Catalog Navigator : Artistic Evaluation

Artistic Evaluation of Theater Arts Students

The theater arts program faculties and, where appropriate, supervisory staff formally meets 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.

Advising the Student of Artistic Probation or Dismissal
If a student is being placed on artistic probation or is recommended for artistic dismissal, the student will be so advised by the Mason Gross School of the Arts dean of students based on a letter received from the chair of the Department of Theater Arts. The department chair's recommendation is based on the recommendation of the faculty and head of the program. Artistic dismissal is subject to review by the dean of the school.

Definitions of Artistic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal
Overall academic performance is reflected in the student's grade-point average (GPA). 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 of 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 the student's 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 the student's artistic development still fails to meet expected results after artistic probation.

Evaluations
Evaluation meetings are normally scheduled during the seventh week of classes and during 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. If the student's work shows a sudden decline that occurs outside the normal review parameters, the faculty may put a student on probation, without having issued a written warning.The faculty member will advise the student of any concerns and of ways to address those concerns.

Face-to-face Evaluations

At mid-semester, 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 their performance.
At mid-semester, students whose work warrants artistic probation will have a face-to-face evaluation with the head of the 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 the program and at least one representative of the faculty. A student whose work warrants artistic dismissal will meet with his or her head of program and at least one representative of the faculty. They will advise the student of the faculty's recommendation to dismiss.

B.F.A. Artistic Review and Performance

All bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.) students are evaluated at mid-semester and at the end of each semester by the faculty and, where appropriate, supervisory staff in their major. All students are expected to meet a professional standard of work, skill, and discipline. Punctuality and class attendance are mandatory. The faculty, and where appropriate, supervisory staff, is responsible for setting standards and for guiding and evaluating each student's development. The faculty and where appropriate, supervisory staff, will continue to assess professional growth and consistency of application to work through the third and fourth years.

Overall academic performance is reflected in the student's GPA. Artistic performance is reflected in the theater program's critical core courses. If a student fails to achieve a minimum GPA, he or she is subject to academic dismissal. If a student fails to meet departmental standards in core courses or professional standards, he or she is subject to artistic dismissal. Artistic dismissal is preceded by a period of artistic warning and/or probation. However, this is not always the case. (See Artistic Evaluations of Theater Arts Students, above.) Artistic dismissal is subject to review by the dean of the school.

Each discipline identifies courses, which are core to the student's major. For theater arts majors, a grade of F in a core course is grounds for dismissal. The first C in a core course may result in artistic probation or artistic dismissal; the second C in a core course is grounds for artistic dismissal. There are no grades of D in the professional theater arts core.

In the general theater arts requirements, any F may result in dismissal. A general theater arts requirement in which a D or F is received must be retaken and a grade of C or better must be achieved. A course may only be retaken once.

Students dismissed for artistic reasons may request transfer to other departments of the Mason Gross School of the Arts or any other school at Rutgers whose admission requirements they meet. No guarantee of admission to another division or program can be given to students who have received an artistic dismissal, but the dean's office will assist students with the application process.