ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Academic Calendar

The academic year is comprised of two 16-week semesters of class and a summer session. Every year the Escuela publishes an Academic Calendar showing key dates for each semester and the summer session. First semester classes begin mid-August and end in mid-December. The second semester begins mid-January and ends in mid-May. The summer session is in June.

    The Academic Calendar published by the Registrar's Office indicates enrollment dates, dates classes begin, holidays, deadlines for withdrawal with reimbursement, withdrawal from courses with a "W", deadlines for payment plans, enrollment periods, final examinations, academic recesses, the graduation date, and other dates in institutional life.

     The Escuela de Artes Plásticas offers an Admissions Seminar twice a year on the dates listed in the Academic Calendar. Beginning August, 2001 before classes begin, new students are required to take the Student Immersion Seminar, which includes EG 001 Introduction to College Life. The Student Immersion Seminar does not accrue academic credit.

     The Adult Program academic year consists of four nine-week terms. The Program publishes an annual Academic Calendar with the dates for each term.

     Traditional accelerated General Studies courses meet once a week during four hours in the evening from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., or on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, there are 12 hours of independent work to complete 48 hours. Traditional accelerated courses in the Graphic Arts, Industrial Design, Sculpture, Image and Design, Digital, and Painting Departments meet once a week in the evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., or on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In addition, there are 56 hours of independent works. The nature of some courses require a duration of two trimesters.

     This structure allows students to enroll in four sessions a year. Student may enroll in a maximum of three courses per session for traditional accelerated courses or independent study.

     The Adult Program Academic Calendar indicates holidays on which no classes are held: Discovery of America and Puerto Rico, Thanksgiving, December 24 to January 6, and Thursday and Friday during Holy Week.

Unit of Instruction

A college credit at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas is equivalent to 16 contact hours per semester in General Studies courses and 32 contact hours per semester in studio courses. A normal course loads includes 12 to 18 credits a semester.

Classification of Students
The following are the categories of students at the Escuela:

Day Program Students :
These have a regular program of l2 credits or more per semester and are also candidates for a degree at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas. Includes new, transfer, and readmitted students.

    Because of the rigor and structure of the curriculum, the Escuela de Artes Plásticas does not recommend or encourage regular students to study part time. In order to enrolled in fewer than 12 or more than 18 credits, special permission must be requested from the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs.

    All regular students must enroll in and pass fifteen (15) or eighteen (18) credits each semester to complete a bachelor's degree in four (4) years. Students who enroll in or pass fewer credits per semester are allowed up to a maximum of ten (10) years to complete the bachelor's degree. After 10 years, all courses taken for a degree will be invalidated.

SuperArte Students :
Candidates for a degree from the Escuela de Artes Plásticas. Includes new, transfer, and readmitted students from the Day Program or the SuperArte Program. Students enroll in a maximum of three courses per term and shall be enrolled in at least two of the four terms. The time requirements for the bachelor's degree are applicable. The Chancellor may grant special permission for an adult student to enroll in more than three courses in a term.

Course Code Numbers
All courses at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas are designated with numbers and letters. Letter codes identify Academic Departments and numbers designate basic, intermediate, advanced levels, as well as sequences and seminars or practicum.

Courses are organized as follows:

The following are the initials for each Department:

Validation of Credits
Transfer of courses

Students from other accredited colleges may receive credit as follows:

REGISTRAR'S OFFICE

The Registrar's Office is responsible for the custody and maintenance of the records of all students admitted to and enrolled at the Escuela. The Office implements the academic regulations established by the Escuela authorities and applicable legislation. The Office provides services to students, faculty, and the general public related to enrollment, official documents, certification of enrollment and graduation, aid, grades, and standards of academic achievement. The Registrar's Office prepares the Academic Calendar, processes grade changes, grants and removes incompletes, total and partial withdrawals and other academic processes that affect the student's records.

F.E.R.P.A.

The Escuela de Artes Plásticas complies with the provisions of F.E.R.P.A. (Family Educational Rights for Privacy Act) or the 1974 Bucklaw amendment, which protect the confidentiality of student records, whether academic, personal or electronic. The institution is the custodian of these records, which means that no information whatsoever may be provided to anyone regarding these records, unless authorized in writing and duly identified by the student. The procedure for requesting documents from these records is the following:

For a student:

For a person authorized by the student:

Enrollment

The Registrar certifies enrollment. All course programs are officially valid with the Registrar's approval. Students shall enroll on the dates and times indicated by the Escuela in the Academic Calendar.

Enrollment shall be official when the student has fully paid all fees to the Bursar at the Escuela or has established a deferred payment plan and the course program has been signed by the Bursar and the Registrar.

The course selection which ahs not been paid for by the date established in the Academic Calendar as the last date for payment shall be cancelled. To be admitted to a class, students shall show each teacher the official enrollment documents.

Late Enrollment

Late enrollment shall be processed on the dates shown in the Academic Calendar. The fee for late enrollment is $10.00. To address extraordinary cases, the Chancellor may authorize and extension of time for late enrollment.

Changes in Enrollment

Students' course programs may be amended during the dates indicated in the Academic Calendar for each semester. Changes carry a fee of $5.00 and shall be processed at the Registrar's Office. For changes to be official they must be validated at the Bursar's Office.

Attendance

Attendance to classes is compulsory. Faculty have the obligation to note student absences and report such to the Registrar. Frequent absences will affect the final grade. The semester for a three credit workshop course consists of 96 hours of work, while General Studies courses include 48 class hours. Students with 5 unjustified absences, or the equivalent in classroom hours will be given a grade of "F".

Attendance in the Adult Program is compulsory. Students with three unjustified absences or the equivalent in classroom hours will be given a grade of "F."

Withdrawals

Administrative
Administrative withdrawal (WF) will be processed for all students who have never attended a class, by the end of the first two weeks of class in the academic semester or the equivalent. Faculty members, after receiving the official class lists, shall submit in writing the names of such students to the Registrar's Office. For administrative purposes, this withdrawal will be considered the same as a withdrawal that has been requested, as established in the Reimbursement Policy section. Students may request official withdrawal (W) before the date established in the Academic Calendar to remove the (WF).

Partial
Students may withdraw from one or several classes up to the date established in the Academic Calendar. Students shall fill our the Withdrawal Form at the Registrar's Office and submit it with the required signatures. Each withdrawal will be shown as a "W" on the student's academic record. If the partial withdrawal procedure is not completed, the teacher will award the corresponding grade.

Total
Student may process total withdrawal from the Escuela at any time during the semester, until the date stipulated in the Academic Calendar. If the withdrawal is duly authorized, the student will not receive a grade for the work done during the semester and "WT" will be entered for all courses for which the student enrolled. Total withdrawals will not be processed for students with outstanding debts. To process a total withdrawal, students shall submit the Total Withdrawal Form to the Registrar's Office with all the required signatures.

In both situations, total or partial withdrawals, students are required to have satisfied all pending financial obligations. If a student withdraws without fulfilling these requirements, he or she will receive a grade of "F" for the courses in which he or she enrolled.

Finals

The Dean of Academic and Student Affairs shall prepare the schedule for final examinations, indicating the time and date for each examination. The date of final examinations may not be changed without the authorization of the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs of the Escuela.

Final examinations shall be written examinations unless the nature of the examination does not allow such or the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs authorizes another kind of examination. To evaluate students' work, faculty may use the methods they consider most appropriate provided that in determining grades there is evidence of objectivity.

Absence from Examinations

Students who fail to attend final examinations will receive a grade of "zero" or "F." If before the last day for submitting final grades the student has not justified the absence, the faculty member, the Department head, and the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs may authorize an examination on another. In this event, a grade of Incomplete "I" will be awarded for the course, with a tentative grade calculated by adding all grades and adding zero. This examination must be taken on or before the deadline established in the calendar for the removal of the Incomplete grade.

Each faculty member will establish his or her own standards with regard to absences from partial examinations.

Grades

Grades awarded by the Escuela de Artes Plásticas are as follows:

Provisional (Incomplete)

A student will receive a provisional grade if the faculty member judges that there are justifiable reasons for which the student has not been able to fulfill all of the course requirements. In general, this grade is given if the final assignment for the semester had not been completed. The provisional grade is determined on the basis of the work completed by the student plus a zero (0) for the final assignment.

This grade is a privilege (not a right) granted to the student after the faculty member has analyzed the situation. The faculty member fills out a Grade of Incomplete Form to be handed in with the final grades and the course register.

During the following semester, on or before the date established in the Academic Calendar, the faculty member may change the provisional grade to a final grade, and will inform the Registrar by filling out the Removal of a Grade of Incomplete Form. The student will be responsible for paying the fee for Removal of a Grade of Incomplete at the Bursar's Office and shall submit the evidence of payment to the faculty member at the time of the evaluation. Until the incomplete is remove, the provisional grade is used to calculate the grade point average, If the incomplete is not removed on or before the date established in the academic calendar, the provisional grade becomes the final grade.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average is an index of academic achievement of the student, calculated by dividing the total number of points between accrued credits, including courses the student has failed. In the case of repeated courses, the higher grade is used.

The honor point value for each grade is as follows:

Courses with a grade of “W” and "T" are not counted for the grade point average. Summer courses are counted for the following academic year.

Repeated courses

Students who wish to repeat a course shall be at liberty to do so when they are not satisfied with their grade. In the case of students on Probation, repetition of courses with a grade of "F" is compulsory. Students will not be allowed to repeat basic or intermediate courses if they have taken a more advanced course in the same subject. Courses for which the student has a provisional grade may not be repeated.

If the course is no longer offered, it shall be substituted with a new course created in a curricular revision or an equivalent course, as approved by the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs.

When a course is repeated, the higher grade will be counted.

Grade reports
The Registrar's Office shall report each student's final grades at the end of each term. Student who consider that there is any kind of error or want to have a reconsideration of the grades obtained shall make use of the corresponding procedure before the deadline established in the Academic Calendar. Students should contact the Registrar's Office if they do not receive a grade report. Students with outstanding debts will not receive a grade report until they have satisfied their debt. Open study students shall request their grades at the Registrar's Office.

Grade changes
If a student believes that he or she has been evaluated unfairly, he or she may request reconsideration by the faculty member, during the following semester. If after evaluating the case the faculty member decides to amend the grade, the faculty member shall notify the Registrar's Office and fill out a Grade Change Form by the date established in the Academic Calendar. The Registrar's Office shall process the change in the students academic record, after receiving the approval of the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs and the Chancellor.

Satisfactory Progress Standard
Average
Students shall fulfill the minimum required average for attempted credits.

Credits

Students shall pass 60% or more of attempted credits.

Definitions:

Attempted credits - courses in which the student enrolled. Includes failed courses and courses processed for withdrawal.

Approved credits - courses completed with a grade of A, B, C, D, T or P. Validate credits form other institutions will not be counted for the grade point average but will be counted as approved credits.

Academic Probation and Suspension

All students at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico shall demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and will be evaluated at the end of each academic year. Students who do not show the expected academic progress, as established under the Standard of Satisfactory Progress shall be place on probation for one (1) year. During the probationary period the student shall enroll in a maximum of fifteen (15) credits per semester, repeat courses for which she obtained a grade of "F," if offered that year, and remove in a timely manner any pending incomplete grade from the previous semester. The student will also obtain an appointment for an interview with the Counselor at the Escuela to explain the reasons for his or her academic deficiencies and shall establish a plan to correct the situation, which both the Counselor and the student will follow up on during the year academic.

At the end of the probationary year, and without counting summers grades, a new evaluation will be made, and the student shall obtain the percentage of credits and the grade average as required under the satisfactory progress standard If the student does not achieve satisfactory progress, he or she will be suspended for a semester, during which the students may not enroll in classes at the Institution. After completing the first suspension, the student may apply for readmission at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico and if the student is considered favorably, he or she will be accepted on probation for an additional year.

Students who discontinue attendance while on probation must apply for readmission. After the period established for the first academic sanction, they will be evaluated. Students shall obtain the required percentage of credits and grade average; if they do not, they will be suspended for one semester. After this first suspension, the same considerations will be applied to them as to students who complete their first suspension.

Students may appeal the suspension decision at the Appeals Committee.

Student who are suspended for a second time may not be readmitted and shall be separated from the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico permanently.

The procedure is the following:
Submit an appeal to the Appeals Committee in writing within ten (10) business days from the date of the suspension indicating the reasons for the appeal and the circumstances which affected the failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress.

The Appeals Committee shall make a determination and contact the student before the end of the enrollment period. The Appeals Committee shall be constituted by the:

1. The Dean of Academic Affairs or his or her representative
2. The Counselor
3. Faculty member designated by the Chancellor
4. The Financial Aid Officer

The Appeals Committee shall process the cases under consideration and the student shall be notified of the decision of the Committee, which may not be appealed.

The following are the requirements to qualify as a candidate to a degree, diploma or certificate:

1. To have passed the required courses with a grade point average of 2.00. Students with a GPA between 3.35 and 3.59 graduate Cum Laude; those with a GPA of 3.60 to 3.99 graduate "Magna Cum Laude"; and those having a GPA of 4.00 graduate "Summa Cum Laude..

2. To take and pass the last 72 required credits at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas. In exceptional cases, fulfillment of this requirement may be reviewed by a Committee constituted by the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, the Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, and the Registrar.

3. To satisfy all outstanding debts with the Institution.

4. The student must officially request the degree, diploma or certificate by submitting the corresponding request to the Registrar's Office and pay the graduation fee at the beginning of the semester or period, in which the academic requirements for graduation will be completed.

5. To have been recommended by the Faculty for the corresponding degree.

The Escuela de Artes Plásticas holds graduation exercises once a year, at the end of the academic year. All degrees, diplomas or certificates are only conferred at that time. Candidates who have complied with the requirements before the second semester or during the summer will receive a certificate of completion.

Awards and Recognitions
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas awards special medals to the graduate with the highest grade point average in each concentration: Rubén Moreira Medal in Graphic Arts; Luisa Géigel Medal in Art Education; Francisco Vázquez, "Compostela" Medal in Sculpture; José R. Oliver Medal in Painting. In 1996-97 the Carlos Collazo Medal in Image and Design was instituted. The medal are awarded as part of the graduation exercises.

During Education Week the Escuela celebrates an Achievement Night and the Annual Student Exhibition; an external jury of prestigious artists and critics awards prizes and honorable mentions to the best work. Honor Roll students are recognized and given awards during Achievement Night.

Changes in Requirements
The Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico reserves the right to make changes in the different programs and requirements for a degree, diploma or certificate, but in general, students should graduate according to the program in effect at the time of their admission to the Institution.

The time required for completion of the bachelor's degree program is two and a half times the minimum time required for the academic program, that is to say ten years.

Re-admissions
Students at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico who have not enrolled for one semester shall apply for readmission. Such students must have passed 12 credits or more before being granted total withdrawal or interrupting the course of study. Students are responsible for fulfilling all course and credit requirements established in their respective concentrations. Academic counselors provide orientation for students regarding fulfillment of the program, but they are not authorized to make changes or substitutions in terms of requirements and courses.

General Guidelines

1. All students who have been inactive for one semester and wish to continue with their course of study shall submit an application for readmission at the Registrar's Office, on or before the deadline stipulated in the Academic Calendar.

2. Students who interrupt their course of study for one semester and are readmitted shall be governed by the course of study in effect at the moment they interrupted that course of study; those who have been absent for two semesters or shall be governed by the course of study in effect on the date of readmission.

3. Enrollment costs in effect at the time of readmission shall be applicable.

4. The Appeals Committee shall evaluate the applications for readmission made by students who have been suspended for academic deficiencies and who have complied with separation time from the Institution. The Committee shall also evaluate students on probation who withdrew voluntarily without completing the stipulated probationary period.

5. Student who have not passed the Basic Pictorial Creation, Graphic Arts, and Three-Dimensional courses twice shall not be readmitted and therefore are permanently suspended from the Escuela.

6. Students who are suspended for a second time shall not be readmitted.

The following priorities are established for registering readmitted and Open Study students:

• Students who withdraw voluntarily (readmitted).

• Students who want to study in another program after completing their concentrations.

• Bona fide students from other accredited institutions of higher learning.

• Students who interrupted their studies due to disciplinary action or deficient academic performance and who have completed the period stipulated for the suspension.

• Students who want to take courses for professional improvement.

Statement and Change of Concentration
All new students are admitted to the Basic Program. During the second semester or third trimester of the first year they are enrolled, students shall submit a Statement of Concentration at the Orientation Office, which will forward it to the Registrar's Office to be formalized.

When a student wants to change to another course of study, he or she shall request an interview with the Counselor to evaluate the effect will have on his or her education. If the student decides to enroll in another program, he or she shall apply and fill out an Application for a Change at the Orientation Office, and submit the application at the Registrar's Office to make the application official.

Authorization to enroll in courses at other institutions.
All students at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas may take courses at other accredited college-level institutions, with authorization by the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs.

This permission shall be granted for one term and the load shall not exceed 6 credits. A maximum of two permissions. A T will be noted in the academic record. Credit will only be awarded for courses passed with a C or more and that are equivalent to those offered at the Escuela or that are aligned with the Escuela's requirements.

Enrollment under Agreement
This is an option offered to day students and SuperArte students to take courses under written agreement with the faculty member as to the terms for fulfilling the objectives and the content of the course. The two parties enter a written agreement stipulating the learning activities that the student agrees to carry out individually. The function of the faculty member shall be that of a facilitator in the educational process. The faculty member shall evaluate the activities engaged in and provide certification when the student has fulfilled all of the course requirements.

Only candidates for graduation may choose enrollment under agreement if the need the course. The option shall be available when the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico cannot provide the offering due to a lack of sufficient.

The Department head and the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs shall approve the student's request and ratify the agreement between the parties.

Exceptional Situations
The Dean of Academic and Student Affairs shall decide on exceptional cases that are not described in these academic regulations. The Dean may likewise waive the application of these regulations when there are extraordinary circumstances that justify doing so.