Studio Culture Policy

Faculty shall:

• Establish a culture of learning through:
  • Providing instruction in design, graphics, presentation, writing, critiquing, and listening skills.
    1. Challenging students to achieve to their greatest ability while remaining supportive of the individual.
• Provide a framework for a healthy balance between the design studio, other curricular and extra-curricular activities and responsibilities through:
  • Timely arrival and ending of the studio with efficient use of the designated studio time.
  • Equitable distribution of time and attention to all students.
  • Accessibility to students during office hours and via email.
  • Maintain reasonable expectations as to work requirements for the studio.
  • Avoid chronic scheduling of meetings away from the studio.
  • Not extending or changing the scheduled studio meeting unless there is 100% agreement among all the students enrolled. Following University policy, when the university is officially closed, the studio will not meet.
• Issue a syllabus to articulate the expectations of the studio including:
  • The objectives of the course, expectations and performance deadlines, and a detailed schedule including any travel plans.
  • Workload corresponding to the level and credit hours for the course.
• Evaluate or provide
  • A fair, thoughtful, informative, respectful critique of student work at all phases of the design process by:
    1. Providing opportunities for the presentation and discussion of design work within the studio and publicly.
    2. Scheduling reviews within the designated studio time.
    3. Providing evaluations and assessments made in a timely manner.
    4. Providing written or oral feedback in addition to grades.

Students shall:

Strive to maintain an appropriate balance between studio, other curricular and extra-curricular activities through:

• Being present by:
  • Thoroughly reading the syllabus in order to know the expectations for the course
  • By arriving to class, attentive and on time, including scheduled pinups and reviews
  • Limiting time spent away from the scheduled studio time.
  • Clearly communicating any conflicts as far in advance as possible and understanding the potential repercussions for an absence.
• Completing assignments by deadlines established in the syllabus
• Contributing to a professional learning environment by
  • Maintaining a clean work area and studio
  • Being respectful of others’ right to a quiet work environment through
    1. Not being disruptive by playing loud music or engaging in loud conversations.
    2. Not taking other’s equipment and materials without permission
    3. Using off-gassing materials only in the designated spray booth.
    4. Using power tools only in the College Wood & Metal Shop.
  • Sleeping in studio is prohibited.
• Thoughtful, engaging, relevant, and respectful critique of work is encouraged by:
  • Actively participating in critiques remembering the critique is about the work presented for review, never about you as a person.
• Encouraging safety by
  • Exercising caution when using machinery and power tools.
  • Exercising caution/awareness when working in the building late at night.
  • Exercising caution when leaving the building late at night.
• Work to improve the quality of education in the College by
  • Submitting thoughtful faculty evaluations.
  • Submitting concerns regarding project feedback or grading in a timely manner.

Learning Culture Policy (PDF)

Any member of the community, student or faculty, has the right to seek remediation for conflicts or problems in studio by contacting the studio instructor, the program director, or the University Ombudsman.