Independent Study

An Independent Study is available to undergraduate students who are at Junior or Senior level standing and first and second year graduate students 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.

  • The student must complete an Independent Study Form. Please see the Academic Credit Opportunties page for more information.
  • The student must submit a minimum 150-word Independent Study Proposal, along with the Independent Study Approval Form, to the faculty member overseeing the Independent Study. The proposal should state the reason for the independent study and their plan for study, including topics to be covered and goals.
  • The faculty member 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.
  • Students must submit the Independent Study Proposal and the completed Syllabus from the faculty member to the Department Chair. The Department Chair approves of the Student’s proposal, the Independent Study and the 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 Undergraduate Dean, Graduate Dean, or the Dean of Academic Affairs.
  • The student takes the final approved form to the Academic Advising and Registration Office in order to register for 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.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress – Graduate Students

Graduate Students

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 Pace/Course Completion Rate requirement, and a Maximum Timeframe requirement.

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

SAP is evaluated at the end of each term in which a student is enrolled (Fall, Winter, and Summer). Federal regulations require the College to evaluate students who receive federal financial aid using standards that are at least as strict as standards that apply to students who do not receive federal financial aid; CCS evaluates all students using the same standards. SAP is evaluated based on the student’s cumulative academic record.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING SAP

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

At the end of each semester, a student’s cumulative grade point average is calculated. He or she must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to achieve SAP.

REQUIRED PACE/COURSE COMPLETION RATE

Required course completion rate also determines SAP. Students must complete their academic program within 150% of the published length of the program. To meet this requirement, students must successfully complete, with a grade of C or better, at least two-thirds (67%) of attempted cumulative credit hours. Examples are as follows:

Credits AttemptedMust Complete
64
1510
3020

MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME (MTF)

Federal regulations require that a student must complete his or her educational program within a MTF no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program measured in credit hours attempted.

Example: Graduate Student
If a graduate student is enrolled in an academic program that requires 60 credit hours for graduation, he or she would be allowed a maximum of 90 (60 x 150%) attempted credits in order to obtain his/her degree.

TRANSFER CREDITS

Courses that are transferred from another institution and accepted toward an academic degree program at the College (at the time of SAP Review) count as attempted and completed hours for Pace/Course Completion Rate (CCR) and MTF. The GPA is determined only with courses taken in residence at the College.

GRADE CHANGES

Students who have a grade change or incomplete grade changed after SAP has already been process for any semester must notify Academic Advising and Registration of the change. At that time SAP will be recalculated to determine if the SAP status needs to be modified and the Office of Academic Advising and Registration will notify the Office of Financial Aid.

CHANGE OF MAJOR/DEGREE

If a student decides to change majors, all classes already taken will count in the maximum timeframe SAP evaluation. It is possible a change of major could impact your SAP standing.

GRADES

Successful completion of attempted courses is required for SAP. Therefore, grades of A through C are acceptable unless otherwise specified. Courses for which these grades are received will be used to establish your cumulative GPA and CCR.

Grades of D, F (failing), I (incomplete), W or WN (withdraw), WF (withdraw-unofficial) are not acceptable. Courses for which these grades are received will not be counted as successfully completed courses and will be valued at 0.00 grade points, thus also lowering your CCR and cumulative GPA.

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.

DROPPING CLASSES (after the Add/Drop period)

Courses for which a student is enrolled at the conclusion of the Add/Drop period will be used to determine attempted courses for the CCR. 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 or WN. This will be counted as an unsuccessfully completed course valued at 0.00 grade points, thus lowering your completion rate and cumulative GPA.

COMPLETE WITHDRAWALS (OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL)

Students who officially withdraw from the College or stop participating in their courses (unofficial withdrawal) after the Add/Drop period are considered to have no successfully completed courses for the semester. This will lower your CCR and cumulative GPA and can result in being placed on Academic Probation or being suspended from the College resulting in the loss of financial aid eligibility if you already had a low pace/course completion rate or GPA or there are consecutive withdrawals over a number of semesters. Unofficial withdrawals will be reviewed at mid-term and end of the semester.  If a student has been determined to be unofficially withdrawn, the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) will reach out to all enrolled course professors to determine last date of attendance (LDA).  If the OFA does not receive a response, mid-term date will be used to determine the withdrawal date.

REPEATED COURSES

When a successfully completed course is repeated, the previous enrollment is not counted as a successfully completed course; therefore, this will lower your CCR. Only the last grade received is counted in the cumulative GPA.

Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, students may repeat a course as many times as necessary to receive a passing grade and receive federal funding for that course. The federal definition of a passing grade is anything above an F.

Once the student has taken the course and received a grade above failing (anything above an F), the student may repeat the course only one additional time to try to earn a higher grade and receive federal financial aid funds. Any subsequent repeats of that course cannot be covered by federal financial aid funds. CCS does have some required courses that require at least a C grade per College policy. The College policy does not affect federal eligibility, so the student may still only retake this course one after receiving a grade above an F and receive federal funding.

FAILURE TO MEET SAP

SAP is monitored at the end of each semester and if a student fails to meet the 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement or does not complete two-thirds (67%) of the cumulative credit hours attempted to date, he or she will be placed on SAP financial aid warning for a period of one semester. During the SAP financial aid warning semester, a student can receive financial aid. If the student fails to raise the GPA to 3.0 or the completion rate to two-thirds (67%) at the end of the financial aid warning semester, they will lose eligibility for financial aid.

NOTIFICATION OF UNSATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Students who do not meet SAP standards will be notified, by the Director of Financial Aid, in writing via email, which will be sent to their College for Creative Studies email.

SAP APPEAL PROCESS

Students may appeal their loss of financial aid eligibility by submitting an appeal letter to the Director of Financial Aid. 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.

If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on SAP financial aid probation and will be required to follow an Academic Success Plan. This status is limited to one semester (or time as specified by the Academic Success Plan), during which the student may receive financial aid. At the end of that semester, a student on SAP financial aid probation will have his/her academic progress reviewed and must be meeting the SAP standards. If a student fails to meet these standards, the student loses financial aid eligibility.

REESTABLISH FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY WITHOUT AN APPEAL

Students who become ineligible for assistance can reestablish their eligibility by attending CCS at their own expense until they achieve the minimum SAP standards.

Note: Neither paying for classes nor sitting out periods of enrollment in and of themselves improves a student’s SAP standing; therefore, neither action is sufficient to regain financial aid eligibility.

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 $5 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. No transcripts or enrollment verifications (except loan verifications) will be completed for students who have a RESTRICTION (HOLD) on their records. Students requesting “on-the-spot” transcripts will be charged $10 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:

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.

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, students must:

  1. Fulfill all departmental and academic course requirements for graduation in his/her major as outlined in the College catalog. Students have the option of electing the requirements listed in the catalog that was in effect at the time of their most recent admission to the college or those in the catalog that is in effect at the time of their final course completion.
  2. Receive departmental permission to graduate based on a final review and exhibition of their work, unless waived by the department. Departmental permission to graduate is good for one year. Students who fail to complete their degree requirements within one year of being approved to graduate must be re-approved and have their portfolio re-reviewed prior to receiving their degree.
  3. Undergraduate students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C). Graduate students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (B)
  4. Have all official transcripts from other schools on file in the Academic Advising and Registration Office no later than the last day of the drop/add period of the semester that graduation is to occur.
  5. Be enrolled at the College for Creative Studies at the time that their degree is awarded.
  6. File an Application for Graduation with the Academic Advising and Registration Office no later than the end of the fourth week of the semester in which they anticipate graduating. Early applications are appreciated.

A commencement ceremony takes place in the spring and fall semesters. Students who have applied for graduation and have completed all their requirements for graduation within the year preceding this event are invited to participate.

Graduate Student Readmission

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 program chair and Director of Academic Advising and Registration. The program 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 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 students in good standing

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

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

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, attendance, and attitude. 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 Self-Service the week after classes end. 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

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.

Midterm Grade Procedure

CCS requires that midterm grades be submitted electronically during the eighth (8th) week of the semester. The Academic Advising and Registration office will email instructions to faculty on how to submit midterm grades via WebAdvisor during the sixth (6th) week of classes. Faculty should notify a student if their name does not appear on the electronic roster. The student MUST be advised to see the Academic Advising and Registration Office to verify enrollment in that course. Once all midterm grades are submitted via WebAdvisor they are made available to students. Instructors are obligated to assign a midterm grade to each student who is listed as registered for their class.

Valid mid-term grades are: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, WF*. You may not assign the “I”,”W”, or “WN” grades at midterm. A “WF” may be assigned at midterm.

*The “WF” grade is counted in the student’s grade point average calculation like an “F” grade. Students that receive a “WF” grade for all classes in a semester will be administratively withdrawn from CCS effective on the last date of attendance. “WF” grades may affect grade point average and satisfactory academic progress.

Midterm grades are a progress report only; they do not affect a student’s cumulative grade point average. However, these grades are an essential component in the advising process.

Final Grade Procedure

The Academic Advising and Registration Office emails faculty instructions on how to enter final grades into the WebAdvisor portal on the Monday of the 13th week of the semester (students are not permitted to withdraw after the 12th week of classes).

Faculty must enter final grades into WebAdvisor, the Monday after the last day of classes for the semester. There are no exceptions to the due date. Final grades are available to students once all grades are entered and they verified by the Academic Advising and Registration Office.

Faculty are obligated to assign a grade to each student who is still registered for their class. If a student is listed as anything other than a drop on your roster, the student is still officially registered for your class and you MUST assign a grade.

Valid final grades are: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, I*, W, WN, WF**.

* A grade of I (incomplete) should only be given rarely, when a student has encountered an unusual situation that prevented him/her from completing a SMALL portion of the semester’s work. When you enter an “I” grade in WebAdvisor you must also enter an expiration date. This date will be given to you. Incomplete (“I”) grades should NOT be assigned to a student if a student has stopped coming to class or has missed several assignments. If you have given a grade of “I” to a student in your class, you must also submit an Incomplete Grade Verification Form to the Academic Advising and Registration Office in addition to submitting the “I” grade via WebAdvisor. You and your Department Chair must sign this form before its submission. This form is available from your Program Manager or the Academic Advising and Registration Office. Grades of “I” automatically become “F” if the instructor has not submitted a grade change form by the end of the next full semester.

** The “WF” grade is counted in the student’s grade point average calculation like an “F” grade. Students that receive a “WF” grade for all classes in a semester will be administratively withdrawn from CCS effective on the last date of attendance. “WF” grades may affect grade point average and satisfactory academic progress.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress – Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Students

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 Pace/Course Completion Rate requirement, and a Maximum Timeframe requirement.

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

SAP is evaluated at the end of each term in which a student is enrolled (Fall, Winter, and Summer). Federal regulations require the College to evaluate students who receive federal financial aid using standards that are at least as strict as standards that apply to students who do not receive federal financial aid; CCS evaluates all students using the same standards. SAP is evaluated based on the student’s cumulative academic record.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING SAP

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

At the end of each semester, a student’s cumulative grade point average is calculated. He or she must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to achieve SAP.

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. The higher grade is always recorded for purposes of calculating cumulative GPA; each attempt is counted as “credits attempted” but only the attempt associated with the higher grade is counted as a successfully completed course for purposes of the Pace/Course Completion Rate. The Center for Tutoring and Writing is available for all students seeking assistance with any course content.

REQUIRED PACE/COURSE COMPLETION RATE

Required course completion rate also determines SAP. Students must complete their academic program within 150% of the published length of the program. To meet this requirement, students must successfully complete, with a grade of D- or better, at least two-thirds (67%) of attempted cumulative credit hours. Examples are as follows:

Credits AttemptedMust Complete
64
128
1510
1812
6644
10067
12684

MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME (MTF)

Federal regulations require that a student must complete his or her educational program within a MTF no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program measured in credit hours attempted.

Example: Undergraduate Student
If an undergraduate student is enrolled in an academic program that requires 127 credit hours for graduation, he or she would be allowed a maximum of 191 (127 x 150%) attempted credits in order to obtain his/her degree.

Example: Undergraduate Art Education Student
If an undergraduate Art Education student is enrolled in an academic program that requires 148 credit hours for graduation, he or she would be allowed a maximum of 222 (148 x 150%) attempted credits in order to obtain his/her degree.

TRANSFER CREDITS

Courses that are transferred from another institution and accepted toward an academic degree program at the College (at the time of SAP Review) count as attempted and completed hours for Pace/Course Completion Rate (CCR) and MTF. The GPA is determined only with courses taken in residence at the College.

GRADE CHANGES

Students who have a grade change or incomplete grade changed after SAP has already been process for any semester must notify Academic Advising and Registration of the change. At that time SAP will be recalculated to determine if the SAP status needs to be modified and the Office of Academic Advising and Registration will notify the Office of Financial Aid.

CHANGE OF MAJOR/DEGREE

If a student decides to change majors, all classes already taken will count in the maximum timeframe SAP evaluation. It is possible a change of major could impact your SAP standing.

SECOND DEGREE

If you are obtaining a second degree, you will need to have a degree audit performed to determine your new SAP standing. This will allow Financial Aid to create a new Maximum Timeframe.

GRADES

Successful completion of attempted courses is required for SAP. Therefore, grades of A through D- are acceptable unless otherwise specified. Courses for which these grades are received will be used to establish your cumulative GPA and CCR.

Grades of F (failing), I (incomplete), W or WN (withdraw), WF (withdraw-unofficial) are not acceptable. Courses for which these grades are received will not be counted as successfully completed courses and will be valued at 0.00 grade points, thus also lowering your CCR and cumulative GPA.

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.

DROPPING CLASSES (after the Add/Drop period)

Courses for which a student is enrolled at the conclusion of the Add/Drop period will be used to determine attempted courses for the CCR. 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 or WN. This will be counted as an unsuccessfully completed course valued at 0.00 grade points, thus lowering your completion rate and cumulative GPA.

COMPLETE WITHDRAWALS (OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL)

Students who officially withdraw from the College or stop participating in their courses (unofficial withdrawal) after the Add/Drop period are considered to have no successfully completed courses for the semester. This will lower your CCR and cumulative GPA and can result in being placed on Academic Warning or being suspended from the College resulting in the loss of financial aid eligibility if you already had a low pace/course completion rate or GPA or there are consecutive withdrawals over a number of semesters. Unofficial withdrawals will be reviewed at mid-term and end of the semester.  If a student has been determined to be unofficially withdrawn, the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) will reach out to all enrolled course professors to determine last date of attendance (LDA).  If the OFA does not receive a response, mid-term date will be used to determine the withdrawal date.

REPEATED COURSES

When a successfully completed course is repeated, the previous enrollment is not counted as a successfully completed course; therefore, this will lower your CCR. Only the last grade received is counted in the cumulative GPA.

Per the Federal Student Aid Handbook, students may repeat a course as many times as necessary to receive a passing grade and receive federal funding for that course. The federal definition of a passing grade is anything above an F.

Once the student has taken the course and received a grade above failing (anything above an F), the student may repeat the course only one additional time to try to earn a higher grade and receive federal financial aid funds. Any subsequent repeats of that course cannot be covered by federal financial aid funds. CCS does have some required courses that require at least a C grade per College policy. The College policy does not affect federal eligibility, so the student may still only retake this course one after receiving a grade above an F and receive federal funding.

EXAMPLE: A student has taken a course requiring a C grade and received above an F but less than a C. The student takes the course a second time but again earns less than a C. The student must continue to retake the course to pass it per CCS policy but is no longer eligible for federal financial aid for that course. If the student subsequently enrolls for 12 credits, including the course they are having to repeat, only 9 of those credits are eligible for federal financial aid. Institutional aid is not affected and can still be processed at the full-time amount. Students who are enrolled for 15 credits are not affected since they will still have 12 eligible credits and would still be considered full-time.

FAILURE TO MEET SAP

SAP is monitored at the end of each semester and if a student fails to meet the 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement or does not complete two-thirds (67%) of the cumulative credit hours attempted to date, he or she will be placed on SAP financial aid warning for a period of one semester. During the SAP financial aid warning semester, a student can receive financial aid. If the student fails to raise the GPA to 2.0 or the completion rate to two-thirds (67%) at the end of the financial aid warning semester, they will lose eligibility for financial aid.

NOTIFICATION OF UNSATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Students who do not meet SAP standards will be notified, by the Director of Financial Aid, in writing via email, which will be sent to their College for Creative Studies email.

SAP APPEAL PROCESS

Students may appeal their loss of financial aid eligibility by submitting an appeal letter to the Director of Financial Aid. 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.

If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on SAP financial aid probation and will be required to follow an Academic Success Plan. This status is limited to one semester (or time as specified by the Academic Success Plan), during which the student may receive financial aid. At the end of that semester, a student on SAP financial aid probation will have his/her academic progress reviewed and must be meeting the SAP standards. If a student fails to meet these standards, the student loses financial aid eligibility.

REESTABLISH FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY WITHOUT AN APPEAL

Students who become ineligible for assistance can reestablish their eligibility by attending CCS at their own expense until they achieve the minimum SAP standards.

Note: Neither paying for classes nor sitting out periods of enrollment in and of themselves improves a student’s SAP standing; therefore, neither action is sufficient to regain financial aid eligibility.

Junior Status

Students are required to complete all 18 credits of Foundation courses and 15 credits of 100/200 level Liberal Arts courses before they can begin their junior level departmental studio courses.

Each department decides which departmental courses students must complete before progressing to junior level department courses. Students who place into ELS 107 are not subject to the same Junior Status Policy requirements.

Students who fail to complete Junior Status requirements by the end of their sophomore year will receive a “Junior Status hold” and may need registration approval.

Foundation courses required

  • DFN 101, Foundation Drawing I
  • DFN 102, Foundation Drawing II, or DFN 112 Visualization, or DFN 141, Fundamentals of Imaging
  • DFN 116, 3D Techniques
  • DFN 117, 2D Design
  • DFN 118, 3D Design
  • DFN 119, Digital Techniques

Liberal Arts courses required

  • DFS 101, Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study
  • DEN 108, Composition II: The Art of Argumentation
  • DEN 239, Survey of World Literature
  • DAH 200, Art & Culture: Ages of Discovery
  • DAH 201, Visual Narration: Asia or Africa/America

Academic Integrity

Introduction

College for Creative Studies adheres to the highest standards of academic integrity throughout the educational experience, in both academic writing and research and in studio work. Students who violate the standards of academic integrity face serious disciplinary consequences, including letters documenting the incident in their permanent record, failure of the assignment, immediate course failure, and/or dismissal from the College.

Faculty members have a responsibility to foster a culture of creative honesty, freedom, and intellectual expression for all students. Promoting and cultivating an environment of integrity reinforces that mandate and upholds the reputation of the College and its students.

Students should make sure they that have a clear understanding of these important issues and how they apply to both Liberal Arts and studio classes. Special consideration may be given if the student’s intent is to use parody or satire as their vehicle for communication. The instructor or Department Chair should be consulted for clarification of those considerations.

Scope and Purpose

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.

The purpose of this statement is to:

  1. Clarify the College’s expectations of academic integrity, and
  2. Outline the process to be followed if this policy is violated.

Definition

The College condones no form of dishonesty in any academic activities, whether in academic writing and research or studio work. This is defined as the use of another’s words, ideas, visual material, or physical artifacts as one’s own original work without proper permission, citation, or other appropriate recognition of source. Any act that assists academic dishonesty is itself a violation of the academic integrity policy. Acts of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Written Plagiarism. Using another person’s language or ideas without proper acknowledgment. When using the exact words of another in the presentation of written material, those words must be placed in quotation marks, with attribution to the original source, including proper citation of the source. Referencing or appropriating ideas may be part of an assignment, but it is always the student’s responsibility to properly acknowledge the source of the original material.
  • Creative Dishonesty. Artists and designers commonly draw on the work of others for reference or inspiration or the conceptual use of an appropriated image. This type of exploration and use is to be expected; however, there is an important distinction between drawing inspiration from a piece and copying it. These distinctions may vary by discipline and students are ultimately responsible for knowing how they relate to the creative integrity of their work. Students should consult their Department Chair and/or faculty member for clarification as to what practices do and do not constitute creative dishonesty.

Types of Violations

  • Buying papers or having someone else write a paper, or produce a studio project for a student.
  • Submitting the same work in two courses without explicit permission.
  • Presenting all or part of work done from one course or independent study to another course requires permission of the instructor in the current course.
  • Unauthorized collaboration. Many course activities permit and encourage collaboration. Course syllabi and in-class instructions will usually identify situations where collaboration on assignments is allowed. The student shares responsibility for determining whether collaboration is approved by seeking clarification from the instructor.
  • Cheating. This is a very broad category encompassing a variety of unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage. Examples include: copying another student’s work, using “crib notes” on tests, and accepting from or giving aid to another student unless authorized by the instructor.
  • Misrepresenting experience or ability. This includes providing false information concerning academic and creative achievement or background. For example: falsely reporting the substance of an internship, omitting transcripts, or otherwise providing false information, including submitting a falsified portfolio as part of the admission process.
  • Falsifying data or records.
  • Deleting/Destroying Student Work. All students must refrain from altering work that does not belong to them, regardless of the date the piece was created or its location. Destruction or deliberate inhibition of the progress of another student’s work is also strictly prohibited. This includes the deletion or destruction of digital files, sabotaging another student’s artwork, or destroying College property, including library materials, lab materials, and computer software, hardware, or studio space.

Statute of Limitations

There is no statute of limitations on academic integrity violations. Academic integrity violations may be discovered and acted upon at any time during the course of a semester, after a semester has ended, and even after a student has graduated. Academic dishonesty that occurred prior to a student being admitted to CCS, and which has a bearing upon their status as a student in good standing, may also be discovered and acted upon, including but not limited to falsification of transcripts, portfolio work, or relevant experience.

Reporting Misconduct

Faculty, students, exam proctors, and administrative staff all share responsibility ensuring the honesty and fairness of the intellectual environment at CCS. It is the responsibility of every individual to report incidents of academic dishonesty to the appropriate faculty, Department Chair, exam proctor, and/or College officer.

Processes, Procedures, and Potential Outcomes

  • Faculty or staff who suspect a violation of academic integrity should immediately inform the student of the nature of the violation and advise him/her that they will not be able to withdraw from the course until the case is reviewed and resolved.
  • Faculty or staff should complete an online Academic Integrity Violation Report documenting the alleged violation. The report is sent automatically to the Office of Academic Affairs and the Academic Advising and Registration Office for recording.
  • The faculty member or staff member should identify and collect supporting evidence of the alleged violation, such as comparisons of writing samples or creative processes, witness statements, and/or forensic investigations.
  • Within seven business days of receiving the report, the chairperson of the department in which the alleged violation occurred, will notify the Office of Academic Affairs. The Office of Academic Affairs will appoint a Hearing Officer and will schedule an academic hearing to be attended by the instructor, the student, the Department Chair, and the Hearing Officer. The Student Advocate may attend the hearing, at the student’s request. No other persons will be allowed in the hearing. The Hearing Officer will chair the hearing.
  • All relevant factors, including the nature of the offense, the severity of any damage, injury or harm resulting from the offense, and the student’s statement will be taken into consideration in the hearing.
  • Outcomes of the hearing will be determined by the instructor, the Department Chair, and the Hearing Officer, who will communicate the findings to the student.

Potential Outcomes

Charged Dropped- Insufficient Evidence

  • In the case of denial by the student and the impossibility of determining adequate support of the violation, the charge will be dismissed. (Determination of adequate support may include but is not limited to comparisons of writing samples or creative processes, witness statements, and/or forensic investigations.)

First Offense

  • If the work is determined or affirmed by the student to be in violation, an academic sanction will be imposed and a letter placed in the student’s file. First offense sanctions may be but are not limited to:
  • Repeating the assignment
  • Failure of the assignment
  • Failure of the course
  • Academic probation
  • Suspension
  • Dismissal from the College

Second Offense

  • Second offense sanctions may be but are not limited to:
  • Academic probation
  • Suspension
  • Dismissal from the College

Process of Record Keeping

If the work is determined or acknowledged by the student to be in violation, a letter will be placed in the student’s file in the Registrar’s Office.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

A student accused of an academic integrity violation is entitled to:

  • Review the evidence prior to the academic hearing.
  • Offer an explanation as to what occurred and present any supporting material.
  • Determine the validity of the charge without reference to any past record of misconduct.
  • Have the Student Advocate present in the hearing to ensure a fair process is granted (optional).

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the results of an academic hearing. Appeals must be initiated in writing either via email or in hardcopy to the Office of Academic Affairs within seven business days following the findings of the academic hearing and imposition of a sanction.

The appeal will be submitted to the Committee on Academic Performance who will review it and render a final decision or conduct an appeal hearing before reaching a final decision. If the Committee is unable to meet in a timely manner, the appropriate Dean or the Provost may serve as the Hearing Officer. The appeal decision will be communicated to the student in written form and documentation will be placed in their file. The ruling of Committee on Academic Performance (or the Provost or appropriate Dean, as applicable) is final.