Plagiarism

Grade Appeal Procedure:

1. Time is of the essence. The student should immediately contact the instructor to discuss his/her concerns. At the same time, the student must inform his/her academic advisor in writing or via email that he/she is initiating the grade appeal process by speaking with his/her instructor.

2. If after speaking with the instructor the matter has not been resolved, and within two weeks of the grade report being issued, the student should contact his or her academic advisor again, in writing, stating the intention to pursue a formal grade appeal.

3. After meeting with his/her advisor, a student who wishes to pursue a formal grievance must put his or her concerns into a written letter of complaint addressed to the VP for Academic Affairs/ Dean. In addition to the letter, all relevant student work and documents must be delivered by the student to the Office of Academic Affairs along with the written statement.

4. A Grade Appeals Committee consisting of the VP for Academic Affairs/Dean, one of the associate or assistant deans or other academic administrator, and the student’s academic advisor will meet to review the student’s statement and submitted materials, and will then meet with the instructor to discuss the grievance and resolve the matter. The committee may confer with another member of the faculty, and may ask to meet with the student.

The decision to change a grade is solely that of the instructor. The Grade Appeals Committee reserves the right, under exceptional circumstances in which they have determined that compelling evidence has been presented that the grade was issued in error and in a manner not consistent with the College’s academic policies, to recommend to the VP for Academic Affairs/Dean that the final grade as issued should be reversed. It is at the sole discretion of the VP for Academic Affairs/Dean to change a final grade without the consent of the instructor. In no case will a grade be changed following graduation.

Academic Suspension or Dismissal

Academic Suspension, Dismissal, or other penalties will result from a series of two or more consecutive semesters of Academic Probation, in which a student’s academic performance is below the college’s standards for good standing. If a student earns a GPA below the required level for two consecutive semesters, then they enter a state of Academic Dismissal, and risk dismissal unless their grades improve and they show academic progress. The VP for Academic Affairs/Dean reserves the right to determine the penalty to be applied.

Alternatively, a student will be placed on Academic Suspension for six months to one year and will be asked to complete course work at another accredited institution, and earn a specific grade, before being readmitted. This is in order to demonstrate academic readiness and commitment. Other conditions for readmission may be set by the VP for Academic Affairs/Dean and stated in writing at the time of suspension.

Academic Dismissal of Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students are expected to maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.0, and must earn a cumulative or career GPA of 2.0 in order to earn the diploma.

First Academic Suspension

Undergraduate students who have been suspended once due to lack of academic progress must remain away from the College for a minimum of one semester, not including summer session, unless otherwise advised by the VP for Academic Affairs/Dean. During this time, the student is expected to complete a minimum of six semester credits of academic coursework with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA from an accredited institution(s) of higher education. A suspended student must submit an official transcript(s) to the Office of Academic Affairs as evidence of successful completion of the coursework, and may be readmitted only when the student presents evidence that he or she is capable of performing at the level required to meet the college academic standards.

Note: A student who has been away from the College for one year is no longer matriculated at the College, and must apply for readmission. A readmitted student matriculates under the degree requirements of the academic catalog current at the time of readmission. Courses previously taken may or may not apply to new or revised degree requirements, since the curricula of each program are frequently modified or revised to reflect changes in practice and theory.

Academic Dismissal of Graduate Students

Graduate students in the MFA programs are expected to maintain a minimum semester GPA of 3.0, and must have a cumulative or career GPA of 3.0 in order to earn the degree. In some cases, a low GPA may not be foreseeable until the final semester of the program. It is the responsibility of the individual student to monitor his or her academic progress, to remain in good standing, and to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout their academic career at NYSID.

Students in an MPS/Master of Professional Studies program may receive no more than one two “LP” Low Pass grades during their course of study, and no more than one in any given semester. MPS students who earn more than two grades of LP will not be awarded the degree and will be academically dismissed. MPS students who receive one grade of “F” in any semester will be suspended from the college for one semester and required to return to retake the course and earn a grade of Pass (P).

Any graduate student who has been dismissed for lack of academic progress may not apply for readmittance to the same graduate program in which they were enrolled. Such graduate students may apply for admittance to an undergraduate program and all transfer credit policies will apply.

Dismissal Appeal

Any student who is dismissed from the college may file an appeal with the VP for Academic Affairs/Dean outlined in the academic judicial procedures appeal process.

Commencement

The College holds an annual commencement ceremony in May for graduates of the MFA, MPS, BA, BFA, and AAS degree programs. All degree candidates must have completed the total number of credits required for the degree at the time of graduation. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a caseby-case basis by the Office of Academic Affairs. No student with more than one course outstanding will be permitted to participate in the ceremony, and no student with their core studio outstanding will participate in Commencement until that course has been satisfactorily completed. When exceptions are granted, the course must be taken in the summer immediately following commencement or no later