Poor Artistic Performance

Artistic Review.   At regular intervals, the work of each student is reviewed by the department to determine if the artistic achievement and commitment to the professional program warrants retention in the program. The frequency and format for artistic review is unique to each degree program and is clearly defined in department handbooks. Artistic achievement will be indicated by both instructors' grades and the reports by faculty members at the mandatory reviews. Departmental criteria for poor artistic performance status will not necessarily result in warning, probation or dismissal but should be regarded as adequate justification for such action:

Artistic Warning. Not all Mason Gross departments use artistic warning as an official status. Those that do will notify students of their artistic status directly and may use this status as a preliminary step to Artistic Probation. Policies of degree programs utilizing Artistic Warning in scholastic standing may be found in departmental handbooks.

 Artistic Probation. Each department sets unique standards for Artistic Probation and at times, Artistic Probation can be a preliminary step to Artistic Dismissal. Students placed on Artistic Probation are notified in writing by the Office for Advising and Student Success and must satisfy departmental requirements to be removed from Artistic Probation. For more information on how to appeal artistic probation please refer to the appeal section below.

Artistic Dismissal. The Scholastic Standing Committee recommends students for artistic dismissal at the end of each semester (fall and spring). Students who are dismissed for artistic reasons (poor grades, deficiency in artistic production and/or quality of work) are notified both in person by the department (either via a face-to-face meeting or phone call by their department adviser) and in writing by the dean's office. Artistic Dismissal may be appealed to the dean of the school. The dean's decision is final and binding. For more information on how to appeal an artistic dismissal please refer to the "Poor Artistic Performance Appeal" section below.

Artistic Dismissal Grace Semester. Artistically Dismissed students who do not appeal or who's appeal is denied may request a single "grace semester" in which they remain enrolled at Mason Gross but are not permitted to continue taking courses in their declared major. The "grace semester" is designed to aid students making plans to transfer to another school within Rutgers or to an outside institution, and students typically register for courses to benefit this transition. No guarantee of admission to another division or program can be given to students who have received an artistic dismissal and choose to have a "grace semester," but the Office for Advising and Student Success will assist students in registering for courses and completing any necessary transfer forms during their time of transition. Students artistically dismissed from their major at Mason Gross are encouraged to continue at Rutgers University and are encouraged to consider a transfer to SAS majoring or minoring in the BA version of their Mason Gross major. Students enrolled in a "grace semester" must transfer out of Mason Gross after one term. Students failing to make plans after their single "grace semester" will not be able to continue studying at Rutgers University through the Mason Gross School of the Arts and will have any subsequent registrations after the single "grace semester" period deleted.

Poor Artistic Performance Appeal. Students may appeal the decision to be put on Artistic Probation or may appeal the decision of Artistic Dismissal.

Artistic Probation Appeal. Students placed on artistic probation may appeal in writing to their assigned adviser within one week of the date of the letter notifying them of their probation. Grounds for appeal include technical error and/or changes in temporary grades. Letters of appeal must state the reasons for appeal and must be written by the student, although advice from others may be sought in formulating the appeal. Students appealing artistic probation citing temporary grades will remain on artistic probation until the temporary grades are resolved.

Artistic Dismissal Appeal. Students recommended for artistic dismissal may appeal in writing to the Dean of the Mason Gross School of the Arts within one week of the date on the letter of dismissal. Grounds for appeal include technical error, temporary grades, extenuating circumstances, medical conditions, and/or additional information not previously available to the committee. The letter of appeal must state the reasons for the appeal and must be written by the student, although advice from others may be sought in formulating the appeal. The Dean will respond to an appeal decision, which is final and binding, to the student in writing. Once notified the student may choose to enroll in the next term as a "grace semester" (see above).

Readmission after Artistic Dismissal. Students choosing to take a leave of absence after an artistic dismissal may return to Rutgers through a re-enrollment application to another Rutgers academic unit (i.e., SAS, SEBS, SOE, RBS, etc.). For example, a Mason Gross student artistically dismissed from a BFA degree program may take a leave of absence for one term and then submit a re-enrollment application to SAS when they are ready to return. Students who have been artistically dismissed from Mason Gross may not re-enroll at Mason Gross after a leave of absence. Re-enrollment admission to other units at Rutgers will be dependent on the student meeting all admissions requirements for that school and cannot be guaranteed.