Artistic Evaluation of Theater Students
The
theater 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. 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. The dean's decision is final and binding.
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, significant decline outside the normal
review parameters, the faculty may put a student on probation, without
having issued a written warning. In such cases, the faculty member will advise the
student of any concerns and of 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 appeal to the dean of the school.
Face-to-face Evaluations
-
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 their performance.
-
At midsemester, 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 midsemester 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 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 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 core.
In the general theater
requirements, any F may result in dismissal. A general theater
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.
B.F.A. Academic Performance
For more information regarding academic policies and procedures please see that chapter of this catalog.
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