Academic Status Policies and Procedures

Ithaca College academic standards require that students in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance pass 24 credits in any consecutive 12-month period and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

In order to assure that students satisfactorily progress toward degree completion over a four-year or four-and-a-half-year period, detailed schematic outlines have been prepared for each degree. Students should follow these outlines closely as they register for classes. All degree programs in music include a number of courses that are sequential in nature and that develop skills in particular areas over several semesters of study. These courses include private performance study, music theory, sight-singing, and keyboard musicianship. For these core areas, which provide the foundation for a music major’s study, the following specific registration requirements must be adhered to each semester:

1. Students must enroll in the appropriate performance study until the requirements are completed.
2. Students must enroll in the appropriate music theory, sight-singing, and keyboard musicianship courses until the sequence is completed.
3. Unless on part-time status, students must enroll in the appropriate major ensemble until the sequence is completed.

Exceptions to these registration requirements may occur under unusual circumstances. Permission for exceptions must be requested on the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance petition to request exceptions to School of Music, Theatre, and Dance policies form and reviewed by the instructor of record (when appropriate), the academic adviser, the appropriate department chair, and the associate dean. Students who withdraw from any course listed above must enroll in that course during the following semester. Failure to enroll in and successfully complete the course during the next semester in which it is offered will place the student on academic warning. Deficiencies in any area of preparation may necessitate remedial courses and may delay graduation.

Students who fail to meet College or school standards are subject to immediate suspension or to suspension after a warning period. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis by the dean and associate dean of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. If the review indicates that a warning before suspension is appropriate, the procedure below is followed. Students should be aware that the offer of a warning period is a privilege, based on individual review, not a right.

Academic Warning

A letter of warning notifies the student that the school’s academic requirements have not been met. Continued deficiencies may lead to suspension or dismissal from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. The following are deficiencies that lead to academic warning:

1. Failure to maintain the general Ithaca College academic requirements of passing 24 credits in any consecutive 12-month period, unless approved for part-time status, and to maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA
2. A grade below C- in private-lesson study
3. Two successive failures in a music course required in the student’s program (or two successive grades below C- in either keyboard musicianship or sight-singing), or withdrawal from a required music course previously failed, or failure to enroll in the subsequent offering of a required music course previously failed
4. Failure to enroll in and successfully complete music theory, sight-singing, or keyboard musicianship class over two consecutive semesters

During the semester that academic warning is in effect, the student must fulfill the specific requirements listed in the letter of warning or face suspension or dismissal from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

Continuation of Warning

A second or subsequent letter of warning notifies the student of continuing deficiency in some areas listed under warning. Generally, this letter is sent to students who have demonstrated some improvement over the previous semester but have not yet attained the minimum levels required to be removed from formal warning.

During the semester that academic warning is in effect, the student must fulfill specific requirements listed in the letter of warning or face suspension or dismissal from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Students may be suspended if this level is not attained; in some cases they may be continued on warning for one more semester.

Final Warning

A letter of final warning notifies the student that only one semester remains to improve their academic standing. During the semester that a final academic warning is in effect, the student must fulfill the specific requirements listed in the letter of warning or face suspension or dismissal from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. These are absolute requirements.

Academic Suspension

A student being suspended from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and Ithaca College is informed with a formal letter of suspension. The length of the suspension is specified, and students are informed that they are not eligible to attend courses at the College until the semester specified by the notification letter.

In the formal letter, procedures for applying for return to the College are explained, and the general expectations of performance upon resumption of studies are indicated. As a general rule, students are expected to complete 12 letter-grade credit hours with a semester GPA of 2.30 or better, with no grades of I, W, or F, and no more than one grade below C. Other conditions may be specified in the formal notification.

Return to College Following Academic Suspension

Readmission to the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance following suspension is unusual. However, it may be possible and is contingent upon evidence of a satisfactory record of achievement at another accredited institution of advanced musical training.

Academic Dismissal

Students who meet College academic standards but not those of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance may be dismissed from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. In such instances, students are suspended from the College for at least one semester. Continued study following the suspension is contingent on the student’s being accepted into another school at the College.

In special cases, students with generally creditable records may be dismissed from a particular degree program for failure to meet requirements in that specific program. Such students are eligible to change their major to another program or school, provided they are accepted by the new department and, if applicable, school. Such program dismissals are usually made effective at the end of the following semester to allow the student time to decide upon, and be admitted to, a new major.