2020/2021 SVA Handbook SVA • 2020 / 2021 20 /21 SVA Handbook CONTENTS President’s Letter 2 The College 3 Academic Information 9 Student Information 23 Faculty Information 44 General Information 55 Standards, Procedures, Policies and Regulations 69 SVA Essentials 93 2020–2021 Academic Calendar 113 Index 119 SVA.EDU 1 THE SVA HANDBOOK provides faculty, students and administrative staff with information about the College, its administration, services and processes. In addition, the Handbook contains policies mandated by federal and state regulations, which all faculty, students and administrative staff need be aware of. In this regard, I would especially like to call your attention to the sections on attendance (pages 12 and 46), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (page 85), Student Disruptive and Concerning Behavior (page 74), Title IX procedures (page 84) and the SVA policy on alcohol and drugs (page 70). We look forward to the 2020–2021 academic year. Our students, this year from 45 states, one U.S. territory and 49 countries, will once again pursue their studies with the focused guidance of our renowned professional faculty. DAVID RHODES President August 2020 2 SVA HANDBOOK THE COLLEGE Board of Directors 4 Accreditation 4 SVA Mission Statement 4 SVA Core Values 4 History of SVA 5 Academic Freedom 6 First Amendment Rights 6 SVA Student Profile 7 SVA.EDU 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Interior Design program leading to the Brian Palmer Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design is ac- Joseph F. Patterson credited by the Council for Interior Design Anthony P. Rhodes Accreditation (accredit-id.org), 206 Grand- David Rhodes ville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI Lawrence Rodman 49503-4014. Eileen Hedy Schultz The School of Visual Arts’ Department of Art ACCREDITATION Education is currently pursuing accreditation The School of Visual Arts has been authorized of its educator preparation programs by the by the New York State Board of Regents (www. Association for Advancing Quality in Educa- highered.nysed.gov) to confer the degree of tor Preparation (AAQEP). Pursuant to Section Bachelor of Fine Arts on graduates of programs 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner in Advertising; Animation; Cartooning; Com- of Education, the educator preparation program puter Art, Computer Animation and Visual offered by the School of Visual Arts is consid- Effects; Design; Film; Fine Arts; Illustration; ered to be continuously accredited for purposes Interior Design; Photography and Video; Visual of meeting the New York State requirement that and Critical Studies; and to confer the degree all such programs maintain continuous ac- of Master of Arts on graduates of programs in creditation. The School of Visual Arts’ Master of Art Education; Critical Theory and the Arts; Cu- Arts in Teaching in Art Education program was ratorial Practice; Design Research, Writing and previously accredited by the Council for the Ac- Criticism; and to confer the degree of Master of creditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Arts in Teaching on graduates of the program in Art Education; and to confer the degree of The Master of Professional Studies in Art Ther- Master of Fine Arts on graduates of programs apy program is approved by the American Art in Art Practice; Art Writing; Computer Arts; Therapy Association, Inc., and as such meets Design; Design for Social Innovation; Fine Arts; the education standards of the art therapy Illustration as Visual Essay; Interaction Design; profession. Photography, Video and Related Media; Prod- ucts of Design; Social Documentary Film; Visual SVA MISSION STATEMENT Narrative; and to confer the degree of Master of The mission of the College is to educate future Professional Studies on graduates of programs generations of global creative citizens to foster in Art Therapy; Branding; Digital Photography; cultural and social change that promotes our Directing; Fashion Photography. core values through the pursuit and achieve- ment of their professional goals. The School of Visual Arts is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education SVA CORE VALUES (msche.org), 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PARTICIPATION IN THE GLOBAL PA 19104, 267.284.5000. The Commission on CREATIVE COMMUNITY Higher Education is an institutional accredit- Creative citizenship extends far beyond the ing agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of borders of any one country. We believe citizen- Education and the Council on Higher Education ship demands participating in the exchange of Accreditation. ideas with integrity in one’s community and the world at large. We must recognize our common The School of Visual Arts is an accredited insti- humanity, listen to our fellow global citizens, tutional member of the National Association of respect a multiplicity of perspectives and expe- Schools of Art and Design (nasad.arts-accredit riences, and we must have the clarity of purpose .org). to speak out against injustice. At SVA, creative 4 SVA HANDBOOK citizens then encompass all of these ideals Arts, Media Arts and Photography. The Col- through their artistic practice. lege now offers BFA programs in Animation, Computer Arts, Interior Design and Visual and DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Critical Studies. We are a diverse community that voices a deep commitment to equality and accessibility. We In the 1980s, SVA began its Master of Fine Arts strive to create an atmosphere of openness and (MFA) degree programs in Computer Arts, Fine inclusion. Arts, Illustration as Visual Essay and Photog- raphy, Video and Related Media. The success FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION of these programs and the need for unique and The College has always protected the rights of innovative advanced studies has led to MFA members of its community to share their views programs in Art Practice, Art Writing, Design, in a receptive space and to enjoy the autonomy Design for Social Innovation, Interaction Design, necessary for risk-taking and innovation. SVA Products of Design, Social Documentary Film provides an environment where both new and Visual Narrative. The College also offers the ideas and contested ideas are welcomed and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Art Educa- explored. tion, and the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Art Therapy, Branding, Digital Pho- PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY tography, Directing and Fashion Photography. A SVA’s faculty of working professionals are Master of Arts (MA) in Critical Theory and the actively engaged in the fields that they teach. Arts began in fall 2012; a Master of Arts (MA) in They hold students to a professional standard Curatorial Practice and a Master of Arts (MA) in in terms of their craft, focus and general com- Design Research, Writing and Criticism began portment; the curriculum of each major is built in fall 2014. on a foundation of specialization and expertise. Professionalism at SVA encompasses not just The student body today consists of 3,872 un- excellence, but also accountability, intellectual dergraduate students, 690 graduate students rigor, leadership and, above all, integrity. and 1,900 continuing education students from 45 states, one U.S. territory and 49 countries. HISTORY OF SVA The School of Visual Arts was founded in A major reason for this continued growth is 1947 as a single-purpose trade school with 35 our belief that “today’s art college must meet students and three instructors. Known as the today’s needs.” Remaining a vital institution Cartoonists and Illustrators School, it offered dedicated to helping students become artists instruction in the techniques essential to the capable of facing the increasingly rapid changes pursuit of careers in cartooning and illustration. in their lives, their careers and society as a Since that time, it has seen continual growth. whole is what SVA is all about. The advertising and graphic design depart- ments were added first, followed in the 1960s The College has consistently engaged a faculty by fine arts, photography, art history, humani- of renowned artists, critics, designers, histori- ties and film. There are now more than 1,100 on ans and writers who are active and respected the faculty. in their fields. Students are thereby exposed to excellence while being introduced to and chal- In 1972, the New York State Board of Regents lenged by the professional standards they will authorized the School of Visual Arts to confer be expected to uphold later in life. the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) on graduates of four-year programs in Film, Fine SVA.EDU 5 ACADEMIC FREEDOM The College cannot censor or restrict “public” The School of Visual Arts supports the right of speech that may offend or cause discomfort each faculty member to pursue research and to others in the community, either by accident teaching without interference, subject only to or by intent. Comments or language used in the constraints of law and the pursuit of truth. public situations that may be termed “hate No policy, regulation or member of the staff may speech” are certainly an abhorrence to the Col- interfere with this basic tenet of the institu- lege community, even though they technically tion’s philosophy. Any infringement of academic may be protected by law. However, even when freedom will be immediately and vigorously First Amendment rights protect the expression addressed and corrected. of opinions that some may consider deroga- tory, the College can take steps to denounce FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS those opinions and ensure that opposing views “Congress shall make no law respecting an es- are heard. Therefore, it is absolutely essential tablishment of religion, or prohibiting the free that we all work to maintain an atmosphere of exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of respect for every individual who exercises free- speech, or of the press; or the right of the people dom of speech in a responsible way, and without peaceably to assemble; and to petition the gov- intent to harm or defame others.