Communication Design and course policies

Projects

There will be five projects assigned throughout the course of the quarter. Collectively, projects account for 60% of the grade for the course. Projects are due at the beginning of the class period for which the critique is assigned. Late or incomplete work will not be accepted. Attendance at critiques is mandatory.

• Project 1: 10%
• Project 2: 10%
• Project 3: 15%
• Project 4: 5%
• Project 5: 20% (final project)

Exercises

There will be at least six Exercises during the course of the term. Additional
exercises or tests may be assigned by the instructor without notice. The
average of the exercise and test grades will comprise 20% of your grade
for the course.

Final grades are the result of three areas of evaluation: Professionalism, Process and Realization.

Professionalism

Your grade in the area of professionalism will focus on issues of attendance, preparation, deadlines, critique participation, personal attitude and articulation – the ability to speak and write clearly about ideas/concepts presented in class. While attendance and class preparation appear to be related most directly to Professionalism they also indirectly affect other areas of evaluation.

Participation

Critiques, class discussions, and the class wiki will become helpful tools only through your participation. Weekly postings to the wiki are required to recieve credit for participation. Participation in class and in this fora will count for 10% of your course grade.

Process & Critiques

Students are required to keep ongoing process work including notes, diagrams, drawings, layouts, photographs, and reference materials. The notebook will reflect the progress of student work and knowledge of the course content. It will contain all handouts, quizzes/exams, thumbnail sketches, comps, and finished projects. Conceptual thumbnail sketches and/or rough mockups are required for each project. Electronic production will not begin until students have received layout approval from the instructor.

Students will keep a production journal containing notes, sketches and prototypes for all projects. 2-3 pages per week is the expected minimum. Journal evaluation will count for 10% of your grade for the course.

Critiques also play a crucial role in graphic design practice. Group and individual meetings take place every week. Students encounter numerous situations where it becomes necessary to evaluate, work and rework projects in order to achieve the highest possible standards. Verbal and written skills are important, students are required to explain and write about their design decisions in front of the instructor, clients, and peers.

Faculty rely on classroom observation in evaluating a student’s process (in addition to process journals and other physical documents). Process evaluation will focus generally on how thoroughly the student pushes visual exploration and concept research through such processes as sketching/thumbnails and creative/thoughtful writing. Students who attend class, make visible their process investigations (through sketch or when appropriate computer generated concepts) and are prepared for the scheduled activities/discussions, reveal valuable information about their performance that may not be evident in the portfolio or process journal. In the absence of such information, faculty must resort to an unsatisfactory rating in evaluating the student’s process.

 

Realization

The final evaluation of work (realization) involves more than totaling the grades on individual projects and/or determining that all assignments have been completed. Faculty assess student’s abilities in realizing concepts and controlling the visual elements of communication throughout the semester. This includes such issues as craftsmanship and the improvement and progressive mastery of increasingly complex material are evaluated.

Students who miss lectures, project explanations, and class discussions may be able to complete projects within deadlines but rarely demonstrate the understanding of students who attend regularly. Since faculty organize courses of study so the projects build upon one another, students who miss information or fail to understand early projects are at a disadvantage throughout the semester. All projects and exercises are due on the day and time given, always at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted. A late accommodation is given only with the understanding that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances occasionally arise. This course is a key course on your path to professional or critical practice. Therefore, no late work will be accepted. All work is due on the date assigned. Missing or arriving late to a scheduled critique is unacceptable. If a critique for a project is scheduled and the student misses that class, that project will be assigned an “F”.

In this course “C” work or average work is considered that which merely satisfies the terms of the course. “A” work on the other hand, clearly takes the assignment to another level, pushing the boundaries of the project and that of your own personal limits. What this translates to is a willingness to take risks and experiment. Use this classroom opportunity to try out new ideas, processes etc. Push yourself. This type of seriousness of investigation and pushing of one’s ideas will reap the benefit of a higher grade. (Please note: if you decide for any reason not to finish this course, you must drop the course through administrative procedures. See the Schedule of Classes for further policy clarification.)

Required Materials

At this stage in your career it is highly recommended that you own your own computer, applicable software and printer. You will be producing digital representations of your work. This will require you invest in papers for printing and inks if you do not use the school’s facilities. Other production materials will be self determined. The expectation here is that the student be responsible for these purchases as he/she sees fit for the portfolio.

Expectations & Work Load

The basic structure of this course will revolve around assigned studio problems, individual and team projects. Projects will frequently engage organizations outside of the college community. Approximately one-quarter of the class will be spent in lecture and class discussion; the remainder of the class will be spent in critique of student work. Therefore it is very important that all students engage themselves in a discourse of the work at hand and conduct themselves with the utmost professionalism. In turn I will give each of you conscientious feedback on as much of your work as is possible. All students should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time outside of class time for research, process and production of assigned projects.

Students are expected to think creatively and critically as well as participate thoughtfully in class. As a good portion of this class is based in critique of student work, it is expected that all students will participate in this dialogue so that we may all benefit from the feedback. All comments are expected to be constructive and honest. It is the group dynamic that will inform and educate our individual projects. Be open to and engaged with the critique process as lack of participation will impact your final grade.

Class Preparation

Students are to arrive to class on time and be prepared for work with the requested supplies/materials/assignments. Lack of preparation on a continual basis will affect your final grade.

Class preparation is essential to receiving feedback on one’s work. When assigned work is due for critique and you have not finished the assignment, or your work is not at the stage requested, do not present it. This work is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the group as the thoughts/visualization will be incomplete. No projects will be discussed without an accompanying project prototype.

If you happen to miss a class or lecture, please make arrangements with a fellow student who can either take notes for you and/or get the required handouts, etc. While faculty will be happy to clarify information for students who are confused, instructors cannot repeat lectures or elaborate project descriptions on an individual basis. Students should make every attempt to obtain general information from classmates before discussing details with faculty.

Attendance Policy

Consistent with college practice, students are expected to attend all sessions of courses for which they are registered. Each instructor determines when a student’s absences have reached a point at which jeopardizes success in a course. Only three absences will be allowed. The fourth absence will lower your final semester grade by one letter grade. The fifth absence will lower your grade by two letter grades and so on. This is not the class to test the attendance policy on.

Tardiness is defined as being fifteen minutes late for class or departing before class has been formally dismissed by the professor. Four tardies will be counted as one absence. Tardiness that exceeds one hour will be counted as an absence. If you are late it is your responsibility after that class period to make sure the professor has you added to the roll. Students should be informed that the allotted absences are to accommodate routine illness, weddings, car troubles, etc. Doctor appointments, advisor conferences, trips to supply stores and labs, employment, etc. should not be scheduled to conflict with class. Faculty cannot be placed in the position of determining which absences are excusable and which are not. All students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Prolonged illness should be verified by a physician and may require the student to withdraw from class if he or she cannot complete work in a comprehensible and timely manner.

It should also be noted that faculty are frequently called upon to recommend students for professional positions upon graduation and are contacted by potential employers as references. This is especially relevant with this class as you may be requesting letters of recommendation from your faculty. In such instances, reliability is always discussed. Students with a responsible record of attendance are likely to receive a favorable recommendation.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. All instances of intentional plagiarism will be referred to the MSCD Office of Judicial Affairs. Plagiarism is the copying of existing artwork or designs. Working from photographs or other imagery is allowed and is sometimes necessary for the production of illustrations and layouts, however an attempt must be made to adapt and alter the image so as not to merely duplicate someone else’s artwork in another medium or form. Do not take the ideas someone else has worked hard to create. Failure to abide by this rule will result in failing the course and could result in expulsion from the college. Academic credit will never be awarded for plagiarized work.

Art Department Policies

1. The Art Department requires students who do not attend all sessions of a course in the first week of the semester to drop that course.  Non-attending students may be dropped as a courtesy, especially if there are students on the waiting list, but it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course to avoid incurring tuition and fees.  (See deadline below.)
2. Permission of instructor is required to register for any Art class after the first meeting.
3. All students (including UCD students) must meet Art Department prerequisites, as stated in the College Catalog, before enrolling in a course.
4. The Art Department does not accept audit or Metromeritus students in studio courses. 
5. Students enrolled for at least two studio classes studio courses may sign up for a locker at the Art Department office, AR 187, on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please provide a copy of your MSCD student ID and current class schedule for our records.  (Note:  students enrolled in a single studio class may share a locker.  Students are responsible for finding their own locker partners; both students must come to the art office together to sign up for a locker.)
6. Advising appointments are available through the Art Department office, AR 187, 303-556-3090.  We do not make same-day appointments.
7. Students are advised to check their MetroConnect email regularly.  This is the official means of communication from the college and will be used to notify you of class cancellations, etc.

Registration

Students must be officially registered for a class to attend that class.  It is essential that students register in a timely manner because classes added after the census date are not eligible for COF funding.  For this reason, late enrollments will not be approved except in extreme circumstances.  It is the student’s responsibility to verify that she or he is officially registered for all classes.

Waiting Lists

Students are absorbed in order until the first class meeting; after the first meeting permission of instructor is required to be absorbed.  There is no guarantee that all students will be absorbed and students MUST DROP a waitlisted class as any other class IF the intention is not to attend. While you are wait-listed you should attend all class sessions, with permission of the instructor. You are advised to use the Web or kiosk system daily to check if you have been enrolled in the class. You are not charged tuition and fees for a class while you are on a wait list. If you are absorbed into a class from the wait list, you must pay for the class to avoid being assessed the 4% service charge. It is your responsibility to obtain a printout of your class schedule to determine if you have been absorbed. This is YOUR ONLY OFFICIAL NOTICE. When possible, the Art Department will notify you by email as a courtesy, but DO NOT RELY ON NOTIFICATION. Students cannot be absorbed from waiting lists if there is a time conflict with another class or if the addition of the course will result in an overload.  Note: Wait-list classes do not count toward the total enrollment for your financial aid disbursement. Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions.

No Credit Withdrawal Policy

Students will be expected to know and observe the MSCD regulations regarding No-Credit Withdrawal (NC).   It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a course.  Students who withdraw after the census date will receive an NC on their transcripts.  NC stands for No Credit and does not impact the student’s grade point average.  NC deadlines for part-of-term (modular) classes vary.  NC deadlines are given below.

Student requests for an “NC” notation in a given course will not be granted after the published deadlines for requesting an NC with the signature of the faculty member, unless the request is approved by the faculty member, the department chair and the dean.  The Art Department will consider such requests only in the case of the death of an immediate family member, doctor’s orders or medical emergency, or employment changes beyond the control of the student (including call to active military duty).  Documentation of the circumstances justifying a late NC will be required. Students who have questions about tuition and fees refund deadlines should contact the Office of Student Accounts at 303-556-6188.

Fall Dates and Deadlines

 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

The Metropolitan State College of Denver is committed to making reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in reaching their academic potential.  If you have a disability which may impact your performance, attendance, or grades in this class and are requesting accommodations, then you must first register with the Access Center, located in the Auraria Library, Suite 116, 303-556-8387.

The Access Center is the designated department responsible for coordinating accommodations and services for students with disabilities. Accommodations will not be granted prior to my receipt of your faculty notification letter from the Access Center.  Please note that accommodations are never provided retroactively (i.e., prior to the receipt of your faculty notification letter.) Once I am in receipt of your official Access Center faculty notification letter, I would be happy to meet with you to discuss your accommodations. All discussions will remain confidential.  Further information is available by visiting the Access center website www.mscd.edu/~access.

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty is a serious offense at the College because it diminishes the quality of scholarship and the learning experience for everyone on campus.  An act of Academic Dishonesty may lead to sanctions including a reduction in grade (up to and including a permanent F for the course), probation, suspension, or expulsion.  Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, submitting the same paper or work for more than one class, and facilitating academic dishonesty.  For definitions and more information, see the Student Handbook which is available online through Metro-Connect.

Accommodations for Religious Beliefs

Students at Metropolitan State College of Denver (MSCD) who, because of their sincerely held religious beliefs, are unable to attend classes, take examinations, participate in graded activities or submit graded assignments on particular days shall without penalty be excused from such classes and be given a meaningful opportunity to make up such examinations and graded activities or assignments provided that advance written notice that the student will be absent or unable to participate in a given assignment for religious reasons is given to the faculty member during the first two weeks of the semester.

Nothing in paragraph one of this policy shall require MSCD faculty members to reschedule classes, repeat lectures or other ungraded activities or provide ungraded individualized instruction solely for the benefit of students who, for religious reasons, are unable to attend regularly scheduled classes or activities.  However, presentations, critiques, conferences and similar activities involving individual students shall be scheduled to avoid conflicts with such students’ religious observances or holidays provided that reasonable advance notice of scheduling conflicts is given to faculty members.  Because classroom attendance and participation is an important aspect of learning, MSCD students should not register for courses if regularly scheduled classes or activities routinely conflict with their religious observances or holidays (e.g., conflicts resulting in weekly absences for an entire semester).

Certain courses in the Art Department require drawing from nude models.  Alternate assignments are available except in ART 2644 Life Drawing I, ART 3244 Life Drawing II, ART 4244 Life Drawing III or ART 4266 Figure Painting. 

Any MSCD student who believes that an MSCD faculty member has violated this policy is entitled to seek relief under Section V of the MSCD Equal Opportunity Grievance Procedure.

Incompletes

The Incomplete (I) notation may be assigned when a student, who was achieving satisfactory progress in a course and who had completed at least 75% of class assignments, is unable to take the final examination and/or did not complete all class assignments due to unusual circumstances such as hospitalization.  Incomplete work must be completed within one calendar year or earlier, at the discretion of the faculty member.  If the incomplete work is not completed within one year, the “I” notation will convert to an “F.” For the complete policy, please see the current college catalog.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all sessions of courses for which they are registered. Each instructor determines when a student’s absences have reached a point at which they jeopardize success in a course. When absences become excessive, the student may receive a failing grade for the course.  Your instructor may have a specific attendance policy which will be indicated on your class syllabus.

Application for Graduation

Students planning to graduate Fall 2008 must submit an Application for Graduation card by August 22, 2008  in the Office of the Registrar, CN 105. This card identifies a student’s intention to graduate for Fall 08, the correct and complete spelling of the name for the diploma, the major/minor, concentrations, and proper degree catalog. See also:
http://www.mscd.edu/enroll/registrar/student/graduationevaluation.shtml and under My Courses on Metroconnect for the appropriate form.