CVPA Undergraduate Academic Advisors
Department/School | Advisors |
---|---|
Art |
Robert Yi or 703-993-9617 |
Arts Management | Karalee Dawn MacKay 703-993-8926 Email for appointment |
Computer Game Design | Jeremy Tuohy 703-993-2041 Schedule online |
Dance | Kim Harris 703-993-6652 Walk in hours Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon. |
Film & Video Studies | Maddie Portnoy 703-993-6022 Schedule online |
Music | Carrie Ann Delaney 703-993-1392 Schedule Online |
Theater | Sara Simanski 703-993-1120 Schedule online |
CVPA Undeclared | Please schedule an appointment with the academic advisor in your intended program. |
CVPA Academic Affairs | Lauren Wagner 703-993-1321 Email for appointment |
Please note:
Students must meet with their Academic Advisor to discuss policies and procedures for submitting any request or form. For specific situations, please refer to the information below.
Four Year Degree Plans
Art
Computer Game Design
Dance
Film and Video Studies
The 4-Year Plan can be downloaded or printed as a pdf by clicking on the Print Options button at top right of the catalog page:
Helpful Hints
Tips for Submitting Requests to your Advisor
- Familiarize yourself with Students Rights and Responsibilities before submitting any requests.
- Know the academic policies of the university, college, and your degree program.
- Verify your schedule each semester during and after the add/drop period to be sure you are registered for the courses you think you are.
- Submit requests well before any deadline. Requests are reviewed in the order they are received and cannot be expedited because of late submission.
Causes for Delays in Reviewing Requests
Advisors and the CVPA Academic Affairs Office reviews requests in the order they are received. We respond to all requests as quickly as possible.
Common causes of delay:
- The student fails to provide supporting documentation needed to complete the request (e.g., medical documents, employment verification, communications from the instructor, etc.).
- The supporting documentation is insufficient to complete the review.
- The office has difficulty verifying the documentation.
- The student does not check their Mason email account for responses or requests from the CVPA Academic Affairs Office.
- There are administrative holds on the student's account (e.g., Financial, Parking, Library, Immunization, etc.). It is the student's responsibility to ensure their record is free of holds. All holds should be cleared before submitting a request to the CVPA Academic Affairs Office.
Completing and Submitting Forms
The forms needed for most requests can be found on the website of the Registrar's Office. For forms that are not available on the Registrar's website, contact your advisor for more information. Your advisor can assist you through the process.
Registration at Mason
Credit Overload Policies
Students in good standing (GPA at or above 2.0) are eligible to enroll in up to 18 hours of coursework per semester. In exceptional circumstances, students may request an overload of the maximum credit hours allowed. Credits must be approved by advisor and department before submitting form to the CVPA Academic Affairs Office.
Leave of Absence
All undergraduate students who are planning an absence from George Mason must submit a formal request for Leave of Absence to the Registrar's Office. Students do not need to complete the form if they are participating in a university-sponsored study abroad program or have received permission to study elsewhere.
Registration Elsewhere
Permission to Study Elsewhere
Students who wish to take a course at a different institution must get pre-approval from the CVPA academic dean and the academic dean for the requested course (two signatures). There are specific circumstances when this can be approved.
Students are permitted to take up to a maximum of 9 credit hours elsewhere if they meet the following criteria:
- Fewer than 60 credit hours of transfer coursework,
- A minimum 2.0 GPA at the time of the request.
Notes:
- If a course is offered at GMU Korea or Mason Fairfax, permission will NOT be granted to take this course elsewhere except in the case of unusual circumstances. Students may submit a study elsewhere request to take general elective courses or courses that are not being offered at the campus in which they are studying.
- Financial hardship alone is not a sufficient reason for approval of a study elsewhere request.
- Students may not return to the community college to finish a sequence of courses.
- Once approved, courses elsewhere must be taken for a grade and be passed with a grade of C or higher in order to be transferred back to Mason. Although credit for the course will be transferred, the grade for the course will not.
Students should also review the policies under AP.1.4.2 Permission to Study Elsewhere in the Mason catalog.
Study Abroad
Students who wish to study abroad must first receive permission from the Mason Study Abroad office and their program dean in order to have the credit transfer back to Mason. Visit the Mason Abroad Office's website for more information on opportunities.
Consortium
Students who wish to request to take a course at an institution within the consortium must have permission from the CVPA Academic Affairs office and the Registrar's Office. See item AP.1.4.9. in the University Catalog for more information.
Registration for Inactive Students
Re-enrollment
Students who have been away from the university who either did not submit a leave of absence form or were ineligible to take a formal leave of absence, and who have been away for less than two years must re-enroll in order to register for courses.
Return from Dismissal
Students returning from dismissal from the university must submit a request to return to Mason through their Academic Advisor, but only after a minimum of three calendar years from the university. See item AP.5.2.6 in the University Catalog for more information.
Suspended Students
Students Returning from Suspension
Students in academic standing of suspension have a registration hold placed on their record that prevents enrollment in future coursework. Upon return from the suspension period, the student must have an Academic Advisor Approval form and Student Success Plan reviewed by their advisor and signed. After the form and plan have been completed, they must be submitted to the CVPA Academic Affairs Office for final approval. Upon receipt by the CVPA Academic Affairs Office, students will be advised about an additional requirement of completion of a Learning Services workshop. Upon completion of that workshop, the hold will be removed.
Deadlines to request a return from suspension:
- December 1 for the following spring semester
- April 15 for the following fall semester (students missing this deadline may be approved on a case-by-case basis).
Other Requests and Procedures
Change of Grade
All requests must originate from the professor of the course. For assistance, please see your Academic Advisor.
Complaints and Grievances
-
Academic Complaints
Students may file a formal complaint and provide supporting documentation to the CVPA Office of Student Affairs for an academic reason and/or as an escalation beyond the department of their major. Students may remain anonymous in these complaints if they prefer. -
Reporting an Instance of Bias or Discrimination
Learn how to Report Bias and Discrimination. -
Non-Academic Complaints
Students may file a formal written complaint to the University for a non-academic reason by visiting the central Complaints page.
Substitutions and Waivers
Substitution/Waiver request forms are used to either substitute or waive a degree requirement. For CVPA students, these requests require a signature from the Assistant Dean. The form is reviewed and approved by the college that houses the major or minor.
Withdrawals
Non-Academic Withdrawals
Students may request a withdrawal after the drop deadline for non-academic reasons. Requests are considered only under exceptional circumstances. Students will need to provide verifiable, third-party documentation with the request.
In order to request a withdrawal, you must submit the CVPA Undergraduate Student Request for Withdrawal form to your advisor. If approved by your Advisor, this form must be submitted to the CVPA Academic Affairs office for review.
Selective Withdrawals
Students enrolled in degree programs may process a maximum of three selective withdrawals during their entire undergraduate career at Mason. The three classes may have any number of credits. Refer to the university catalog for more information.
Termination from Arts Undeclared
Arts Undeclared is not a degree-granting major and is only intended to be a temporary track for certain incoming students to Mason. The expectation is that a portfolio will be submitted or an audition completed within 1-2 semesters of Mason enrollment. Failure to complete the audition/portfolio step, and/or failure to achieve a successful audition or portfolio result, will result in a mandatory change of program to Exploratory, to allow the student more time to determine what major path they would prefer to follow.