Category: Academics

Academics

International Travel

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is committed to developing global partnerships, increasing international diversity on campus, and providing international study opportunities for students.

The College and the individual travelers have a responsibility for promoting health, safety, and security while traveling abroad. This policy defines institutional requirements that promote safety during international travel.

Individual travelers are responsible for compliance with this international travel policy. Academic departments and College offices sponsoring CCS Related Travel are responsible for informing travelers of this international travel policy and for facilitating compliance for individuals where appropriate.

The International Travel Policy outlines the College’s requirements for CCS related travel abroad.

Intellectual Property Rights

The College for Creative Studies (“the College” or “CCS”) is committed to nurturing students’ creative and intellectual abilities. This is best done in an environment that encourages exploration and experimentation and in which artistic and academic freedom is respected and protected. As artists, designers, writers, and scholars, the College’s faculty and students continually produce creative works in the course of their academic activities. These works constitute Intellectual Property (“IP”). It is important that the rights to ownership and use of this Intellectual Property are understood by all members of the CCS community and by those members of the public who support their work. This policy explains those rights. It proceeds from the basic principles that the College’s primary responsibility is the education of its students and not the commercialization of their work, and those creators should in general retain intellectual property rights in their works subject to reasonable use rights held by various members of the CCS community. The policy is intended to promote innovation and excellence in educational and artistic pursuits, encourage the best educational experiences for students, allow faculty and students to reap the benefits of their own creativity, and enable the College to celebrate the work of its faculty and students in order to promote the College to its varied constituencies.

Please see the Intellectual Property Policy in the CCS Policy Database for further detail.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is meant to provide fair and equitable treatment of the disabled through non-discriminatory practices and reasonable accommodations.

The ADA protects people who are disabled – defined as anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The law protects both job applicants and employees.

CCS supports and follows the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Michigan law, as stated in the law. The institution’s ADA policy is available on the CCS Policy Database.

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.

Study Abroad

To be eligible for all study abroad opportunities, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and written permission from the Department Chair. Study for an academic semester or year abroad requires that a student be a junior or in the first semester of the senior year. Graduate students should meet with their Chair to determine the best semester to participate in a study abroad opportunity. Participation in one of the summer faculty-led programs is open to all students, regardless of year. 

Study abroad during the final semester at CCS is not permitted. For more information, please see the Study Abroad page on the College’s learning management system.

Students must meet with the Director of International Student Services and their Department Chair no later than April 1 for fall or October 1 for winter.

Students must:

  • Complete the Study Abroad Approval Form and Packet and submit to the International Student Services Office (ISSO)
  • Comply with the CCS International Travel Policy requirements
  • Attend a pre-departure Informational Meeting with the ISSO

All forms are available from the office of International Student Services. The ISSO is located on the 2nd Floor of the Yamasaki.

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.

Graduate Student Readmission

Graduate students returning to College for Creative Studies (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 must 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 must 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. 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 review of a current portfolio. The cumulative grade point average for all re-admitted students includes all CCS grades, regardless of how much time elapsed between enrollments. Students, who have left for mandatory military service, are not required to apply for readmission to the College for up to three academic years from the time of their withdrawal.

Readmission for Graduate Students in Good Standing

Graduate students, who left CCS in good academic standing with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, must complete the Application for Readmission and attach the $50 Readmission Fee. Students will be notified via email when their application has been processed.

Readmission after academic suspension

Graduate 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 Warning.”

Readmission after suspension related to conduct

Graduate 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 must 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

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

CCS uses the following grading system:

Undergraduate Grading Scale

GradeRatingGPADescription
AExcellent4.00grade point
A-3.70grade point
B+3.30grade point
BGood3.00grade point
B-2.70grade point
C+2.30grade point
CAverage2.00grade point
C-1.70grade point
D+1.30grade point
DPoor1.00grade point
D-0.70grade point
FFailing0.00grade point
NCNo Credit0.00no grade point value
PPassing0.00no grade point value
IIncomplete0.00no grade point value
WWithdrawal0.00second through fourth week of class
WNWithdrawal0.00after the fourth week of class
WF*Withdrawal0.00stopped attending course without official withdrawal

Graduate Grading Scale

GradeRatingGPADescription
AExcellent4.00grade point
A-3.70grade point
B+3.30grade point
BGood3.00grade point
B-2.70grade point
C+2.30grade point
CBelow Graduate2.00grade point (minimum required standard)
FFailing0.00grade point
NCNo Credit0.00no grade point value
PPassing0.00no grade point value
IIncomplete0.00no grade point value
WWithdrawal0.00second through fourth week of class
WNWithdrawal0.00after the fourth week of class
WF*Withdrawal0.00stopped attending course without official withdrawal

Mentor Program

All full-time faculty are required to serve as formal mentors to students. Full-time Faculty will work with an adjunct or staff member, as well as alumni to create a team or “pod” for a designated number of students within their departments beginning Freshman year. Mentors will remain with their group of mentees for the duration of the mentees’ time at CCS. Groups are assigned by Chairs and PMs in communication with Academic Affairs and Institutional Advancement. Each mentor in the pod will have different mentorship responsibilities within the group. This is outlined in more detail in the Mentorship Program Guide. Full-time faculty-specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Responsible for sending out meeting email reminders and populating the calendar for the pod meetings each semester
  • Goal setting focus: Program/Academic/Career
  • Creating supportive departmental culture & connections within the pod
  • Cultivating curiosity/developing strengths
  • Supporting mentee’s goals in and out of the classroom

Mentorship meetings are mapped out in the mentorship guide to provide consistency across the campus. Mentoring sessions include one-on-one and small and large groups. Mentoring activities will vary from one department to another so there is flexibility within the suggested structure. Specific information concerning departmental activities will be determined by pods in discussion with the Department Chair or Program Manager.

The time commitment for mentors varies from year to year but is designed to include approximately 16 student contact hours per academic year.