With the responsibilities for acceptable conduct that the Code of Student Conduct places on students of the College, come attendant basic rights and institutional obligations.
The College recognizes its obligation to support and uphold the basic freedoms and citizenship rights of all students and to provide conditions conducive to learning and reflective of the institution’s religious character and founding values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. On this basis, students have the following basic rights.
The classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and studios constitute essential learning environments of the College, and the freedom to learn in these environments should be promoted and encouraged by instructors. In support of a student’s rights in the classroom or other learning environments, the College grants students the right to:
Fei Tian College is committed to maintaining an environment of learning and working that is free of prejudice and harassment—an environment that supports, nurtures, and rewards career and educational advancement on the basis of ability and performance.
Harassment based upon race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, citizenship status, or any other legally protected basis is prohibited by law and undermines the character and purpose of the College. Such harassment is illegal and against College policy and will not be tolerated. This policy covers all members of the College community and those who affect the College community, such as vendors and visitors.
Fei Tian College admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College. In the letter and spirit of applicable laws, it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, ethnic origin, or any other applicable legally protected status in the administration of its educational programs. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and state law, the College is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission and education of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities.
Students have the right to contribute to the making of institutional policies generally affecting their social or academic affairs.
Students can expect to have access to policies and procedures that affect them and have access to College offices that may be able to assist them.
Students can expect that their education records will be maintained with privacy and they will have access to their records in a manner consistent with College policies and applicable state and federal laws. Students can expect to have reasonable access to College facilities and resources.
Students may request special accommodations for disabilities, including for temporary disabilities due to injury, through the Office of Student Affairs.
Students who believe that any of their rights have been violated by a member of the College community have the right to file a report of misconduct under the Code of Student Conduct or a grievance/complaint under the student grievance resolution procedure.
Students involved should expect that they will be given notice and an opportunity to respond and that the College will make a good-faith review of the allegation(s) in order to bring about a fair and reasonable resolution of the matter.
Adapted for Fei Tian Campus
FTC is committed to fostering a culture of integrity at the College that supports the intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth of its students in accordance with Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and divinely-inspired traditional culture.
The College is a faith community with high expectations for character for those who choose to become members, including the community standards of student conduct, which along with the conduct review process aim to cultivate integrity of character and achievement of each student’s full potential.
Failure by any student to meet these community standards may result in disciplinary action. Students may appeal the original decision to the relevant appeals body, but the final outcome of the student conduct review process cannot serve as the basis for a grievance.
The Honor Code reflects the College’s ideals and values, and its purpose is to foster a culture of integrity and growth within the institution. By being admitted or continuing enrollment at the College, each student pledges to observe these Honor Code standards:
It is the responsibility of each student of the College to become familiar with the community standards of student conduct expected of each.
The College expects that students will obey the law, comply with College policies and campus regulations, and observe the community standards of student conduct appropriate for a religious institution of higher education. The College expects that students will make choices that preserve a healthy and safe environment, respect the rights of others, practice responsible citizenship, and be accountable for their own actions and the conduct of their guests. A student who violates these general community standards of student conduct may be subject to disciplinary action.
The dress and grooming of students should be modest, neat, and clean. Clothing is inappropriate when it is revealing, sleeveless, strapless, short (skirt and pants length should be knee-length or longer), excessively form-fitting, or unnaturally ripped or faded. In addition, logos or symbols that promote inappropriate messages should not be worn. Footwear should not have excessively high heels or expose the toes (unless in the residences). Heavy and dramatic makeup and unnatural-looking hair dyes should be avoided. Exposed tattoos and piercings or jewelry affixed to the nose, tongue, cheek, lip, or eyebrow are inappropriate.
Integrity is a core value of the Fei Tian experience. Academic misconduct undermines the educational process and the sense of integrity that characterizes the College community. It is expected that all academic goals be achieved through honorable means. Specifically, students are expected to support and abide by the provisions of this Academic Integrity Policy, which prohibits: plagiarism; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using course materials without faculty permission; submitting falsified records of academic achievement; obtaining dishonestly grades, honors, or awards; altering, forging, or misusing a College academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data or data analysis. Suspected academic misconduct may be reported through the procedures set forth in this Code.
Fei Tian College is committed to maintaining an environment of learning that is free of prejudice and harassment—an environment that supports, nurtures, and rewards educational advancement on the basis of ability and performance.
Harassment based upon race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship status, or any other legally protected basis is prohibited by law and undermines the character and purpose of the College. Such harassment is illegal and against College policy and will not be tolerated.
The use and/or sale of cigarettes, smoking and vaping devices, and alcohol are not allowed on the premises of the College or at any of the College’s activities.
The College also maintains a drug-free campus. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, and/or use of controlled substances are prohibited on the College premises and at any of the College’s activities.
No student shall possess or carry a weapon while on the College premises or at any of the College’s activities.
Violation of any of these policies may lead to disciplinary sanctions up to and including expulsion. Violations may also be referred to the appropriate authorities for legal prosecution.
Fei Tian College will not tolerate violence or threats of violence on the College premises. Students who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Students who intentionally bring false charges of violence will also be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Acts of violence include any physical action, whether intentional or reckless, that harms or threatens the safety of another individual on campus. A threat of violence includes any behavior that by its very nature could be interpreted by a reasonable person as an intent to cause physical harm to another individual.
The College may engage the conduct review process to resolve any reported failure of a student to meet the community standards of student conduct.
There is no way to anticipate every conceivable type of behavior that fails to meet the community standards of student conduct, but the list below non-exhaustively indicates the major violations that constitute misconduct for which students may be held accountable.
A report of alleged failure to meet the community standards of student conduct may be resolved informally outside of the formal conduct review process at the discretion of the Code administrator, or designee, and with the agreement of the parties to the matter.
The formal conduct review procedure includes an administrative resolution meeting and may also involve a hearing before the relevant Conduct Adjudicator.
The formal conduct review process is initiated when the Code administrator, or designee, receives a report of alleged failure to meet the community standards of student conduct.
The Code administrator will complete an initial investigation into the alleged incident using the incident report form. If it is determined that the allegation(s), if proven, could be considered a violation of the Code, the report form will be forwarded to the relevant Conduct Adjudicator for further handling. For academic misconduct, the Conduct Adjudicator will be the department chair or program director. For most other misconduct, the Conduct Adjudicator will be the highest-ranking unit head with responsibility for the subject matter of the case. However, serious misconduct cases—which allege violations that threaten the safety of the College community or significantly damage the institution’s mission and reputation—are directly referred to the relevant College committee for adjudication (e.g., allegations of criminal offenses, harassment, discrimination, and other significant violations are adjudicated by the Judicial Committee; severe academic misconduct matters are adjudicated by the Academic Standards Committee).
The Conduct Adjudicator will investigate whether the report contains sufficient, reasonable, and credible information that a Code violation has occurred. The investigation may include interviewing the student and any witnesses or other persons having relevant information as the adjudicator deems appropriate. The Conduct Adjudicator will then analyze the report and evidence. If it appears that the alleged violation(s) has not occurred, the Conduct Adjudicator will drop the case and notify the student and, where appropriate, the reporting individual.
If it appears that the alleged violation(s) occurred, the Conduct Adjudicator will notify the student as to the nature of the alleged or suspected violation(s) and of the student’s opportunity to respond.
The President, or designee, shall have authority to take immediate and appropriate interim protective action when the alleged actions of a student jeopardize the well-being of that student or others or threaten the operations or safety of the College.
The reporting individual(s) may withdraw a report that is pending review, but generally may not refile the same matter unless new information bearing on the matter becomes available.
The College expects that all individuals involved in the conduct review process make a good faith effort to participate and bring the matter to a successful resolution.
If the reporting individual ceases to engage in the conduct review process, the Conduct Adjudicator may choose to dismiss the report or allow a review to proceed with a College official serving in the place of the complainant. In this case, the reporting individual may not refile the same matter unless new information bearing on the matter becomes available.
If a respondent ceases to participate in the process, the College may proceed to make a determination without that individual’s participation.
There are some circumstances in which an overriding College community interest will necessitate engaging the conduct review process even if the impacted party does not wish to pursue it as a means of resolution. The Code administrator, or designee, in consultation with the appropriate Conduct Adjudicator, will determine if an overriding community interest exists.
In circumstances where an impacted party does not wish to pursue action through the conduct review process and it is determined that an overriding community interest exists, the College will bring the matter for review in the place of the complainant. The impacted party will be informed of this decision as well as options for participation in the process.
The respondent is expected to meet with the Conduct Adjudicator to attempt to resolve the matter. A successful administrative resolution proceeding will reach agreement as to three points:
No attempt will be made to apply formal or technical rules of evidence. In general, any information that is considered relevant will be received and reviewed, subject to the reasonable discretion of the Conduct Adjudicator.
The proposed outcome will be reviewed by the Code administrator, or designee. If approved, the parties will receive notification confirming the determined action, which then becomes final. If agreement on the appropriate action cannot be reached, the matter may be appealed to the appropriate College committee for review.
Should a respondent be nonresponsive to notification of an alleged failure to meet the community standards of student conduct, after a reasonable period of time and having made reasonable attempts to contact the respondent, the Conduct Adjudicator may make a determination regarding responsibility and assign an outcome based on the information available. Violations that may result in disciplinary suspension or expulsion and where the student is nonresponsive will be referred to the appropriate College committee for resolution.
The relevant College committee (or President, in serious misconduct cases) may accept an appeal of a misconduct case on grounds of procedural error or significant irregularity, discovery of new and relevant evidence, inappropriate or disproportionate sanction, or insufficient evidence to justify the original finding. The appeals will base its review on the original case file, the appeal statement, and the testimony and other evidence from the appeal hearing. The committee’s (or President’s, in the case of serious misconduct) final determination typically involves either affirming the original decision and sanction, affirming the original finding of responsibility but modifying the sanction, reversing the original decision and finding the student not responsible, or remanding the case to the original Conduct Adjudicator for reconsideration. It will be sent to the student(s) involved, the Conduct Adjudicator, and the Code administrator.
The outcomes to the student conduct review process defined below comprise a range of official action that may be imposed by the College for failure to meet the community standards of student conduct. One or more of these actions may be imposed in response to a given situation. This list is not comprehensive, as other discretionary outcomes may be utilized, as appropriate.
The determination of outcomes is to be determined based solely on the reasonable conclusion of the designated adjudicator and will be guided by the totality of the following considerations: the interests of the College community, the impact of the violation, the student’s conduct history, and the existence of special or mitigating circumstances.
This policy applies to all students of the College. Where unique campus factors necessitate modification of this Code, individual campuses may develop their own campus policies and procedures concerning student conduct.
Any incident involving alleged sexual misconduct shall proceed according to the specific requirements set forth in the College’s Article 129-B policies.
“Community Standards” shall mean the overall set of expectations of ethical and respectful behavior and values that the College community lives by, encompassing the Code of Student Conduct.
“Conduct Adjudicator” shall mean a person who is authorized by the College to resolve reports of failure by any student to meet the community standards of student conduct.
“Party” shall mean a person involved in the conduct review process, either as complainant or respondent.
“Reporting individual(s)” shall mean the person(s) filing a report of alleged failure by any student to meet the community standards of student conduct. Alternative terms include “impacted individual”.
“Resolution” shall mean the result of a report having successfully undergone an informal resolution process or the college’s formal conduct review process.
“Respondent(s)” shall mean the student(s) alleged to have failed to meet the community standards of student conduct.
“Student” shall mean any person registered for, enrolled in, or auditing any course(s) at the College at the time of the alleged violation. For purposes of the community standards of student conduct, this definition includes individuals who are enrolled but not taking classes due to an academic break, medical leave, suspension, or other personal leave.
“Support person” shall mean a person of each party’s choosing who accompanies that party to a College conduct proceeding. The role of the support person is to give the party emotional and practical support, which is limited to accompaniment at the hearing and quiet prompting or giving advice where needed. Support persons may not actively participate in the proceeding nor communicate on the party’s behalf. Support persons must respect and maintain confidentiality of the matters discussed.
“Witness” shall mean any person(s) who can provide direct information related to the matter being reviewed by the Conduct Adjudicator, such as direct observation of an incident in question and/or direct interaction with any of the parties before, during, or after an incident in question.
The student conduct review process is coordinated by the relevant Code administrator, who is also responsible for maintaining student conduct records. For non-academic misconduct, the Office of Student Affairs is the Code administrator. For academic misconduct, the department chair or program director is the Code administrator. If one incident involves both academic and non-academic misconduct, and/or directly involves the Code administrator, the President will designate the Code administrator.
In extraordinary circumstances or situations of serious misconduct, the President, or her/his designee, has the discretionary authority to take immediate disciplinary action, such as dismissal or suspension.
Individuals with a grievance should attempt a good-faith informal resolution in following with this policy. They are encouraged to seek assistance from the relevant unit head if the direct communication approach is unsuccessful or inappropriate.
If the grievance is not resolved informally despite a good faith attempt, the grievant may file a formal complaint to the appropriate complaint adjudicator as follows:
The complaint shall state the policy or practice that allegedly has been violated, identify the parties involved, describe the facts and evidence supporting the alleged violation, indicate what redress the grievant seeks, and provide a brief history of the attempts to informally resolve the grievance.
The complaint adjudicator shall meet with the grievant and with such other persons as are deemed appropriate for the purpose of ascertaining the facts and attempting to resolve the complaint. The complaint adjudicator shall render a written decision to the grievant and the respondent.
The grievant or respondent may request the decision of the complaint adjudicator be reviewed by the relevant College committee (or, for serious grievances, by the President) by filing a request within three (3) days of receiving the notification of decision.
The committee (or President) shall conduct any such proceeding as it deems appropriate, provided that:
If, after exhausting all internal grievance procedures, a satisfactory remedy has not been found, the grievant may contact an appropriate external agency for further investigation into the issue. https://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/complaints https://www.neche.org/for-the-public/comments-complaints/
Certain courses have course or other requirements that must be satisfied prior to registration. Prerequisites are intended to ensure that a student has sufficient preparation for a course.
Students are expected to attend all classes for each of their courses.
An absence from class may be excused at the instructor’s discretion for reason of personal or family emergency, injury, jury duty, participation in a College-sponsored activity (which is any activity on or off campus, which is initiated, approved, or supervised by the College), or any other reason for good cause.
Students may request an excused absence from class by submitting a completed excused absence form to the Office of Student Affairs in advance of any absence or, if doing so in advance is infeasible, immediately upon their return to class. The form requires the signature of each instructor whose class will be missed. If informed, the Office of Student Affairs will notify faculty of student absence when students are unable to contact their instructors due to an unexpected emergency.
Whether an absence is excused or unexcused, students are responsible for obtaining information and assignments covered during the class periods missed. Instructors will make reasonable arrangements to accommodate excused absences with an opportunity to make up the work missed.
After two unexcused absences in a course, each additional unexcused absence, at the discretion of the instructor, normally results in a reduction of 5 points (on a 100-point scale) of the student’s final grade. Instructors are permitted to issue a grade of “IA” (Insufficient Attendance) if a student has exceeded a threshold of unexcused absences.
Students are expected to arrive on time for each class period. Habitual tardiness to class could result in a reduction of the student’s final grade, as follows:
Conscientious completion and on-time submission of all required assignments is expected in all courses. In fairness to the course instructor and the students who complete their work on time, any assignment submitted late will be assessed a penalty (e.g., a reduction of the assignment grade by 30 percent for every 24 hours it is late) unless stipulated otherwise by the instructor.
Students are expected to be present for exams and should plan their schedules to accommodate the scheduled exam times. Whether an examination will be rescheduled to accommodate travel or other plans is up to the discretion of each department.
Subject to approvals by the course instructor and the department offering the course, certain courses may be audited. (Studio, applied music, and intership/practicum courses may not be audited.)
The privileges of an auditor are limited to registering in, paying tuition and fees for, and attending classes. The auditor does not complete assignments or take examinations. The auditor will receive no credit for the course, and it will not fulfill any academic requirements, but the course will appear on the student’s transcript with the grade “AUD” (Audit).
Students wishing to audit a course should check with their academic advisor. Auditors must notify the Office of the Registrar of their special registration status in the course before the end of the Course Selection Period. All students who register for six credits or more are eligible to audit courses of up to one half of the total paid credits.
Most courses can be completed only once for credit (non-repeatable-for-credit courses), whereas some courses have been designed to be repeated a specific number of times for additional credit (repeatable-for-credit courses).
Courses generally may be attempted once more than their limit. In this case, the student cannot earn credit for the last attempt, but GPA calculation will omit the student’s lowest grade in the course.
Example 1: LAS100 may be completed only once for credit. Alice completes this course once, earning a “C.” She then takes the course a second time, earning an “A.” She earns no additional credit from the second attempt, but GPA calculation uses only her “A” and disregards the “C.”
Example 2: CCD101R may be completed only twice for credit. Ben attempts this course twice, earning a “B” and an “F.” He then takes the course a third time, earning an “A.” The first and third attempts yield credit. GPA calculation uses only his “A” and “B” and disregards the “F.”
The transcript will include each course attempt. An attempt resulting in a grade of “W” (Withdrawal) represents an uncompleted attempt and does not count toward the course’s repeat limit.
When a student attempts a course that is nominally the same as one the student previously attempted, but where the course content is substantially different, the new attempt does not count as a repeat. Examples include a second independent study on a different topic and repeating a major instrument course on a different instrument.
Students may not register for a course for which they received transfer credit.
The course identification code at FTC consists of a three-letter prefix, a three-digit number, and, in some cases, a one-letter suffix.
Examples:
BMS101 Introduction to Bio-medical Science
BMS101L Introduction to Bio-medical Science Lab
DAN101R Fundamental Dance, with repeating requirements
Course prefixes identify the subject area for their courses, such as general courses and courses uniquely offered under a major, a concentration, or a specialty.
Examples:
HUM Humanities
CHM Chemistry subjects
ACC Accountancy subjects
ART General Art courses for multiple disciplines or programs
The department offering a course may change the third letter in the course prefix to further specify the type of course.
Examples:
ARH Art History
ARF Art Fundamentals and Skills
As a general rule, the first digit reflects the level of difficulty of the course content or the year in which it is commonly taken.
Undergraduate Course Leveling Convention
| Number | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0xx | Developmental and remedial | No degree credit |
| 1xx | Introductory level (freshman year) | Survey, foundation, and introductory courses, normally with no prerequisites and designed primarily for students with no prior background |
| 2xx | Intermediate level (sophomore/junior year) | Normally designed for sophomores and above but in some cases open to freshman majors in the department |
| 3xx | Upper-intermediate level (junior year) | Designed primarily as courses for juniors; prerequisites are normally required, and these courses are prerequisites for advanced courses |
| 4xx | Advanced level (senior year) | Designed primarily for juniors and seniors; also includes specialized courses such as research, capstone, and thesis |
Graduate Course Leveling Convention
| Number | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0xx | Orientation and basic | No degree credit |
| 5xx | First-level graduate | Courses primarily for graduate students and qualified undergraduate students with permission |
| 6xx | Second-level graduate | Generally for master’s and clinical doctorate only |
| 7xx | Third-level graduate | Master’s- and doctoral-level courses; includes master’s thesis |
| 8xx | Clinical/research/readings | Includes comprehensive exam preparation |
| 9xx | Doctoral research and dissertation | Includes comprehensive exam preparation |
Conventionally further identifies course topics and depth, at the discretion of departments
Course Topic Convention (for all program levels)
| Number | Topics |
|---|---|
| x0x, x1x | Introductory, fundamentals, principles or theories |
| x2x, x3x | Prominent skills or tools, and important fields or subfields of specialization |
| x4x | Broad background, knowledge, application, emerging fields, seminar courses |
| x48 ~ x49 | Seminar courses |
| x5x | Independent studies, directed studies, projects, thesis, capstones |
| x6x | Internships, practicum, co-ops, capstones |
| x7x | Breath: related fields |
| x8x, x9x | Dissertation & Research |
Sequence number of the courses, usually from 1 to 9, with 0 reserved for foundational courses.
A single letter suffix is used to give additional information about the course.
| Letters | Conventions |
|---|---|
| A, B, C | Different parts of course sequence, where A usually stands for courses offered in the spring semester and B for courses in the fall semester |
| G | General Education version of a course |
| L | Lab courses |
| R | Courses that must be repeated in order to satisfy graduation requirements |
Conventionally placed at the end of the course code separated by a hyphen to identify Course Section Number when student enrollment requires different course sections (class times), e.g. -1, -2.
FTC apportions academic credit for undergraduate and graduate coursework based on the semester credit hour. Semester credit hour means that a credit is granted for the satisfactory completion of a course that normally requires 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments and work.
Lecture and seminar courses assign one credit for every 1 hour of class time and 2 hours of preparation required per week over 15 instructional weeks.
Studio and lab courses assign one credit for every 2 to 3 hours of practice or lab work required per week over 15 instructional weeks.
For an instructional session having a length other than 15 weeks, the number of weekly hours that correspond to one credit is scaled accordingly.
Fei Tian offers matriculated students the opportunity to receive academic credit for documented prior college-level learning acquired through previous study or through non-classroom experiences.
Prior learning may include, but is not limited to, the following:
The awarding of prior learning credit is conditioned on the following:
The determination of credit for prior learning is ultimately made by the Registrar in consultation with the department Chairs.
Students may apply for transfer of credit earned at other institutions, including institutions accredited by U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting bodies, degree-granting institutions authorized by the NYS Board of Regents, and colleges and universities outside of the U.S. that are recognized by Fei Tian College.
Transfer of credit is subject to the following conditions:
Students may request a transfer of credit from another institution by submitting a Transfer Credit Form to the Office of the Registrar, together with an official transcript, course descriptions and syllabi of the courses for which transfer credit is sought, and any other information FTC requires to conduct a proper evaluation.
Approved transfer credits will appear on FTC transcripts within approximately four weeks of official receipt of the request.
FTC recognizes standardized exams, including Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations, and International Baccalaureate (IB). To request credit by standardized exam, the student must submit a written request to the Registrar and order an official score report to be sent to the Office of the Registrar. A student may earn credit from a maximum of five standardized exams. Approved credit(s) by standardized exam will appear on the student’s transcript within approximately four weeks of receipt of the official score report(s).
Students who have acquired the knowledge and skills taught in a particular course can opt to demonstrate that they can pass the course without taking it. To do so, the student must submit a written request to the Chair of the department offering the course, explaining how the student has already met the goals and objectives of the course. The Chair will determine whether the course is available for credit by examination and whether the student is eligible to sit for the exam. If the Chair is satisfied with the student’s performance on the exam, the Chair can recommend to the Registrar that the student receive credit for the course. Normally, a student may earn credit by exam for at most one course per semester.
Students may develop a portfolio for credit to document experiential learning acquired through professional, creative, volunteer, or other experiences, to be assessed by faculty or equivalent subject area experts.
Under certain circumstances where doing so would not diminish the requirements of any program, a single course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement, either across the curriculum or toward two degrees.
Class standing represents an undergraduate student’s progress toward graduation. It is based on the number of credits earned toward the degree, including credits for prior learning. The following table shows the number of credits required at each classification.
Undergraduate Class Standing Classifications
| Classification | Credits required |
|---|---|
| Freshman | Less than 32.5 |
| Sophomore | At least 32.5 but less than 68.5 |
| Junior | At least 68.5 but less than 100.5 |
| Senior | 100.5 or more |
At FTC, students typically study on a full-time basis. Full-time status is defined as registering each required semester for a minimum of 12 credits for undergraduate students, or 9 credits for graduate students. Exceptions to the rule exist for students in their final semester who need less than a full load of credits to complete their programs, for students who register for a course load that yields the requisite load credits but numerically fewer academic credits, and for graduate students who have been certified by the institution for full-time student status.
Part-time status is defined as registering in a minimum of one course per semester but less than full-time status. Students interested in switching to part-time status should check with their academic advisor for information on how their academic standing, financial aid awards, student privileges, and, for international students, U.S. legal status, could be affected.
Students may not take over 20 credits of courses per semester unless expressly permitted by their Departments and the Office of Academic Services.
Truthfulness is a core value of the Fei Tian experience. Academic misconduct undermines the educational process and the sense of integrity that characterizes the College community. It is expected that all academic goals be achieved through honorable means. Specifically, students are expected to support and abide by the provisions of the College’s Academic Integrity Policy, which prohibits cheating, falsification, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, engaging in prohibited behavior, and any other conduct that violates academic integrity. Suspected academic misconduct may be reported through the procedures set forth in the Code of Student Conduct.
Students at the College are expected to spend several hours during their programs participating in College-wide outcomes assessment activities, such as tests, surveys, and interviews.
Full-time, matriculated undergraduate students who earn a semester GPA of 3.7 or higher receive the “President’s Honor List” distinction for that semester, provided that the student has no “W” (Withdrawal) or “I” (Incomplete) grade during that semester.
Students may petition for an academic program variance from a particular College policy or course requirement if the request is adequately supported through a written statement describing the rationale for the variance and information as requested. Petitions may be submitted to the Office of the Provost (for undergraduate students) or the Director of Graduate Studies (for graduate students). Final decisions are at the discretion of the program of study’s chief academic officer.
Baccalaureate degrees must be completed within seven years of initial enrollment, and master’s degrees must be completed within five years of initial enrollment.
Periods of official leave of absence are excluded from the time limits set for completion of degrees. Any extension of a time limit must be initiated by the student through a formal petition for a program variance.
Fei Tian coordinates reasonable special accommodations for qualifying individuals with disabilities, including temporary disabilities due to injury. Students must request special accommodations through the Office of Student Affairs and should notify their course instructors promptly thereafter of accommodations made for their courses.
A matriculated student in good standing who desires to take a temporary leave from the College with the intent to return must consult the Office of Student Affairs and submit a completed and signed Leave Form to the Office of the Registrar for review and acceptance. The student bears ultimate responsibility for completing the official leave-taking and returning process and notifying all relevant administrative offices in a timely fashion. For academic and financial purposes, the effective date of a leave of absence is the date indicated on the Leave Form or the date of receipt, whichever is appropriate. Depending on the length of the leave and requirements of the student’s program, he or she may be required by the major department to apply for readmission or to attend a reconditioning period before resuming studies. Students must confer with their individual departments and the Office of Student Services to determine requirements.
A student’s withdrawal from the College is a permanent separation. Reasons why a student may withdraw from the College include to transfer to another institution or to leave the College without a definite plan to return.
A student who seeks to withdraw from the College in good standing must ordinarily complete an exit interview at the Office of Student Affairs and complete the exit procedures, which include submitting a completed Withdrawal Form to the Office of the Registrar for processing and promptly notifying all student services offices. For a withdrawal from the College that occurs before the fifth week of the semester, no courses or grades for that semester will appear on the student’s transcript. For a withdrawal that occurs in the fifth week of the semester or later, a final grade of “W” (Withdrawal) will be entered for all registered courses.
Administrative withdrawal is a College-initiated withdrawal that occurs when students, by the middle of a semester, have failed to attend class or have not registered for any courses, and have not been granted a leave of absence. In this case, a final grade of “F,” “NP,” or “IA” will be entered for all registered courses.
See Tuition Refund Policy for details on the tuition refund policy.
See Return and Refund of Financial Aid for details on financial aid adjustment.
Fei Tian College uses two grading scales: letter grade and pass/no pass.
The basic letter grades are “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” and “F.” The College gives instructors the option to add a plus or minus to letter grades (except “F”), yielding grades such as “A+” and “C–.”
The pass/no pass grades are “P” and “NP.”
The following table details the letter grades, the pass/no pass grades, and the various other grading codes that may appear on a student’s transcript.
Grades and Grading Codes
| Grade | Percent | Grade Points | Allows Credit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | 4.3 | Yes | |
| A | 93–96 | 4.0 | Yes | |
| A– | 90–92 | 3.7 | Yes | |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 | Yes | |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 | Yes | |
| B– | 80–82 | 2.7 | Yes | |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 | Yes | |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 | Yes | |
| C– | 70–72 | 1.7 | Yes | Lowest passing grade for graduate students |
| D+ | 67–69 | 1.3 | Depends* | |
| D | 63–66 | 1.0 | Depends* | |
| D– | 60–62 | 0.7 | Depends* | Lowest passing grade for undergraduate students |
| F | 0–59 | 0.0 | No | |
| P | Depends* | N/A | Yes | Pass. Passing grade in a P/NP course or in a course for which the student elected the P/NP option. |
| NP | Depends* | N/A | No | No pass. Failing grade in a P/NP course or in a course for which the student elected the P/NP option. |
| AFE | 0.0 | No | Absent from final examination. For unexcused absences. | |
| AUD | N/A | No | Audit. | |
| CR | N/A | Yes | Credit is awarded or requirement is met. | |
| FIN | 0.0 | No | Failed incomplete. Assigned when the time to resolve an “I” grade expires. | |
| I | N/A | No | Incomplete. Approved extension of time to complete course requirements. | |
| IA | 0.0 | No | Insufficient attendance. Includes stopping attending a course without withdrawing. | |
| IP | N/A | No | Course is in progress. No grade is assigned at this time. | |
| MX | N/A | No | Medical excuse. Granted by petition to department chair. | |
| NGR | N/A | No | No grade reported. Decision pending. | |
| PX | N/A | No | Professional excuse. Performance courses only, with chair approval. | |
| W | N/A | No | Course withdrawal. |
* For undergraduate students, the minimum passing letter grade is “D–” and the “P” grade corresponds to a percentage range of 60–100. For graduate students, the minimum passing grade is “C–” and the “P” grade corresponds to a percentage range of 70–100.
The Pass/No Pass option was designed to encourage students to explore a new academic area or take a particularly challenging course without undue concern about their academic performance in the course.
By electing the Pass/No Pass option for a certain course, the student will be graded by the instructor as usual throughout the course, but the final grade that appears on the student’s transcript will be a “P” (Pass) if the instructor assigns a passing letter grade, or an “NP” (No Pass) if the instructor assigns a failing letter grade or an “IA” or “AFE” grade, or if the grade is “FIN.” All other grades, including “I,” “W,” and “PX,” are not converted and appear on the student’s transcript unchanged. Courses taken on a Pass/No Pass basis do not affect the GPA.
Students may earn a maximum of eight credits per degree with the Pass/No Pass option. Each use of the Pass/No Pass option must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. Credits earned by taking a course on a Pass/No Pass basis do not fulfill any General Education, major core, or electives requirement.
The “I” grade (Incomplete) may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student’s work in a course is of passing quality but is incomplete and the student formally requests an “I” grade by the last class session. In requesting an “I” grade, the student should discuss with the instructor the reason the work is incomplete and exactly what coursework remains to be completed.
The course instructor has discretion to grant or deny the request and to determine the conditions under which the incomplete grade is made up, including setting a deadline within a one-year timeframe. Under no circumstance should a student re-register for a class to complete an “I.” Registering for a course a second time invokes the “Course Repetition” rules.
An “I” is a temporary notation that must be changed to a permanent grade on the student’s transcript within a maximum of one year. To confirm the student’s completion of the assigned work and replace the “I” grade, the instructor must submit a Change of Grade Form to the Office of the Registrar. Otherwise, the student’s grade will automatically change to a “FIN” (Failed Incomplete).
Once final grades have been posted by the Office of the Registrar, they will be changed only in exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the instructor and the Chair of the department offering the course.
To request a grade change, instructors must submit a completed Change of Grade Form to the Chair of the department offering the course for consideration. If the request is granted, the instructor must forward the Change of Grade Form to the Office of the Registrar for processing.
A grade point average (GPA) summarizes a student’s academic performance.
A GPA is a weighted average. It is calculated as the total number of grade points earned divided by the total credit weight of courses attempted. For each grade, the number of grade points is the grade’s assigned grade points multiplied by the course’s credit weight. This calculation excludes grades that do not affect GPA, such as certain grades earned when repeating a course (see the General Course Policies - Repeating a Course section).
Useful types of GPA include semester GPA (calculated from a student’s grades within a single semester), cumulative GPA (calculated from all of a student’s grades), and major GPA (calculated from all grades a student received in courses that his/her major requires).
Students are expected to remain in good standing at the College and be making satisfactory academic progress in their programs.
Generally, satisfactory academic progress is determined on the basis of:
Failure to make satisfactory academic progress can result in sanctions including, but not limited to, the revocation of financial aid.
Students who are making satisfactory academic progress in their programs are deemed to be in good standing at the College if they additionally:
Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress can result in a variety of academic sanctions for students, as detailed below:
Academic Warning: A student who is making only marginal academic progress in the determination of the instructor may receive an oral warning.
Academic Probation: A student demonstrating unsatisfactory academic progress may be placed on academic probation for the next semester. During the probationary period, financial aid will still be available. But if the student fails to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress the next semester, the financial aid will be revoked. Students on academic probation are subject to course load requirements and must earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.5 (for undergraduate students) or 3.0 (for graduate students) to be returned to good standing. Those who do not achieve good standing during the probationary period will move to academic suspension, dismissal, or a second semester on academic probation, to be determined by the College.
Academic Suspension: A student may face immediate academic suspension for a particularly severe case of unsatisfactory academic progress. During the suspension, the student shall be excluded from classes and other College privileges or activities, including access to the College campus and College-sponsored activities off campus. The duration and conditions of academic suspension are to be determined by the College on a case-by-case basis. A student may reestablish standing in the College by requesting reinstatement to probationary or good standing after completing the suspension period.
Academic Dismissal: A student may face academic dismissal from the College if (1) (s)he has spent at least one semester on academic probation and has not regained good standing; (2) (s)he has spent at least one semester on academic suspension and has not fulfilled the conditions of the suspension; or (3) the severity of the case otherwise warrants dismissal from the College. Decisions on academic dismissal are made by the College on a case-by-case basis. Academic dismissal generally results in a student’s permanent separation from the College.
Currently enrolled students who are considering changing their concentration or their major instrument within the same degree program should consult with their department chair and academic advisor prior to requesting a change. Students in the baccalaureate dance program are eligible to request a change in concentration before the end of their third year. Students in the baccalaureate music program are eligible to request a change in major instrument if they are equally competent on a second instrument.
Students who wish to change their concentration or major instrument within the same degree program must submit a completed Change of Concentration or Major Instrument Form to the Office of the Registrar to request the change. A change of concentration or major instrument requires approval by the department Chair and the major advisor for the changed concentration or major instrument. An audition is required for a change in major instrument.
Students will be notified of the decision by the Office of the Registrar. Students whose requests have been approved will thereupon be subject to the graduation requirements of the new concentration or major instrument.
Currently enrolled students who are considering changing to another degree program should consult with their current major advisor as well as the current and prospective departments' Chairs prior to requesting a change. Students who have completed less than 50 percent of their current major’s degree requirements may be eligible to change programs.
To be considered for admission to another degree program, students are required to submit a completed short-form application for admission to the Office of the Registrar. Applications must be reviewed and approved by the admissions committee before students can be granted registration privileges for their new program. Note that F-1 international students who have recently changed their programs of study will need to promptly request a new I-20 from the Office of International Services.
To graduate, students must meet all College and departmental requirements as described in this catalog. Where applicable, students must also meet certain specific academic requirements as posted by academic departments.
Graduation is contingent on the following:
Graduation with a second baccalaureate degree requires completion of a minimum of 30 semester credits in addition to those required for the first degree and completion of all requirements for the second degree.
Seniors who have maintained a record of exceptional achievement during the duration of their degree program may be recognized with an honors designation upon graduation. The three levels of recognition are distinction, high distinction, and highest distinction. Specific criteria to graduate with honors are established by each department, which will rank its graduating students accordingly.
Fulfilling graduation requirements and formally applying to graduate is each student’s responsibility. Candidates for graduation must file an application to graduate with the Office of the Registrar in their penultimate semester of study. To ensure that all program requirements will be met, students should review their degree audit and make an appointment with their academic advisor at the Office of Academic Services.
Commencement exercises are normally held once a year for each campus. Participation in commencement exercises is limited to students in good standing who either (1) have completed all graduation requirements since the previous commencement or (2) are within no more than 2 courses or 6 credits of the total required for graduation and are registered to complete these the following semester.
Fei Tian College permits qualified individuals to pursue an additional baccalaureate degree (second degree). A second degree applicant is an individual who previously earned a baccalaureate degree, and now seeks to enroll in a baccalaureate degree program in an essentially different area of study.
The College currently does not offer any double program or double major.
Application in this category is via the standard process for transfer applicants.
Graduation with an additional degree is contingent on the following:
Notes:
Academic advising is critical to student success. At Fei Tian College, we consider advising to be an integral part of teaching and believe an effective advisor will help their advisees become better students.
An advisor and the student shall meet at least once per term prior to registration. The advisor will receive copies of all official correspondence concerning the student’s academic standing from the Office of the Registrar. The academic advisor must approve the courses for which the student registers.
In general, advisors are responsible for providing the following advising services:
The Office of Academic Services provides additional materials on advising procedures and policies to help advisors.
The Office of Academic Services works closely with instructors and monitors the performance of each student. When observing signs of a student being “at-risk,” the instructor should fill out the “Academic At-Risk” form and discuss with the office the appropriate action to take, be it giving a warning, recommending proper support services, or counseling.
Each newly-enrolled student is assigned an academic advisor who is a faculty member at the College, either from LAS or his or her own department before registration. The academic advisor and the Office of Academic Services serve as the primary channel for academic advising and student support.
Specifically, the Office of Academic Services coordinates with faculty from LAS and academic departments to provide advising services for the first two years of a student’s education at the College. Starting in the student’s junior year, he/she will be assigned an advisor in the Department. The Office of Academic Services will work with the Department Chairs to select appropriate advisors and assist in transferring the student to his/her new advisor.
Students are assigned alphabetically and based on their major unless the student or advisor requests a change. Typically, each faculty advisor is assigned no more than 10 students at a time.
Any student wishing to change advisors may do so. Students can speak with the Office of Academic Services directly alerting the Office of their preference. Reassignments may also be made due to faculty leave or shifts in duties.
Each graduate student is expected to select a faculty advisor by the end of the first semester of graduate studies. The faculty advisor provides advising on graduate course selection and projects.
Students in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Classical Chinese Dance program must select faculty advisors who specialize in subjects they wish to explore for their MFA Master’s Project. The MFA faculty advisor serves as the chair of the project committee and meets with the student regularly to ensure the student is making appropriate progress toward completion of the Master’s Project and Oral Defense.
Students in the Master of Music (MM) in Performance program with work with their faculty advisor on their Graduate Recital, including comprehensive program notes.
Faculty advisors have the right to decline an advisee request. The advisor may be changed upon the request of either the student or faculty. A change of faculty advisor may delay the student’s progress toward degree completion. If a student cannot secure a faculty advisor by the end of the first semester, a staff member from the Office of Graduate Studies will provide advising on course selection. If a student has still not secured a major advisor by the second year of studies, the Program Director in the student’s department will, by default, serve as the student’s faculty advisor.
The College offers to incoming students placement tests for two purposes: (1) to determine students' level of proficiency in specific subject areas in order to place them into the appropriate levels of courses; and (2) to determine what kind of remedial instruction, if any, a student may need in order to make the scheduled academic progress. The College’s placement tests are not used to award credit by examination.
Currently, the College offers placement tests in English, math, and Chinese.
All incoming students must take an English placement test. The College uses LEXILE or Accuplacer Reading to determine reading comprehension skills and the WritePlacer to determine writing competency. Students are placed into remedial courses as follows:
| Remedial Course | LEXILE | Accuplacer Reading Score | WritePlacer Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Required | 1250+ | 90+ | 5+ |
| Introduction to College English | 1100+ | 51–89 | 4 |
| ESL | Below 1100 | Below 51 | 1–3 |
If a student’s Accuplacer Reading score and WritePlacer score correspond to different remedial course placements (e.g., WritePlacer score of 3 and Accuplacer score of 90), the student will be asked to do a retest on one or both tests. After the retest, the Office of Academic Services, in discussion with remedial course instructors, will compare the student’s scores from the original test and the retest and place the student into the appropriate English course.
Students who are required or interested in taking MAT105 Calculus I are required to take a math placement test to demonstrate their mathematical readiness for studying Calculus. The College uses the Accuplacer College Level Math test to determine students' mathematics proficiency. Students who score below 103 on the Accuplacer College Level Math are placed into a remedial course: Pre-Calculus.
Students who wish to register for Chinese language courses to fulfill general education world language requirements must take the Chinese Placement Test in order to determine the appropriate course level to take.
Students are given one of four Chinese placement tests based on a survey of their language backgrounds. The exams are graded by a committee of Chinese language faculty, and placement results are sent to the Office of Academic Services. The following table shows the course placement of students based on their test score results:
| Chinese Placement Test | 0–40% | 41%–60% | 61%–74% | 75% and above |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginning Chinese | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies I: Level 1 | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies I: Level 1 | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies II: Level 1 | Retest in Elementary Chinese |
| Elementary Chinese | Retest in Beginning Chinese | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies I: Level 2 | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies II: Level 2 | Retest in Intermediate Chinese |
| Intermediate Chinese | Retest in Elementary Chinese | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies I: Level 3 | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies II: Level 3 | Retest in Advanced Chinese |
| Advanced Chinese | Retest in Intermediate Chinese | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies I: Level 4 | Chinese Language and Cultural Studies II: Level 4 | Interview with Chinese Instructor for further evaluation |
Students who are identified as needing assistance in writing, critical reading, study skills, computing, or quantitative reasoning are given appropriate assistance through services offered by the Office of Academic Services. Depending on student needs and preferences and office availability, students are given support in these areas through one or more of the following ways:
The Office of Academic Services organizes regular workshops on the following topics:
The Office of Academic Services provides assistance for students who wish to transfer to other colleges and/or universities. It is the students' responsibility to follow through on all necessary steps to confirm that the receiving institution is willing to transfer credit for courses taken at the College.
The Office of Academic Services is the College’s central resource for information on career pathways, including graduate school and employment opportunities. Individual career counseling and programs on various career possibilities are offered to assist students with career information gathering, exploration, and decision-making processes. Career interest assessments are also available to identify specific career options.
The staff of Academic Services strives to ensure that all graduates will achieve or have access to broader potential career and professional development opportunities, a greater understanding of the world of work, and a fuller awareness of their personal attributes, values, interests, and skills and how they relate to career options.
Academic Services currently offers the following career services to enrolled students:
Fei Tian College offers students the opportunity to study individually under the guidance of a supervising instructor through directed and independent study.
Directed study is designed to be a substitute for an established course that is not offered in the semester for which the student wishes to register. In directed study, an instructor closely supervises the student to achieve the same course objectives and cover essentially the same material as that of the regularly scheduled course. Courses taken for directed study will be notated as such on the student’s transcript, e.g., “LAS220A Calculus A (Directed Study)”.
Independent study is an extension of an established course. It allows the student to design and carry out an independent project or study on a topic that is not fully treated in the curriculum. Independent study will be recorded as such on the student’s transcript, e.g., “CCD352 Independent Study in Dance”.
In directed and independent study, the supervising instructor assumes responsibility for coordination of the course, evaluation of student work, and determination of a final grade for the course. All such courses must be taken for a letter grade, and cannot be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.
Students interested in directed or independent study should consult early with the Office of Academic Services, well in advance of registration. Directed and independent study require substantial planning as well as approvals and availability of appropriate instructors for the intended subject of study. For these reasons, they may not be available to students every semester.
Eligibility for directed study is dependent on having completed any and all prerequisites for the course and, in the case of an elective course, having maintained the requisite cumulative GPA for the degree (at least 2.0 for undergraduate degrees, at least 3.0 for graduate degrees); the GPA requirement is waived if the course is required for the degree (e.g., SPD352 Independent Study in Stage Production and Design).
Independent study requires a course outline developed by the student in consultation with an appropriate instructor who is willing to supervise the student’s work. Completed course proposals must be submitted to the Office of Academic Services for review in the semester before the intended study takes place. Approval by the appropriate department Chair and the academic advisor is required. Approved outlines will serve as the official course description.
Welcome to Fei Tian College!
To prepare for a successful start at Fei Tian College, all new students are required to attend the New Student Orientation. During orientation, students will become familiar with campus resources and facilities, meet faculty and staff, and register for courses.
For more information, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at your campus:
The Office of Student Affairs provides assistance to students searching for on-campus or nearby off-campus residences. Staff are available to give students general information on residential services and the rental process, and can direct students to community postings that list available housing in the area. Students seeking on-campus housing must make a request to Student Affairs, and allocations will be made on a first-come first-served basis.
Students who select a campus meal plan will find a daily menu that offers a delicious variety of Asian and Western cuisines. The cafeteria prides itself on bringing fresh, healthy, and delicious food to our students, faculty, and staff through:
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mondays to Fridays | 7:10am to 7:40am | 11:30am to 1:05pm | 5:45pm to 6:25pm |
| Saturdays | No Breakfast | 11:30am to 12:20pm | 5:10pm to 5:35pm |
| Sundays and Holidays | No Breakfast | 11:00am to 12:20pm | 5:10pm to 5:35pm |
A suite of public safety programs is provided by the Office of Facility Operations in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs. These programs include security patrol, escort, transportation, and identification and access services to maintain a safe and secure campus environment that is conducive to learning, working, living, and visiting. A trained staff focuses on crime prevention and investigation, safety education, emergency preparedness, and response and recovery. Safety education awareness programs are conducted for students throughout the academic year.
The Office of Student Affairs provides consultations for students in need of insurance and can assist students in purchasing a student insurance plan. Dance students are required to have health insurance.
Accident insurance is provided for all students while involved in College-related activities. Injuries that result from College-related activities must be reported to the faculty or staff member in charge and to the Office of Facility Operations within 24 hours of the time of injury.
The College requires all students to provide proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella in order to enroll. Students who provide (1) a certificate from a physician stating that in the opinion of the physician such immunization is medically contraindicated; (2) a written statement that such immunization would be contrary to the student’s religious or spiritual beliefs; or (3) a laboratory or medical report documenting immunity will be deemed to have satisfied this requirement.
The Office of Student Affairs provides health education to students, staff, and faculty through publications, information sessions, and counseling.
Student Affairs also maintains information on the nearest hospitals and other medical facilities. In the event of a medical emergency, students are directed to the nearest hospital emergency room or to call 911 for an ambulance.
In the spirit of the federal and state disabilities laws, Fei Tian College provides disability consultation and coordinates reasonable special accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, including temporary disabilities due to injury. Disability support services are requested through the Office of Student Affairs and determined individually based on the disability condition, and may include academic, programmatic, and other special accommodations as well as counseling.
Disability support services may include:
College students may encounter a variety of challenges including separation from family and friends, the transition to adulthood, developing new relationships, and defining and committing themselves to a career path. At the same time, they continue to deepen their understanding of themselves and of life.
The Office of Student Affairs offers services to support students' emotional and spiritual well-being. Staff help students talk through their life situations through individual counseling and small group sharing sessions. They can offer advice with the goals of helping students develop a positive mindset, think of the big picture, learn and grow from life lessons and let go of past shortcomings. They can also help develop coping activities that students can perform to handle stress and develop resilience to improve their situation and make their goals attainable.
Staff can also make off-campus referrals for students to community providers of specialized health and wellness services when they believe a student needs additional support.
A college education means more than earning degree credits. It represents the total experience of the student, both inside and outside the classroom. Student organizations and activities enrich that experience by providing students a means to sample and explore different interests and opportunities, often leading to greater personal and professional growth.
College-sponsored activities are offered free of charge and are open to the campus community. Involvement in campus activities can supplement and strengthen the educational experience, aid in skills development, and help forge lifelong friendships.
Students have numerous opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities and student clubs, which complement their programs. Ample campus spaces are dedicated to athletic, recreational, and leisure activities.
All student organizations are responsible for knowing and abiding by College policies and the law.
Fei Tian College is authorized under U.S. Federal law to enroll eligible nonimmigrant students under the F-1 nonimmigrant visa classification for its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The Office of International Services is the primary resource for F-1 international students seeking advice on matters related to their F-1 status, including visas, passports, I-20s, and more. Each F-1 student is responsible for complying with F-1 regulations and consulting the Office of International Services when matters that may affect the student’s status arise.
Maintaining F-1 status means maintaining compliance with the law. Each F-1 international student bears ultimate responsibility for maintaining status, from initial entry to the United States in F-1 status until final departure. The Office of International Services can advise and assist students, but only if students follow the regulations and request assistance in a timely manner. For detailed information about studying in the United States as an F-1 international student, visit StudyInTheStates.dhs.gov. F-1 students must comply with the following requirements in order to maintain lawful status:
A student who has completed a program and any authorized post-completion optional practical training has 60 days to depart the United States, transfer programs, or file for a change of status. A student who has been authorized for withdrawal from the College by the Office of International Services has 15 days to depart the United States. A student who is terminated or who withdraws from a program without authorization by the Office of International Services is not granted a grace period and must immediately depart the United States.
F-1 students must obtain prior authorization from the Office of International Services before undertaking to drop below a full-time course load. Failure to obtain such authorization is a violation of the Federal F-1 regulations and will result in the immediate loss of F-1 status and possibly other sanctions.
Any F-1 student who intends to take a temporary leave of absence or travel abroad during a semester in which he or she is registered must notify and consult the Office of International Services ahead of time.
If the leave will be longer than five months, the student should consult staff at the Office of International Services at least 15 days prior to departure. The student’s SEVIS record will be terminated and the I-20 Form rendered invalid. Two months prior to returning to the College, the student must contact the Office of International Services and complete the procedures to return for studies in F-1 status.
Before traveling abroad, F-1 students should check the expiration dates on their passport and visa and obtain a new travel endorsement on the I-20 Form from the International Student Advisor or Designated School Official (DSO), if needed. If the visa is expired or will expire while the student is abroad, he or she may need to renew it while abroad in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.
Students who wish to remain outside the United States for an extended period of time for activities related to their programs may qualify to retain F-1 status but must maintain full-time registration during two semesters of the year. Consult the Office of International Services for details.
Examples of failure to maintain status include, but are not limited to, the following:
The College is required to manage all F-1 student records in SEVIS each semester. Students who fail to maintain lawful status will lose the privileges of their student status and become subject to deportation and possibly other sanctions.
Employment eligibility and options for F-1 students are limited by Federal F-1 regulations and are available only to students who have maintained lawful status and are in good standing.
Prior to beginning employment, such students are required to obtain the prior written authorization of the Office of International Services and/or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Failure to obtain proper authorization constitutes a serious violation of U.S. immigration regulations.
The College provides information technology (IT) resources to support its goals of teaching and learning, scholarship and creative activities, and service. Only College faculty and staff, students, and other persons who have received permission under the appropriate College authority are authorized users of the College’s IT resources.
Use of College IT resources is limited to work and learning that is related to the College. However, incidental and occasional personal use of the resources may occur when such use is not in violation of any College policies or laws.
Fei Tian College will not tolerate violence or threats of violence on the College premises. Employees and students who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion. Employees and students who intentionally bring false charges of violence will also be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion. Non-employee violations of this policy will be handled in accordance with applicable laws.
Acts of violence include any physical action, whether intentional or reckless, that harms or threatens the safety of another individual in the workplace. A threat of violence includes any behavior that by its very nature could be interpreted by a reasonable person as an intent to cause physical harm to another individual.
Smoking anywhere on the College premises is prohibited. Alcohol is not permitted anywhere on the College premises.
It is the policy of the College to maintain a drug-free workplace and campus. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, and/or use of controlled substances are prohibited on the College premises, in the workplace, or as part of any of the College’s activities.
No person, whether a student, personnel, or visitor, shall possess or carry a weapon while on the College premises, except with special approval of the President.
Fei Tian College is committed to maintaining an environment of learning and working that is free of prejudice and harassment—an environment that supports, nurtures, and rewards career and educational advancement on the basis of ability and performance.
Harassment based upon race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, citizenship status, or any other legally protected basis is prohibited by law and undermines the character and purpose of the College. Such harassment is illegal and against College policy and will not be tolerated. This policy covers all members of the College community and those who affect the College community, such as vendors and visitors.
Fei Tian College admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College. In the letter and spirit of applicable laws, it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, ethnic origin, or any other applicable legally protected status in the administration of its educational programs. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and state law, the College is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission and education of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities.