2026-2027 Academic Catalog

Tag: Academic Policies and Procedures

  • Independent Study

    An Independent Study is available to students who are at junior or senior level standing with a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above. The student may receive approval to work in an area or on a project that is not otherwise offered or addressed in the curriculum. Students may receive credit toward graduation for no more than 6 credit hours of independent study.

    The student, working with the supervising faculty, must complete an Independent Study form for consideration by the Department Chair and Academic Affairs. The student may register for the course upon approval from all signatories.

    The student must submit a minimum 150-word Independent Study Proposal, along with the Independent Study Approval Form, to the Chair of the department in which they wish to study stating the reason for the independent study and their plan for study, including topics to be covered and goals.

    Once the Department Chair approves of the Independent Study, the instructor appointed to oversee the Independent Study must write an Independent Study syllabus with a detailed course description, learning outcomes, assignments, meeting dates (minimum of four), due dates, and grading criteria. The Independent Study Approval Form, with faculty and Chair signatures, must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs for final approval by the appropriate Dean.

    The final approved form will be sent by Academic Affairs to the Academic Advising and Registration Office for registration of the Independent Study. Independent Study forms must be turned in no later than the final day to add a class of the semester in which the Independent Study is to be taken.

  • Junior Status

    A student achieves Junior Status upon earning a minimum of 60 credits, as required for Junior class level. The completion of Studio Foundations and core Liberal Arts courses is necessary to ensure progression toward degree requirements and eligibility for Junior level (or higher) courses. Students must:

    Complete all 15-18 credits of Foundation courses (based on their major requirements).

    Complete 15 credits of 100/200 level core Liberal Arts credits before enrolling in Junior-level departmental studio courses, including:

    • WRT 101, Composition I
    • WRT 102, Composition II
    • AHV 100, Introduction to Material Culture
    • AHV —, History of Major or other designated art history requirement (e.g. History of Illustration, Photography etc.)
    • Art History Option, Choose one of the following:
      • AHV 203, Global Art History I
      • AHV 204, Global Art History II

    Students who do not meet Junior Status requirements by the end of their sophomore year (or later) are evaluated and may receive a “Junior Status hold” to address outstanding credits; registration approval may then be required. Each department determines which departmental courses students must complete before progressing to junior-level courses within their department.

    Exceptions:

    Academic Advisors or Department Chairs may grant exceptions for students with transfer credits or those in specific majors, considering degree timelines and completed credits. 

    Students placed in ELS 107 are exempt from the same Junior Status Policy requirements, for Liberal Arts.

    Incoming transfer students who 1) are at or near Junior Status by credits and 2) have verified completion of appropriate credits through transcript review for freshman and sophomore-level major studios will be exempt from the Junior Status Policy upon entry, in order to accommodate first-semester scheduling needs, Prerequisite or other restrictions may still apply. Holds may be applied if issues are identified during annual degree progress reviews.

  • Transcripts and Enrollment Verification

    Requests for copies of academic transcripts must be submitted in writing (with the student’s signature) to the Academic Advising and Registration Office or electronically. A $10 charge is assessed for each transcript.

    Enrollment verifications are also available from the Academic Advising and Registration Office. There is no charge for the completion of enrollment verifications needed for insurance, loans, etc. A minimum of 3 working days is required for the processing of transcripts and enrollment verifications. Students requesting “on-the-spot” transcripts will be charged $15 for each copy.

    “On-the-spot” transcript requests will be accepted only if time permits, subject to the approval of the registrar. Students may also view their transcripts through the WebAdvisor system. Once a student accesses the Registration and WebAdvisor tab, a transcript option is available under academic profile.

  • Undergraduate Student Readmission

    Students returning to CCS after an absence of more than two consecutive academic years or students who seek readmission after suspension must complete the Application for Readmission. This application along with a $50 nonrefundable readmission fee should be submitted to the Academic Advising and Registration Office at least two months prior to the start of the semester the student wishes to attend. Official transcripts with final grades from other institutions attended during the absence from CCS should be included with the readmission application.

    Readmitted students must meet the program and graduation requirements in effect at the time of readmission. Studio courses older than seven years at the time of readmission cannot be used toward the degree, except with prior written approval from the Department Chair and Director of Academic Advising and Registration. The Department Chair must review and approve studio courses completed prior to the seven-year limit or taken at another college during the absence from CCS. This approval will be based on the student’s ability to demonstrate current curriculum proficiency as evidenced by a review of a current portfolio. The cumulative grade point average for all readmitted students includes all CCS grades, regardless of how much time elapsed between enrollments.

    Students who have left for mandatory military service are able to resume studies at CCS without completing the readmission application for up to three academic years from the time of their withdrawal.

    Procedure

    Readmission for students in good standing:

    Readmission for Students in Good Standing: Students, who left CCS in good academic standing with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher, should complete the Application for Readmission and attach the $50 Readmission Fee. Students will be notified via mail when their application has been processed.

    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 the student’s success upon returning to CCS. This information should 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 Warning.”

    Readmission after suspension related to conduct:

    Students applying for readmission after suspension related to conduct must complete the Application for Readmission, attach the $50 Readmission Fee, and include any relevant information that will build a case for the student’s success upon returning to CCS. This information should be provided in the “Student Explanation” section of the readmission application. The Dean of Students will review appeals for readmission after a conduct suspension.