College for Creative Studies
This statement on academic integrity applies to all undergraduate and graduate students at College for Creative Studies. Students are responsible for seeking clarification in 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.
For further detail, please see the Academic Integrity Policy.
The Vice President of Strategy and Communications evaluates the College’s strategic positioning and advances initiatives and partnerships to ensure the College’s long-term adaptability and relevance in the face of changing social and economic conditions. In addition to supporting the development and implementation of CCS’s strategic plan, the Vice President supervises CCS’s external-facing offices, including Community Arts Partnership, Design Core Detroit, Marketing and Communications, and Office of Partnerships. Ultimately, the Vice President is responsible for stewarding and advancing CCS’s brand.
Both graduate and undergraduate Chairs carry a minimum 2:1 teaching two courses in the fall semester and one course in the winter) or 1:2 (one course in the fall semester and two courses in the winter) teaching load.
The Department Chair is a faculty member, administrator, and leader. The Department Chair is responsible for planning and managing the educational objectives and the human, financial, and physical resources of the department. The Department Chair, working closely with the faculty and Program Manager of the department, sets standards of excellence and maintains the quality and reputation of the department, encourages innovation to sustain the department’s vitality, encourages cohesion and harmony within the department, supports formal and informal interdisciplinary activities and programs, and is a vigorous advocate for the department’s faculty, staff, and programs. As a member of the faculty, the Department Chair is expected to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a faculty member as described in this Handbook, although the number of credits a Chair teaches is typically fewer. In addition, the Department Chair’s duties are as follows:
The graduate or undergraduate Dean or President may assign other duties from time to time.
Each year, the Chair completes an Annual Self Appraisal as a self-evaluation. The appropriate Dean provides written responses within the same document. Afterward, a meeting between the Chair and the appropriate Dean is conducted to review the evaluation.
The Department Chair’s responsibilities for administering the department extend throughout the calendar year. The departments remain open during the summer, and numerous activities occur on campus, including summer classes, planning, and preparation for the coming academic year, admissions, readying of facilities, long-range planning, and community education. While Department Chairs determine their own schedules during the summer, including vacation time, they continue to take all necessary steps to maintain the operations of the department and honor reasonable requests from the President, Deans, and other administrators to attend to College responsibilities.
The Department Chair is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the appropriate Dean and serves at the pleasure of the President. Chairs report to the graduate or undergraduate Dean.
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.
Adjunct instructors receive an email letter that incorporates the class taught, rate of pay, and contact hours. All adjunct instructors are invited to a new faculty orientation that reviews policies, duties, responsibilities, and other information contained in the CCS Faculty Handbook.
In certain circumstances, an adjunct instructor may be employed without an email letter of appointment. Adjunct instructors are appointed on a semester-by-semester basis at the sole discretion of the Department Chair. An appointment for one semester does not guarantee an appointment for any subsequent semester. Adjunct instructors are assessed twice in their first semester; subsequent evaluations take place in years three and five in their employ. Thereafter, they are evaluated every five years.
Adjunct instructors may be terminated for cause at any time during a semester. Such causes may include but are not limited to academic falsification of credentials or work product, professional or personal misconduct, incompetence, and failure to perform teaching responsibilities and/or other assigned duties. Adjunct instructor terminations are handled by the Department Chair in consultation with the appropriate Dean.
In order to ensure that an individual has developed the appropriate background and skill to qualify as an instructor, a graduate of the College for Creative Studies may be hired as an adjunct instructor only after having three years of direct or related work experience.
Administrative staff may, from time to time, teach classes in the degree, Pre-College and Continuing Studies, and Community Arts Partnerships programs. Administrative staff may teach classes in these programs providing the classes do not interfere with their primary responsibilities and scheduled work times. Administrative staff may not teach any classes scheduled prior to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday unless otherwise approved by their supervisor, appropriate Dean (if applicable), or the Dean of Academic Affairs (if applicable).
Refer to the article on Missed Classes for more information.
All students are encouraged to disclose disabilities that they feel may affect their academic success. The College wants students to succeed, and its ability to offer students the best education is more possible if they receive the appropriate assistance for their circumstance. The Americans with Disabilities Act, in conjunction with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, are Federal laws that protect people with disabilities, both life-long as well as short-term disabilities.
Students identified as having any type of disability are entitled and encouraged to request accommodations.
Students wishing to disclose a disability and/or request accommodation should contact the Dean of Students at 313.664.7675 or email to discuss. Students requesting accommodations must provide documentation substantiating their disability. CCS will then:
Information disclosed to CCS regarding disabilities will not be shared with anyone except CCS staff who will assist in meeting student accommodation needs. Students will be notified prior to the sharing of any information regarding their disability.
Faculty will be sent accommodations notices approximately one week prior to a semester starting. The email will contain the student’s name that is enrolled in their class and a list of accommodations for that semester. Accommodation notices do not include diagnosis or symptomatic information unless the student has explicitly requested that it is included. Questions about the nature of the accommodations or how to implement them should be directed to the Dean of Students.
Students are encouraged to self-disclose their disability if they feel it will affect their academic performance. This should be done before the start of each term. Students may choose to disclose at any time during the semester but should remember – retroactive accommodations cannot be made after an assignment is due or an exam has been taken. Disabilities accommodations are not meant to guarantee academic success at the College but are meant to provide equal access to educational opportunities to all individuals regardless of disabilities.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
| 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 |
| IP | In Progress | 0.00 | no grade point value |
| W | Withdrawal | 0.00 | second through fourth week of class |
| WN | Withdrawal | 0.00 | after fourth week of class |
| WF* | Withdrawal | 0.00 | stopped attending course without official withdrawal |
| 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 |
| IP | In Progress | 0.00 | no grade point value |
| NC | No Credit | 0.00 | no grade point value |
| W | Withdrawal | 0.00 | second through fourth week of class |
| WN | Withdrawal | 0.00 | after fourth week of class |
| WF* | Withdrawal | 0.00 | stopped attending course without official withdrawal |
The objective of the CCS Tuition Reimbursement program is to invest in CCS employees in a way that benefits both the individual and the institution, and supplement CCS employees in pursuit of academic degrees.
The criteria for tuition reimbursement consideration are listed below. Applications will be reviewed twice a year by a committee consisting of VPs of Finance, Enrollment and Student Services and Institutional Advancement, the Director of Human Resources and the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs.
PTO is accrued at the following rates for full-time employees:
| Employee Type | Calendar years beginning prior to completion of 5 years of full-time status | Calendar years beginning after completion of 5 years of full-time status* |
| Executive | 31 days per year | 31 days per year |
| Full Time 12 Month Employee | 24 days per year | 31 days per year |
| Full Time 10 Month Employee | 20 days per year | 26 days per year |
| Full Time 10 Month, Half time 2 (10 and 2) | 22 days per year | 26 days per year |
| Full Time 9 Month Employee | 18 days per year | 24 days per year |
On January 1st of each year, Full time staff employees will have their PTO entitlement for the entire calendar year deposited into their PTO bank and available for immediate use. Although it will be available for immediate use, it will be earned on a pro-rated basis each month.
For example, a 12-month Full Time employee who has worked for CCS less than five years will have 24 days of PTO deposited into their PTO bank on January 1. The employee can begin using this immediately. Employees are permitted to take more PTO than they have earned, if approved by their supervisor. An employee who does so will be considered to have a “negative PTO balance,” even if a negative balance does not show in their paycheck. Employees cannot borrow PTO from future years.
PTO will be prorated accordingly when an employee is hired or terminates mid-month. When hired on or before or terminated on or after the 15th of the month, a full month’s accrual will be credited. If hired after the 15th of the month or terminated before the 15th of the month, no PTO will be accrued for the month. An employee may carry over a maximum of 1 year of PTO into the new calendar year. Excess PTO that is not taken and cannot be carried over will be forfeited.
Note: Employees start accruing at the 5-year rate on January 1st following their 5-year anniversary of their hire date. Example: Hired May 1, 2025; 5-year PTO allowance begins January 1, 2031.
Part-Time, hourly staff employees who work more than 10 hours per week will accrue PTO at a rate of .0923 hours for each hour worked regardless of how long they have worked for CCS.
Employees are permitted to take more PTO than they have earned, if approved by their supervisor. An employee who does so will be considered to have a “negative PTO balance.” Employees cannot borrow PTO from future years. Part-time employees may carry over PTO into the new calendar year, but they generally may not use more than one year of carried over PTO the next year.
The following categories of employees do not receive PTO, but receive time off that can be used for ESTA purposes only:
Part-Time Employees working less than 10 hours per week, temporary employees, Graduate Assistants, Work Study, CAP instructors, CE Instructors, and Models will earn ESTA at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked. These employees will be permitted to carry over unused ESTA from year to year, but they may not take more than 72 hours of ESTA in any calendar year. RAs and CE Mentors will have their ESTA time front loaded based on estimated hours worked each program session with a true up at the end of the semester if the employee works more hours than expected. These employees will not be permitted to carry over ESTA from year to year because it is front-loaded.
Employees should follow their department procedures when requesting time off.
The first 72 hours of PTO used per year is considered to satisfy the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act, regardless of the reason the employee uses PTO.
When using any portion of the first 72 hours of PTO in a calendar year for an ESTA reason or if you are an employee who receives only ESTA, if the absence is foreseeable, you are required to provide seven days’ notice of the intent to use PTO for ESTA reasons or take ESTA. If the need to use PTO for ESTA reasons or take ESTA is not foreseeable, you must provide notice of your intention to take PTO for ESTA reasons or to take ESTA as soon as practicable. Excluding special circumstances that make it not practicable, the college’s call-in policy still applies for unforeseeable time off for ESTA reasons. Time off for ESTA reasons may be taken in increments of one hour. For ESTA absences of more than three consecutive days, employees are required to provide reasonable documentation that the time has been used for an ESTA purpose. This documentation must be provided on time.
For employees utilizing TimeClock Plus (TCP), the ESTA hours code is to be used to record absences taken for ESTA-related reasons.
| Employee Type | Method | Hours | Tracking Method | Usage | Carryover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Time Salary | Covered by existing PTO Bank – Front Load | 72 | TCP – ESTA Code | Immediate | None |
| Full Time Hourly | Covered by existing PTO Bank – Front Load | 72 | TCP – ESTA Code | Immediate | None |
| Full Time Faculty | Front Load Annually | 72 | Department Office | Immediate | None |
| Part Time Hourly | Accrual – Earn based on hours worked and included in existing PTO calculations | As earned | TCP – ESTA Code | As accrued | Yes, up to 72 hours of unused PTO |
| Adjunct Faculty | Front load based on course tally ea. Semester of 15 weeks | Lecture = 3.38 hours per course/semester Studio = 7.75 hours per course/semester | Substitute form or Gold form | Immediate with true up at semester end | None |
| RA’s | Front Load based on estimated hours worked each semester of 15 weeks | 7.5 hours per semester | One-time payment form | Immediate with true up at semester end | None |
| CE Mentors-Stipend | Front load based on estimated hours worked each program session | 5 hours per program work session | One-time payment form | Immediate with true at session end | None |
| Graduate Assistantship | Accrual – earn based on hours worked | Please contact payroll | TCP-ESTA Code | As accrued | Yes – up to 72 hours of unused ESTA time |
| Work Study | Accrual – earn based on hours worked | Please contact payroll | TCP-ESTA Code | As accrued | Yes – up to 72 hours of unused ESTA time |
| CAP Instructors, CE Instructors, Models, Temporary & other hourly | Accrual – earn based on hours worked | Please contact payroll | TCP-ESTA Code | As accrued | Yes – up to 72 hours of unused ESTA time |
When using the first 72 hours of PTO during a calendar year for reasons other than the ESTA, and for all use of PTO after the first 72 hours of PTO in a calendar year is exhausted, non-exempt employees may take PTO in increments as small as 1 hour. Exempt employees may take PTO in increments as small as one-half day. All PTO is to be used before time is taken without pay. PTO should be scheduled in advance and approved by the employee’s supervisor except in the case of last-minute illnesses, injury or emergencies. In these instances, employees should notify their supervisor as soon as possible and no later than one hour before the beginning of the employee’s shift.
Please note that even if an employee has PTO available, excessive use of unscheduled time off is disruptive and may lead to disciplinary action (other than absences for ESTA reasons during the first 72 hours of PTO used per calendar year or ESTA absences for employees who do not receive PTO, assuming that appropriate notice and documentation are provided, or where PTO is used for other absences protected by law, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act). See Attendance and Timeliness policy or Facilities and Environmental Services Attendance Policy. CCS’s PTO policy is intended to and will be interpreted to comply with the provisions of Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act.
Payment of earned, unused PTO time will be made at the employee’s regular rate of pay when employment terminates. If a negative PTO balance exists at the time of termination, the employee’s last paycheck will be reduced by this amount (subject to compliance with applicable law). The employee’s Timeclock Plus record must be up to date before any PTO payout is issued. PTO payouts are generally paid on the pay date after the employee’s last paycheck.
Employees who earn ESTA, but not PTO, are not entitled to payout of unused ESTA at termination.
This policy is intended to and will be interpreted to comply with all applicable laws, including the Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act. Employees will not be subject to adverse action for using or attempting to use time off under the Earned Sick Time Act. This policy may be administered differently for employees who work in states other than Michigan, depending on the applicable state law.