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Academic Responsibilities

All students are expected to take an active role in their own education. They are responsible for promoting, protecting, and upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are required to learn the procedures specific to their disciplines for correctly and appropriately differentiating original work from quoted, incorporated, or emulated sources.

Additionally, all students are responsible for keeping track of their progress in particular courses. Students should familiarize themselves with course requirements by reading syllabi and by attending to oral and written instructions for assignments throughout the semester. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with the attendance policy of each instructor. If students have questions about course requirements, assignments, examinations, attendance records, progress, or grades, they should ask instructors for clarification.

All students are responsible for keeping track of their academic progress. At all times, students should be aware of the credits they have earned, are in the process of earning, and have yet to earn in order to meet graduation requirements. If students have questions, they should ask the academic advisors in Continuing and Professional Education for clarification.

Use of Cell Phones, Laptops & Recording Devices in the Classroom

Observing other students' work can be as valuable as doing the work yourself. Observation requires attention, focus, and a presence in the room beyond mere attendance. For this reason, texting on a cell phone or Web surfing using a laptop is unacceptable in the classroom. It prevents students from paying attention to and learning from fellow students' work. It is disrespectful to the teacher and your fellow students.

Individual faculty members are authorized to decide whether electronic devices will be allowed into their classrooms. If electronic devices are allowed, students using their cell phones (or other digital devices) or inappropriately using their laptops in class may be asked to leave the class by the instructor. This may be considered an absence for the purpose of student review and grading.

Recording of any kind during class sessions requires the express permission of the instructor and every party involved. No student or faculty member is permitted to post still images, audio, or a video of students to the Internet without the express approval of the director of Academic and Faculty Affairs.

Some instructors may have stricter policies regarding technology in their classrooms. In such cases, the instructor's policy takes precedence over the school's policy. Conversely, some instructors may require the use of technology to complete in-class assignments. These exceptions will be clearly stated in the course syllabus.

Certificate Program Requirements

Term limits for all certificate programs are listed on each program page. All courses required for a certificate program must be completed within two years, one year, or one semester, depending on the program. Certificate completion requirements vary for programs offered through colleges outside of Parsons.

A grade of AP (approved) must be earned in all required courses to count toward certificate completion.

Students who have successfully completed all requirements with grades of AP are eligible to petition for their certificate. Students must petition for the certificate no later than one semester following completion of their final course.

Each course can only be applied once toward a certificate. (For example, if the AutoCAD course is taken for the Interior and Architectural Design Software Certificate, it cannot be applied as an elective toward completion of the Interior Design Certificate.)

Some certificate requirements include elective courses that students may choose from. Full elective: Courses that meet for nine weeks or longer on-campus or online meet the requirement for an individual elective. Half elective: Courses that meet for fewer than nine weeks count as half of an elective and need to be combined to fulfill one elective requirement.

Transfer Credit Policy

Continuing and Professional Education does not award transfer credit for its noncredit certificate programs.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Interior design courses in the Hospitality Interior Design and Interior Lighting Design certificate programs are registered with the International Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) and are accredited for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). CEUs function as professional development credits for working professionals to maintain their membership in organizations such as the American Society of Interior Designers, Interior Designers of Canada, and International Interior Design Association. A student seeking CEUs for their coursework must receive a passing grade in the course and submit our CEU solicitation form within 30 days of the course end date.

Course Waiver and Substitution Policy

Continuing and Professional Education does not allow courses to be counted toward multiple certificates. Students should inquire about obtaining approval for a course waiver and substitution. 

Continuing and Professional Education will waive a maximum of one required course in a certificate program for a student who has earned a grade of C or higher in an equivalent course completed at an institution of higher education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or comparable international agency for non-U.S. institutions. Students will be required to submit a transcript for review.

If a course waiver is approved, the student must take a substitute elective course in place of the waived course.

Wait-listing Courses and Schedule of Wait List Removal

Students may register on the official wait list for a course that has already reached capacity (i.e., no seats remain). If a seat becomes available, the first student on the wait list will be notified and given 24 hours to register in the open seat. If the student does not register in the open seat in the allotted timeframe, they forfeit their right to the open seat; the next student on the wait list will be given the opportunity to register for the open seat.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) [PDF], with which The New School complies, was enacted to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for correction of inaccurate or misleading statements. The New School has established the following student information as public or directory information, which may be disclosed by the institution at its discretion: student name; major field of study; dates of attendance; full- or part-time enrollment status; year level; degrees and awards received, including dean's list; the most recent previous educational institution attended; addresses; phone numbers; photographs; email addresses; and date and place of birth.

Students may request that The New School withhold release of their directory information by notifying the Registrar's Office in writing. This notification must be renewed annually at the start of each fall term. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

  • The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access.

    A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official a written request that identifies the records the student wishes to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records can be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official must advise the student of the official to whom the request should be addressed.

  • The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the university to amend a record should write to the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why, in the student's opinion, it should be changed.

    If the university decides not to amend the record as requested, the university will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student's right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when they are notified of the right to a hearing.

  • The right to provide written consent before the university discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

    The university discloses education records without a student's prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health services staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of university employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the New School Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks.

    A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities for the university.

Attendance Policies

Attendance guidelines were developed to help students succeed in all aspects of their academic programs. Full participation is essential to the completion of coursework and enhances the quality of the educational experience to all, particularly in courses where group work is integral; thus, Continuing and Professional Education promotes high levels of attendance. Students are expected to attend classes regularly and promptly and in compliance with the standards stated in the course syllabus.

While attendance is just one aspect of active participation, absence from "a significant portion of class time" may prevent the successful attainment of course objectives. A significant portion of class time is generally defined as the equivalent of three weeks, or 20 percent of class time. Lateness or early departure from class may be recorded by the instructor as one full absence. Students may be asked to withdraw from a course if habitual absenteeism or tardiness has a negative impact on the class environment. Members of the faculty are expected to provide syllabi in which course objectives and assessment criteria are described, in writing, at the beginning of the term. The syllabus should also explain how attendance is assessed with respect to active participation.

Attendance and lateness are assessed as of the first day of classes. Students who register after a class has begun are responsible for any missed assignments and coursework. Students who must miss a class session should notify the instructor and arrange to make up any missed work as soon as possible. A student who anticipates an extended absence should immediately inform the faculty and program advisor. Advance approval for an extended absence is required to ensure successful completion of the course. Withdrawal from the course may be recommended if the proposed absence would compromise a student's ability to meet course objectives.

Finally, faculty are asked to notify the advisor of any student who misses two consecutive class sessions without explanation or who otherwise misses a significant portion of class time. Following two absences, students may be asked to speak with their advisor to review any impediments to their successful performance in class and to provide confirmation to the faculty member that such a conversation took place.

For courses offered by the Schools of Public Engagement

Every class session is important. Attendance and participation is not only a part of a student’s grade; it is part of the learning process. The remainder of a course frequently builds upon the first two weeks. Each instructor decides the attendance policy for their courses. The policy is to be clearly stated in the syllabus and remain consistent throughout the academic term.

Periodically throughout a semester, faculty will be asked to review their class roster to identify students who are not regularly engaged or stopped engaging and/or attending.

Students are responsible for knowing and complying with the attendance policy. Students should refer to course syllabi for information about attendance expectations and requirements, or consult their instructors for clarification.

University Policy on Religious Absences/Equivalent Opportunity

Pursuant to Section 224-a of the New York State Education Laws, any student who is absent from school because of their religious beliefs will be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study, or work requirements that they may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. The student must inform the instructor at the beginning of the course of any anticipated absences due to religious observance.

Grades and Grading

Grade Reporting

Faculty members determine the grades that each student will receive for work done under their instruction. Grades are recorded for all students registered in a course for credit. They are generally posted a week after the end of the course. Students can access their grades and view their academic transcript through my.newschool.edu. The university does not automatically mail paper copies of grade reports.

Students enrolled in noncredit certificate courses for adults and teens receive passing or failing grades.

Youth engaged in noncredit Parsons Academy courses in the spring, summer, and fall terms do not receive grades.

The following grades may be issued:

  • AP = approved (noncredit certificate)
  • NG = not approved (noncredit certificate)
  • W = official withdrawal
  • I = temporary incomplete

The grade of W may be issued by the Registrar's Office to a student who officially withdraws from a course within the applicable deadline. The W grade will appear on the student's transcript.

The grade of I, or temporary incomplete, may be granted to a student under unusual and extenuating circumstances, such as when the student's academic life is interrupted by a medical or personal emergency. This mark is not given automatically but only upon the student' request and at the discretion of the instructor.

It is the student's responsibility to make appropriate arrangements with the faculty member to complete the work by a deadline set by the instructor.

Students enrolled in courses taken for credit receive letter grades. The following grades are issued:

A = Work of exceptional quality, which often goes beyond the stated goals of the course
A- = Work of very high quality
B+ = Work of high quality that indicates substantially higher-than-average abilities
B = Very good work that satisfies the goals of the course
B- = Good work
C+ = Above-average work
C = Average work that indicates an understanding of the course material; passable.
Satisfactory completion of a course is recognized with a grade of C or higher.
C- = Work that is passing but below the level of that required for good academic standing
D = Below-average work that indicates a student does not fully understand the assignments
F = failure; no credit

Numerical values of grades are as follows:

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 = 1.0
F = 0.0

Academic Integrity Policy

The New School views behaving with academic integrity as the duty of every community member. Claiming authorship for one's own work and only for that work, recognizing the contributions of others accurately and completely, and presenting one's academic circumstances and achievements accurately and completely are fundamental obligations to the integrity of intellectual, creative, and academic pursuits. All members of the university community are expected to conduct themselves in accord with the standards of academic integrity outlined in this policy.

The New School values and respects all academic traditions; however, while at The New School, students are expected to adhere to the norms and standards of academic integrity espoused by this community and will be assessed in accordance with these standards.

Students are responsible for understanding the university's policy on academic integrity. The New School recognizes that different academic circumstances may require different procedures for citing sources and referring to the work of others. Faculty members are required to inform students of the academic integrity policy as well as their own practices, such as the limits within which students may collaborate with or seek help from others or outsource certain tasks, in their syllabi.

Definitions & Examples of Academic Dishonesty

The standards of academic integrity apply to all forms of academic work and circumstances, including presentations, performances, examinations, submissions of papers (including drafts), projects, and academic records. Academic integrity includes accurate use of quotations, as well as appropriate and explicit citation of sources in instances of paraphrasing, describing ideas, and reporting on research findings and the work of others (including that of faculty members and other students). Academic dishonesty results from violations of academic integrity guidelines.

Academic dishonesty includes:

  • Cheating on examinations, either by copying another student's work or by using unauthorized materials
  • Using work of others as one's own original work and submitting such work to the university or to scholarly journals, magazines, or similar publications
  • Submitting another student's work obtained by theft, purchase, or other means as one's own original work
  • Submitting someone else's work downloaded from paid or unpaid sources on the Internet as one's own original work, or including the information in a submitted work without proper citation
  • Submitting the same work for more than one course without the knowledge and explicit approval of all of the faculty members involved, including applicable faculty from prior semester(s)
  • Destroying or defacing the work of others
  • Aiding or abetting any act of academic dishonesty
  • Attempting to gain academic advantage by presenting misleading information, making deceptive statements, or falsifying documents, including documents related to admission applications, academic records, portfolios, and internships
  • Distributing one's work with the goal of enabling students to use others work as their own, including posting quizzes, papers, and projects on websites such as Paraphrasing-Tool.com, Quizlet, and Course Hero
  • Copying or appropriating someone else's work in the visual or performing arts
  • Engaging in other forms of academic dishonesty that violate the principles of integrity
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