Academic Policies
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Film Students
To ensure that all students complete their degree in a timely manner while meeting the minimum academic standards, Columbia University School of the Arts (“School of the Arts”) has implemented school-wide requirements for maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP).The School wide policy is available at https://arts.columbia.edu/policies/satisfactory-academic-progress
School of the Arts Grading System Point values for the purpose of determining GPA equivalent in the MFA program are as follows:
P (Pass) = 4.0
LP (Low Pass) = 1.5
F (Fail) = 0.0
The following standards, guidelines and procedures supplement the School-wide policy for all MFA Film students.
The factors that impact the grading of coursework in the MFA Film Program are:
- quality of creative work
- adherence to the syllabus and program requirements
- appropriate academic conduct
- collaboration, attendance and punctuality
Instructors have flexibility within reason to set their own parameters with regard to the above factors. Students may receive the grade LP or F if their performance does not meet the instructor's expectations. Instructors are advised to make reasonable efforts during the semester to communicate to a student those aspects of their performance that are not meeting stated expectations.
Overall Program Evaluation of a Student’s Development in the Film Program
Individual grades are subordinate to a student’s overall development in the Program. At the recommendation of the Chair and Concentration Head, an overall program evaluation of a student’s development may be conducted to determine whether they should be allowed to continue in the Program. In such cases, the student will be notified in writing that an evaluation will be conducted. The student will be informed of the outcome no later than 30 business days after the evaluation is completed.
A minimum of two faculty and the Concentration Head or Chair of the Program will conduct the Overall Program Evaluation. It may include (but is not limited to): attendance and participation in workshops and classes; quality of creative work; grades of Low Pass ("LP"), Fail ("F") or Incomplete "(IN"); the fulfillment of all assignments and production requirements and the progress demonstrated in this work. The faculty will either permit the student to continue to the following semester, permit the student to continue to the following semester while being placed on academic probation, or require the student to leave the Program.
The grade of an Ffails in a required course will automatically result in a student receiving an Overall Program Evaluation. If a student receives one or more LPs in any course, or an F in an elective course, they may also be subject to an Overall Program Evaluation.
Students who are placed on academic probation will be reevaluated during the following semester to determine if problems identified in the evaluation process have been rectified. If not, the student may be required to leave the Program. Students placed on academic probation following an Overall Evaluation will not be eligible for scholarship aid and will be deemed to have not met SAP. The student may appeal the decision according to the appeal process as stated in the School-wide SAP policy.
While the outcome of an Overall Program Evaluation is not noted on an MFA Film student transcripts, the
Chair's office will keep records of all proceedings for internal University reference only.
An Overall Program Evaluation differs from a Production Evaluation, which may be conducted if a production related rule is broken. Any Production concerns will be taken into consideration if a student is undergoing an Overall Program Evaluation.
Academic Probation
A student on academic probation in the MFA Film Program will be assigned an academic advisor who will consult with the student’s instructors and coordinate with the Concentration Head to monitor the student’s progress.
If a student undergoes a second Overall Program Evaluation, a second Production Evaluation, or a combination of the two, the student may be dismissed from the program.