The following issues are addressed on this page:

Academic Honesty
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Attendance
Religious Holidays
Final Examinations
Advanced Standing Examinations
Petitions
Release of Information
Transcript Policy
Residence Requirements
Additional Credits
FERPA Annual Notification
FERPA Directory Information Policy
FERPA Release of Education Record Information to Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

Academic Honesty

All students have an obligation to behave honorably and to respect the highest ethical standards in carrying out their academic assignments. Academic dishonesty is defined to include any form of cheating and/or plagiarism. In cases involving academic dishonesty or falsification of academic information, a failing grade, disciplinary sanctions, probation, or dismissal may be administered. A referral will be made to the Dean of Academics who shall then bring the case to the Dean’s Council. The Council may elect to conduct a hearing in the case, mediate the case between the complainant and the student(s) referred, or to establish a hearing panel of three faculty members to render an opinion. In any case, the decision of the Dean’s Council will be final.

Students are urged to read about the Standards of Personal and Group Conduct and the Campus Judicial System in the Student Handbook.

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Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students are expected to maintain good academic progress throughout their degree studies. Good academic standing includes a grade of at least B- in their major subject, performance ensembles, and American Language Program courses, and grades of C or better in all other subjects. If a student fails to meet the requirements for good standing, his or her record will be brought under review by the Committee on Academic Progress. (See page on Grading.)

Probation: In reviewing student records, the Committee on Academic Progress may place a student on probation. Reasons for probation include: failure to meet the year level requirement set by any department; repeated withdrawals, incompletes, and/or failing grades; a consistent pattern of low grades, including a low or failing Jury Examination grade or failure to progress sufficiently through the American Language Program. Students placed on probation become ineligible for scholarship assistance, and if their overall cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0, they become ineligible for any type of federal or state financial assistance.

At the conclusion of each semester, the records of all students on probation will be reviewed again by the Committee on Academic Progress. If satisfactory progress has not been made, the Committee may take further action, which could include a forced leave of absence or dismissal.

Dismissal: Grounds for dismissal include unsatisfactory academic and/or musical progress, any form of cheating and/or plagiarism or falsification of academic information, or violation of the student Code of Conduct.

Students dismissed at the conclusion of the spring semester are ineligible to attend the School during the following academic year; students dismissed at the conclusion of the fall semester are ineligible to attend the School for three consecutive semesters. Information regarding reapplication to the School and auditions are available from the Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

The School retains the right to cancel the registration of any student whose continued attendance is considered detrimental to the interest of his or her fellow students or of the School.

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Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance is required at all lessons, classes, and rehearsals. Any exceptions, such as an excused absence for reasons of illness or other compelling emergencies, may be considered and granted at the discretion of the individual faculty member.

Any student who misses lessons, classes, and rehearsals for more than twenty percent of the meetings for reasons that the teacher considers insufficient, will be sent to the Dean of Students for permission to continue in the class.

Students with excessive or unexcused absences from lessons, classes or rehearsals may receive a withdrawal or a failing grade, or, in extreme cases, will be subject to probation or dismissal.

No student may be absent from the School for professional engagements unless permission for such absence is granted both by the Dean of Academics and the Dean of Students well in advance of all such engagements. (See page on Leaves & Withdrawals.)

Any student who has two consecutive unexcused absences in his or her private lessons must see the Dean of Students before lessons may resume. Students who exhibit a pattern of absences will be required to see the Dean of Students.

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Religious Holidays

Manhattan School of Music is sensitive to the needs of students who wish to observe religious holidays during the academic year. To accommodate the planning needs of studio teachers, classroom teachers, and ensemble directors as well as to fulfill the educational and artistic requirements of the semester’s work, students who anticipate being absent for religious holidays need to inform in writing their teachers and ensemble directors during the first week of classes at the beginning of each semester of the exact date/dates that the student will be absent. The student should also give a copy of the request to the Dean of Academics. If students follow the preceding policy and understand that they are responsible for classroom work and ensemble obligations missed, absence for religious holidays will be excused. Students who do not inform their teachers in writing with a copy sent to the Dean of Academics during the first week of classes will not be excused.

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Final Examinations

Final examinations are held during the 15th week of each semester. Students who fail to take a required class examination may be given an incomplete by the teacher if all other work for the course has been satisfactory. All Incomplete grades must be preapproved by the Dean of Academics. Incomplete grades will be converted to failing grades by the Registrar if the final grade is not received by the end of the following semester in which the incomplete grade was given. Students who are taking large group examinations in the Music History and Theory Departments will be required to show proof of identity (i.e., a picture ID) before being allowed to enter the examination room.

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Advanced Standing Examinations

Advanced Standing examinations are for the purpose of advancing a student’s performance status. Petitions for Advanced Standing must be approved by the major teacher and the department chair before being submitted to the Registrar for final approval. To qualify for Advanced Standing, a student: must be in his or her junior year; must have attained a grade of B+ or better in the previous year’s Jury Examination; and complete academic course work within the next year.

Students in their first year of attendance are not permitted to take Advanced Standing examinations.

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Petitions

A student has the right to petition the administration regarding any topic that is not covered in the current school catalog, yet pertains to study at the School. Forms are available in the Office of the Registrar, the Office of the Dean of Academics, the Office of the Dean of Students or can be downloaded and printed by clicking here.

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Release of Information

It is the policy of Manhattan School of Music to screen all requests for information concerning students. Students who wish to restrict the release of such information are required to notify the Office of the Registrar in writing.

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment), students enrolled at Manhattan School of Music have the right to see educational records maintained by the School which are related to them.

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Transcript Policy

The Office of the Registrar retains the original copy of each student’s academic record.

Transcripts of records for currently enrolled students are issued without charge in support of loan and other financial aid applications necessary for attendance at Manhattan School of Music.

Official transcripts, carrying the School’s seal and an official signature, are issued only upon the written request of the student. Transcripts are not issued while a student is in arrears or in default on student loans or if there are any outstanding fees or charges from any School office.

For details about ordering transcripts and letters of certification, visit our Transcript Request page.

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Residence Requirements

Residency requirements for degree and diploma programs at the Manhattan School of Music are as follows:

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Additional Credits

Additional credits include transfer credits and the results of Advanced Standing examinations, placement examinations and qualifying examinations.

Transfer credits from other accredited institutions, both national and international, may be accepted into a degree or diploma through evaluation of official documents by the Office of the Registrar.

Students may also earn additional credits through their audition, an Advanced Standing examination in their junior or senior year, Placement exams at their entrance into the school and through qualifying exams scheduled at the beginning of each semester.

A maximum of sixty (60) additional credits may be applied towards an undergraduate degree or diploma. A maximum of six (6) graduate non-performance credits may be transferred to a master’s degree. No transfer credit will be granted for credits used towards another degree or for major lessons and ensembles. The Additional Credit policy is outlined in a brochure available through the Office of the Registrar.

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FERPA Annual Notification

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day the School receives a request for access. Students should submit, to the Registrar or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The School official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the School official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should bey addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the School to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write to the School official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the School decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the School will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to School officials with legitimate educational interest. A School official is a person employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the School has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or security guard); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or, when deemed appropriate, a student serving on an official committee (such as a disciplinary or grievance committee), assisting another School official in performing his or her tasks, or employed as a worker. Legitimate educational interest is defined as the determination of the right of a School official to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. In addition, the official must be able to demonstrate that the review is directly related to the student’s educational welfare or the safety of the student and/or other members of the School community.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Manhattan School of Music to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   600 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20202-46055
5. Schools may disclose, without consent, directory information including a student's name, telephone numbers (permanent, primary, and cellular), addresses (including electronic mail), date and place of birth, major, honors (including Dean's List), awards, photograph, classification, dates of enrollment, enrollment status, degrees conferred, dates of conferral, graduation, distinctions, and the name of the institution attended immediately prior to admission. Students who wish to restrict the release of such information are required to notify the office of the registrar in writing within 10 days of the first day of the semester of enrollment. A request to withhold information may be submitted after the stated deadline, but information may be released between the deadline and receipt of the request.

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FERPA Directory Information Policy

The following information about students is considered Directory Information at Manhattan School of Music:

Name, telephone numbers (permanent, primary, and cellular), addresses (including electronic mail), date and place of birth, major, honors, awards, photograph, classification, dates of enrollment, degrees conferred, dates of conferral, graduation, distinctions, and the institution attended immediately prior to admission.

Directory Information may be made available to the general public unless you request that the School withhold disclosure of such Directory Information. In order to exercise your right to withhold Directory Information, you must notify the Office of the Registrar, in writing, no later than 10 days after the first day of the semester of enrollment. You may request a copy of Student Authorization to Withhold Directory Information Form from the Office of the Registrar or download it here. Once you have requested the School to withhold Directory Information, that request will be valid until you rescind the request in writing on the original Authorization to Withhold Directory Information Form.

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FERPA Release of Education Record Information to Parents(s)/Guardian(s)

In accordance with FERPA and Manhattan School of Music policy, the School may disclose non-directory educational information from the academic records of a student to parent(s)/legal guardian(s) when the School:

1. Has written consent of the student on file. You may request a copy of Student Authorization to Release Education Records to Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Form from the Office of the Registrar or download here. OR
2. Has determined that the student is legally a dependent of the parent/guardian according to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Section 152. The School will use information in copies of current tax returns provided to the School to aid in determining dependency. These forms may have been provided previously in support of the student’s financial aid application. Parents may also send a statement in writing, with a copy of a current income tax form attached, certifying that the student is a dependent.

The School may also disclose non-directory educational information to parent(s)/legal guardian(s):

1. In an emergency, if the knowledge of information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons OR
2. Regarding the student’s violation of any federal, state, or local law, or any institutional policy or rule governing the use of alcohol or a controlled substance under FERPA guidelines OR
3. At other times as the School’s administration deems appropriate within FERPA guidelines

For further information on FERPA, please contact the Office of the Registrar or Director of Administration & Human Relations.

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