Academic Evaluation

Students should review their academic evaluation at the end of each semester. A copy of the academic evaluation may be obtained through WebAdvisor or the Academic Advising and Registration Office. The academic evaluation identifies academic progress made toward a degree. Courses are identified by alpha letters indicating progress:

  • “C” next to a course indicates course completion
  • “I” indicates a course in progress
  • “N” is a course not started
  • “P” is a course pending completion of unfinished activity

Other Courses

In the academic evaluation there is an “other courses” section at the end of the evaluation. Courses that are not applying to the student’s major will default into this area. These courses normally default into this area if a student has changed their major and the old course is not applicable to the new major. Students can speak with their department chair about having these courses applied to their current program. Students will also see courses that they’ve withdrawn from or failed into this section. These courses are not applying to the students current degree program.

Academic advisors routinely review academic evaluations to ensure progress is being made. Students with questions should contact the Academic Advising and Registration Office.

Adding/Dropping Classes

Courses for which a student is enrolled at the conclusion of the Add/Drop period will be used to determine attempted courses for the Course Completion Rate. Therefore, if it is necessary to adjust one’s class schedule, it is best to do so during the Add/Drop period of the semester. Courses that are dropped after conclusion of the Add/Drop period will show a recorded grade of W, WN, or WF. This will be counted as an unsuccessfully completed course, thus lowering the student’s completion rate.

Students may use Self-Service to add or drop classes up until the last day to add a class in accordance with the academic calendar. After the last day to add a course, if a student wishes to drop a course, students must complete the online drop form that is available on the AARO Campus Office page. 

Students who drop classes during the first seven business days of classes (see Academic Calendar for specific dates) are not charged for the drop. After the seventh day, dropped classes are charged on a sliding scale and those courses will receive a grade of “W”, “WN”, or “WF”.

The academic calendar offers specific tuition reimbursement information. The last day to withdraw from a course is on the Friday of the thirteenth week of classes. No exceptions to this deadline will be made.

The College reserves the right to cancel or change classes, instructors, and schedules; to revise tuition and fee structure; and to amend College policies for the efficient operation of the College. Students are notified by the Academic Advising and Registration Office of any course changes.

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.

Complete Withdrawal

When a withdrawal occurs (cancellation of all courses for which a student was enrolled at conclusion of the Add/Drop period of a semester), there are no successfully completed courses for the semester. This will lower your Course Completion Rate and can result in suspension and/or loss of financial aid eligibility if you already had a low course completion rate or there are consecutive withdrawals over a number of semesters.

See the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for information on how financial aid is calculated for withdrawals.

Code of Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct is in place to ensure students are aware of the behavior expected of them as members of the CCS community. The purpose of this Code is to create an environment that fosters civility, personal responsibility, and mutual respect of others and their differences.

Any student who commits a violation of the Code of Student Conduct is subject to disciplinary sanction, up to and including dismissal from CCS. The following actions/behaviors shall constitute violations of the Code of Student Conduct:

  1. Violating published CCS policies, rules, or regulations including, but not limited to, the policies on nondiscrimination, sexual harassment, smoking, drugs/controlled substance and alcohol.
  2. Violating federal, state or local laws on CCS premises or while in attendance at CCS sponsored, approved, or supervised events/programs or committing off-campus violations of federal, state or local law that adversely affect CCS, the pursuit of its objectives and/or a CCS community member (defined as, but not limited to: administrators, faculty, staff, students, guests, visitors, vendors or contractors).
  3. Committing acts of sexual assault (stranger, date, or acquaintance rape), or other forms of coerced sexual activity.
  4. Engaging in acts of physical abuse and/or actions that intimidate, harass, threaten, coerce, or otherwise endanger the health and safety of one’s self or another.
  5. Engaging in disorderly conduct or fighting, which is defined to include, but is not limited to, behaviors which are viewed as intoxicated, lewd, indecent, obscene, slanderous or threatening to others.
  6. Interrupting or disturbing the day-to-day academic and operational functions of CCS or committing intentional acts that obstruct, disrupt, or physically interfere with the use of CCS premises, buildings, or passages.
  7. Possessing, duplicating, or using keys/IDs to any CCS building or facility without authorization by appropriate CCS officials or committing an act of unauthorized entry into or use of CCS buildings or facilities by use of key, ID card or force.
  8. Engaging or participating in acts of unauthorized possession, use, removal, defacing, tampering, damage, or destruction of CCS owned or leased property, equipment, computer programs, or materials, or that of any CCS community member.
  9. Posting, affixing, or otherwise attaching unauthorized written or printed messages or materials, e.g. posters, signs, handbills, brochures, or pamphlets. Posting, affixing, or otherwise attaching authorized afore mentioned materials on or in unauthorized places including but not limited to trees, shrubbery, sidewalks, buildings, and lawn areas without permission from the appropriate CCS official.
  10. Engaging or participating in unauthorized possession or use of explosives, firearms, dangerous weapons, or other hazardous objects or substances. Weapons, explosives, and other hazardous objects or substances covered by this regulation shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
    • all handguns, rifles, and shotguns;
    • all longbows, crossbows, and arrows;
    • all knives having a blade length of three inches or more that are not solely used for the purpose of creating art or for the preparation and eating of meals;
    • all BB guns, pellet guns, air/CO2 guns, blow guns, paint guns, splat balls and altered toy guns;
    • all fireworks;
    • all explosives, laboratory chemicals, dangerous compounds, gunpowder, firearm ammunition, and flammable petroleum fuels;
    • any martial arts weapons, e.g., numb chucks and throwing stars;
    • any substance that is considered poisonous:
    • any item used as a weapon in the commission of a crime; and
    • any operative animal trap or other device that is used to ensnare animals.
  11. Committing acts of arson, creating a fire hazard, or possessing or using, for purposes other than academic, inflammable materials or hazardous substances on CCS property, or failing to properly store, use, clean-up and dispose of hazardous substances that have been approved for academic use.
  12. Committing acts that endanger the property of CCS (including but not limited to altering or misusing any firefighting equipment, safety equipment, or emergency device).
  13. Making false reports of a fire, bomb threat, or other dangerous condition; failing to report a fire, or interfering with the response of CCS or municipal officials to emergency calls.
  14. Failing to comply with the directions of CCS officials acting in the performance of their duties and/or failing to positively identify oneself to a CCS official when requested to do so. The preferred form of identification shall be a current, valid CCS identification card.
  15. Aiding and abetting another person in committing an act that violates the Code of Student Conduct.
  16. Committing acts of dishonesty including but not limited to the following:
    • engaging or participating in cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty (students committing acts of academic dishonesty are also subject to academic sanctions).
    • furnishing false information to any CCS official/office or outside source regarding CCS or a CCS community member.
    • forging, altering, or misusing any CCS document, record, or instrument of identification.
    • tampering with the election of any CCS-recognized student organization.
    • attempting to represent CCS, any recognized student organization, or any official CCS group without the explicit prior consent of the officials of that group.
  17. Gambling on CCS property or engaging in unauthorized canvassing or solicitation.
  18. Engaging in acts of theft, misuse or abuse of the CCS computer network, including but not limited to:
    • unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change its contents.
    • unauthorized transfer, deletion or storage of a file(s).
    • unauthorized use of another person’s login/password.
    • use of computing facilities/networks to interfere with the work of another.
    • use of computing facilities/networks to send inappropriate or obscene messages.
    • use of computing facilities/networks to interfere with the normal operation of CCS.
  19. Possessing, distributing or being under the influence of cannabis (marijuana) or any State or Federally controlled substance except as expressly permitted by law.
  20. Possessing, distributing or being under the influence alcohol except as expressly permitted by law and CCS policy.
  21. Engaging or participating in abuse of the campus judicial system, including but not limited to:
    • falsifying or misrepresenting information before a CCS official.
    • disrupting or interfering with the orderly conduct of a judicial proceeding.
    • instituting a judicial complaint knowingly without cause.
    • attempting to discourage an individual’s proper participation in, or use of, the judicial proceeding.
    • attempting to influence the impartiality of a CCS official prior to, during, and/or after a judicial proceeding.
    • harassing (verbal or physical) and/or intimidating a CCS official prior to, during, and/or after a judicial proceeding.
    • failing to comply with the sanction(s) imposed under the Code of Student Conduct.
    • influencing or attempting to influence another person to commit an abuse of the campus judicial system.
  22. Planning, directing, or committing acts of hazing, defined as any activity which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of an individual or subjects an individual to ridicule, embarrassment, or unlawful activity for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, an officially or unofficially recognized group or organization.
  23. Committing violations of rules and regulations duly established and promulgated by other CCS departments.
  24. Desktop (non-portable) vaporizers are not permitted to be used inside CCS Academic Facilities or Residence Halls. Portable vaporizers are permitted to be used in common areas of the building provided that the do not create a distraction or nuisance to the educational environment or other CCS community members.
  25. The deletion or destruction of digital files, another student’s artwork or college property is prohibited. Students must refrain from altering work that does not belong to them, regardless of the date the piece was created or location.

College Liability

The College assumes no responsibility for the loss of or damage to student property. While the College exercises great care with regard to the safety of students working in studios and shops, it cannot be responsible for injuries that may occur. Students found damaging the work of other students are subject to disciplinary measures up to and including dismissal from the College.

Class Audit

Students, graduates and visitors may audit a class on a space-available basis. No academic credit is awarded for audited courses. Those wishing to audit a course may register by adhering to the policy and following the procedures and guidelines listed below:

  1. Matriculating (B.F.A.) and nonmatriculating (e.g., visitors, CCS graduates) students who wish to audit a class must elect to do so at the time of registration by submitting a completed Audit Registration form, available in the Academic Advising and Registration Office.
  2. Students electing to audit a class may not register for that class until the first week of class for the semester. Students may not register for a class after the first week of any semester.
  3. Once the election has been made to audit a class, the student may not change the registration to receive credit for the class.
  4. Audited courses carry no credit and do not satisfy degree requirements. Upon completion of the course, the audit grade of X will appear on the student’s transcript. (The grade of X is not used in the calculation of cumulative grade point average or course completion rate.)
  5. Regular tuition rates are charged for audited courses. The refund policy for audited and credit courses is the same and is outlined in the Course Schedule.
  6. Matriculating (B.F.A.) students are permitted to audit one course each semester during their B.F.A. tenure at CCS, with a staff advisor’s approval.
  7. Nonmatriculating students (visitors, CCS graduates) are limited to three classes per semester.

Attendance

Regular class attendance is essential for learning and academic success. Students are expected to attend all class meetings, on time and for the full duration, and be prepared to work on that day’s assignment. Faculty are responsible for establishing an attendance policy for each of their classes and for outlining that policy on the course syllabus. Students are responsible for knowing the attendance policy for their class and adhering to those requirements. Exceptions to an instructor’s attendance policy should be discussed with that instructor.

CCS Students using veterans’ benefits will have attendance monitored throughout the semester for reporting purposes to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Related Forms

ABSENCE EXPLANATION FORM

Nondiscrimination

Notice of Nondiscrimination

The College for Creative Studies subscribes to the principle of equal opportunity in its employment, admissions, educational practices, scholarship and loan programs and other school-administered programs, and strives to provide an educational environment and workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Discrimination, including harassment, because of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, physical attributes, marital or familial status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law is strictly prohibited.  

Questions, comments, and reports about harassment or discrimination based on any of these characteristics can be directed to one of the following administrators:

Assistant Dean for Institutional Equity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator Institutional Equity and Inclusion
Taubman Center, 9th Floor
460 W. Baltimore Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202 313-664-1489
diversity@collegeforcreativestudies.edu or ddyoung@collegeforcreativestudies.edu

Human Resources
Director Office of Human Resources
201 E. Kirby
Detroit, MI 48202
313-664-7651
rdiroff@collegeforcreativestudies.edu

Further inquiries can be directed to:
The Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
1-800-421-3481

Related federal and state laws:

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students the certain rights with respect to their educational records.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.) These rights include:

1.  The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day the College for Creative Studies (CCS) receives a request for access. A student should submit to the Registrar, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect.  The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2.  The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

A student who wishes to ask CCS to amend a record should write the Registrar, clearly identifying the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed.

If CCS decides not to amend the record as requested, the Registrar will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3.  The right to provide written consent before CCS discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, § 99.32 of FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose PII from the education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student —

  • To other school officials, including faculty, within CCS whom the College has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes Board of Trustees, a student serving on an official committee, contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in § 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) – (a)(1)(i)(B)(3) are met. (§ 99.31(a)(1))
  • To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of § 99.34. (§ 99.31(a)(2))
  • To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U.S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the university’s State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§ 99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
  • In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§ 99.31(a)(4))
  • To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§ 99.31(a)(6))
  • To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§ 99.31(a)(7))
  • To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§ 99.31(a)(8))
  • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§ 99.31(a)(9))
  • To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to § 99.36. (§ 99.31(a)(10))
  • To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense, subject to the requirements of § 99.39. The disclosure may only include the final results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding. (§ 99.31(a)(13))
  • Information the school has designated as “directory information” under § 99.37. (§ 99.31(a)(11)).  CCS defines the following as “directory information:”
  • Name
  • Dates of Attendance
  • Graduation Date
  • Major/Academic Program
  • Degrees, honors, and awards received

4.  The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by CCS to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Information for Dual Enrolled High School Students

A student attending a postsecondary institution – at any age – the rights under FERPA have transferred to the student. However, in a situation where a student is enrolled in both a high school and a postsecondary institution, the two schools may exchange information on that student. If the student is under 18, the parents still retain the rights under FERPA at the high school and may inspect and review any records sent by the postsecondary institution to the high school.

Student Information Release Authorization

To release PII to a parent, another individual, or organization, the Student Information Release Authorization must be completed and signed. This form is available in the Academic Advising and Registration Office (AARO).

Request to Withhold Release of Directory Information

To request to withhold the release of directory information, the Request to Withhold Release of Directory Information must be completed and signed. This form is available in the Academic Advising and Registration Office (AARO).