Academic Policies and Procedures

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.

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 for others and their differences.

For further information, please see the CCS Code of Student Conduct.

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.

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

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
W	Withdrawal	0.00	second through fourth week of class
WN	Withdrawal	0.00	after the fourth week of class
WF*	Withdrawal	0.00	stopped attending course without official withdrawal

Graduate Grading Scale

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
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
W	Withdrawal	0.00	second through fourth week of class
WN	Withdrawal	0.00	after the fourth week of class
WF*	Withdrawal	0.00	stopped attending course without official withdrawal

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:

DEN 101, Composition I
DEN 102, Composition II
DVC 100, Material Visual Culture [applies to students on the 2024 catalog or later.]
DAH —, History of Major or other designated art history requirement (e.g. History of Advertising, Photography etc.) [applies to students on the 2022 catalog year or later.]
Art History Option, Choose one of the following:
DAH 200, Western Art History/Visual Culture
DAH 201, Visual Narration: Africa/America
DAH 202, Visual Narration Asia

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.

Restricted Course

Students who intend to register for a course that is restricted to a particular major or class level (for example, Product Design only or juniors only) and who are not in that department or at the required class level must have the Department Chair or Program Manager complete and sign the Registration Permission form and submit it to 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.

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