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:

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 grounds for probation or immediate dismissal without any prior period of probation. Peer evaluations may be considered in this evaluation process.

A student on probation will be reinstated in good standing if, in the judgment of the faculty and administration, the professionalism problems have been corrected in accordance with the student’s remediation plan. A student’s failure to comply with the remediation plan will result in dismissal from the program.

Appeal process for students

A student placed on probation or dismissed from the College by the faculty for reasons other than the student’s failure to maintain the minimum required GPA may appeal the faculty’s decision to the Associate Dean. The student’s appeal must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean within 10 days from the date on which the student was placed on probation or dismissed.

The appeal process occurs as follows:

1. For students placed on probation, the Associate Dean will review all materials related to the faculty’s decision, and either uphold the faculty’s decision or request that the faculty reconsider.
2. If the Associate Dean upholds the faculty’s decision to place a student on probation, then the student has no further recourse.
3. For students dismissed from the College, the Associate Dean will review all materials related to the faculty’s decision and either uphold the faculty’s decision or request that the faculty reconsider.
4. If the Associate Dean upholds the faculty’s decision to dismiss a student, then the student may appeal to the Dean.
5. If the Dean upholds the faculty’s decision to dismiss a student, then the student may appeal to the Provost. In such case, the Provost’s decision is final.
6. If the Dean requests that the faculty reconsider their decision to dismiss a student, and the faculty chooses to maintain their position, then the student may appeal to the Provost. In such case, the Provost’s decision is final.