Tag: academic

Chosen and Legal Name

The College for Creative Studies recognizes the importance of accommodating members of the institution regarding the use of an individual’s legal or chosen name, while remaining in compliance with federal and legal obligations. There are various reasons students, faculty and staff may choose to use a name to identify themselves that differs from their legal name. It is the policy of the College to use a chosen name (if requested) within CCS systems where a legal name is not absolutely necessary. The use of a chosen name does not automatically change the legal name in College systems/records. Proper documentation is required for students, staff or faculty members that wish to change their legal name.

Definitions

Legal Name – a name, also commonly known as a given name, that appears on the state issued ID card, driver’s license, passport, social security card, birth certificate, and immigration documents.  Documentation (marriage license, court order, divorce decree, etc) is required to change a legal name. A legal name change will result in a comprehensive change in the individual’s records.

Chosen Name – a first name that you may choose to be called. It is different from your legal first name and no legal documentation is required. A chosen name, also known as preferred name, is generally used by individuals who choose to use:

Legal Name Policy

CCS must always maintain a record of students’ and employees’ legal name and are used where required within CCS records/systems (i.e., Human Resource records, Financial Aid documents, student conduct records, medical/insurance records, academic transcripts, etc). A legal name will continue to appear within institution records for reasons related to conducting institutional business, technology limitations or if required by law. Legal name change requests will be approved based on submission of legal evidence indicating the name change.  All requests must be verified with Information Technology Services through the approving office, to update CCS systems.

Chosen Name Policy

A chosen name will appear in select institutional systems, records, or documents in which a legal name is not required. To assure accurate identification, the legal last name will appear along with the chosen first name whenever possible. CCS reserves the right to remove or deny the chosen first name if used inappropriately. This includes, but is not limited to, names using foul or inappropriate language, names submitted to avoid a legal obligation, fraud, and names used to create misrepresentation.  A chosen name that includes numbers or symbols will not be recognized. Each individual may request one chosen first name change during each twelve month period.  An Individual may request to revert back to their legal name at any time. Historical notes in systems may not be updated to reflect the change. 

A chosen name can appear on CCS ID cards and email, among other approved areas if requested. All requests must be verified with Information Technology Services through the approving office, to update CCS systems.

For the purpose of F-1 and J-1 student visa status, the legal name must be used on I-20s and DDS-2019s. An individual’s legal name is what appears on the passport.

Under FERPA, a student’s chosen name or legal name may be disclosed as directory information (unless a request to withhold is on file to prevent disclosure, see FERPA Policy). The Chosen name will be used as first preference.

Note: Parents/families that have access to your personal CCS accounts, will be able to see the same information accessed by a student or employee. It is recommended that personal accounts and login information is not shared with anyone (including family).

Procedures for Chosen Name Requests and Legal Name Changes

Procedures for chosen and legal names may vary. Individuals interested in updating personal records should contact the appropriate office directly related to their status of enrollment or employment. 

Chosen & Legal Name Display Areas: 

The below chart indicates where chosen and legal names will appear in CCS records and documents, along with the affiliated campus office*. 

If a chosen name is requested, it will display on all items in the “Chosen Name” column. 

The Legal Name will always appear within records listed in the “Legal Name” column.

*Changes to a name (chosen or legal) may take 2 to 3 business days to update across campus systems.

“The college will continue to review the section below to adhere to policy updates and institutional changes that impact the use of Chosen and Legal Names.”

Academic Advising & registration Office (aARO)

Last Updated: 07/30/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Academic EvaluationTranscripts (Official, Unofficial, and CE)
Registration ConfirmationEnrollment Verifications
Class ScheduleSubpoenas
Graduation Reports
Academic Standing (probation/suspension)
Diplomas
Commencement line-up name cards
Commencement Program
Deposit Reports
Course & Attendance Rosters
Student Email*
* All student records (UG, MFA, TC, Guest Students and non credit records)

Academic Affairs

Last Updated: 08/10/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Dean’s/President’s list/lettersAcademic Honesty Records/notifications
Review week schedules for departmentsImre Molnar Award letters
Mentor or other Departmental student listsAward of Academic Excellence – Graduate Studies
Student Affairs Monthly Reports

admissions

Last Updated: 08/17/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Transfer Credit EvaluationsAcceptance Letters
Admissions EmailMerit Scholarship Award letters
Text messagesMailed documents

International admissions

Last Updated: 08/10/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Individual communication (email & text)Admissions documents & reports
Institutional communication

Business Services/Payroll<br><em>Students, faculty & Staff</em>

Last Updated: 08/10/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Tuition Billing
Checks
Pay Stubs
W2’s
All payroll systems/reports
Receipts

Campus Safety

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
CCS ID cards

Career Development

Last Updated: 08/13/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
College Central Network (formerly Job Book)
Display/exhibition, Career Dev. recruiting events (or showcase)

Financial aid

Last Updated: 08/10/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Individual Email communicationFinancial Aid Award letters
Mailed correspondence
Correspondence with Department of Education
Loan records
Pell Grant records
Enrollment records

Human resources

Last Updated: 08/10/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Employee/Phone DirectoryIRS forms
CCS Employee ID cardBenefits
CCS Employee email*Retirement
Employee hire records
Work-Study hire records
Tuition remission records
Employee fee waivers (credit and non-credit)
*IT updates systems, but does not handle the initial requests for changes. Updates by office requests.

Information technology

Last Updated: 08/11/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
CCS email address*
Access Manager*
Self-Service – student*
Self-Service – staff*
WebAdvisor for Faculty*
Phone Directory*
*IT updates systems, but does not handle the initial requests for changes. Updates by office requests.

International Student Services Office (ISSO)<br>International Students

Last Updated: 08/10/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Registration Confirmations (AARO printed)Registration Confirmations (ISSO printed)
Degree AuditsSEVIS
Immigration documents

Office for Institutional Equity & Inclusion

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Title IX records

student affairs<br>Student Life<br>Housing<br>Wellness Center<br>Nurse

Last Updated: 07/31/20

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
On-Campus housing rostersMeal Plans
Roommate assignmentsMedical & Insurance Records
OrientationStudent Disability Services Records
Disability Accommodation NotificationsStudent Conduct Records
Student Elections
Student Organization Representatives

compliance reporting for Internal & external auditing processes

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
use of Legal name as required

compliance Reporting Requirements As Mandated By Authorized Entities Of The U.S. Government

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
use of Legal name as required

Compliance Reporting Requirements AS Mandated By The State OF Michigan

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
use of Legal name as required

compliance with Subpoenas

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
use of Legal name as required

alumni Office

Chosen Name
(if requested)
Displays on:		Legal Name
will display:
Tax receipts & gift agreements

Application Procedures for Financial Aid

Fill out the FAFSA

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to be considered for need-based financial aid. The form is available through the U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

The recommended filing deadline to ensure eligibility for all programs is March 1st. Note that the FAFSA must be signed by the student and parent (if required) to be considered submitted. The financial aid cycle favors those students who file in a timely fashion and complete the required documentation early. CCS’ Title IV school code is 006771.

CCS strongly advises students file the FAFSA by the recommended date even if they are uncertain of their plans for the upcoming year to ensure they can receive funding in all programs they qualify for if they do attend.

Most students are considered a dependent of their parents for purposes of financial aid and will be required to provide their parent’s financial information and signature on the FAFSA. To determine if you are considered a dependent of your parents for purposes of financial aid, visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/dependency

Complete Verification

In some cases additional documentation may be needed to confirm information provided on the FAFSA is accurate. 30% of all applicants are randomly selected for verification, or you may be selected due to an individual item that needs to be resolved.

Requested documentation must be received before financial aid can be processed and applied to the student’s account.

Documentation requests are sent via email to the student’s CCS email address. If additional documentation is requested it should be provided to Financial Aid as soon as possible, but no later than six weeks before the end of the enrollment period. If you have questions about the documentation or the due date, contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss.

Award Notifications

Once the FAFSA is completed and any additional documentation requested has been provided to the Financial Aid Office students will receive a Financial Aid Notification detailing the amounts and types of aid they are eligible for. Incoming students receive paper notification in the mail and are required to complete and return a copy to the Financial Aid Office. Returning students receive email notification their funding has been calculated and are able to view and accept their awards on WebAdvisor.

Loan Programs

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan Program

A federal loan program available to students who have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to assist students and families with the costs of education. The government guarantees the loans, so no co-signer or credit check is necessary. The amounts that can be received for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans are set by the government based on the student’s grade level and financial need. The amounts listed on your Financial Aid Notification letter reflect your specific eligibility. Repayment begins six months after graduation, upon enrollment of less than half-time or upon withdrawal from the College. More information can be found under the Financial Aid section of the Campus Offices site.

Federal Parent PLUS Loan Program

The federal Parent PLUS loan is intended to assist parents in paying for their children’s education or, more often, to supplement the financial aid received by their student. This is a supplemental loan based on a credit application. Repayment generally begins 60 days after the final disbursement. For most families, this means March of the academic year. However, once your loan has been disbursed you may request that repayment be deferred during periods while your student is enrolled at least half-time (6.0 credits). More information can be found under the Financial Aid section of the Campus Offices site.

Alternative/Supplemental Loan Program

Students who require funding beyond what grants, scholarships, and federal Subsidized/ Unsubsidized loans provide may want to consider applying for a supplemental loan to cover the remaining tuition balance and/or costs for indirect expenses like transportation, living expenses, or books & supplies. Alternative loans are private supplemental loans offered by various lenders. They are meant to function as a supplement to the grants, scholarships, and Direct Loans you receive. Visit the Financial Aid section of the Campus Offices site for more information on Alternative/Private Loans.

Required Steps for Federal Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans

In addition to officially accepting the loans on the award notification letter or WebAdvisor, students borrowing Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan funds at CCS for the first time will be required to complete a Subsidized/Unsubsidized Master Promissory Note and Loan Entrance Counseling before their funds can be processed. These steps should be completed as soon as possible, but no later than one week before the end of the enrollment period. Students must be currently enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to be eligible for their loans. The Mastery Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling can be found at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action

Students who initially decline their loans can accept them later as long as they are still enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) and all necessary paper work is completed at least one week before the end of the enrollment period.

Refunds

Students who borrow or receive aid in excess of the charges owed to CCS will receive a refund check for the overage from the Business Services Office. These funds can and must be used only to pay indirect educational costs, including books & supplies, housing, food, transportation, child care and personal expenses (such as laundry & toiletries).

Loans are disbursed on a schedule determined by a student’s grade level and can be affected depending on when a student completed the various forms of paper work required. Assuming all paper work was completed in a timely manner, refunds for juniors and seniors are available the second Friday of the semester, sophomores and returning freshman the third Friday of the semester and first-time freshman the fourth Friday of the semester.

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid

Students who receive financial aid must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as determined by the College for Creative Studies in accordance with federal regulations. Financial aid recipients are required to be in good academic standing and to maintain SAP toward their degree requirements for each semester in which they are enrolled.

The standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measure a student’s academic progress using both qualitative and quantitative measurements. These measurements include a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement, a Course Completion Rate requirement, and a Maximum Time frame requirement. The standards apply to all federal and state financial aid programs administered by the College’s Office of Financial Aid.

SAP is evaluated at the end of each term (Fall, Winter, and Summer). Federal regulations require the College to evaluate all students for SAP regardless of whether or not they receive financial aid. SAP is evaluated based on the student’s cumulative academic record.

Students who do not meet SAP standards will be placed on academic warning for one semester. Students are eligible to receive financial aid during the academic warning semester. If at the end of that semester both markers of SAP have not been achieved, the student will be suspended and any future financial aid disbursements terminated.

Assigning Academic Credit

College for Creative Studies uses credit hours as a general measure of academic work and progress toward degrees at both the Undergraduate and Graduate level. The College’s use of credit hours complies with standards established by our accrediting bodies and is consistent with generally accepted practices of peer institutions across the nation.

At CCS, one credit hour represents an average of at least three hours of work each week for a period of 15 or 16 weeks. Most classes offered award three credit hours upon successful completion, hence an average of at least nine hours per week of classroom and outside work, totaling 135 hours in a 15-week semester is expected.

  • For studio courses, three credit hours represents six hours of class time with an average of at least three hours of work outside of class each week.
  • For lecture classes, including Liberal Arts, three credit hours represents three hours of class time with an average of at least six hours of work outside of class each week.

    Workloads may vary from class to class, depending upon the period during the semester, but students should expect to commit to an average of at least nine hours of classroom and outside work per week for every three credit hour class taken.

During a 15 or 16-week semester students enrolled in a three credit hour independent study or a three credit fully online course are expected to commit to at least nine hours of work per week or 135 hours. Summer courses that are offered in a condensed term are scheduled to have the same number of classroom hours as a lecture or studio class of equal credit would have over a 15-week semester. Likewise, the weekly expectation of outside of class work is adjusted so that the classroom and outside work totals at least 135 hours.

Students in the undergraduate program may complete more than 3 hours of effort per credit during an elective internship, a CCS travel class or Directed Teaching.

Areas of Emphasis and Minors

Emphasis

An emphasis is a required focused area of study within a major and is part of the 60 credits required for the major courses within an undergraduate program. Enrolled students are required to meet the current emphasis credit requirements, which range from 12 to 30 credits depending on the major and emphasis.

The following undergraduate departments have a required area of emphasis:

MajorEmphasis Area Options
Advertising DesignAdvertising or Copywriting
Craft & Material StudiesCeramics, Glass, Fiber & Textiles or Metalsmithing/Jewelry
Fashion Fashion Design or Fashion Accessories
Entertainment ArtsAnimation, Concept Design, or Game
The emphasis appears on the final official transcript but does not appear on the diploma.

Minors

Liberal Arts and Studio minor options are available to undergraduate level students. A Studio Minor is an area of study outside the major that provides students the ability to customize their studies by gaining knowledge and proficiency in a different discipline. A Liberal Arts Minor is a focused area of study within the Liberal Arts subjects. 

Studio and Liberal Arts minors require 15.0 credits to complete. A list of available minor options is published on the CCS Website and provided with the associated form (see the Liberal Arts Minor Declaration Form and/or Studio Minor Declaration Form) that can be found on the Campus Offices site under the Academic Advising and Registration Office. Students must consult with the Department Chair of the minor for detailed information and minor expectations. Some minors are customized based on students’ interest and/or skill. Designated major departments will allow a minor within the same major if the minor’s emphasis (or specialized area of focus) is “different” from emphasis outlined in the major. Example: Transportation Design major can minor in Automotive Clay Modeling; Crafts/Ceramics major can minor in Crafts/Glass; Entertainment Arts/Animation major can minor in Entertainment Arts/Game, etc. 

  • Declaring a minor is not required to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. 
  • Minors can only be attempted while pursuing a BFA and cannot be attempted post graduation. 
  • Once a minor is added to the student’s record, all requirements for the existing minor must be satisfied in order to graduate (along with the general degree requirements). 
  • Adjustments to minor requirements are based on department approval.
  • Adding a minor may extend the expected graduation timeline and students should consult with an Academic Advisor to review degree timeline details. 
  • Some limitations or restrictions may apply when choosing a minor within the same major department.
  • Minors appear on the final official transcript but do not appear on the diploma.

Transfer Credits for a Minor

A maximum of six (6.0) transfer credit earned from an accredited institution may be applied to a minor in any area of study. Students may be asked to submit documentation or work samples for transfer credit requests in question. See Transfer Credits – Undergraduate policy for additional details.

Credit Sharing

No more than nine (9) credits between the general degree requirements and the minor can be shared. Credit sharing is not automatic and should be discussed with an Academic Advisor to confirm steps and/or requirements for placement. Department Chair approval may be required for courses that are not pre-approved for placement. Credit sharing can be applied to General Electives without Department Chair approval. See section on “Adding Multiple Minors” for policy on credit sharing with more than one minor.*

Adding a Minor

Students must sign and submit the appropriate minor form to the Department Chair of the minor. A Liberal Arts Minor Declaration form must be signed by the Liberal Arts Department Chair. A Studio Minor Declaration form must be signed by the Department Chair of the studio minor. Completed forms must be submitted to the Academic Advising & Registration Office for processing and to officially add the minor to degree requirements. Once a minor is added to a student’s degree program, all major and minor credits must be satisfied in order to graduate. It is the student’s responsibility to 1) complete all required minor credits or 2) initiate a request to remove the minor if no longer planning to attempt the credits.

Students close to graduation must have all minor forms completed and submitted before applying for graduation (see Academic Calendar for deadlines).

Adding Multiple Minors

Students may choose to minor in multiple Studio/Major Departments or Liberal Arts subject areas (or a combination of both). A minor form is required for each intended minor. “Credits Sharing” and “Transfer Credit for Minors” will apply to each minor separately (as outlined in above policies). Additionally, up to 9.0 credit hours can be shared “between minors”, if applicable or due to “like” courses.

Credit Sharing with More than One Minor:

  • Share max of 9.0 credits between minors is allowed
    • up to 9.0 credit hours can be applied/shared from the 1st minor with the 2nd minor, if courses are applicable.
    • Up to 9.0 credit hours can be shared with the major/general degree requirements.
    • Remaining credits for the minor(s) must be fulfilled with courses different from any attempted credits within the major/general degree requirements and cannot be shared.

Removing or Changing a Minor

A minor may be removed at any time if a student no longer wishes to pursue the minor or satisfy the requirements. Students must indicate their intent to drop the minor on the appropriate Minor Declaration Form. Department Chair signature (of the removed minor) is not required on the form. 

If a student wishes to switch to a different minor, the Department Chair of the new minor will evaluate the student’s course work for placement or transferability of any courses previously taken or in-progress. The new minor should be indicted on the Minor Declaration form and the Department Chair of the new minor must sign the form to change the minor. The completed form must be submitted to the Academic Advising & Registration Office to have the minor removed. 

  • If credits were taken/completed towards the “removed” minor, students should meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss courses that no longer apply to degree requirements. 

Students who are graduating and intend to remove (or add) a minor, must do so prior to submitting the application for graduation (see the Academic Calendar for deadlines).

Dean’s and President’s List

Undergraduate students who complete a minimum of 12 credits during a given semester with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 to 3.799 are placed on the Dean’s List. Undergraduate students who achieve a GPA of 3.80 or above are placed on the President’s List. A notation will be placed on the student’s transcript for each semester that Dean’s List status is achieved.

AICAD Exchange

CCS students benefit from the cooperative programs and built-in access to leading art schools that are members of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). By sharing resources and facilities, AICAD colleges offer educational opportunities that, taken together, are without parallel in professional arts education. Through the AICAD Exchange Program, qualified students at one AICAD school can spend a semester at another participating AICAD school without additional cost or loss of credit. In addition to the 42 full member schools in the US & Canada within the network, AICAD has three long-standing International Affiliate schools in Japan, Ireland and Israel. Through the International Affiliate program, AICAD has broadened its membership and enhanced the dialogue at the Executive level, which in turn brings greater global opportunity to the students of all AICAD schools.

Application deadlines are March 15 for the fall semester and October 1 for the winter semester.

Students should contact Tom Turoczi in the Academic Advising and Registration Office at 313.664.7832 for more information on these programs.

Academic Probation and Suspension – Undergraduate Students

Academic progress is monitored at the end of each semester. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 to be considered in good academic standing.

If a student has less than a cumulative 2.0 GPA, he/she/they is placed on academic probation for a period of one semester. If the student fails to achieve a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of the academic probation semester, he or she is suspended from the College.**

Grade Point Average Requirement For Art Education Majors

In the Art Education program it is the student’s responsibility to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 at the end of each term. Additionally, teacher candidates must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.70 in Art Education courses. Only grades of “C” or better will be accepted in required art education courses. If a student receives a grade of “C-” or below they must retake the course to obtain a grade of “C” or better. Students not meeting the Art Ed GPA requirements should meet with the Chair and the appropriate instructor to evaluate progress and identify areas for support. Additionally, the Center for Tutoring and Writing is available for all students seeking assistance with any course content. The higher grade is always recorded for purposes of calculating cumulative GPA.

Notification of Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

Students who do not meet the College’s academic standards will be notified, by the Registrar, in writing via a letter sent to the preferred address on file. This letter will provide information about the requirements for students placed on academic probation or the process for readmission if the student has been suspended from the College.

Academic Probation Policy

*Exceptions to credit load restrictions will be determined upon review.

Academic Suspension Policy

Students suspended for failing to meet the cumulative GPA requirements, must adhere to the “academic suspension restrictions”. Students on academic suspension have the option to appeal by submitting an application for readmission to the Academic Advising & Registration Office (see full details under Appeal Process for Readmission).

Students suspended for disciplinary reasons or who have exhausted appeal submissions, will not be considered for reinstatement through an academic appeal process.

Academic Suspension Restrictions

Students on Academic Suspension are restricted from the following as long as the suspension status is active:

  • Registration of any CCS Course(s), including non-credit and/or continuing education courses.
  • Use of Campus facilities. Students with “I” grades and previous approved campus access, will need to contact the assigning Instructor to confirm alternative options for assignment completion (outside of CCS facility use).
  • Living in or maintaining CCS Housing and/or Meal Plans. Contracts will be canceled or deactivated until the suspension status is resolved. The CCS Housing Office will confirm all exit and cancellation procedures.
  • Student Aid may be discontinued and loan repayments may be required after 6 months away from college. The Financial Aid Office will verify Student Aid status and requirements.
  • Veteran, dependents and/or GI Bill benefits will not be certified. VA Certifying Official will confirm additional requirements.

**Academic Suspension Exceptions:

Students who do not obtain the minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA, but have achieved the following at the end of the probation semester, may be granted “Continued Academic Probation” by the Registrar’s Office for displaying substantial improvement:

1) successfully completed 67% of attempted credits in the probation
semester (and)

2) obtained a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of the probation
semester.

**Students granted “Continued Academic Probation” must also confirm status of Financial Aid eligibility before choosing to enroll in the approved semester. Satisfactory Academic Progress (including cumulative GPA requirements) is evaluated to determine Financial Aid. 

Students granted “Continued Academic Probation” will be required to follow the probation policy requirements for an additional semester. Students who do not meet the cumulative GPA requirements at the end of the semester, are suspended from the college.

Appeal Process for Academic Suspension

Students who have been confirmed and notified of their suspension may appeal their “academic suspension” from the College by submitting the following to the Academic Advising & Registration Office:

  1. Submit Application for Readmission:
    • For readmission to a Winter term, must reapply by October 31 deadline
    • For readmission to a Fall term, must reapply by July 31 deadline
  2. Submit Explanation of Suspension
  3. Pay $50 Readmission Fee

Appeals should be based on circumstances beyond the student’s control such as, injury or illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances. The appeal must explain the failure to make satisfactory progress and what has changed that will allow satisfactory progress in the future (address the problems that led to the academic suspension and put forth the case outlining success upon returning to CCS). This information must be provided in the “Student Explanation” section of the Application for Readmission.

The faculty Academic Performance Committee will review appeal submissions during the next academic semester. After the review is completed, students will receive a letter from the Registrar’s Office, on behalf of the Academic Performance Committee, stating the outcome of the appeal hearing.

Appeal Approved

A student who successfully appeals the status of suspension and whose appeal is granted will be placed on “Continued Academic Probation” and will be required to follow all standard probation requirements in addition to requirements outlined by the Academic Performance Committee. Academic Progress is reviewed again at the end of the Continued Academic Probation semester, in which the student must meet the academic standards.

If a student fails to meet the academic standards after the appealed suspension, the student is returned to the status of suspension indefinitely and dismissed from the college.

Academic Probation and Suspension – Graduate Students

Academic progress is monitored at the end of each semester. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to be considered in good academic standing.

If a student has less than a cumulative 3.0 GPA, he/she/they is placed on academic probation for a period of one semester. If the student fails to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the end of the academic probation semester, he or she is suspended from the College.

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, students have the option to request that their grade(s) be changed to P/NC (Pass/No Credit) for the Winter 2020, Fall 2020, and Winter 2021 semesters. Please see the Pass/No Credit – Winter 2020 and Pass/No Credit – 2020 – 2021 Academic Year policies for more details.

Notification of Unsatisfactory Academic Progress

Students who do not meet the College’s academic standards will be notified, by the Registrar, in writing via a letter sent to the preferred address on file. This letter will provide information about the requirements for students placed on academic probation or the process for readmission if the student has been suspended from the College.

Academic Probation Policy

Students, who fail to meet the 3.0 cumulative grade point average requirement, are placed on academic probation for one semester. Students on academic probation will be required to follow an Academic Success Plan. Students who do not exit academic probation status at the end of the subsequent semester will be suspended from the College.

Appeal Process for Academic Suspension

Students may appeal their academic suspension from the College by submitting an appeal letter to the Registrar. Appeals should be based on circumstances beyond the student’s control such as, injury or illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances. The appeal must explain the failure to make satisfactory progress and what has changed that will allow satisfactory progress in the future.

The faculty Academic Performance Committee will review the appeal and within 30 days, the student will receive a letter from the Registrar, on behalf of the Academic Performance Committee, describing the outcome of the appeal hearing.

Appeal Approved

A student who successfully appeals the status of suspension and whose appeal is granted will be placed on Continued Academic Probation and will be required to follow an Academic Success Plan. This status is limited to one semester only. At the end of that semester, a student on Continued Academic Probation will have his/her academic progress reviewed and must be meeting the academic standards. If a student fails to meet these standards, the student is returned to the status of suspension.

Readmission After Academic Suspension

Students applying for readmission after academic suspension, must complete the Application for Readmission, attach the $50 Readmission Fee, and address the problems that led to the academic suspension and put forth the case for their success upon returning to CCS. This information must be provided in the “Student Explanation” section of the Application for Readmission. The Committee on Academic Performance will review appeals for readmission after academic suspension. If approved, the student’s academic standing would carry the status of “Continued Academic Probation.”

Dismissal from the College

The College reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time for academic dishonesty or improper behavior. Improper behavior is defined as, but not limited to, actions by an individual that may be detrimental to the student, other students, or the College, or damage to College property. It also includes violations of civil, state, or federal law. See the Code of Student Conduct for further details.

Change of Academic Level

Changing Academic Level from Graduate to Undergraduate

In order to be eligible for a change of academic level (from Graduate level to Undergraduate level) students must be in good academic standing (2.0 cumulative grade point average and meet satisfactory academic progress). Students, along with their Academic Department Chair, must complete the Change of Academic Level form for processing.

Students pursuing a second Bachelor’s degree who would like to be considered for the Master of Fine Arts program must go through the admissions process.