The theater arts program faculties, and supervisory staff where
appropriate, formally meet twice a semester to evaluate the progress of
each student in the program. Decisions to continue students in the
program are not dependent solely on completion of course requirements or
grades. The faculty assesses matters of artistic vision, leadership,
initiative, work ethic and discipline, ability to collaborate, ability
to accept criticism, a satisfactory rate of development, and overall
suitability for a professional career. This assessment is conducted
according to the standards of the profession and can serve as the basis
for artistic probation or dismissal.
DEFINITIONS OF ARTISTIC WARNING, PROBATION, AND DISMISSAL:
Overall
academic performance is reflected in the student's grade point average.
Artistic performance is reflected in the student's performance in
Theater Department core courses.
Artistic Warning is a preliminary step to Artistic Probation. It will be
issued at any time when a student's work in a class (or classes) does
not meet expected results. The student will be advised what steps to
take to clear this warning by the end of the semester.
Artistic
Probation is a preliminary step to Artistic Dismissal. If, in
accordance with the grading policies of the Department, a student earns
an unacceptable grade or if their artistic development still fails to
meet expected results after the artistic warning, artistic probation
will be recommended.
Artistic
dismissal will be recommended if a student earns unacceptable grades
that warrant dismissal according to the grading policies of the
department or if their artistic development still fails to meet expected
results after artistic probation.
EVALUATIONS:
Evaluation
meetings are normally scheduled during the seventh week of classes and
the exam week. Each student receives written notification of the result
of the evaluation:
- The student is in good standing
- The student is being placed on artistic warning
- A
student currently on artistic warning or probation is advised whether
the artistic warning or probation will be continued or rescinded
The
faculty is not required to use each step of this process in every case.
If a student's work shows a sudden, significant decline outside the
normal review parameters, the faculty may put a student on probation
without having issued a warning. In such cases, the faculty will advise
the student of concerns and ways to address those concerns. In
particularly severe cases, the faculty may recommend artistic dismissal.
In such cases, the faculty will meet with the student and provide
written notification of the concerns behind the recommendation. Artistic
dismissal is subject to review by the dean of the school.
Face-to-Face Evaluation- At
midsemester, students whose work warrants artistic warning will have a
face-to-face evaluation with at least one faculty member to identify
the program faculty's concerns and advise the student on ways to improve
his/her performance.
- At
midsemester students whose work warrants artistic probation will have a
face-to-face evaluation with the head of program and at least one other
faculty representative.
- At the end of the semester, all students have a face-to-face evaluation.
- A
student being continued or placed on artistic warning or probation will
meet with the head of program and at least one representative of the
faculty.
- A
student whose work warrants artistic dismissal will meet with their
head of program and at least one representative of the faculty. They
will advise the student of the faculty's recommendation to dismiss.
M.F.A. Artistic Review and Performance
All
MFA students are evaluated at midsemester and at the end of each
semester by the faculty and supervisory staff where appropriate in his/her
major. All students are expected to meet a professional standard of
work, skill, and discipline. Punctuality and class attendance are
mandatory. The faculty, and supervisory staff where
appropriate, are
responsible for setting these standards and for guiding and evaluating
each student's development. The head of program will decide, after
consultation with the faculty and supervising staff, whether the student
will continue in the program.
M.F.A. Grading
Normally
a grade of B or better is required in all conservatory course work.
Each discipline identifies courses which are core to the student's
major. Students who earn a grade of C in any core course may be placed
on artistic warning or probation. A second grade of C in a core course
is grounds for artistic dismissal. An F or U grade in a core course,
including a thesis project, is grounds for immediate artistic dismissal.
