Accreditation
The School for Professional and Continuing Studies is a division of Maryland Institute College of Art, which has consistently been ranked among the top art colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Maryland Institute College of Art is fully accredited by the following associations:
Middle State Association of College & Schools Commission on Higher Education 3524 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2680 215-662-2680MSA/CHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
National Association of Schools of Art & Design 11250 Roger Bacon Drive Reston, VA 20190 703-437-0700NASAD is a specialized accrediting agency for schools of art and design and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The College is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, East Coast Art School Association and Maryland Independent College & University Association.
Add, Drop, Withdraw
Add/Drop & Refund Schedule
|
Add/Drop Period Ends |
|
|
Credit Courses |
Before 3rd class meeting |
|
Non Credit Courses |
Before 1st class meeting |
|
100% Refund Granted |
|
|
Credit Courses |
Before 1st class meeting |
|
Non Credit Courses |
Before 1st class meeting |
|
80% Refund Granted |
|
|
Credit Courses |
Before 3rd class meeting |
|
Non Credit Courses |
N/A |
Drop & Refund Policy
Credit Classes
Students may drop or change from credit to audit status prior to the third (3rd) meeting of a credit course. Students must complete a Drop Form or write to the School for Professional and Continuing Studies requesting that they be dropped from a class or have their status changed from credit to audit. Students must include: full name, student ID#, course information about the course(s) being added, dropped, or having their status changed, course code (including section), course title and course instructor, and date of request.
A 100% refund is granted if:
- The School for Professional and Continuing Studies cancels the course.
- The School for Professional and Continuing Studies receives written notification of a student's desire to drop a class prior to the first (1st) meeting of a credit course.
An 80% refund is granted if:
- The School for Professional and Continuing Studies receives written notification of a student's desire to drop a credit course prior to the third (3rd) class meeting.
Refunds will either be credited to the student's credit card, or a check will be mailed to the student's address. Check requests may take approximately four weeks.
Non-Credit Classes
Students may drop a class prior to the first (1st) meeting of a non credit course. Students must complete a Drop Form or write to the School for Professional and Continuing Studies requesting that they be dropped from a class. Students must include: full name, student ID#, course information about the course(s) being added, dropped, or having their status changed, course code (including section), course title and course instructor, and date of request.
A 100% refund is granted if:
- The School for Professional and Continuing Studies cancels the course.
- The School for Professional an d Continuing Studies receives written notification of a student's desire to drop a class prior to the first (1st) meeting of a credit course.
No refund is granted if a student drops a non-credit course after it has started. Refunds will either be credited to the student's credit card, or a check will be mailed to the student's address. Check requests may take approximately four weeks.
Summer Travel Intensives
All cancellations must be made in writing to the Summer Travel Intensives Program by mail or e-mail.
A 100% refund is granted if:
- The program is cancelled
- Cancellations are received 6 or more weeks before program start date
A 50% refund is granted if:
- Cancellations are received 3-6 weeks before program start date
No refund granted if:
- Cancellations are received less than 3 weeks before program start date
Summer Travel Intensives - Art History
A 100% refund is granted if:
- The program is cancelled
- Cancellations are received 6 or more weeks before program start date
A 50% refund is granted if:
- Cancellations are received by the 6th day of the program
- Cancellations are received after the 6th day of the program
PLEASE NOTE: Students who do not attend the introductory, on-campus meeting will be dropped from the Art History portion of the program (100% refund will be given)
Pre-College Studio Residency Program
No tuition is refunded to students asked to leave the program for violations of school policies or regulations. Students who withdraw for any reason must do so in writing. Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
- Withdrawal prior to June 1 - 100% (minus non-refundable application fee)
- Withdrawal prior to June 26 - 50% (minus non-refundable application fee)
- Withdrawal after June 26 - NO REFUND
Add Policy
Students may add a class at any time prior to the third (3rd) class meeting. Students who wish to add a class after it has started must obtain permission from the instructor and notify SPCS that the instructor has approved the addition. Students are expected to pay full tuition for an added credit or non credit course.
Withdrawal Schedule
|
Total Class Sessions |
Withdrawal Period Ends |
|
6 and under |
Before 3rd class meeting |
|
7 |
Before 4th class meeting |
|
8 to 10 |
Before 5th class meeting |
|
> 10 |
Before 6th class meeting |
Withdrawal Policy
Students may withdraw from a class, for any reason, after the Add/Drop period based on the total number of class sessions (see Withdrawal Schedule). After the withdrawal period for a class ends, withdrawal will be granted only for documented medical reasons or other extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the Dean of the School for Professional and Continuing Studies.
When a student withdraws a ‘W' will be placed on his/her transcript. A ‘W' does not count towards a student's grade point average (GPA) and no credit will be given. A ‘W' will appear on the student's transcript. Any student who withdraws after the prescribed withdrawal period will receive a grade of Failure (‘F') for the class. No tuition will be refunded for students wishing to withdraw from a class. (See Drop & Refund Policy).
Students must provide written notification tothe School for Professional and Continuing Studies of their intent to withdraw from a class. Students must include the following information: full name, student ID#, date of request, course code (including section), course title, and course instructor.
Transfer Policy
Students are permitted to transfer from one credit class to another prior to the third class meeting. Students who wish to transfer must obtain permission from the instructor and notify the School for Professional and Continuing Studies that the instructor has approved the transfer. If the tuition is greater than that of the former class, the student will be expected to pay the difference for the transferred classes. If the tuition is less than that of the former class the student will be refunded the difference. Refunds will either be credited to the student's credit card or a check will be mailed to the student's address. Check requests may take approximately four weeks.
Audit Option
A student may enroll in a credit class on an audit basis. Auditors are expected to fulfill the same class attendance requirements and in-class assignments as regular students but are exempt from evaluation reporting. A notation, "AUD," will appear on the student's transcript. Unless otherwise stated in the course description, tuition and the fees are the same. Clearly note your audit requests on the form at the time of registration or, at the latest, by the Add/Drop deadline.
Attendance
Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor, students are expected to attend all meetings of each class in which they are enrolled. They are expected to be ready to start work at the opening of class and to remain for the entire class session.
Irregular attendance or habitual tardiness usually leads to lower grades and, ultimately, to probation or dismissal. Although an instructor's discretion is clearly involved, unexcused absence from as few as three classes will result in a failing grade.
In the case of extended illness or other legitimate absences that may keep the student from attending a class for more than three meetings, students must contact the Associate Dean of the School for Professional and Continuing Studies so that instructors can be notified.
Certificate Programs
The School for Professional and Continuing Studies offers Certificates of Art for structured programs of study, leading to substantial accomplishment in specific disciplines. Currently, certificates are offered in two areas: Jewelry and Creative Entrepreneurship. All students interested in entering a certificate program must complete a Certificate Application Form (available on line) and return it to the School for Professional and Continuing Studies. A $60 certificate application fee ($75 for Entrepreneurship Certificate) must accompany the completed application. This procedure will insure that certificate students receive proper advisement and tracking.
Advising: Advising is available through the School for Professional and Continuing Studies; students may contact the office at 410‑225‑2219 for assistance.
Evaluation: All courses taken in a certificate program must be taken for a letter grade.
Repeating courses: If a student wishes to repeat a required or elective course and have it applied to their certificate program, they must request permission from the area coordinator and the Director of Data Management and Registration in the School for Professional and Continuing Studies.
Substitutions: The School for Professional and Continuing Studies will not transfer credits from another program or college into the certificate program. However, from time to time, students request exemption from taking courses equivalent to courses taken through another program or college. Students granted an exemption must substitute a course offered through MICA's School for Professional and Continuing Studies for the exempt course. To request an exemption, contact your program's area coordinator.
Length of Program: There is no time frame for completion of a certificate program. Students, however, should notify the School for Professional and Continuing Studies of absences of more than one year.
Completing the Program: Students must contact their area coordinator to determine eligibility. Certificates take six weeks to process.
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students the following rights with respect to their educational records:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent.
4. The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Maryland Institute College of Art to comply with the requirements of FERPA
5. The right to obtain a copy of MICA's student records policy. (You can obtain a copy of the policy from the School for Professional and Continuing Studies.)
6. Grade reports, transcripts and honors awarded will only be released directly to the student or with the student's authorization.
Grading
Grades assigned upon completion or termination of a credit class are:
A+ A Superior
A- B+ B Above Average
B- C+ C Average
C- D+ D Poor
F Failure
Plus or minus may be used by the Instructor.
MICA's grading system assigns each grade category the following points:
A+ = 4.0
A = 4.0
A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0
B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0
C- = 1.7
D+ = 1.3
D = 1.0
F = 0.0
Incomplete
Incomplete grades are given only in exceptional circumstances. A grade of "I" (Incomplete) will be given only if the student has completed the majority of the work of the course at a passing level and only for reasons beyond the student's control.
Students seeking an Incomplete must obtain an Incomplete Contract from the School for Professional and Continuing Studies. The student must submit the Incomplete Contract, signed by the student and the faculty member, to the School for Professional and Continuing Studies Registrar.
Incompletes must be fulfilled by the beginning of the subsequent semester. If the contract is not fulfilled within the prescribed time, the grade is changed to an F (Failure).
Non-Credit Courses
Many one-day and multi-session workshops are offered as non-credit classes. Students are required to fulfill all class assignments, but no grades are assigned and no transcript is kept. The School for Professional and Continuing Studies will provide a letter of completion for non-credit classes if a written request is made to the office prior to the conclusion of the class.
Prerequisites
Students with little or no formal training in art should plan to take the introductory courses before enrolling in higher-level courses. Specific prerequisites for individual courses and programs are listed in the course description. Equivalent experience is accepted as meeting these prerequisite requirements. Students with questions about their preparedness for any course or program should contact the School for Professional and Continuing Studies at 410-225-2219.
Grade Appeal Procedure
Students in attendance at the Maryland Institute College of Art who receive a grade that they are convinced does not reflect their accomplishments may appeal that grade. They must be aware of the fact that the teacher in the classroom will be considered the best judge of the student's performance and that the burden of proof of a claim of this sort lies completely with the appealing student. They should also be aware that the possibility exists that the grade could be lowered as a result of this process. Understanding these facts, if a student wants to appeal a grade, the process is as follows:
Within three weeks of the posting of grades, the student will, in writing, arrange an appointment with the instructor to discuss the grade.
If, after the meeting with the instructor, the student still wishes to pursue the appeal, the student must meet with the Associate Dean for Professional and Continuing Studies. At that time, the student will need to present appropriate evidence from the course (a portfolio, exams, etc.) and a detailed explanation of why the appeal is being made. The Associate Dean will also meet with the concerned instructor in order to ascertain if there are any circumstances other than the contents of the portfolio that are reflected in the students grade (i.e. attendance, class participation, etc.).
The Associate Dean will then establish a panel of at least three individuals with teaching experience relevant to the subject for which the grade is being contested. The panel will meet with and review the student's work and pertinent records from that class. After meeting with the student and the concerned instructor, they will make a determination to either confirm the grade or change it. The panel will then notify the instructor and the student of the decision. The Associate Dean will notify the Director of Data Management and Registration in case of a grade change. This process of appeal and review by the panel should take place within the semester following the appeal by the student. In case of a grade change, the instructor may ask to have his/her name removed from the transcript.
Appeals are normally considered and acted upon during the semester following that in which the contested grade was received. The determination by the review committee will be final.
Food/Beverages in MICA Facilities
Food and drink are not allowed at any time in the following MICA facilities: Falvey Hall; Brown Center 320 (lecture hall); MICA galleries; any and all areas where sensitive technology or hazardous chemicals may be in use, including, but not limited to, computer labs, digital printing facilities, photo labs and darkrooms, sound editing and recording facilities, video editing and recording studios.
Inclement Weather Policy
Every effort is made to make announcements about campus status, during an inclement weather event, available by 6:30 am for day classes and administrative offices, and by 3 pm for evening and School for Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS) classes. Updates to the campus status are posted as weather conditions require. If no campus status information is posted, you should assume the College is open, and classes are running on schedule.
Separate decisions are made about the academic and administrative operations of the College, and about degree program and continuing studies activities. When the College is closed, all MICA events and all events on campus are cancelled.
As soon as a decision is made to close the College, cancel classes, or delay the opening of MICA offices or the start of classes, Campus Status Information is made available:
- On the "News & Events" page at www.mica.edu - with a link from the homepage.
- As an outgoing message on the main campus telephone number (410-669-9200) and the main School for Professional and Continuing Studies office number (410-225-2219).
- Via selected news outlets in Baltimore and Washington. We currently inform the following news outlets about MICA closings and campus status: WUSA TV (Washington, D.C.-area television station); WBAL-TV, WJZ-TV, WMAR- TV, and Fox 45 (Baltimore-area television stations); Mix 106, WLIF, WQSR, X105.7, and Shadow Traffic (Baltimore-area radio).
Tuition and Fees
Payment Policy
Full payment for tuition and fees is due at the time of registration unless stated otherwise. The School for Professional and Continuing Studies accepts checks, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), or money orders.
Third party payments are accepted; however, students must provide documentation of payment at time of registration. This can be in the form of a letter from the payer.
Students have the option of enrolling in a payment plan. Payment plans are a convenient and interest free way to make tuition payments on a monthly basis. At MICA, payment plans are administered by Sallie Mae. There is a one-time, $35 fee to enroll in a payment plan. Students must enroll in a payment plan prior to registering for a class. Once enrolled in a payment plan, students must notify the School for Professional and Continuing Studies. For more information about payment plans contact the School for Professional and Continuing Studies at (410) 225-2219 or cs@mica.edu. To enroll in a payment plan contact Sallie Mae at (800) 635-0120 or http://tuitionpay.salliemae.com
Overdue Accounts
Students are individually responsible for their financial obligations to the College. A student whose account is overdue or who is in any manner indebted to the College will be denied the recording and certification services of the School for Professional and Continuing Studies, including the issuance of transcripts or certificates, and may be denied enrollment until all obligations are fulfilled. The School for Professional and Continuing Studies may stop enrollment or cancel completed enrollment of a student who has a delinquent account or debt.
Students may only register for classes if all financial obligations are paid. When a student account has an overdue balance, an indicator is placed on the account to inform the Registrar that enrollment is to be denied. Additionally, this indicator may also deny access to some MICA services. The College may not furnish transcripts or a diploma if a student is delinquent in paying student account charges.
The School for Professional and Continuing Studies will make three attempts to collect on overdue accounts. If payment is not received by the end of the stated period, the account and all pertinent information is forwarded to an outside collection agency. In the event the collection agency is unable to collect, the account is reported to a national credit bureau, thus affecting the debtor's credit rating. Individuals who do not pay all the fees and charges owed will be assessed a penalty fee, interest at the highest rate allowed by law, and all reasonable administrative costs, collections costs, and attorney's fees incurred in the collection of funds due to the college.
Maryland Institute College of Art is in full compliance with the Maryland Debt Collection Act and all regulations promulgated by the State of Maryland Department of Accounts and the Office of the Attorney General.
Personal Conduct
A community such as ours depends on the good judgment and considerate behavior of its members. All students are expected to maintain high standards of personal conduct, as well as to show respect for personal and College property and for the rights of their fellow students, faculty and staff. Generally, behavior that reflects good intentions, mature judgment and respect for the rights of other people meets the expectations of the College. Behavior that threatens or endangers the safety or well being of you, other members of the community, or property is subject to disciplinary action.
Misconduct Subject to Disciplinary Action:
- All forms of dishonesty, whether by act or omission, including but not limited to cheating; plagiarism; knowingly furnishing false information to the College; and forgery, alteration, or use of College documents or instruments of identification with intent to defraud.
- Intentional or wanton disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other College activities-including public service functions or other authorize activities on College premises.
- Disruptive behavior, including but not limited to physical abuse, assault and battery, harassment, or threats to any person on College premises or at College-sponsored or -supervised functions, or which affect any member of the College community. This includes drug- and alcohol-related behavior, as well as harm to oneself.
- Theft or damage, including vandalism, to College premises or property, including College or student artwork; or theft or damage, including vandalism, to property of a member of the College community or visitors.
- Unauthorized entry to or use of College facilities.
- Failure to comply with directives of College officials acting in the performance of their duties.
- Violation of rules governing residence in College-owned or -controlled property.
- Violation of College, local, state, and federal laws related to the use or possession of alcohol and other drugs, and violations of other such laws in a way that affects the College community's pursuit of its proper educational purposes.
In order to maintain a sound educational atmosphere MICA, in its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right, at anytime, to dismiss any Student from a MICA program whenever, in the judgment of MICA, further participation in the Program is not deemed appropriate to MICA. This can occur for academic, health, Student conduct, or other reasons, believed sufficient to MICA to warrant dismissal. In no case in which a dismissal occurs will MICA have an obligation to refund any costs, tuition or fees, and any unpaid costs, tuition or fees shall remain due and payable. The School for Professional and Continuing Studies must receive a written request for an appeal hearing within 10 days of the date listed on the dismissal notification letter. Failure to appeal within the allotted time renders the original decision final and conclusive.
Plagiarism
Each discipline within the arts has specific and appropriate means for students to cite or acknowledge sources and the ideas and material of others used in their own work. Students have the responsibility to become familiar with such processes and to carefully follow their use in developing original work.
Plagiarism Policy
MICA will not tolerate plagiarism, which is defined as claiming authorship of, or using someone else's ideas or work without proper acknowledgment. Without proper attribution, a student may NOT replicate another's work, paraphrase another's ideas, or appropriate images in a manner that violates the specific rules against plagiarism at MICA. In addition, students may not submit the same work for credit in more than one course without the explicit approval of the all of the instructors of the courses involved.
Consequences
When an instructor has evidence that a student has plagiarized work submitted for course credit, the instructor will confront the student and impose penalties that may include failing the course. In the case of a serious violation or repeated infractions from the same student, the instructor will report the infractions to the Associate Dean for Professional and Continuing Studies. Depending on the circumstances of the case the associate dean may choose to dismiss the student from the college.
Pet Policy
MICA has established the following policy for anyone who chooses to bring a pet to campus:
Pets brought to campus must have current vaccinations (including rabies) and be licensed through the city or town of residence.
Pets may not roam freely in studios, classrooms, offices or public spaces. Pets must be confined to an appropriate carrier or kept on a leash and must be fully under their owner's control at all times. Aggressive, disruptive or destructive animals are not allowed on campus.
Campus areas where pets are not allowed at any time, except for guide animals accompanying individuals with disabilities: All dining areas; College-owned residence halls and MICA-managed housing; printing and computer labs; other special-use areas, including the Hall @ Brown Center, campus galleries and Decker Library. Please note that any other areas of the campus may be designated pet-free at any time, on a permanent or a temporary basis, for health/safety reasons, or to respect the desires of the people who use these spaces.
Right to Reproduce
The College reserves the right to reproduce, with‑out notification, any photographs of students or artwork produced by students while attending MICA's degree and continuing studies programs; this reproduction will be for non-commercial purposes only, and may include print publications, institutional websites, e-communications, multimedia presentations, and documents abou the College for admission recruitment, fundraising, or institutional informational purposes.
Transcripts
Transcripts are available for credit classes only and are processed on the 1st and 15th day of each month. Requests for transcripts must be submitted in writing to Transcript Requests - School for Professional and Continuing Studies, MICA, 1300 Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217. There is a $3 processing fee for each official transcript and a $2 processing fee for each unofficial transcript (payable by check or credit card to MICA). Rush orders can be processed for a $10 fee. Official transcript requests should include name of institution, department and address to which the transcript should be sent. All requests should include MICA ID #, SS #, name, your signature, address, telephone number, year and programs attended.
Underage Students in College Courses
Exceptional students age 16 and older are permitted to enroll in introductory level Continuing Studies credit-bearing classes. Students making such requests must submit a letter from the student's legal guardian acknowledging that the course may contain artwork with adult themes as well as a recommendation letter from one of the Student's teachers attesting to the maturity and ability of the student. The School for Professional and Continuing Studies will review all requests.
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act
-
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students the following rights with respect to their education records:
- The right to inspect and review the student's education records.
- The right to request the amendment of the student's education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights.
- The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosures without consent.
- The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Maryland Institute College of Art to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
- The right to obtain a copy of MICA's student records policy. (You can obtain a copy of the policy from the Office of Student Records.)
- The following information will only be released directly to the student or with the student's authorization: grade reports, transcripts and honors awarded.
Maps & Directions