Academic probation

Once students are accepted into the major, they must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. This includes first-year liberal studies courses for undergraduate students. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed one semester of academic probation. Students will be reinstated in good standing if the cumulative GPA rises to 3.0 by the end of the probationary semester. Failure to raise the GPA to 3.0 will result in dismissal from the program.

Unprofessional conduct

Successful collaboration is of such importance to the College community and the artistic life of any filmmaker that failure to develop professional working skills can result in disciplinary action. This is based on the observed professional behaviors of the student, and not on the GPA or artistic strengths of the student, as it is not uncommon to have a very talented student who simply cannot work well with others. The College considers professionalism a key aspect to a filmmaker’s success and integrity and believes that talent without grace is not a quality the school wants from its graduates.

Throughout each semester, the faculty assesses how well each student performs in each area of the College’s Professional Code of Conduct: collaboration, proactivity, civility, reliability, punctuality, and safety. If a concern about student’s professional conduct emerges, a faculty member will meet with the student to present the concern and hear the student’s point-of-view. The faculty member will then provide a report from the meeting to the rest of the instructors who are working with the student that semester. That group of instructors will then make a determination about an appropriate course of action, which may include:

All Clear

The faculty determines there are no significant professionalism concerns and the student remains in good standing.

Official Warning

The faculty determines that the student is falling below the College’s professional standards, but not to the degree of compromising the work of fellow students or the effectiveness of the faculty. The student will be issued an official warning in writing, with guidance on where to improve.

Remediation Plan

Behavior so negative, disruptive, or destructive as to compromise the work of fellow students or the effectiveness of the faculty and/or inability to work positively in a collaborative environment shall constitute a failure to meet the College’s standards of professionalism, as described in the Professional Code of Conduct. The student will be placed on professionalism probation for a defined period of time and the Assistant Dean will meet with the student to issue them a remediation plan that describes the areas of deficiency, the required actions to demonstrate improvement, and an end date for the remediation plan.

At the end date of the remediation plan, a student on probation will be reinstated in good standing if, in the judgment of the faculty and administration, the professionalism concerns have been corrected in accordance with the student’s remediation plan. Peer evaluations may be considered in this evaluation process. A student’s failure to comply with the remediation plan at any time during the probationary period may result in dismissal from the program. Should a relapse occur after a period of probation has ended, the student may be placed on another remediation plan or may be recommended for dismissal without probation.

Recommendation for Dismissal

Faculty or administration may recommend that a student be dismissed from the program for reasons other than GPA if: (a) the student has failed to comply with a remediation plan during a probationary period; (b) the student relapses egregiously in an area of professionalism that had previously resulted in a remediation plan; or (c) the student exhibits behavior so negative, disruptive, or destructive as to endanger fellow students, faculty, or members of the community. The student will be issued a dismissal letter that explains the reasons for the dismissal, the administrative steps that follow the dismissal, options that are available to the students, and a notification of the student’s right to an appeal.

Appeal process for students

A student placed on a remediation plan or dismissed from the College for reasons other than GPA may appeal the decision. The student’s appeal must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean within 10 class days from the date on which the student was placed on a remediation plan or dismissed.

For students placed on a remediation plan, the Associate Dean will review all materials related to the faculty’s decision. If the faculty has followed University and College policies and there is no evidence that the faculty has acted in an arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory manner, the Associate Dean will uphold the faculty’s decision to place a student on probation, and the student has no further recourse. If the Associate Dean determines that the faculty has not followed University and College policies or has acted in an arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory manner, the Associate Dean will determine the final outcome for the student.

For students dismissed from the program, the Associate Dean will review all materials related to the faculty’s decision. If the faculty has followed University and College policies and there is no evidence that the faculty has acted in an arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory manner, the Associate Dean will uphold the faculty’s decision, and will notify the student of their right to appeal to the Dean. If the Associate Dean determines that the faculty has not followed University and College policies or has acted in an arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory manner, the Associate Dean will determine the final outcome for the student.