Academic Regulations

Standards of Satisfactory Progress

The American Academy of Art defines satisfactory progress as the progression toward completion of a student’s program of study in a positive manner within a prescribed time frame. The Academy’s policy applies to all students equally; however, veterans, rehabilitation students, international students and all others receiving institutional, Federal or State support or assistance should be particularly aware of their academic status since the school must report when these students fail to meet satisfactory progress requirements and this notification may lead to the loss of financial assistance or termination of studies.

Qualitative (grade point) progress and Quantitative progress (completion rate) are measured at the end of each academic year.

Qualitative Standards

Students program must achieve a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00 or greater based on a 4.00 scale in order to graduate. In the first year of studies, which is considered the core curriculum, a student must maintain a CGPA of 1.00 at the end of the first academic year; a CGPA of 1.5 at the end of the second academic year; a CGPA of 1.76 at the end of the third academic year; and a CGPA of 2.00 at the end of the fourth and later academic year(s) of study.

Quantitative Standards

The maximum time frame in which a student must complete his or her educational program is no longer then 150% of the total credits of the program. Therefore, at the end of each academic year, students must successfully complete 67% of all attempted semester credit hours. Attempted semester credit hours include failed and retake credits, withdrawn credits, and transfer-in credits.

Definition of Satisfactory Status

To be making satisfactory progress, a student must complete 67% of his/her cumulative attempted credit (Quantitative Standard) at the end of each academic year and maintain the cumulative grade point average noted above based upon the student’s academic year. (Qualitative Standard), or be on a period of probation.

Warning

A student is notified in writing (via the midterm report card) from the Registrar’s office if he/she is in jeopardy of not reaching or maintaining a satisfactory level of performance. All students receive a midterm report card showing midterm academic status. If satisfactory performance is not attained by the end of the academic year, the student is then placed on probation.

Probation

A student will be placed on probation for a period of one semester for the following reasons:

1. the student is not maintaining the required CGPA for his/her level of studies at the end of the academic year; and/or
2. the student has not completed 67% of the cumulative attempted credit, as measured at the end of each academic year.

The Registrar notifies the student in writing of his/her academic status. This letter is sent to the student’s address and outlines the student’s responsibilities. Students are advised to meet with an Academic Advisor regarding their probationary status.

Students are still eligible to receive financial aid while on probation. At the end of the probationary period, if the CGPA has been raised to the level of performance outlined above (Qualitative Standard), and the student has achieved an acceptable performance of completing 67% of cumulative attempted credit (Quantitative Standard), the student will be removed from probation. A student who has not met the cumulative requirements for satisfactory progress on the initial probationary period, but who achieved the requisite qualitative and quantitative standards for the probationary period (but not cumulatively), a second probationary period will be permitted with financial aid eligibility.

Appeal Procedure

Students may appeal their unsatisfactory academic progress standards by submitting a written appeal for reinstatement of satisfactory progress. A review of the student’s appeal will be made by the Academy’s academic administration and the student will be notified within two weeks of a decision.

Acceptable reasons for appeal include: administrative error, circumstances beyond the control of the student or school such as injury to the student, illness of the student, death of a relative or other situations in which a student has experienced undue hardship as a result of a mitigating circumstance.

If the appeal is not granted, a student may continue in enrollment despite not making satisfactory progress but is not eligible for financial aid until the student’s required grade point standard and ratio of attempted to completed credits is achieved.

Reinstatement

Reinstatement signifies that the student has been granted permission to continue in a program of study. Appeals for denied reinstatement may be presented in writing to the Academic Dean for an additional level of review.

If a dismissal appeal is not accepted for the contiguous semester, the student must complete and execute a new enrollment agreement upon readmittance.

Regaining Eligibility for Financial Aid

At the end of a period during which financial aid was denied, a student can appeal for reinstatement of financial aid for the following semester under the following conditions:

1. the student’s CGPA must meet the standards applicable to the student’s grade level and
2. the student demonstrates a satisfactory completion rate of at least two thirds of the credit hours attempted.

Independent Study

Definition
Independent study is a course taken one-on-one with an instructor in prearranged meetings.  Students must acquire the knowledge and skills equivalent to students enrolled in a traditional class.  Independent study may not account for more then 10% of a student's program.  Independent studies are only granted under mitigating circumstances.  The Academic Dean approves independent study classes.

Procedures

Independent study is established according to the following criteria:

• The instructor must outline the educational objectives to be acquired by the student.
• These objectives must follow the established curriculum for that program.
• The instructor writes a week-by-week course outline.
• The course outline describes how the student's achieved competency is measured through reading, research, written assignments, reports and portfolios.
• This program of independent study must demonstrate for a studio class 150 hours of independent study activities and for a general education class 90 hours of independent study activities.
• Instructor and student establish and adhere to a meeting schedule. Studio independent classes meet 8 times for 2.5 hours per meeting. General education independent study classes meet 5 times for 1 hour per meeting.
• The Academic Dean approves the program of independent study.

Policy Guidelines

The student possesses a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher. The Academy is unable to offer a necessary course or equivalent substitution for completion purposes. A student may not take independent study for a class the student already failed.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, to be punctual and to complete all assignments. Final grades will reflect attendance in class.

Further details on the Attendance Policy are found in the Student Handbook.

In cases of medical or other extenuating circumstances that have been documented and approved by the Academic Dean and the Registrar’s Office, students are allowed to make up missed work without penalty.