Academic regulations

No student may register for any term unless the student is making satisfactory progress toward the degree and has been cleared by the Office of Student Financial Services to register. In compliance with Connecticut state law, no student will be allowed to register unless satisfactory evidence of immunity to measles and rubella has been presented to Yale Health (see Required Immunizations under Health Services in the chapter Yale University Resources and Services).

It is the student’s responsibility to maintain an accurate course schedule in the Office of Academic Administration. Any change (drop or add) to the schedule agreed upon at registration should be reported immediately. No adding of courses will be permitted after the first two weeks of any term. A student may, with the consent of the Registrar, drop a course until midterm. At this time, courses are permanently entered onto the transcript. From midterm until the last day of classes in each term, a student may withdraw from a course with the permission of the instructor of the course and the Registrar. At the time the student withdraws, the notation of W (Withdrew) will be entered onto the transcript. Course withdrawal forms may be obtained in the Office of Academic Administration. Between the end of classes in each term and the beginning of the examination period, no student will be permitted to withdraw from any course. If the instructor of a course reports to the registrar that a student has not successfully completed a course from which the student has not formally withdrawn, a grade of F will be recorded in that course.

Students are expected to operate within the regulations and policies established by the School of Art as stated in the Handbook. It is expected that students will attend classes and crits regularly and promptly, and should not plan for extended time away from campus during a semester. In any course or crit being taken for credit, more than two unexcused absences may result in a failing grade.

Examples of excused absence are those where an illness or injury is documented via a doctor’s note (the specifics of which do not need to be disclosed); observance of a religious holiday; or a personal or family emergency; that is communicated to the faculty in advance of a course session. In the event that more than two unexcused absences are accrued, it is at the discretion of the faculty member to determine whether any additional absence will be considered excused or unexcused.

The School’s absence policy does not include attending to extra-curricular and professional activities such as exhibition related travel for installation/opening, art fairs, residencies, etc. as these activities do not take precedence over your education. Missing coursework or other curricular expectations for such reasons is considered unexcused. It is up to each student to balance professional activity with academic responsibilities and schedule to minimize conflict with class attendance and presence in the graduate program during the period of enrollment.

Extended health related or personal absences that are unforeseen should be discussed with the relevant Director(s) of Graduate Study and the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and may result in a recommended leave of absence.

All courses with the School of Art are graded P (Pass) or F (Fail). If a student enrolls in a course outside of the Art School in Yale College, they can opt to receive a letter grade (for more on this, read on). Credit will be given for any passing grade (A - D). No credit will be given for a grade of F or an incomplete. Arrangements to finish incompletes are to be determined between the student and his/her instructor. Any incomplete which is not made-up by registration day of the next consecutive term will be recorded as an F on the transcript. Academic courses in Yale College may be elected under a letter grade option (see Yale College Programs of Study bulletin [YCPS]) otherwise all grades are Pass/Fail. The other professional schools, e.g. Drama, and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, employ various P/F grading systems. The letter grade option for Yale College electives must be requested prior to midterm.

Within one week following registration in any given term, students will be issued a copy of their course schedule that lists the courses for which they have registered. At the end of the academic year, each student will be issued a copy of the student’s transcript indicating grades earned, which will serve as a progress report. Prior to issuance of this progress report, grades earned in the fall term will be available on request.

The MFA degree is awarded by the University on the recommendation of the faculty of the School of Art. Each department in the School holds its own reviews of students’ work at regular intervals. At the end of each review, faculty may require a student to take a particular course or participate in a tutorial. This requirement supersedes the normal choice of electives. Students are considered to be in “Good Academic Standing” so long as they maintain a grade level of Pass in all courses and studio work. No student can progress to a subsequent term with a failing grade in the student’s major field of study. Students are expected to attend and participate in all courses taken for credit in order to receive passing grades. If the work under review is not considered by the faculty to be satisfactory and deserving of credit toward the degree, the student will receive an academic warning. Students who have received such a warning during or at the end of any term will have to demonstrate a satisfactory level of quality and effort in their work by the next review period. If they fail to do this, they may not be invited back to complete the program or may be asked to take a leave of absence. Disciplinary dismissal may take place at any time during the year for any student in the School. Exceptions to the regulations of the MFA degree can be made only on the recommendation of the Academic Subcommittee, to which all applications on these matters must be addressed.

If a student on financial aid does not maintain satisfactory academic progress, the appropriate portion of loans and scholarships (Federal Stafford loans, Federal Perkins loans, School of Art Work-Study jobs, scholarships) will be canceled, and no further aid will be allocated until there is proof of improvement and/or satisfactory completion of course work.

Attendance is required at Commencement exercises for all MFA candidates. Special permission to be excused must be obtained from the dean. In addition to the completion of degree requirements, satisfactory final review of the student’s work, and a thesis exhibition, submission of the following is required in order to graduate:

Graphic Design: Thesis Book

Painting/Printmaking: Digital portfolio

Photography: Print portfolio

Sculpture: Digital portfolio

All degree requirements must be completed within three years of the student’s scheduled graduation date in order to obtain the MFA degree. Those who are unable to meet this deadline and wish to pursue their degree further must reapply for this consideration and pay a reregistration fee, which is 10 percent of the current tuition rate.

Students are expected to follow a continuous course of study at the School of Art. However, a student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily may request a leave of absence. There are three types of leave—personal, medical, and parental—all of which are described below. The general policies that apply to all types of leave are:

1. Any student who is contemplating a leave of absence should contact the Assistant Dean for Academic Administration or the student’s Director of Graduate Studies to discuss the necessary application procedures.

2. All leaves of absence must be approved by the dean. Medical leaves require the written recommendation of a Yale Health physician, as described below.

3. A student may be granted a leave of absence of one or two years. Any leave approved by the dean will be for a specified period.

4. International students who apply for a leave of absence must consult with OISS regarding immigration implications, understanding that a change to enrollment status will require prompt departure from the U.S., usually within a matter of weeks. Yale is legally required to update the student’s SEVIS record and thereby report study interruptions and leaves of absence to the Department of Homeland Security immediately, and a new I-20 must be issued for the student’s eventual return to campus.

5. A student on leave of absence may complete outstanding work in any course for which the student has been granted an extension, and will still be held to the deadline for submission of coursework and deliverables. The student may not, however, fulfill any other degree requirements during the time on leave.

6. A student on leave of absence is ineligible for financial aid, including loans; and in most cases, student loans are not deferred during periods of non-enrollment. Additionally, the six-month grace period for repayment will be calculated from the last day of active enrollment (for leaves beginning Fall 2020, this would be the last date of the Spring 2020 semester), and is only applicable once for a student entering repayment on their loan.

7. A student on leave of absence is ineligible for the use of any University facilities or workspace normally available to enrolled students, or participation in curricular events and classes. Studio spaces must be vacated of all work and personal property by the date specified in the terms of the leave which will accompany the dean’s official written approval granting the leave.

8. A student on leave of absence may continue to be enrolled in Yale Health by purchasing coverage through the Student Affiliate Coverage plan. In order to secure continuous coverage from Yale Health, enrollment in this plan must be requested prior to the beginning of the term in which the student will be on leave, and within thirty days after the date by which the leave is approved/enrollment status is updated in Banner. Coverage is not automatic; enrollment forms are available from the Member Services department of Yale Health, 203.432.0246.

9. A student on leave of absence must notify the Assistant Dean of Academic Administration in writing of the intention to return by a specified deadline set by the Dean. In addition, a returning student who wishes to be considered for financial aid must submit appropriate financial aid applications to the School’s financial aid office to determine eligibility.

10. A student on leave who does not return at the end of the approved leave, and does not request and receive an extension from the dean, is automatically dismissed from the School.

Personal Leave of Absence

A student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily because of personal exigencies may request a personal leave of absence. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is current with degree requirements is eligible for a personal leave after satisfactory completion of at least one term of study. Personal leaves cannot be granted retroactively.

To request a personal leave of absence, the student must apply in writing no less than 30 days before the beginning of the term for which the leave is requested, explaining the reasons for the proposed leave and stating both the proposed start and end dates of the leave and the address at which the student can be reached during the period of the leave. If the dean finds the student to be eligible, the leave will be approved (normally no later than the tenth day of a term). In any case, the student will be informed in writing of the action taken, and where applicable, terms of return or reinstatement.

A student who does not apply for a personal leave of absence, or whose application for a personal leave is denied, and who does not register for any term, will be considered to have withdrawn from the School.

Medical Leave of Absence

A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of illness or injury may be granted a medical leave of absence with the approval of the dean, on the written recommendation of a physician on the staff of Yale Health. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward the degree requirements is eligible for a medical leave any time after matriculation. The final decision concerning a request for a medical leave of absence will be communicated in writing by the dean.

The School of Art reserves the right to place a student on a medical leave of absence when, on the recommendation of the director of Yale Health or the chief of the Department of Mental Health and Counseling, the dean of the School determines that the student is a danger to self or others because of a serious medical problem.

A student who is placed on medical leave during any term will have tuition adjusted according to the same schedule used for withdrawals (see Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy). Before re-registering, a student on medical leave must secure written permission to return from a Yale Health physician.

Leave of Absence for Parental Responsibilities

A student who wishes or needs to interrupt study temporarily for reasons of pregnancy, maternity care, or paternity care may be granted a leave of absence for parental responsibilities. The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward the degree requirements is eligible for parental leave any time after matriculation.

Any student planning to have or care for a child is encouraged to meet with the student’s director of graduate studies and dean to discuss leaves and other short-term arrangements. For many students, short-term arrangements rather than a leave of absence are possible. Students living in University housing units are encouraged to review their housing contract and the related polices of the Graduate Housing Office before applying for a parental leave of absence. Students granted a parental leave may continue to reside in University housing to the end of the academic term for which the leave was first granted, but no longer.

Students who wish or need to interrupt their studies to perform U.S. military service are subject to a separate U.S. military leave readmissions policy. In the event a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from Yale School of Art to serve in the U.S. military, the student will be entitled to guaranteed readmission under the following conditions:

1. The student must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces for a period of more than thirty consecutive days;

2. The student must give advance written or verbal notice of such service to the director of academic administration. In providing the advance notice the student does not need to indicate whether the student intends to return. This advance notice need not come directly from the student, but rather, can be made by an appropriate officer of the U.S. Armed Forces or official of the U.S. Department of Defense. Notice is not required if precluded by military necessity. In all cases, this notice requirement can be fulfilled at the time the student seeks readmission, by submitting an attestation that the student performed the service.

3. The student must not be away from the School to perform U.S. military service for a period exceeding five years (this includes all previous absences to perform U.S. military service but does not include any initial period of obligated service). If a student’s time away from the School to perform U.S. military service exceeds five years because the student is unable to obtain release orders through no fault of the student or the student was ordered to or retained on active duty, the student should contact the director of academic administration to determine if the student remains eligible for guaranteed readmission.

4. The student must notify the School within three years of the end of the U.S. military service of the intention to return. However, a student who is hospitalized or recovering from an illness or injury incurred in or aggravated during the U.S. military service has up until two years after recovering from the illness or injury to notify the School of the intent to return.

5. The student cannot have received a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or have been sentenced in a court-martial.

A student who meets all of these conditions will be readmitted for the next term, unless the student requests a later date of readmission. Any student who fails to meet one of these requirements may still be readmitted under the general readmission policy but is not guaranteed readmission.

Upon returning to the School, the student will resume education without repeating completed course work for courses interrupted by U.S. military service. The student will have the same enrolled status last held and with the same academic standing. For the first academic year in which the student returns, the student will be charged the tuition and fees that would have been assessed for the academic year in which the student left the institution. Yale may charge up to the amount of tuition and fees other students are assessed, however, if veteran’s education benefits will cover the difference between the amounts currently charged other students and the amount charged for the academic year in which the student left.

In the case of a student who is not prepared to resume studies with the same academic status at the same point where the student left or who will not be able to complete the program of study, the School will undertake reasonable efforts to help the student become prepared. If after reasonable efforts, the School determines that the student remains unprepared or will be unable to complete the program, or after the School determines that there are no reasonable efforts it can take, the School may deny the student readmission.

A student who wishes to withdraw from the M.F.A. program should confer with the Assistant Dean of Academic Administration or the Director of Graduate Studies in the student’s department. The University identification card and all keys must be submitted with a formal letter of withdrawal, and any assigned studio space must be fully vacated. Students who do not register for any term, and for whom a leave of absence has not been approved, are considered to have withdrawn from the School. Students who discontinue their program of study during the academic year will have tuition charges prorated according to University policy as noted in the section on Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy. A student who has withdrawn from the School of Art in good standing and who wishes to resume study at a later date must apply for readmission. Neither readmission nor financial aid is guaranteed to students who withdraw.

1. Students are expected to conform to the regulations established by the School of Art. The School of Art Handbook, which contains more detailed rules and regulations, will be given to each student upon registration.

2. It is expected that students will attend all classes regularly. Students must reside in New Haven or nearby, as commuting more than a few miles is not possible due to the 24/7 nature of the studio program.

3. The School of Art reserves the right to require the withdrawal of any student whose educational development is unsatisfactory or whose conduct is deemed harmful to the School. Please refer to the policy on student grievances at http://equalopportunity.yale.edu/complaint-procedures.

The Yale School of Art is committed to the protection of free inquiry and expression in the classroom and throughout the school community. In this, the School reflects the University’s commitment to and policy on freedom of expression as eloquently stated in the Woodward Report (Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at Yale, 1974). See http://studentlife.yale.edu/guidance-regarding-free-expression-and-peaceable-assembly-students-yale.