• Home
• VCU Home

• Sitemap
• Search

Admission into Programs and Portfolio Review

Students accepted and enrolled into the Art Foundation Program do not achieve program affiliation until after the review of portfolios during the spring semester of their freshman year. Students must complete all core art foundation courses in order to progress to the sophomore year and to be accepted for entry into a program. Program acceptance is competitive and is based on individual student performance and competency in their chosen area. The following requirements must be met for them to proceed into their desired program:

• An acceptable portfolio: Portfolios should include approximately 16 pieces of the student's best work demonstrating competence in the use of color, pictorial composition, drawing from observation, perspective and complex thinking.
• A minimum of a 2.0 GPA on the spring semester transcript
• A minimum TOEFL score of 500

Students who are not accepted into their majors may continue to take general education and elective classes until they fulfill the above requirements.

English and Art History Placement

A TOEFL score of 530 is required to take ENGL 101.  Those with a TOEFL score under 530 take an English support class such as ENGL 100 or 114.

Students must have successfully completed ENGL 101 in order to move into any of the other English classes, including ENG 200, 291 and 303.  They must have completed 101, 200 and 291 in order to take 303.

Students must have a TOEFL score of 550 in order to take ENGL 200.

A TOEFL score of 530 (or permission from the instructor) is required to take Art History 105 and 106.

English 100 and 114 are offered as language support courses for students who need additional help in developing more proficient speaking, reading and writing skills to enter full curriculum classes.

Student Affairs

The Student Affairs Department provides a wide variety of support services and activities and serves as a resource for all those who attend VCUQ. An example of some of the services offered include: admissions, registration, advising, counseling, student life, residence and alumni support. We view this college as a large family and are interested in the successful development and well being of your students. We are pleased to welcome you and your student to be a part of the VCUQ experience.

Expectations of VCUQ Students

Attendance

The instructional program at VCUQ is based on class meetings/involvement including lectures, discussions, individual instruction, field-experiences, student presentations, and critiques.

It is very important that each student attend all classes regularly and arrive on time. Students are permitted a limited number of absences for illness and family emergencies. There are no excused absences and students who are absent for more than two weeks (or three classes) may be subject to involuntary withdrawal. Students who are absent for extended periods of time are advised to withdraw for the rest of the semester. A student who misses a class session is responsible for completing all material covered or work assigned during their absence.

Students are informed of the attendance requirements for each class. As parents we hope that you will reinforce the importance of these policies.

Work-load

At VCUQ we are committed to providing our students with the highest possible quality education and ultimately, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from VCU; therefore, we expect students to spend a significant amount of time outside of class working on projects and assignments. This will help them to develop a work ethic and capability that will enable them to be successful both professionally and personally. 

Your understanding of the importance of your student's hard work and dedication is very important.

Code of Conduct

The instructional program at VCUQ is based on the premise that students enrolled in a class are entitled to receive instruction free from interference by other students. Accordingly, in classrooms, workshops, studios and other learning areas, students are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and cooperative manner so that the faculty member can proceed with customary instruction.

A faculty member is the sole judge of the student's behavior. Disruptive behavior on the part of a student may result in the filing of formal charges under the University's Rules and Procedures document.

Students may also be dismissed for not abiding by the Student Code of Conduct, which is written in detail in the Student Handbook and on the website.

Academic Progress

Advising

Students are responsible for knowing and fulfilling all general and specific degree requirements for their plan of study as listed in the Student Handbook for the year that they matriculate. Students are assigned academic advisers, who help the students coordinate their educational experiences including:

• Academic goal-setting;
• Identifying special needs and making referrals;
• Monitoring progress;
• Understanding academic policies.

Student are expected to be active and informed participants in the advising process. They must make the initiative to meet with their advisers at least two times per semester.  

ACADEMIC STATUS

Grades and Grade Points

VCUQ course work is measured both in terms of quantity (semester hours of credit) and quality (grades). Grades are assigned according to a letter system and each letter is assigned a point value. The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the number of grade points by the number of credits. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to graduate with a bachelor's degree from VCU. 

At VCUQ grades are important because they provide a measurement of the student's level of skill and mastery in a particular area. However, learning is a process and our emphasis is on the student's overall progress as a designer; therefore, we encourage students to experiment and take risks to develop themselves as creative and critical thinkers.

Mid-term Evaluations

Halfway through each semester students' progress is assessed and instructors give a mid-term evaluation in each course. Mid-semester evaluations are given to students by their instructors.  Mid-term evaluations are valuable because they give students a preliminary idea of their progress before the final semester grade is assigned.

Academic Warning

A student is placed on academic warning when the student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 (grade 'C') at the conclusion of any semester of attendance. Notification of warning appears on the student's academic record.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on academic probation when the student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two successive semesters of attendance, including summer sessions. Notification of probation appears on the student's academic record.

Academic Suspension

A student is placed on academic suspension when the student's cumulative GPA is below 2.0 for two successive semesters and the following semester of attendance GPA falls below 2.0.

Termination of Enrollment

The university reserves the right to terminate the enrollment of any student for unlawful, disorderly or immoral conduct, or for persistent failure to fulfill the purposes for which the student was matriculated.

Field Trips

Throughout the academic year, students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extra-curricular academic and social activities. We believe that it is important to inform families about these activities and to have both their approval and support; therefore, we have prepared two options and request that you indicate your preference:

• Option 1: Allows students to participate in all VCUQ faculty supervised extra-curricular academic and social functions throughout the academic year without further notice to the family; or 
• Option 2: Allows students to participate in VCUQ extra-curricular activities and functions on a per event basis for each function.

Permission slips are available in the VCUQ Student Affairs office.

Internships

Students are required to complete internship coursework for which university credit is offered. These placements are under the supervision of faculty members within each program. Internship arrangements are coordinated by the individual program and are considered university-supported activities. All participants in such arrangements are subject to all applicable university policies and procedures.

The Adult Student and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

As a rule, VCUQ treats its students as responsible young adults and communicates directly with them regarding their academic status.  All correspondence from VCUQ including bills, grades, scholarship notifications, etc. are addressed to the student.  It is the student's decision and responsibility to communicate this information to you, the parent/guardian.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar is subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (the Buckley Amendment) affording to students rights of access to education records and imposing obligations on the University regarding the release and disclosure of those records to third parties.

VCUQ, in keeping with this act, except as permitted by law, does not disclose education records (including disciplinary actions and proceedings as well as academic actions) without the student's written consent. (Please refer to the Family Privacy Act Release Form). Thus, parents will be denied access to a student's record, unless your student consents and allows VCUQ to share such records. If you request information and we have the release form on file we will be pleased to discuss your student's academic performance with you. 

Once we have this permission from your student we will be happy to discuss her progress with you.  However, please note that all correspondence will continue to be directed to the student and VCUQ will not actively seek you out to discuss your student's academic problems.

Honors Program 

The University Honors Program has been established to attract gifted students and to provide them with a challenging environment to achieve their highest academic potential. The honors program will be open to freshmen students who rank in the upper 15% of their graduating classes, have high TOEFL scores, and exceptional portfolios.

Talented students who do not meet the criteria for automatic admission can also apply by submitting their high school transcripts and composing an essay explaining:

1) Why the admission criteria was not met;

2) Describe thoughtfully how the student will contribute to the Honors Program;

3) Describe how the student will benefit from membership in the Honors Program.

Students who wish to graduate with University Honors are required to take at least 18 credit hours of honors modules or courses with an approved honors component and maintain a grade point average of a 3.5 or above.  They must also present a dossier documenting how they have become well-educated individuals.

Cross - University Registration

Cross-university registration (or cross-registration) provides opportunities for supplemental educational programs by permitting full-time upper class (beyond first year) undergraduates to cross-register for one course each semester at another Education City university. Each university identifies a limited number of classes and accepts registration from the other institutions for those classes.  First priority in registration, however, is given to students of the host institution. 

Career and Alumni Services

VCUQ will provide services to undergraduate students and interested alumni, including mentoring programs, professional development workshops, and distribution of job opportunities. Our aim is to help students identify professional interests; pursue internships and other career exploration experiences; and help students gain a better understanding of the job-search process or how to apply to graduate school. Since 2002, VCUQ has graduated 85 alumni who are now actively pursing careers and opportunities in design.

Alumni Achievements

Our short history has proven that VCUQ alumnae succeed. Our graduates have successfully pursued a wide range of professions, working with the Emiri Diwan, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, Ministry of Civil Services and Housing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar National Hotels, Qatar Tourism Authority, Design Studio of the Social Development Center, Orient Charm Design Services, Fitch:Qatar, the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee and some have opened up private businesses. Both students and alumni have participated in the design of the 2006 Asian Games. VCUQ has opened a Design and Research Center which will provide additional opportunities to VCUQ alumni. 

• _{Updated 14.09.2006 | Contact Us}