water or electrical pipes.
Air Quality: To protect members of the public have allergies, asthma, or are otherwise chemically sensitive. Displays should not give off dust, fumes, vapors, scents, etc., that maybe toxic or an irritant.
Electrical: Electrical wiring needs to be of an appropriate gauge. Equipment must be protected from overheating. Use only heavy duty extension cords, and do not string extension cords together.
Technology: Exhibitions incorporating technology must be approved by the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs in consultation with the CCS Department of Information Technology Services. In the case of the CCS Annual Student Exhibition, all requests for technological support must be submitted through the respective department and approved by the Office of Information Technology Services. Student are not allowed to provide their own technology without prior written approval.
Perishable Items, live plants, live animals, body fluids: Some items (perishable or not) may only be used within limited constraints and must be approved by the proper College authorities. Situations that breed disease, foul odors, or insects will not be allowed.
Fire Hazards: Flammable or combustible material must be protect from ignition.
Graffiti/Vandalism: CCS supports a broad range of opportunities for expression for students, faculty, and staff to express their creative vision through exhibitions, performances, and other programs that may engage the broader community on and off campus. While some forms of graffiti have gained recognition as a viable form of creative expression, the College considers defacement of public or private property to be vandalism, not artwork. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to seek the appropriate permission to create works of art in the public realm. Those who commit vandalism on or off campus are subject to disciplinary action, which can range from remediation of the site and/or paying for damages up to dismissal. In addition to discipline by the College, individuals committing acts of vandalism may be subject to civil legal action by property owners and criminal prosecution for their actions.

Liability

The College assumes no responsibility for student work displayed in College venues or special exhibitions. Special exhibitions at CCS Center Galleries and the Valade Family Gallery and the CCS Permanent Collection may be covered by the College’s liability insurance policy. See the Director of the Office of Exhibitions and Public Programs for conditions that may apply.

Departmental Policies

Each department at CCS has established procedures for the display of work under their individual auspices. These procedures must be consistent with the principles and procedures detailed in this document. See the Appendix: CCS Annual Student Exhibition Jury Procedures by Department for specific department guidelines. The College retains the right to supersede departmental policies if it is deemed to be in its best interest to do so.

Freedom of Expression

The mission of the College for Creative Studies asserts that we embrace excellence, ethical action, and social responsibility in all aspects in the practice of art, design, and scholarship. To adequately support this mission, CCS must preserve freedom of expression in all its forms. Freedom of expression is essential to basic human dignity. It ensures that members of the CCS community (students, faculty, staff and guests invited by the College) are at liberty to develop their creative abilities to the fullest extent.

CCS supports the rights of its community members to research and create using all forms of expression. It supports the right to express one’s views publicly as well as privately at venues and in activities both on and off campus.

The CCS community recognizes that creative expression by its very nature may be provocative. To encourage healthy debate, members of the CCS community and guests must demonstrate respect for the right of others to express views which they find disagreeable or offensive. Likewise members of the CCS community must be sensitive to the various audiences who may encounter their work.

That being said, CCS also notes that this freedom is not absolute. In certain circumstances, the institution may restrict expression, for example, that violates the law, is harassing or defamatory, invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or does not meet curatorial standards. Moreover, the institution may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the College.

Junior Status

Students are required to complete all 15-18 credits of Foundation courses and 15 credits of 100/200 level Liberal Arts courses before they can begin their junior-level departmental studio courses.

Each department decides which departmental courses students must complete before progressing to junior-level department courses. Students who are placed into ELS 107 are not subject to the same Junior Status Policy requirements.

Students who fail to complete Junior Status requirements by the end of their sophomore year will receive a “Junior Status hold” and may need registration approval.

Foundation courses required

For Advertising, Communication Design, Photography, Film, and Interior Design Majors	*For Art Practice, Craft & Material Studies, and Fashion Design Majors**	For Entertainment Arts (Concept, Game, Animation), Illustration, Product Design, Transportation Design
DFN 135 Image Concepts I	DFN 103 Drawing I: Materials & Methods	DFN 101 Drawing I: Rapid Concept
DFN 136 Image Concepts II	DFN 104 Drawing II: Drawing as a Practice	DFN 112 Drawing II: Style & Skill
DFN 137 2D & 3D Integrated Design Studio	DFN 116 3D Techniques* (Fashion does not require DFN 116 due to the nature of its program.)	DFN 117 2D Design Principles
DFN 138 4D Design Studio	DFN 120 Design Color & Context	DFN 118 3D Design Form & Space
DFN 139 Color & Light Studies	DFN 121 3D Design Material Manifestation	DFN 119 Digital Techniques
DFN 142 Performance Spaces	DFN 119 Digital Techniques	DFN 132 Process & Making

Liberal Arts courses required

DEN 101, Composition I
DEN 102, Composition II
DEN 239, Survey of World Literature (catalog year, 2021 or earlier)
or
DAH —, History of Major (i.e. History of Advertising, Photography etc.) (catalog year, 2022 or later)
DAH 200, Art & Culture: Ages of Discovery
DAH 201, Visual Narration: Asia or Africa/America

Academic Integrity

Introduction

College for Creative Studies adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity throughout a student’s educational experience, in both academic writing and research and in studio work. Students who violate the standards of academic integrity face serious disciplinary consequences, including letters documenting the incident in their permanent record, failure of the assignment, immediate course failure, and/or dismissal from the College.

Faculty members have a responsibility to foster a culture of creative honesty, freedom, and intellectual expression for all students. Promoting and cultivating an environment of integrity reinforces that mandate and upholds the reputation of the College and its students.

Students should make sure they that have a clear understanding of these important issues and how they apply to both Liberal Arts and studio classes. The instructor or Department Chair should be consulted for clarification on how this relates to their discipline or project.

Scope and Purpose

This statement on academic integrity applies to all undergraduate and graduate students at College for Creative Studies. Students are responsible for seeking clarification on assignments to ensure full understanding of what practices might be deemed an incidence of academic misconduct, including unethical use of language, ideas, or creative expression.

The purpose of this statement is to:

Clarify the College’s expectations of academic integrity, and
Outline the process to be followed if this policy is violated.

Definition

The College condones no form of dishonesty in any academic activities, whether in academic writing and research or studio work. Academic dishonesty is defined as the use of a third party’s words, ideas, visual material, or physical artifacts as one’s own original work without proper permission, citation, or other appropriate recognition of source. Any act that assists academic dishonesty is itself a violation of the academic integrity policy.

Artists, designers, and writers draw on the work of others for reference, inspiration, and understanding. However, there is a difference between creative exploration, seeking inspiration, and considering the work of other creatives, and presenting language or ideas that are not your own without proper acknowledgement. Students are ultimately responsible for the creative integrity of their own work. Referencing or appropriating ideas may be part of an assignment, especially for written works, but it is always up to the student to include proper citation of the original material. That said, the College understands that new technologies might provoke further questions of boundaries. Students should consult faculty members for clarification as to what practices do and do not constitute creative dishonesty.

Types of Violations

While this list is meant to address broad categories of violations, it is not meant to be exhaustive and there may be other examples deemed as violations in respect to the written policy herein.

Buying papers or using a third party* to write a paper, or produce a studio project Submitting the same work in two courses without explicit permission. This could take the form of presenting all or part of work done from one course or independent study to another course requires permission of the instructor in the current course.
Unauthorized collaboration with other people or third party* tools. Many course activities permit and encourage collaboration. Course syllabi and in-class instructions will usually identify situations where collaboration on assignments is allowed. The student is responsible for determining whether collaboration is approved by seeking clarification from the instructor.
Cheating. This is a very broad category encompassing a variety of unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage. Examples include: copying another student’s work, unauthorized usage of third party* tools, using “crib notes” on tests, and accepting from or giving aid to another student unless authorized by the instructor.
Misrepresenting experience or ability. This includes providing false information concerning academic and creative achievement or background. For example: misrepresentation of technical abilities through the use of third party* tools, falsely reporting the substance of an internship, omitting transcripts, or otherwise providing false information, including submitting a falsified portfolio as part of the admission process.
Falsifying data or records.
Deleting/Destroying Student Work. All students must refrain from altering work that does not belong to them, regardless of the date the piece was created or its location. Destruction or deliberate inhibition of the progress of another student’s work is also strictly prohibited. This includes the deletion or destruction of digital files, sabotaging another student’s artwork, or destroying College property, including library materials, lab materials, and computer software, hardware, or studio space.

*Third party tools are defined as a person or artificial intelligence tool/system

Statute of Limitations

There is no statute of limitations on academic integrity violations. Academic integrity violations may be discovered and acted upon at any time during the course of a semester, after a semester has ended, and even after a student has graduated. Academic dishonesty that occurred prior to a student being admitted to CCS, and which has a bearing upon their status as a student in good standing, may also be discovered and acted upon, including but not limited to falsification of transcripts, portfolio work, or relevant experience.

Reporting Misconduct

Faculty, students, exam proctors, and administrative staff all share responsibility ensuring the honesty and fairness of the intellectual environment at CCS. It is the responsibility of every individual to report incidents of academic dishonesty to the appropriate faculty, Department Chair, exam proctor, and/or College officer.

Processes, Procedures, and Potential Outcomes

Faculty or staff who suspect a violation of academic integrity should immediately inform the student of the nature of the violation and advise him/her that they will not be able to withdraw from the course until the case is reviewed and resolved.
Faculty or staff should complete an online Academic Integrity Violation Report documenting the alleged violation. The report is sent automatically to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Academic Advising and Registration Office for recording.
The faculty member or staff member should identify and collect supporting evidence of the alleged violation, such as comparisons of writing samples or creative processes, witness statements, and/or forensic investigations.
Within seven business days of receiving the report, the chairperson of the department in which the alleged violation occurred, will notify the Office of Academic Affairs. The Office of Academic Affairs will appoint a Hearing Officer and will schedule an academic hearing to be attended by the instructor, the student, the Department Chair, and the Hearing Officer. The Student Advocate may attend the hearing, at the student’s request. No other persons will be allowed in the hearing. The Hearing Officer will chair the hearing.
All relevant factors, including the nature of the offense, the severity of any damage, injury or harm resulting from the offense, and the student’s statement will be taken into consideration in the hearing.
Outcomes of the hearing will be determined by the instructor, the Department Chair, and the Hearing Officer, who will communicate the findings to the student.

Potential Outcomes

Charged Dropped- Insufficient Evidence

In the case of denial by the student and the impossibility of determining adequate support of the violation, the charge will be dismissed. (Determination of adequate support may include but is not limited to comparisons of writing samples or creative processes, witness statements, and/or forensic investigations.)

First Offense

If the work is determined or affirmed by the student to be in violation, an academic sanction will be imposed and a letter placed in the student’s file. First offense sanctions may be but are not limited to:
Repeating the assignment
Failure of the assignment
Failure of the course
Academic probation
Suspension
Dismissal from the College

Second Offense

Second offense sanctions may be but are not limited to:
Academic probation
Suspension
Dismissal from the College

Process of Record Keeping

If the work is determined or acknowledged by the student to be in violation, a letter will be placed in the student’s file in the Registrar’s Office.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

A student accused of an academic integrity violation is entitled to:

Review the evidence prior to the academic hearing.
Offer an explanation as to what occurred and present any supporting material.
Determine the validity of the charge without reference to any past record of misconduct.
Have the Student Advocate present in the hearing to ensure a fair process is granted (optional).

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the results of an academic hearing. Appeals must be initiated in writing either via email or in hardcopy to the Office of Academic Affairs within seven business days following the findings of the academic hearing and imposition of a sanction.

The appeal will be submitted to the Committee on Academic Performance who will review it and render a final decision or conduct an appeal hearing before reaching a final decision. If the Committee is unable to meet in a timely manner, the appropriate Dean or the Provost may serve as the Hearing Officer. The appeal decision will be communicated to the student in written form and documentation will be placed in their file. The ruling of Committee on Academic Performance (or the Provost or appropriate Dean, as applicable) is final.

Declaring or Changing Majors

If you are an undeclared student and need to declare your major, or you are a student who wishes to change your major, you must:

Meet with a staff advisor in the Academic Advising and Registration Office (AARO)to discuss your plans. Complete and sign the Change of Major form. It is best to make any changes before registering for the upcoming semester.
Meet with the chair of the department you intend to enter and have him/her approve the transfer of any credits from your old major to the new major (if applicable) and sign and date the Change of Major Form.
The Program Manager will forward the completed form to the Academic Advising and Registration Office.

If a student decides to change majors, all classes already taken will count in the maximum timeframe SAP evaluation. It is possible a change of major could impact your SAP standing.

Grade Appeal Process

Students who have concerns about their grades should discuss those concerns with the instructor who issued the grade. If a solution cannot be reached, the student should meet with the appropriate Department Chair to discuss and resolve the issue. If resolution still cannot be reached, students may then submit a written request for an appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs identifying the course and instructor, along with an explanation of the circumstances and reason for the request. Students must submit this documentation within 60 days after the last day of the semester in which the student was enrolled in the course. The Office of Academic Affairs will appoint a Hearing Officer (an academic Dean, the Provost, or a Department Chair other than the Department from which the appeal originates) and will schedule an academic hearing to be attended by the instructor, the student, the Department Chair, and the Hearing Officer. The Student Ombudsman may attend the hearing, at the student’s request. No other persons will be allowed in the hearing. The Hearing Officer will chair the hearing.

Students have the right to appeal the results of this hearing. These appeals must be initiated in writing either via email or in hard-copy to the Office of Academic Affairs within seven business days following the findings of the hearing. The appeal will be submitted to the Academic Performance Committee who will review it and render a final decision or conduct an appeal hearing before reaching a final decision. If the Committee is unable to meet in a timely manner, the appropriate Dean or the Provost may serve as the Hearing Officer. The appeal decision will be communicated to the student in written form and documentation will be placed in their file. The ruling of the Academic Performance Committee (or the Provost or appropriate Dean, as applicable) is final.

Grade Changes

Any grade dispute must be addressed with the instructor that issued the grade. Should the instructor agree to change the grade, he or she must complete a Grade Change Form. If the dispute is not resolved, the student may initiate the Grade Appeal Process.

Grade changes must occur within 60 days of the last day of the semester in which the student was enrolled in the course. The Office of Academic Affairs must approve all grade changes beyond a 60-day period.

Students who have a grade change or incomplete grade changed after Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) has already been processed for any semester must notify Academic Advising and Registration of the change. At that time SAP will be recalculated to determine if the SAP status needs to be modified and the Office of Academic Advising and Registration will notify the Office of Financial Aid.