Academic Policies

Cornish College of the Arts reserves the right to change the rules, calendar and fees regulating admission and registration, to change regulations concerning graduation requirements, to withdraw courses from the curriculum and to change any other regulation affecting the student body. These changes apply to prospective students as well as students currently enrolled at Cornish.

Student Right-to-Know Act
Equal Opportunity Policy
Buckley Amendment: Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
Academic Progress
Academic Standards Review
Adding & Dropping Courses
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement Credit
CLEP Credit
Credit by Examination
Commencement
Graduation Requirements
Humanities & Sciences Credits
Incomplete Grade
Independent Study
Leave of Absence
Pass/Fail Credit
Prior Learning Experience
Registration Instructions
Transfer Credits
Waitlist Policy
Withdrawal from the College

Student Right-to-Know Act

In compliance with the Federal Government, Cornish College of the Arts issues persistence and/or graduation rates and crime statistics on July 1 of each year. Graduation rates track how many students graduate from a given incoming class. All of this information is published through the Registration and Records Office and is available to students upon request.

Equal Opportunity Policy

Cornish College of the Arts does not discriminate in education or employment on the basis of: gender, race, national origin, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status. This policy is consistent with relevant federal regulations and statutes, including those pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Questions regarding the application of this policy and information on services for disabled persons may be referred to the Counselor or the Director of Human Resources.

Buckley Amendment:
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

The right to privacy as provided by the Buckley Amendment (the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA) requires that Cornish College of the Arts refrain from disclosing a student's personal information to a public or private person or agency without prior permission from the student. Students may review their educational records, excluding recommendations, evaluations and other private notices, by contacting the Registration & Records Office. Cornish College is permitted to continue normal business and activities by this act and, therefore, the College is allowed to define which administrators, faculty, staff and outside agencies will be allowed access to student records.

Procedure to Inspect Educational Records
Students may inspect and review their educational records upon request to the Registrar or the Provost. Students should submit a written request specifically identifying the records in question. The Registrar will make needed arrangements for access to the records as soon as possible, and in no case more than 45 days from the receipt of the request.
Disclosure of Educational Records
Cornish College of the Arts will disclose information to other parties from the student's educational records only with the written consent of the student, with certain exceptions. (The Registration and Records Office can provide a list of these exceptions).
Directory Information
When the student fills out the Directory Release section on the Student Information Form at registration each term, he/she may choose to authorize the release to other parties of some or all directory information, which includes address, telephone number, birth date, dates of attendance, degrees awarded, photograph, and enrollment status.

Academic Progress

In addition to class standing, consult department curriculum requirements to ensure timely graduation.

Class Standing

Minimum credits required to achieve class standings are as follows:

Freshmen	0-29 credits
Sophomore	30-59 credits
Junior	60-89 credits
Senior	90 and above credits

Grading System

Cornish College's grading system is based on the following grade values:

A	4.00	B-	2.70	D+	1.30
A-	3.70	C+	2.30	D	1.00
B+	3.30	C	2.00	D-	0.70
B	3.00	C-	1.70	F	0.00

There grades are computed to determine student's grade point average, non-credit audit (NC) and Pass (P) in a pass/fail class are not computed in student's grade point average (GPA). Students may retake a failed course to receive a passing grade; however, both the F grade and the passing grade will be calculated in their cumulative GPA.

Academic Standards Review

A minimum grade standard is required of all Cornish students. Matriculated students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) during the course of their studies. Students falling below the standard GPA minimum requirements will be subject to written warning, placement on academic probation, or suspension.

Adding & Dropping Courses

Adding and Dropping of classes begins the first day of the semester. Each student is responsible for completion of courses listed on her or his registration form. Students receive a Schedule when they register; check to make sure you are enrolled in the courses you intend to complete.

To add or drop a course or to change sections, pick up a Change of Registration form from the Registration and Records Office. Your Department Chair and the Registration and Records Staff must sign the form. The date the form is signed by the Registration and Records Staff is the effective date of the add or drop and is the basis of any tuition refund. See the Academic Calendar for deadline information about making schedule changes. These deadlines also apply to courses that meet for only the second part of the semester, or fewer than 15 weeks. It is not possible to add courses after the eighth day of the term, regardless of the start date of the course. Schedule changes may result in recalculation of your financial aid award by the Student Accounts Manager.

Withdrawal Notations

If a student submits a signed Change of Registration (Add/Drop form) or Complete Withdrawal form to the Registration and Records Office during the first week of the semester, no withdrawal grade will be recorded on the academic transcript. The Withdrawal Without Record (WWR) deadline is the eighth calendar day of the semester. Students that withdraw or drop classes after this date will receive a “W” withdrawal notation on academic transcripts. The “W” notation does not impact grade point average (GPA).

Students may not drop courses or withdraw from the college after the eleventh week of the semester. Abandoning a class does not constitute withdrawal; official procedures are required. Failure to complete the semester does not cancel the student's obligation to pay tuition, fees, and other charges in full.

Advanced Placement

Cornish awards college credit based on test scores earned on the College Entrance Examination Board's Advanced Placement (AP) tests and the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. No more than 6 semester credits may be satisfied through the Advanced Placement (AP) tests and CLEP subject exams. Students must submit official score reports to the Admissions Office before enrollment at Cornish. Score reports must be no more than five years old at the time of application. The College does not award transfer credit on the basis of placement exams taken at other institutions.

Advanced Placement Credit

College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement test scores of 5, 4 and 3 are accepted for college credit by Cornish College; scores below a 3 are not eligible for credit at the College. Studio Art examinations are not accepted for college credit in the major at Cornish. Cornish grants credit for AP tests in the following subjects only:

Art History

AP score 5: 6 credits for Visual Art History I & II

AP score 3 or 4: 3 credits for Visual Art History I

English

Language and Composition AP score 5: 6 credits English Composition

AP score 3 or 4: 3 credits English Composition

Literature and Composition AP score 5: 3 credits English Composition AND 3 credits Literature

AP score 3 or 4: 3 credits English Composition OR 3 credits Literature

History

American and European AP score 3, 4, or 5: 3 credits Humanities and Sciences Electives

Languages

French, German, Latin (Horace, Catullus, Virgil), and Spanish AP score 3, 4 or 5: 3 credits Humanities and Sciences Electives

Literature

French and Spanish AP score 3, 4 or 5: 3 credits Humanities and Sciences Electives

Music

Listening and Literature Theory AP score 3, 4, or 5: See Music Department Chair for credit and placement.

Science and Mathematics

Biology, Calculus AB and BC, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics B, Physics C - Mechanics, Physics C - Electricity/ Magnetism AP score 5: 3 credits Humanities and Sciences Electives OR Science

AP score 3 or 4: 3 credits Science

CLEP Credit

Cornish accepts credits for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject to examinations if the student has scored at the 50th percentile or higher. Credit will not be granted for the general CLEP examination. The Registration and Records Office will evaluate all CLEP credits for new students.

Credit by Examination

Currently enrolled students may challenge courses in their major by taking an examination and paying a fee of $30 per credit challenged. Cornish College will not award a student more than 30 semester credits combined for Prior Learning Experience (PLE) and Credit by Examination (CBE).

Commencement

Commencement ceremonies for Cornish graduates occurs in May of each year. This much-anticipated and always entertaining event is free to the family and friends of graduates and to the Cornish community. Guests are invited to also attend a reception following the ceremony. For more information, contact the Registration and Records Office.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Music (BM) degree must meet the criteria listed below:

Total credit requirements in programs ranges from 120-130. These credits must be distributed as follows: 84-94 credits in the major area of study; 30 credits in the Humanities and Sciences program; and 6 credits of arts electives outside the major area of study.
Complete the final four semesters and final 60 semester credits in the major (two years studying full-time) as a matriculated student in residence at Cornish College of the Arts.
Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Satisfy all requirements in the major.
Convert all incomplete grades to passing grades.
File a graduation application with the Registration and Records Office. Early application is recommended to enable a degree audit to be completed prior to registration for the senior year. If degree requirements change during the time students are enrolled at Cornish, students may elect either to complete a baccalaureate degree under the new requirements or remain under the requirements applicable at the time they became matriculated students. Students may not combine provisions of the old and new programs.

Humanities & Sciences Credits

A maximum of 30 credits in Humanities and Sciences may be granted for transfer. Prior history in major course work may transfer depending on the department of entry. An Associate of Arts degree from a Washington state community college will guarantee the transfer of a minimum of 30 semester credits in Humanities and Sciences. Once enrolled in a degree program at Cornish College of the Arts, students may not fulfill Humanities and Sciences requirements at another institution.

Incomplete Grade

An incomplete grade is recorded on a student's academic transcripts only if he/she has done satisfactory work in a course and cannot complete all assignments before the end of the semester because of illness or other serious personal problems beyond the student's control. Students may not request an incomplete grade from the instructor until the 12th week of the semester, and they have until the 9th week of the following semester to complete the course for a passing grade. Contact the Registration and Records Office to request an Incomplete Contract.

Independent Study

Department curricula are assumed by the College to provide a complete training path. However, juniors and seniors may be permitted to pursue a maximum of 4 credits of Independent Study, which must consist of research outside the established curriculum and otherwise unavailable in any department. Independent Study is defined as student-performed research and study. The Department Chair assigns faculty a limited number of hours to consult with the students and to provide evaluation at the conclusion of the study.

Leave of Absence

If a student needs to take a Leave of Absence from the College for a period of up to two semesters (one academic year), but intends to return to Cornish to complete his/her degree, a Leave of Absence Form can be obtained from the Registration and Records Office. The student needs to schedule appointments with the following individuals in the order listed: the student's Department Chair, the Director for Financial Aid (if applicable), the Business Manager and the Registrar. Only students who are in good academic standing are eligible to be granted a Leave of Absence.

Pass/Fail Credit

Students may apply no more than 6 credits taken on a pass/fail basis towards their baccalaureate degree. Pass/fail credit is utilized for Arts Elective courses. Humanities and Sciences requirements and/or major requirements (unless designated by the department curricula) may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

Prior Learning Experience

Students may receive credit for prior learning experience. Prior Learning Experience (PLE) is documented experience gained prior to enrollment in a degree program at Cornish. Common PLE credit includes credit for instruction in student's major from a non-accredited institution (i.e., a technical school) or extensive work or study with a professional or professional organization prior to entering a degree program. For a fee of $30 per credit, students may petition for a maximum of 30 semester credits of Prior Learning Experience credit. Cornish grants PLE credits only within the major and for arts elective courses. The Department Chair may recommend PLE credits following a portfolio review or audition. Students will be informed at the time of admission as to the possibility of earning Prior Learning Experience credits; however, PLE credits are not granted until a student completes one full-time semester in good academic standing. At the end of the first semester, students may submit petition to their Department Chair and the Registrar. Specific documentation is necessary for an assessment and granting of PLE credits; documentation varies in each academic department, and it is recommended that students discuss the needed materials with their Department Chair or the Registrar.

Registration Information & Instructions

Registration dates are listed on the Academic Calendar. New student appointments are assigned by the Admissions Office. Continuing student appointments are assigned by the Registration and Records Office. If you cannot register at your appointed time please come as soon as possible after your appointment time. Call the Registration Office at 206.726.5069 to determine your appointment time. The last day to register is the eighth calendar day of the semester.

Continuing students and students returning from a Leave of Absence must contact their Department Chair for an advising session prior to Registration. Refer to the degree requirements listed in the Cornish College catalog and your most current advising template and fill out the schedule worksheet . Indicate alternative courses in case your first choice classes are full. Bring the worksheet with you to your advising appointment, where you will complete an official registration form with your advisor. You will not be allowed to register without your advisor's signature on your registration form.

Each registration form must be filled out correctly with the following information:

Course number
Section number
Course title
Grade option: G = graded N = noncredit P/F = pass/fail
Total credits
Your signature
Your advisor’s signature*

The Registration and Records staff will officially enroll you in the classes you intend to take and will give you a computer printout showing the courses in which you are enrolled. Check this printout carefully for errors. If there are mistakes, you are responsible for having them corrected.

If you are planning on signing up for classes outside your major marked “Open to Non-Majors: Perm”, you will also need the signature of the Department Chair for the department offering the class on your form at your registration appointment. Additionally, you may be placed on a waitlist until new incoming students have registered. Continuing students will be placed into their waitlisted classes if space is available. See the waitlist policy for more details.

Transfer Credits

A maximum of 70 transfer credits (including AP, CLEP, CBE, and PLE) maybe granted and applied toward a student's degree. College level, non-remedial course work graded 'C' or better from regionally accredited institution will be considered for transfer at time of application for admission. Applicants will receive formal notification of transfer credit granted when admitted to the College.

Full Classes and Waitlist Policy

In an effort to preserve low teacher/student ratios and keep sections balanced, permission to over-enroll in full classes will be granted only by that class’ Department Chair.

The Registration & Records Office will no longer accept instructor signature for over-enrollments.

Humanities & Sciences Classes (H&S)

Students may register for H&S classes on a first come/first served basis until the course reaches capacity.
Only students going into their senior year of study will be allowed to waitlist for H&S classes.
Openings in H & S classes will be made available first to waitlisted seniors, then to any other student.
Waitlisted seniors will automatically be added into the course if seats open up until the first day of the semester.
As of the first day of the semester, the waitlist will be discarded and seats will be available on a first come/first served basis to all students.

Arts Elective Classes (AE)

Students may register for Arts Electives courses (as designated in the ‘Arts Electives’ section of the Schedule of Classes) on a first come/first served basis until the course reaches capacity.
Once Arts Electives courses have reached capacity, all students will be allowed to waitlist.
For courses open by permission, students must have a valid signature from that Department Chair in order to register or waitlist for the class. If the student has not acquired such a signature, they will be required to do so before adding or waitlisting.
Waitlisted students will automatically be added into the course if seats open up until the first day of the semester. After the first day and during the Add/Drop Week, the Registration & Records Staff will contact students on the waitlist as seats open up. If the staff member must leave a message, the student will have a limited amount of time before the seat will be released to the next student on the waitlist.
Students are asked to notify a Registration & Records Staff Member if they are on a waitlist for a class they no longer want.

In-Major Required & Elective Classes

Students may register for required and elective classes in their departments on a first come/first served basis until the course reaches capacity.
Once the courses have reached capacity, students will be waitlisted.
After Advance Registration week, the waitlist for in-major classes will be managed by that department.
Students needing to change sections of required classes or in-major electives should see their department chair or advisor for permission and a signature on a Change of Registration Form.
Non-majors wanting to register for classes outside of their departments will be allowed to waitlist for these classes with permission from the department. The student must have a valid signature from that department chair prior to waitlisting.

Registration & Records Staff will contact non-majors to add them to these classes on a space-available basis after New Student Registration. If the staff member must leave a message, the student will have a limited amount of time before the seat will be released to the next student on the waitlist.

Complete Withdrawal from Cornish

A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from Cornish College must complete the following:

Fill out a Complete Withdrawal form from the Registration Office.
Schedule exit interviews to obtain signatures from the student’s Department Chair, the Director of Financial Aid and the Student Accounts Manager.
Submit the completed and signed form to the Registration Office.

The date the form is signed by the Registrar and any applicable fees are paid to the Cashier is the effective date of withdrawal and is the basis for any tuition refund. Official withdrawal does not cancel the student's obligation to pay tuition, fees, and all other charges in full. Financial Aid funding will be recalculated upon completion of withdrawal from Cornish College if withdrawal is during the first 60% of the semester. If financial aid is required to be repaid by the student, the balance will be due 10 days from the date of withdrawal. College and State Work Study funding will cease on the date of the withdrawal or upon verification of non-attendance.