Some General Advice

In order to get the most out of your education and grow as a young design student, you will need to engage in the course work proactively with a serious attitude and a willingness to work beyond just doing what is asked. Work hard and challenge yourself, you learn by doing. Design is a very competitive profession, but it is also a very rewarding one and all design courses are taught with that mindset. Students are expected to work hard, every day, not just for good grades but for the growth that the work brings and the skill development that comes with it.

Policy Regarding Nondiscrimination

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, retaliation, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities.

Please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator at the office of Institutional Opportunity & Access IOA@ku.edu with any inquiries. To report discrimination or if you need guidance on discrimination concerns, please call the office at 785-864-6414. There, you will find an easy Complaint of Discrimination form for reporting discrimination. If you need guidance on discrimination concerns or wish to report discrimination please call or email the office. The Department Chair is also always available to speak with you and assist you through this process.

In case of emergency and/or risk of immediate harm, call 911. KU's Public Safety Office also remains available for non-emergencies at 785-864-5900. KU Crime Stoppers is also available at 785-864-8888.

More information, guidance, and resources are available here: http://ioa.ku.edu/discrimination

Policy Regarding Expected Workload

The minimum standard workload for courses at the University of Kansas entails a ratio of at least 2 hours of outside-of-class work per week for each credit hour. For instance, a typical 3-credit-hour course at KU features at least 6 hours of outside-of-class work each week. 

In order to provide impactful training and prepare students for the rigor of professional work, courses offered by the School of Architecture & Design often exceed that minimum standard. Students can anticipate 3 or more hours of outside-of-class work per week for each credit hour. This means that a 3-credit-hour course offered by the School of Architecture & Design usually features at least 9 hours of outside-of-class work each week. Variability certainly exists due to student aptitude, instructors' pedagogical strategies, and other factors, though these guidelines can be trusted as a general rule. 

Because of the intense workload of our courses, we recommend that students avoid extracurricular engagements (e.g. a job) that would constitute more than 10-15 hours per week. We also recommend that students live within the city of Lawrence if possible, since an extended commute to campus has proven exceptionally challenging for students in the past. We realize that isn't always possible, and your academic advisor may be able to help you find a healthy balance! Please contact your academic advisor if you have questions or concerns about your workload. 

Policy Regarding Minimum Grade Requirements

The heart of each concentration of the Design BFA is a carefully-sequenced track of studio courses. Each semester's studio(s) build on the studio(s) before it. Students must meet or exceed minimum competencies to successfully proceed through the sequence. As such, students must meet or exceed minimum semester grades for each course under the "Foundation Studies" and "Major Studies" requirements of their concentration in the Design BFA. 

Further guidance is available on this webpage: https://arcd.ku.edu/minimum-grades-sequenced-courses 

Policy Regarding Academic & Creative Integrity

All work you hand in for this class must be made by you over the course of this semester exclusively for this class. All necessary and appropriate sanctions will be issued to all parties involved with plagiarizing any course work. Plagiarism and any other form of academic misconduct that is in violation with the University Senate Rules and Regulations will not be tolerated, and may result in failing the course, suspension from the department, or expulsion from the university.

The Department of Design's procedures for evaluating and addressing alleged academic misconduct is outlined here: https://arcd.ku.edu/department-design-academic-misconduct-procedures 

The School of Architecture & Design Policy on Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct by a student shall include but not be limited to: disruption of classes; threatening an instructor or fellow student in an academic setting; giving or receiving of unauthorized aid on examinations or in the preparation of notebooks, themes, reports, or other assignments; knowingly misrepresenting the source of any academic work; unauthorized changing of grades; unauthorized use of university approvals or forging of signatures; falsification of research results; plagiarizing of another’s work; violation of regulations or ethical codes for the treatment of human and animal subjects; or otherwise acting dishonestly in research.

Policy Regarding Attendance & Professionalism

Design is a collaborative profession. Clear verbal skills are important in communicating one's ideas to clients and Design team members, and professional conduct can have a significant impact on the ability of a Designer to succeed. Because of the importance of professionalism in communication and conduct, students should maintain themselves according to the following guidelines:

• Attend each session of class in its entirety.
• Come prepared to present their concepts, discuss how the form of their design supports their concept, and describe how they arrived at their ideas.
• Participate in critiques and discussions with a spirit of mutual respect. Providing comments to one's peers is a privilege. Students will benefit from both giving and receiving feedback - one does not have to “like” another’s work, but must provide insightful commentary in a courteous and productive manner.
• Maintain a positive and open-minded attitude.
• Demonstrate self-discipline and eagerness to participate.
• Consistently strive for the highest standards of quality in work and conduct.

Failure to abide by the guidelines and policy notes stated in this policy will lower a student's grade by one full letter grade or more.

Cell Phone Usage:

Students are required to turn their cell phones off or on silent and refrain from browsing the web, using social media, checking email, text messaging, etc. during class, lectures, and demonstrations. Students may use these devices only during designated break times.

Submission of Late Work:

All projects and assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date set by the instructor. Late projects will be penalized by lowering the project grade by one full letter grade for each day that it is late. Late projects will not be accepted beyond three days after the original due date. Instructors may elect not to accept late work, but must note their policy regarding late work in the syllabus for each class.

Penalties for Excessive Absences:

Each class is a significant financial investment by each student, is based on sequential information and projects, and requires the full participation of each student. Each session of class missed or coasted through is a wasteful and impedes the student’s ability to succeed in that class. For those reasons, students are required to attend classes in which they are enrolled and/or intend to enroll, must be on time for each session of class, and must remain in attendance for each entire session of class. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each session of class.

In the event of any absence, students are responsible for obtaining all missed information, materials, and assignments from the class period(s) during which they were absent. Students who are absent must complete all assignments by the due date originally assigned for the work.

For each class that meets twice per week, only three absences will be allowed for any reason during the course of a given semester. A semester total of four absences in a given class that meets twice per week will result in a penalty of one letter grade in that class. A semester total of five absences in a given glass that meets twice per week will result in a semester grade of “F” in that class. In case of exceptional circumstances, instructors may make exceptions to this policy at their discretion.

For each class that meets only once per week, only two absences will be allowed for any reason during the course of a given semester. A semester total of three absences for a given class that meets once per week will result in a penalty of one letter grade in that class. A semester total of four absences in a given class that meets once per week will result in a semester grade of “F” in that class. In case of exceptional circumstances, instructors may make exceptions to this policy at their discretion.

A semester total of three "late" marks in any given class will be equivalent to one absence with respect to this policy.

In order to ensure that students are connected with support services at the university when appropriate, and to ensure that students are duly reminded of the possible consequences of continued truancy, instructors should submit an Absence Warning Form after two absences for a class that meets twice per week or after one absence for a class that meets once per week.

Religious Holidays:

If any scheduled course meeting conflicts with mandated religious observance, the student must notify the instructor prior the day of the observance that the student will be absent.

Medically-Related Absences:

Because of the fast-paced, project-based nature of studio curricula, absences as the result of a medical condition will count in the same way as non-medical absences. Excessive absence for any reason, as outlined in this policy, are irreparably detrimental to a student’s ability to succeed in our studio curriculum.

If a student is facing an extended illness, the student or their designee should contact the relevant instructor(s) as soon as possible to discuss ramifications of future absences and possible solutions.

Alternative Attendance Policies:

Instructors may implement amended versions of this policy at their discretion which supersede this policy for the class(es) for which the policy is implemented. Regardless, the attendance policy used for a class must be documented in the syllabus for that class in order to be considered valid.

Policy Regarding Concealed Carry

Individuals who choose to carry concealed handguns are solely responsible to do so in a safe and secure manner in strict conformity with state and federal laws and KU weapons policy. Safety measures outlined in the KU weapons policy specify that a concealed handgun:

• Must be under the constant control of the carrier.
• Must be out of view, concealed either on the body of the carrier, or backpack, purse, or bag that remains under the constant control of the carrier.
• Must be in a holster that covers the trigger area and secures any external hammer in an un-cocked position
• Must have the safety on, and have no round in the chamber.

Studio Classes:

Many classes take place in spaces which require students to leave belongings such as backpacks and purses away and unattended for the duration of class time. Students who choose to carry a concealed handgun in a purse, backpack, or bag must plan each day accordingly and are responsible for making alternate arrangements as necessary. Lockers in Chalmers Hall are not appropriate secured storage for concealed handguns.

Individuals who violate the KU weapons policy may be asked to leave campus with the weapon and may face disciplinary action under the appropriate university code of conduct.

Labs, Shops & Workshops:

Coursework in labs, shops and design-build courses takes place in spaces that will require students to leave belongings such as backpacks and purses away and unattended. Course-related activities require use of equipment and physical movements that may reveal the presence of a concealed handgun.

Students who choose to carry a concealed handgun must review and plan each day accordingly, and if they cannot adequately conceal a handgun on their body, are responsible for making alternate arrangements as necessary before arriving to the workspace. The KU School of Architecture & Design’s lockers are not appropriate secured storage for concealed handguns.

Individuals who violate the KU weapons policy may be asked to leave campus with the weapon and may face disciplinary action under the appropriate university code of conduct.

*For more information on the law, safety, resources and FAQs the Provost’s Office and KU General Counsel have prepared http://concealedcarry.ku.edu.