Academic Policies

Reviews

(BFA, Certificate, MA, MFA, and Advanced Certificate students): Student reviews are part of the educational process at CalArts and provide an opportunity for student and faculty communication, aside from the on–going mentoring relationship and responsibility. All review reports will be submitted no later than the third Thursday after the end of the semester of the review. Each semester the Institute Academic Advisor in the Office of the Registrar will submit to each of the Schools, a list of students scheduled for review. The Schools will schedule their reviews and notify the students of their review time. In the case of reviews that involve acceptance to the Institute with a to–be–determined year level, provisional acceptance, year level adjustment or accelerated graduation, other policies apply and those policies should be consulted.

The minimum standards for reviewing students after admission to the Institute include the Mid–Residence Review and the Graduation Review:

Mid–Residence Review: The Mid–Residence Review is carried out by a faculty committee approved by the dean of the student’s school. This committee makes a detailed assessment of the student’s record and work in relation to the objectives of the program, the student’s goals, and the progress toward the degree or certificate. The review usually occurs by the end of the second year for those studying for the BFA or Certificate programs and at the end of the first year for those seeking the MA, MFA, or Advanced Certificate. MFA or Advanced Certificate students within the School of Film/Video must submit a thesis project proposal for review by the faculty review committee at the Mid–Residence Review during the third of fourth semester of residence. If a student does not pass the mid–residence or preliminary review, the committee gives the student reasons and the conditions that must be met in order to satisfy the review requirements. All Mid–Residence Review Reports become a part of the student permanent electronic record. All review reports will be submitted no later than the third Thursday after the end of the semester of the review. When the committee determines the student is not meeting artistic and educational standards, the student is notified in accord with the policies on Metier Standing and Academic Standing policies. Further details on the review process for each school may be obtained from the school offices.

Critical Studies Mid–Residence Review: BFA students will be reviewed by a Critical Studies faculty member at the end of their BFA2, 2nd semester. Through discussion, writing samples, and/or portfolio materials provided by the student, Critical Studies faculty, along with the student, will assess the student’s progress in the area of Critical Studies and evaluate the student’s advancement in terms of learning goals as established by the School of Critical Studies. All Review Reports become a part of the student permanent electronic record. All review reports will be submitted no later than the third Thursday after the end of the semester of the review.

Graduation Review: The Graduation Review is a final assessment by the dean and faculty to determine whether the student has demonstrated a significant measure of artistic achievement, as well as the satisfactory completion of all residency and program requirements described for the degree or certificate. Deadlines for the graduation review and graduation procedures are established annually by the Registrar, subject to review by the President and Provost. All Graduation Review Reports become a part of the student permanent electronic record. All review reports will be submitted no later than the third Thursday after the end of the semester of the review.

DMA Student Reviews: In the case of DMA students, artistic and academic process is evaluated during a First Year Review, a Formative Portfolio Review, and a Final (Summative) Portfolio Review. These usually take place in Semester II of first, second and third years respectively. They are scheduled by the School of Music, which apprises the students of their review times. The committee makes a detailed assessment of the student’s record and work in relation to the objectives of the program, the student’s goals, and the progress toward the degree. If the student does not pass a review, the committee gives the student reasons and the conditions that must be met in order to satisfy the review requirements.