Professional Standards: BFA, MusB, MFA, and MM Programs
Professional Standards
Each of these degree programs (BFA, MusB, MFA, MM) emulates the ethics and standards of its professional discipline. Students are expected to pursue their courses of study and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with each program’s criteria.
Students are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as the grading and professional criteria of their respective programs.
Each student’s major department is responsible for evaluating such matters as artistic growth, talent development, and a student’s suitability for a professional life in the field, which, though difficult to assess in terms of grades and credits, are factored into the student’s grades.
Professional Conduct Standards
All students are expected to comply with the policies and regulations established by Purchase College and their respective programs. College policies governing student conduct are outlined under Academic and Professional Integrity and in the Student Code of Conduct.
In the BFA, MusB, MFA, and MM programs, prompt attendance and preparation for all prescribed classes, studios, labs, tutorials, workshops, rehearsals, concerts, and performances are mandatory. Unexcused absences, tardiness, or lack of preparation indicates a lack of seriousness in the program and constitutes a serious breach of professional conduct. Students should consult individual conservatory or school handbooks for the complete professional conduct guidelines for their program; these handbooks are provided by Department Chairs and School/Conservatory Directors.
Professional Conduct Probation and Dismissal
Grounds for professional probation, suspension, or dismissal in the BFA, MusB, MFA, and MM programs include breaches of professional conduct, lack of artistic growth, or failure to make satisfactory progress advancing through program requirements. Before being placed on professional conduct probation, a student may be warned, but such a warning is not required. The Director of the school/conservatory formally notifies the student of the professional probation via email to the student’s Purchase College address and regular mail to the student’s home address. The notification specifies the areas of concern and the corrective measures required.
Failure to satisfy the terms of probation may result in dismissal from the conservatory/school but not the College. While dismissal is normally preceded by a probationary period, a serious breach of professional conduct may lead to immediate dismissal. Professional dismissal decisions are the prerogative and responsibility of the Director of the school/conservatory, in consultation with the Department Chair and faculty.
Copies of all letters relevant to warning, probation, and dismissal are placed in the student’s file, and immediate notification is forwarded to the student. Probation and dismissal letters are forwarded to the Registrar. Dismissal letters are also forwarded to the Offices of Student Financial Services, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Residence Life. Students’ emergency contacts will be notified when a student is professionally dismissed from a conservatory/school.
Academic Standards in Professional Training
Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in their school/conservatory and program as detailed below:
The Dance faculty review a student’s artistic, academic, and technical proficiency twice each semester. In addition to prescribed coursework, all students participate in and are evaluated/graded on their freshman jury, sophomore jury, junior project, and senior project.
Undergraduate students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses required for their major, excluding the senior project. A grade of C- or lower constitutes a failure to demonstrate successful academic or artistic progress. A student who receives grades of C- or lower for two or more semesters may no longer be eligible for scholarship funds and performance opportunities and may be dismissed from the conservatory.
An undergraduate student may also be placed on professional probation or dismissed for breaches of professional conduct at the discretion of the director of the Conservatory of Dance. In cases of professional dismissal, students may or may not receive a formal warning, or probationary status, in advance. A student may appeal a professional probation or dismissal to the college’s Academic Review Committee.
Undergraduate students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses required for their major, excluding the senior recital/production. A grade of C- or lower constitutes a failure to demonstrate successful academic or artistic progress. A student who receives grades of C- or lower for two or more semesters may be dismissed from the conservatory.
Graduate students must earn a grade of B or higher in all courses. A grade of B- or lower constitutes a failure to demonstrate successful academic or artistic progress. A student who receives grades of B- or lower for two or more semesters may be dismissed from the conservatory.
An undergraduate or graduate student may also be placed on professional conduct probation or dismissed for breaches of professional conduct at the discretion of the director of the Conservatory of Music. In cases of professional dismissal, students may or may not receive a formal warning, or probationary status, in advance. A student may appeal a professional probation or dismissal to the college’s Academic Review Committee.
BFA students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses required for their major. A grade of C- or lower constitutes a failure to demonstrate successful academic or artistic progress; students who earn a grade of C- or lower in a required course will be automatically placed on professional probation. When possible, students must repeat a required course to replace a grade of C- or lower in order to move forward within a discipline (i.e., to continue in a numbered sequence or to move from the 2000 level to the 3000 level, etc.). A student who receives grades of C- or lower for two or more semesters may be dismissed from the conservatory.
In the theatre design/technology BFA program, repeating a required course in a subsequent semester or substitution of equivalent coursework is permitted only at the discretion of the department.
In the acting BFA program, repeating a required course is usually not possible due to the cohort nature of the program. Therefore, students in this program who receive a grade of C- or lower in a required course will normally not be permitted to advance within the major.
Within the BFA programs, lack of academic progress, breaches of professional conduct, as well as judgment on such matters as artistic growth and development may also be the basis for professional probation or dismissal.
A student in a BFA program may be placed on professional probation or dismissed for breaches of professional conduct at the discretion of the director of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts. In cases of professional conduct dismissal, students may or may not receive a formal warning, or probationary status, in advance. A student may appeal a professional probation or dismissal to the college’s Academic Review Committee.
Students in the BFA and BS programs in the School of Art+Design are expected to meet all attendance and participation requirements in all studio courses. Unexcused absences, tardiness, or lack of preparation for class will not be accepted. Three or more unexcused absences in any course will result in a grade of F or WF.
All undergraduate students in the School of Art+Design must earn a grade of C or higher in all studio art courses required for their major, excluding the senior project. Students must repeat a required course to replace a grade of C- or lower in order to move forward within a discipline (i.e., to continue in a numbered sequence or to move from the 2000 level to the 3000 level, etc.).
Students in the film BFA program must maintain the department standards for academic and professional conduct. Criteria for advancement also include the student’s fitness and potential for a professional life in the field, as determined by the department. Advancement each year is by invitation of the department following a scheduled, mandatory review of each student’s work.
Any student on warning or probationary status is reviewed at the end of the semester (fall or spring). A student may appeal a professional probation or dismissal to the Academic Review Committee. There is an ongoing assessment of professional growth in all work for all students.
Students’ Right to Appeal
A student may appeal a dismissal from a professional training program (whether on the grounds of academic performance or professional conduct) to the College’s Academic Review Committee, which will confirm or reverse the decision of the Conservatory or School Director after reviewing all relevant materials.