Academic Policies, Procedures and Standards

Cornish College has established academic requirements and standards which must be met for the successful completion of individual courses and a baccalaureate degree. These requirements and standards are published in the Cornish College of the Arts Catalog (this publication) and the Student Handbook.

Academic Advisors, Department Chairs, Faculty members, and the Registrar will provide guidance on academic matters, but students are responsible for understanding the academic policies as well as the successful progress and completion of their own program. The full Academic Policy is available on the homepage of the Compass portal under academic policies.

Registration

Current Cornish students register in advance for fall and spring semesters during registration periods assigned by the Registrar. Students register for classes using the online student information system, Compass. The Registrar assigns advance registration periods to students based on the number of credits accumulated by the last completed term. Students are responsible for meeting with their academic advisor in advance of their registration appointment to plan their schedule and review degree progress.

New students will meet with an academic advisor to select and register for courses during specified New Student Registration days. The Office of Admission will inform new students of the time and location of their advising and registration appointment, along with any needed preparation.

Detailed procedures for all matters pertaining to course registration are published in the Academics section of Compass. Students can contact the Registration & Records Office with questions or to clarify policy and procedure.

Withdraw from a Course or from the College

During the Add/Drop period, students may add courses, change course sections, or drop a course through the first eight days of each semester through Compass; select Academics and Registration and Advising on the left navigation panel. 

Withdraw From a Course

Students may withdraw from a course through the 11th week of the term. An official withdrawal from a course after the close of the add/drop period, results in a "W" grade being assigned to the course and is noted on the student’s transcript. After the add/drop period ends, students must withdraw from a course through the Registration & Records Office.

Credit Limit per Semester

Students may register for up to 18 credits each semester, even though 12 credits are considered minimum of full-time enrollment. Students with a 3.00 GPA or higher who wish to register for an overload must receive written permission from the Registrar. Additional per-credit tuition fees will be charged. (See the Tuition & Fees page of the Cornish website for current tuition fees.)

Repeated Courses

Students may repeat a course, but unless otherwise specified in the course description, the course will fulfill a degree requirement only once. Subsequent grades for repeated courses will not cancel the initial grade; rather, both grades will be included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average unless the student has submitted a Grade Forgiveness petition. Students cannot receive financial aid for repeated courses except when taken in fulfillment of a requirement.

Closed Classes

As courses fill during registration, students are encouraged to register for alternate choices and to check Compass regularly for changes to section status (Open/Full). The maximum enrollment for most classes is 28 students. Cornish does not provide a waitlist for classes.

Independent Study

Department curricula are assumed by the College to provide a complete training path. Upon attaining sophomore, junior or senior class standing, a student may be permitted a career total maximum of six 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. 

Group Study

Group study is defined as the project-based study, research, or other learning experience, that is developed by student(s) or a department to augment existing curricula. Group study must be approved by the department and structured by clearly defined criteria and with learning outcomes. There is a five student minimum enrollment required for all Group study courses with a maximum enrollment of nine students per course. Students may not enroll in more than one Group study per semester. 

Tutorial Study

Tutorial study is a variable credit course defined as college-level complementary training which may include study, research, or other learning experience. Students may apply for Tutorial study after meeting with their department chair and by submitting a Tutorial study application to the Registrar. This course meets once a week for the full semester. Students may enroll for two or three credits in this course. There is an individual instruction fee charged for each Tutorial Study course enrolled; see the Tuition & Fees section for the current yearly rate for in-major, primary lessons.

Concurrent Enrollment

Once a student begins attending courses at Cornish, prior approval is required for concurrent enrollment at another institution if the student intends to transfer courses to satisfy Cornish degree requirements. Without prior approval, coursework that is completed at another institution while a student is enrolled at Cornish will not be applied toward degree requirements and will not be considered for transfer. Students should meet with their academic advisor for more information and to complete the Transfer After Matriculation Form.

Course Abandonment

Abandoning courses by ceasing to attend, or by telling the instructor that you do not intend to complete the course does not constitute withdrawal; official procedures are required to withdraw from a course or the College. Failure to complete a course or the semester does not cancel a student’s obligation to pay tuition, fees, and other charges in full. A student who stops attending a course without officially withdrawing from the course receives the grade calculated by the course instructor at the end of the semester. This grade is recorded on the academic transcript. Once the add/drop period has ended, all withdrawals must be done in person with your academic advisor through the Registration & Records Office.

Withdrawal from the College

Students may completely withdraw from the semester up until the last day of the 11th week of the semester. Students should meet with their academic advisor before pursuing this route. Students should also carefully review the grading and tuition refund policy as part of their decision to withdraw from the College. Unless the student formally requests a Leave of Absence, a complete withdrawal from the term will be understood to indicate that the student is officially withdrawing from Cornish. Once the add/drop period has ended, all withdrawals must be processed through the Registration & Records Office. If a student wishes to return to the College after withdrawing, they should contact the Office of Admission and follow the readmission policy and procedure.

Leave of Absence/Medical Leave of Absence

A formal Leave of Absence (LOA) can be requested for up to one academic year by students who have completed at least one semester at Cornish in good academic standing. A Leave of Absence reserves a student’s place in the department for the duration of the leave. If new degree requirements are instituted while the student is on Leave of Absence, that student need only complete the degree requirements in place at the time of the student’s departure.

Students who wish to return from a Leave of Absence must complete a return from leave of absence application found on Compass under Academic Grades and Transcripts. Once the application to return is processed, the student may register during the Continuing Student Advance Registration period. Students receiving financial aid should also contact the Office of Financial Aid at the same time and complete all necessary paperwork as instructed. Procedures will vary, depending on whether the student is returning in the spring or fall semester.

A Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) allows a student at Cornish College of the Arts to temporarily suspend enrollment at the institution in order to receive medical treatment for situations related to their physical and/or mental health. A Medical Leave of Absence can be requested for up to four successive semesters or two academic years. Students may take up to four successive terms of any type of leave during their academic career at Cornish. For complete information on the Medical Leave of Absence process, contact the Office of Student Life, Counseling Services, and/or visit Compass. 

Non-Matriculated Enrollment

Students interested in taking classes without obtaining a degree from Cornish may take classes through the College’s Non-matriculated Student Program. Registration for classes is through the Registration & Records Office. Students must be at least 16 years of age to enroll in credit or noncredit classes on a non-matriculated basis. Students may enroll for no more than nine credits per semester, and only the first 16 semester hours of credit attained on a non-matriculated basis can be applied to a degree program at Cornish. Financial Aid is not available to non-matriculated students.

Student's Class Level

The class level table below details the student's class level by the number of semester credits earned. 

Grades

Courses can be taken for one of three grade options: Letter grade, Pass/Fail, and Audit (not for credit or grade). Students who elect Pass/Fail or Audit grade options must inform the Registration & Records Office of this choice in person before the end of the add/drop period. Students may elect to take up to six credits of College or Open Electives with a Pass/Fail grade option.

The Pass grade (“C” or better) does NOT impact GPA, although the credits are calculated into the student’s total Career Hours. Should a student fail a course taken as Pass/Fail, both the failing grade and attempted hours are calculated into the student’s Term and Career GPAs. General Education requirements and/or major requirements (unless designated by the department curricula) may not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Courses taken as audit are not awarded college credit and cannot count towards degree requirements. See the Tuition & Fees page of the Cornish website for the tuition rate for this grade option.

• Grade changes

  The course instructor must submit grade corrections and/or changes through Compass by the ninth week of the next regular semester. Change of grade is accepted only for faculty error, or in the instance of an approved appeal made by the student.

• Incomplete grades
  To receive an incomplete grade, a student must agree upon and complete an Incomplete Grade Contract with the instructor. This contract should be approved by the student’s department chair and submitted to the student's Academic Advisor by the last day of the semester. Changes for Incomplete grades must be submitted by the course instructor to the Registration & Records Office by the 9th week of the next regular semester.

Grade Point Average

Only graded courses taken in residence at Cornish are calculated into the grade point average. The grade point average is determined by multiplying the grade value for each completed course by the number of credits attempted. For example, a “C” (2.0) grade awarded in a three-credit course equals 6.0-grade points. Calculate the total grade points earned for a term by the total credits attempted for a term to determine the grade point average.

Cornish College of the Arts faculty uses the following grading system:

Grades Calculated within GPA

Grades Not Calculated within GPA

Grade reports are posted at the end of each term and available to the student through Compass.

Academic Term Honors

Full-time students whose semester grade point average is between 3.85 and 4.00 earn a term honors commendation, which is noted on the academic transcript as Term Honors.

Academic Standards

Undergraduate matriculated students are required to maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to remain in good standing. Students’ academic standing is evaluated at the end of each semester for which the student was enrolled. Students who do not have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average are not eligible for graduation from Cornish College of the Arts. All notifications of Warning, Probation, and Dismissal, and Return to Good Standing are recorded on a student’s academic record and transcript.

• Good Academic Standing

  Students who maintain a 2.0 minimum career grade point average during the course of their studies.

• Academic Warning
  A student receives an academic warning when their semester/term GPA falls below the minimum good standing of 2.0 in a given semester. At the end of their warning semester, students return to good standing if their semester/term GPA is raised to the minimum level and they continue to have a career GPA of 2.0 or above. Students who leave the College with the status of Academic Warning retain that status when they return.

• Academic Probation
  Students are placed on academic probation for one semester when their career/cumulative grade point average falls below the minimum standard of 2.0. At the end of their probationary semester, students return to good standing if their career/cumulative grade point average is raised to the minimum level. The status of Academic Probation persists for students who leave the College and then return.

  A student cannot be placed on academic probation after only 1 semester of matriculation. In this instance, the student will be placed on academic warning. If their career/cumulative GPA does not raise to 2.0 or above in the following semester, they will be placed on probation. 

• Academic Dismissal
  A student with a career/cumulative grade point average below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the college. Dismissal from Cornish College of the Arts prohibits a student from further enrollment in all academic departments. 

  A student may submit an Appeal for Reinstatement to the Academic Dean immediately after notification of dismissal.

  
  An academically dismissed student may appeal to the Academic Dean for reinstatement immediately following notification of dismissal. The Dean’s decision will have one of the following outcomes and all decisions made by the Dean are final:  

  • Appeal upheld and the student continues on Academic Probation for 1 additional semester. The student must raise their career/cumulative GPA to 2.0 or above in the subsequent semester or they will be dismissed from the College without right of appeal. 

  • Appeal is denied, but a pathway is outlined for the student that would allow conditions of re-entry after 1 calendar year. This pathway will be carefully outlined by the Academic Dean. 

  • Appeal is denied and the student is dismissed from the College. 

• Expulsion
  A student may be expelled for unacceptable conduct or academic performance. This action is based on a recommendation by the Academic Standards Committee or the Dean of Student Life, is noted on the student’s transcript, and prohibits return to Cornish for any further study.

Incomplete Grades

An Incomplete Grade is a non-punitive grade given to a student who has been performing satisfactorily in a course, but is unable to complete the end-of-semester coursework due to an emergency or other reason beyond the student's control. The student and the faculty of record must complete and submit an Incomplete Grade Contract by the end of the term. The Contract must be approved by the faculty member, Departmental Chair, and Registrar who will collectively review the criteria. The “I” grade must not be used for the convenience of the student or faculty member.

Grade Forgiveness

A student who receives a grade of C- or below in a course at Cornish College of the Arts may repeat that course one time under the Grade Forgiveness policy. Both courses and grades will be posted to the permanent record. The grade of the most recent attempt will be used in calculating the career grade point average and for completion of degree requirements. Course credits will be counted only once toward a degree. Requests for grade forgiveness must be submitted no later than the end of the Add/Drop period for the semester in which the student has registered for the course. It is recommended that the student complete the Grade Forgiveness form in collaboration with the Academic Advisor simultaneously with course registration. 

Academic Amnesty

Readmitted students may petition the Academic Standards Committee for Academic Amnesty for grades earned at Cornish College of the Arts five or more years prior to readmission. Although the original grades will appear on the transcript, grades granted academic amnesty are not included in the student’s grade point average or credit-hour totals. Students may petition amnesty for up to one academic year and only for a term in its entirety. Individual courses cannot be petitioned under academic amnesty. Once amnesty has been approved, it cannot be rescinded or modified. Once granted, courses approved for academic amnesty will not apply to current degree requirements.

Transcripts

Cornish College of the Arts has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering online. Students can order transcripts with this service using any major credit card, an e-mail address, and a signed consent form. A processing fee of $5.00 will be charged for the first copy, and $2.75 for each thereafter (if ordered within a single session). Official transcripts require three to five days for processing. The official transcript bears the signature of the Registrar, the College seal, and the date of the issue. Unofficial transcripts are free of charge and may be printed directly from Compass or requested in writing from the Registration & Records Office.

College Transfer and Nontraditional Transfer Credits

Transfer credit may be awarded for college-level, non-remedial coursework with a grade of C or better from regionally accredited colleges or universities. The Registration & Records Office staff and department chair will evaluate all transfer work and assign Cornish course equivalencies and credits. Credits from quarter-based institutions transfer to Cornish at a 3:2 ratio. No more than 60 transfer credits (including AP/CLEP/IB/CBE/PLE credits detailed below) can be applied toward a student’s degree. All students must complete at least 60 credits in residence at Cornish.

Students who have earned a BFA or BA degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution prior to admission to Cornish will automatically transfer a minimum of 30 Humanities and Sciences credits toward the General Education requirement.

Students who have earned a BS from a regionally accredited U.S. institution prior to admission to Cornish will automatically transfer in a minimum of 6 credits in satisfaction of the English Composition requirement.

Students who have earned an AA transfer degree from a Washington State community college under the Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) program prior to admission to Cornish will automatically transfer a minimum of 30 credits of Humanities and Sciences credit toward the General Education requirement.

Advanced Placement Credit (AP)

Advanced Placement credit may be awarded on the basis of the College Board Advanced Placement exams taken prior to enrollment at Cornish. Official copies of the test results must be submitted to the Office of Admission as a part of the admission process. Exam results may be no more than five years old at the time of application to a degree program. No more than six-semester credits of non-studio coursework can be satisfied through the AP, CLEP, or IB exams. AP exam scores of 5, 4, and 3 are accepted for college credit by Cornish. Studio Art examinations are not accepted for college credit in the major at Cornish. Please refer to the Registration & Records Academic Policies section of the Cornish website here for an explanation of how AP credits are awarded.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Cornish accepts credits for the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject examinations if the student has scored in the 50th percentile or higher. Official copies of the test results must be submitted to the Office of Admission as a part of the admission process. Exam results may be no more than five years old at the time of application to a degree program. Credit will not be granted for the general CLEP examination. Up to six credits may be satisfied through IB, AP, and/or CLEP results.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Cornish may award six-semester credits for Higher Level Subject Exams with a score of 5, 6, or 7. Official copies of the test results must be submitted to the Office of Admission as part of the admission process. Exam results may be no more than five years old at the time of application to a degree program. Up to six credits may be satisfied through IB, AP, and/or CLEP results. Please refer to the Registration & Records Academic Policies section of the Cornish website for an explanation of how IB credits are awarded.

Credit by Exam (CBE)

Students may request credit by examination (proof of proficiency) for work done in private study. Students may be awarded up to 30 credits. Awarded credits will be counted as transfer credit on the academic transcript. Students must complete the credit by examination prior to their junior year. The fee is $30 per credit challenged. A maximum of 30 credits of combined CBE and PLE credit may be awarded.

Prior Learning Experience (PLE)

Students who have documented college-level education and/or experience that is not transferable may petition for prior learning experience credits in their freshman or sophomore year. Awarded PLE credits must apply directly to the student’s degree requirements at Cornish College of the Arts. Typically, PLE credit is considered for study at non-accredited institutions, extensive volunteer or paid work in the field of study, or private instruction. The fee is $30 per credit evaluated. A maximum of 30 credits of combined CBE and PLE credit may be awarded.

Credit Hour Definition Policy

In accordance with national standards, and in compliance with federal guidelines, the following definitions of a credit hour at Cornish College of the Arts represent a minimum level of student achievement of specific learning outcomes as verified by assessment of student work. Out-of-class time expectations are averages only and may vary depending on the level of the course as well as the individual ability and learning style of the student. An in-person classroom / instructional hour is defined as 50 minutes.

1. For studio courses, 1 semester hour of credit is based on at least 1.5 to 2 hours of classroom or direct in-person faculty instruction and a minimum expectation of 1 hour of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks (including exam week). For example, a studio class that is worth 3 credits may require 6 hours of in-person classroom instruction and 3 hours of student work outside of class each week. 

2. For lecture courses, 1 semester hour of credit is based on 1 hour of classroom or direct in-person faculty instruction and a minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks (including exam week). For a 3-credit lecture course, this would equate to 3 hours of in-person classroom instruction and 6 hours of out-of-class student work per week during the 15-week semester.

3. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in the definitions above for other academic activities established by the College that lead to the award of credit hours, including internships, independent and individual tutorial studies, private instruction, practica, and rehearsal/performance.

4. For students admitted Fall 2024 and after, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Music (BM) from Cornish College of the Arts consists of the following distribution of credit hours:

    

   1. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester credits, depending on major and distributed as follows:  

      1. 72 or more credits in the major area of study  

      2. 30 credits minimum in the General Education Program 

      3. 6 credits of college electives outside the major

      4. 12 or more credit hours of open electives

   2. Satisfaction of all degree requirements

   3. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00

   4. Conversion of all incomplete grades to final grades