Syllabus

ARTC-201 Computer Graphics 1

 

Instructor’s information

Name: Ryan Seslow

E-mail: rseslow@nyit.edu (or ryan@ryanseslow.com)

Office hours: Mondays (by appointment) after class (in our classroom)

 

Course information:

Term and date: Fall 2023

 

Course numbers and sections:  (you are only to attend the 1 section that you are registered for)

Section M02 – Meeting times: Mondays, 8am – 12pm- Building and room number: 16 West 61st Street, NYC – Room # 919 – (you are only to attend the 1 section that you are registered for)

 

Section M01 – Meeting times: Mondays, 2:20pm – 6:20pm- Building and room number: 16 West 61st Street, NYC – Room # 922 (you are only to attend the 1 section that you are registered for)

 

Credits: 3

Prerequisites and co-requisites: none

Class Website: https://artc-201.com

 

Course Description: 

This introductory course in digital image-making surveys current digital tools and techniques used in the computer graphics field. Through assigned projects, students will develop an understanding of common computer-based graphics and design workflows.  They will also learn skills to develop their ideas into a graphic format. The class will be divided into production, lecture, and critique time.

Introduction: 

The course will provide a foundation of best practices for ‘producing professional’ digital art + designs. This course introduces students to basic concepts in 2-D digital imaging and communication through digital art and design methods and tools. Students will use professional software (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign & After Effects); hardware (personal laptop, digital camera / iPhone, a scanner, digital camera, and printer); and creative processes (sketches, drawing, collage, illustration) for translating ideas into visual formats. The course will teach students to communicate visually, to develop a critical visual language and to apply and develop their concepts and designs into diverse digital formats. More importantly, students will develop digital methods to record and translate ideas that inform the sequential phases of the design process through ideation, identifying design goals, iterative and alternative design explorations and cumulative design development. This course is a prerequisite for all subsequent digital design and interactive media courses.

This course introduces fundamental concepts, tools, techniques, and design problems through comparative and complimentary study of traditional analog media and drawing vs. digital art. Utilizing various software applications and workflows students will develop approaches to computer generated art and design problems and projects. This course is an overview of the hardware, software and peripherals used in the creation of digital art and gives students a basic hands-on understanding of the conceptual and tangible applications. Students are introduced to vector and raster images, various file formats, lossy and lossless compression of images, color models, like RGB, CMYC, spot colors, Alpha Channels and masks and more. In addition, students will be informed about fundamentals of digital art production through exposure to terminology, design + technical concepts, and relevant contemporary and historical examples, precedents and canons. Students will create projects like ‘posters, illustrations, storyboards, collages/montages/compositing, logos, business cards, and magazines’.

Developing diverse effective design methodologies to develop and translate transmedia ideas, solve visual communication problems and projects with innovative and uniquely appropriate designs as a lifelong, continuous, self-education and evolving critical practice.

Learning Objectives: 

On Completion of this course the students should be able to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Develop Visual Thinking skills through generating, integrating, revising, editing and proofing digital and analog designs and artwork.
  2. Present diverse visual solutions and support them verbally in a professional and effective way.
  3. Develop intentional and visually expressive digital design artworks that effectively communicate ideas.
  4. Develop and collaborate on visual and conceptual research that precisely communicates a concept, identity, narrative, response, identity or brand quality.
  5. Develop and apply critical creative thinking to imagery through design principles that will help explore, progress and refine their visual language. 
  6. Develop effective competencies with the fundamental tools and features of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, after Effects and InDesign.
  7. Create digital images using professional tools, including laptop and desktop computers, cameras, smart phones, and stylus/tablets.
  8. Develop the capacity of exchanging information between analog and digital media, from the physical drawing or model to digitized designed artwork. 
  9. Develop a working knowledge of hardware, image creation and manipulation, single and multi page layout designs, and technical considerations for exporting to print and online media.
  10. Interface with plotters, printers, on screen media/video

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:

Prime instructional methods will be class lectures, instruction, individual and group discussion and project review. The student will be expected to work on cumulative phases of assigned problems related to semester projects prior to and during each class.

The syllabus is comprised of project sequences designed to impart ways of seeing, ways of thinking, and ways of making. It is designed to help students frame questions, define problems and to generate thoughtful, inventive responses, analyzing, challenging and intelligently reframing the premises around which the problems are built. The design process is a self-reflective journey of inquiry, guided by questions and emerging options that inform the discovery of opportunities.  Designers develop tools and methods, integrating skills and knowledge to inform the process and project from the beginning to evaluate the challenges and consequences range of degrees of successful decision making. Each step in the design process offers a series of new decision with a wide array of alternative options to pursue and evaluate. Clarifying goals, assessing strategies, methods and outcomes is the cycle of progress and defines the evolving cumulative sequence of steps in the design process. Clarity of IDEAS, and precise definition and use of TOOLS and RULES to study design goals, options and solutions are inseparable.

PHOTOSHOP + ILLUSTRATOR + IN DESIGN + AFTER EFFECTS:

The semester project sequence is a cumulative inquiry into composite image assembly, taking advantage of the legacy of cinema, cubism, collage and the power of digital software which advance these long standing traditions intrinsic to Graphic Design, Computer Graphics and Digital Arts. Diverse Composite Visual Documents can be defined (collage, mash up, mixed media, assemblage, construct, composite image, montage, paste up etc.) An introduction to the culture and heritage of collage as a critical visual communication and trans-media methodology is fundamental to graphic design, computer graphics and digital arts fields. World building and storytelling are a human narrative tradition. Enhancing reality and creating fictional, never before seen, or completely fantastic worlds are skills developed, utilized, and advanced in the world of computer graphics, game design, advertising, fiction, film and emerging transmedia fields, environments and expanded realities. This is your first opportunity to develop knowledge, design content and skills for your future in the transmedia design landscape.

Semester Prompt + Project List:

Identify + develop a semester long Travelogue of an imagined place based on Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities”. Begin to understand the Art Direction aspect of building a worldview / environment. Film makers, stage set designers, fiction writers, game designers, magazine editors, website authors, architects, interior designers, fashion designers rely on Art Direction to develop all aspects of the visual worlds they create for an audience to inhabit and experience. You will imaginatively develop / design a visual iconography and language of the world you interpret and translate from your chosen Calvino text. You will design composite visual documents of:

 1 – a Map of this city/world 

 2 – a depiction of the Planet this city exists on landscape/cityscape/skyscape with supporting composite views of the Weather / Climate / Light patterns and seasons on this planet

 3 – the ‘Amphibious’ Vehicle that transport people to/in this setting 

 4 – a critical for Tool used for inhabiting / surviving in this place

 5 – the Travel Suit for journeying and surviving this planet/city – character design

 6 – Logo brand of the important entity/organization/company central to this place

7 – the book cover of this world/city’s magazine/graphic novel

8 – the semester cumulative project Portfolio

 

Research Science Fantasy Fiction Films + Graphic Novels for Inspiration:

***Invisible Cities – Italo Calvino***

Star Wars – Syd Mead and Moebius/Giraud

Raised by Wolves – Ridley Scott

Solaris – Tarkovsky

Star Trek – Syd Mead and others

Dune – Jodorowsky

Blade Runner (Philip Dick novels) – Syd Mead

Yellow Submarine – The Beatles + Peter Max

Marvel + DC comics

Metal Hurlant – Jean Giraud/Moebius

Anime (various)

Japanese Manga art

19thc. Japanese prints – Hokusai, Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi

Surrealism – Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, Matta, Dorothea Tanning, Giorgio de Chirico

 

Project List: (full details will be published  here ->  https://artc-201.com)

1 – Invisible Cities – Metaphysical Guide Semester Project – 

Lecture/Lessons – Narrative / Travelogue / Way-finding / Map + Storyboard / Art Direction – Collage + Composite Imaging – Layers – Surrealism (Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, Joseph Cornell, Matta)

Read Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. Select one city description as your semester long project source.

Digital Tools: Layers – 2D Map Geographies Invisible City Composite Collage  Composite multiple images together in Photoshop ( + Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects)  demonstrating knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Use the  combination of tools, take the time to create an artwork.

 

2 – Invisible City Home Planet / Satellite World Composite Images:  Lecture/Lessons – Framing Views + Light Conditions / Sketching>Perspective>Storyboard

Digital Tools: Light Conditions – Layers – Grid / Horizon Line / Perspective lines / Light Source location / Hue / Saturation 2D Map Geographies Invisible City Composite Collage / etc. Composite multiple images together (in Photoshop + Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects)  demonstrating knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Use the  combination of tools, take the time to create an artwork.

 

3 – Invisible City / Planet Atmosphere Climate – Create a set of composite images and views that describe/illustrate the climates, seasons, weather  patterns and atmospheric light conditions on your Invisible City / Planet. Develop these seasonal views from the views constructed in project 2. Repeat the same process:

Digital Tools: (Composite multiple images together in Photoshop + Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects)  Explore and employ knowledge of layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Employ the  combination of tools to develop new diverse atmospheric climatic condition views.  (blending, color matching*)

 

4 – Interplanetary / Multipurpose / Amphibious Vehicle Composite Image(s) Color –  Amphibious Inter-Planetary Vehicle – Composite Collage – This digital collage project brief details the process for visualizing a designed object through assembling and layering diverse digital images into a complete composite image. Create an 8.5” X 11” formatted document with a  resolution of 300 dpi, select and assemble relevant images and/or shapes to create a digital composition for the purpose of describing an amphibious vehicle that includes transport elements for multiple and different terrains, landscapes, air, gas, liquid, water, ground or solid environments. Explore, develop and utilize specific principles of composition learned in the previous weeks. This project will explore and demonstrate proficiency in using all the compositing tools learned in this class to date, including performing high quality selections and color  corrections.   

Create a set of composite images and views that describe/illustrate the climates, seasons, weather  patterns and atmospheric light conditions on your Invisible City / Planet. Develop these seasonal views from the views constructed in project 2. Repeat the same process: multipurpose vehicle.  How can this vehicle’s design and visual identity expand the visual story of your developing imagined Invisible City.

Digital Tools: (Composite multiple images together in Photoshop+ Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects)  Explore and employ knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Employ the  combination of tools to develop new multipurpose vehicle composite views.  [blending, color matching]*

 

5 – Invisible City > Planet Travel / Survival Tool Composite Images Create a composite image of a critical, personal, daily / survival / travel tool (Swiss Army Knife tool or  Communication Device invention) Repeat the similar steps and process as in Project 4 for developing a personal survival tool for your selected traveler. Create a personal human scaled object (tool) with all the colors, lights and shadows you can see. You can take a real-life image as a reference and based on the image you create the layers for all the colors you believe would best represent that object. Create it with layers as I illustrated in the class.

Digital Tools: (Composite multiple images together in Photoshop+ Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects)  Explore and employ knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Employ the  combination of tools to develop new composite tool views. 

 

6 – Invisible City > Planet (Space) Travel Suit Composite Image/Collage Develop a composite image to describe a survival / space / travel suit or an avatar / robot / machine  Traveler for the Invisible Cities story you are developing. Repeat the similar steps and process as in Projects 4+5 for developing a personal survival tool for your selected traveler. Consider the climates and survival needs for either a human traveler in considering the requirements of the travel/space suit, or imagine, describe, design and create a composite visual description for an avatar/robotic/mechanical surrogate traveler. Develop the 2 opposing three dimensional composite views (perspectives) and 5 two dimensional views (top head, front, rear, left and right profile) of the travel/space suit or avatar/robot/surrogate travel character.

Digital Tools: (Composite multiple images together in Photoshop+ Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects) Explore and employ knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Employ the combination of tools to develop new diverse interplanetary/travel suit views. 

 

7 – Invisible City  – Magazine, Poster or Book Cover 

Design the Invisible City Travelogue Book or Magazine Cover (or Poster) Composite Collage design. Based on the cumulative development of your invented Invisible City world view, iconography, cultural model, color schemes, amphibious vehicles, survival tool, travel suit, organization / character icon – create a book or magazine cover (or poster) that captures the overall environment and the implied/intended plot of your Invisible City Travelogue.

Digital Tools: (Composite multiple images together in Photoshop+ Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects)  Explore and employ knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Employ the  combination of tools to develop book cover options. 

 

8 – Semester Portfolio –  Includes all work / page(s) for each semester project in the final semester Portfolio / Zine – more details and tutorials will be shared in class in week 11.

*Submit Final Portfolio in Course G-Drive

 

***Extra Credit Project***

Logo Brand Icon – Design a  brand logo for an organizational entity derived from your Invisible City world.

Digital Tools:  (Composite multiple images together in Photoshop+ Illustrator + InDesign + After Effects) Explore and employ knowledge of  layers, masks, blending modes, and adjustment layers. Employ the combination of tools to develop new logo brand icon designs.

 

Semester Schedule: 

Week 1 – Mon – Sep 11 – Introductory LECTURE – Syllabus + COLLAGE CULTURESIntro – Digital Art – Color, Form, Composition Design SOFTWARE

Project 1 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – MAP / CARTOGRAPHY COMPOSITE

Week 2 – Mon – Sep 18 – REVIEW – Project 1 – MAP / CARTOGRAPHY -LECTURE – Project 2 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – HOME PLANET COMPOSITE

Week 3 – Mon – Sep 25 – REVIEW – Project 2 – HOME PLANET – LECTURE – Project 3 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – PLANET ATMOSPHERE COMPOSITE

Week 4 – Mon – Oct 02 – REVIEW – Project 3 – PLANET ATMOSPHERE – LECTURE – Project 4 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE COMPOSITE

Week 5 – Mon – Oct 16 – REVIEW – Project 4 – AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE – LECTURE – Project 5 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – SURVIVAL TOOL COMPOSITE

Week 6 –  Mon – Oct 23 – REVIEW – Project 5 – SURVIVAL TOOL – LECTURE – Project 6 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – TRAVEL SUIT COMPOSITE

Week 7 – Mon – Oct 30 – REVIEW – Project 6 – TRAVEL SUIT – LECTURE – Mid-Semester Review – Discussion

Week 8 – Mon – Nov 6 – REVIEW – Project 6 – TRAVEL SUIT – Continued

Week 9 – Mon – Nov 13 – Mid Semester REVIEW  – Project 7 – Discussion – Invisible Cities – Project 7 –  BOOK COVER / GRAPHIC NOVEL / MAGAZINE

Week 10 – Mon- Nov 20 –  REVIEW – Project 7 –  BOOK COVER / GRAPHIC NOVEL / MAGAZINE

Week 11 – Mon Nov 27 – REVIEW – Project 7 –  BOOK COVER / GRAPHIC NOVEL / MAGAZINE – continued

Week 13 – Mon – Dec 04 – Project 8 – LECTURE > Discussion – Portfolio Design

Week 14 – Mon –  Dec 11 – Portfolio DEVELOPMENT workshop

Week 15 – Mon –  Dec 18  – PORTFOLIOS DUE

___________________________________________________

Course Requirements:

Grading Criteria:

The final grade will be based on:

Course Requirements & Grading Criteria

  • Regular attendance weekly course/studio sessions (3 unexcused absences will result in an F)
  • Timely completion and consistent cumulative development of all projects and assignments
  • Work completed with the highest standards of criticality, quality and craft

 

Methods of assessment will include:

Weekly Assignments

Individual and group critiques

Mid-Semester presentation

Final Presentation (complexity of imagery, problem-solving skills, level of technical skills, development of personal style/individual approach is evaluated)

Grading Formula:

Attendance: Mandatory (look at Attendance policy for details)

  1. Weekly / Bi-Weekly Assignments  ——–  70%
  2. Development Process (Research/Sketches etc)   —– 10%
  3. Final semester complete Portfolio submission  —– 10%
  4. Final Presentations —– 5%
  5. Participation/Professionalism   —- 5%

1.) Weekly Assignments – 70%

A significant part of the grade will be based on the completion of weekly assignments.  Students will receive weekly and bi-weekly assignments in class, and the assignments must be completed by each deadline given.  As the course continues, the assignments will become more complex and time-consuming; students are expected to spend at least 8 hours a week on the course assignment. It is crucial that each step be completed and understood before advancing to the next step.  

2-5.)  Process, Participation & Professionalism – 30%

Development process, participation and professionalism are extremely important to succeeding in this class. Students must be respectful to their peers and professor, and have a positive attitude in the classroom.  Students are expected to come to class on time and stay throughout the work sessions for the entirety of the class.  In-class assignments also count towards this section of the grade. Final Projects must be completed and ready for submission before the critique.  Attendance and participation during the critique is a significant part of the project grade. 

Required Final Computer Graphics I – Portfolio Policy:

Each student shall submit a portfolio of the work of the semester including theoretical research, project development, design proposal, final project(s) model photographs and development drawings, models and sketches. A digital portfolio submission is required. A printed copy may also be required as per course and instructor. In the case of Des VII and Des VIII, this will take the form of a Thesis Book, discussed and developed during the two semesters with the assigned faculty. 

For more information about NYIT “grading,” please see link below 

https://catalog.nyit.edu/policies_and_rules/academic_policies

 

Bibliography/Readings:

Recommended Texts (including ISBN numbers): 

Smith, Jennifer, Photoshop CC Digital Classroom, Wiley & Sons, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-118-63956-6

Danea Lisa, Photoshop CC Bible, Wiley & Sons, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-118-64369-3

Smith, Jennifer, Illustrator CC Digital Classroom, Wiley & Sons, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-118-63971-9

Smith, Christopher, InDesign CC Digital Classroom, Wiley & Sons, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-118-63964-1

Adobe Creative Team. Adobe Illustrator CS6 Classroom in a Book. Peachpit Press, 2012. 

Harrington, Richard. Understanding Adobe Photoshop CS6: The Essential Techniques for Imaging Professionals. Peachpit Press, 2012. 

Adobe Creative Team. Adobe InDesign CC Classroom in a Book. Peachpit Press, 2013. 

Adobe After Effects – Laser Cutting + Fab Lab texts and tutorials

 

Bibliography / References:

*History / Theory – See ARTH 101 syllabus

*Design Fundamentals – Various lectures, tutorials, titles and resources cross referenced in ARTH 101, ARTD 103 and ARTW 101 fall semester freshmen courses

*20th Century Avant Garde – Various lectures, tutorials, titles and resources cross referenced in ARTH 101, ARTD 103 and ARTW 101 fall semester freshmen courses

*Color Theory – The Interaction of Color, 50th Anniversary edition, by Josef Albers – Dimensional Color, Lois Swirnoff – Elements of Color, Johannes Itten 

*Perception – Art and Visual Perception, Rudolf Arnheim

*Art Direction + Illustration + Science Fiction / Fantasy 

 

Library Resources :

Students are encouraged to use NYIT’s physical and virtual library resources on campus and at www.nyit.edu/library. Should you have any questions, please “Ask a Librarian” by email, chat, text message, or phone at: http://libanswers.nyit.edu/  

Additional Resources for Further Learning: 

If you would like additional help in the course, please contact your instructor for guidance. You are also encouraged use NYIT’s academic support services: the Learning Center, the Writing Center, the Math Center, and Online Tutoring. For more information and links to the individual centers, see: http://www.nyit.edu/student_resources  

Sources:

Films / Videos / Websites / Internet Tutorials

Laptop + Software Requirements: (see NYiT SoAD website)

Assistance: Joseph Vasikoulkas and Mauricio Tacaoman

HIVE + Fabrication Lab Requirements: (see SoAD Director of Technology Dustin White text + SoAD website)

Plot Shop Requirements: (See Plot Shop Director text + John Gass)

Required supplies and equipment: 

USB memory stick (>8GB) or external HD 

Sketchbook/notebook for brainstorming designs and ideas, and taking notes

Folder to keep handout

Grading Criteria 

Because the studio is recognized as the setting for discourse and the exchange of ideas and approaches, an important rule will be given to the active/ proactive participation to that, in determining the final evaluation of each student. Your professor is under no obligation to review your work if there is no indication that the work has advanced since the previous meeting, and if this happens often, it will affect the final grade. The work of the team and the individual one is evaluated in class, during desk critics, pin-ups, interim and final reviews, as a whole and through a series of specific related assignments; however, you are graded individually on your final results, process and progress, contribution to the group effort if applicable, and quality and development of your overall individual work.

What counts towards your final evaluation:

  • Process: coherent development of the idea throughout the entire semester; midterm/final presentations; intensity of effort and motivation; consistency of the involvement with the conversations with faculty, classmates and with the project itself; ability to clarify and to respond critically and creatively to issues and potentialities discovered.
  • Product: quality, clarity and strength of the work, including the final design solution and the complete final presentation. 

Methods of grading will include:

  • Evaluation of the required material produced;
  • Evaluation of the level of engagement and collaboration with the overall class; 
  • Ability, originality and coherence in formulating, developing and communicating design topic and process;
  • Ability in understanding and developing appropriated skills and creative methodologies;
  • Evaluation of the process of theoretical/professional growth.

The work will be evaluated in “A” range (“superior”, innovative idea, intellectual coherence); “B” range (“very good”, increasing mastery in both technical and intellectual skills); “C” range (“average”, sufficient competency, adequate to meet minimum course requirements). 

Course Requirements & Grading Criteria

  • Regular attendance to class (3 unexcused absences could result in an F if no prompt action or effort is taken in coordination with the faculty)
  • Timely completion of all projects and assignments
  • Work completed with the highest standards of criticality, quality and craft

Grading standards:

A = sustained level of superior performance demonstrated in all areas of Course Requirements

B = consistent level of performance that is above average in a majority of the Course Requirements 

C = performance that is generally average and Course Requirements are achieved  

D = below average performance and achievement of the Course Requirements 

F = accomplishment of the Course Requirements is not sufficient to receive a passing grad

Evaluation 

Grades will consider the originality and appropriateness of the idea, the project’s completeness, the quality of presentation, and the effort put into the submission. Process throughout the duration of the project will be considered as an intrinsic part of the product, and in such a way that grades will (heavily) reflect process. Both content and presentation are crucial to the evaluation of the design proposals.

Evaluation of contents is based on the general quality, clarity, and development of the design, as well as how the student deals with the specific issues being emphasized by each new project. Evaluation of presentation will consider the quality, precision, and craft of the presentation, as well as the effectiveness and clarity of it – this includes also the verbal presentation of your work. Thus, neither merely completing all the presentation requirements, nor merely having a good idea, will be enough to achieve a good grade. Curiosity and inquiry, ability to respond to criticism, ability to generate and criticize your own ideas, responsibility, and work ethic all play a crucial role in this evaluation. 

You may expect to receive a grade following each project. Possibly, at the discretion of each critic, grades may or may not be received at other “milestones” in the semester as well (or for other individual reasons). In addition to the following generic guideline, your critic may outline other specific criteria and/or expectations regarding grading. A more detailed list of available grades is below: 

A  4.0 Superior 

A-  3.7 Excellent 

B+  3.3 Very good 

B  3.0 Good 

B-  2.7 Competent 

C+  2.3 Fair

C  2.0 Satisfactory or Average 

C-  1.7 Marginal 

D  1.0 Unsatisfactory 

F  0.0 Failure

I – Incomplete. Approval course instructor, Department Director/Chair and SoAD Assistant Dean.

(See NYIT+ SoAD rules and regulations regarding grades)  

P – Passing/Fail Option Grade it’s a neutral grade that doesn’t change the student’s GPA

(students will be informed promptly about details and procedures to receive this grade if applicable during the current semester)

NYIT Policies:

Students must adhere to all Institution-wide (NYIT) policies listed in the Bulletin under “Community Standards” and which include policies on attendance, academic integrity, plagiarism, computer, and network use.  

Students who require special accommodations for disabilities must obtain clearance from the Office of Disability Services at the beginning of the semester. They should contact Mai McDonald, Disability Services Coordinator at the beginning of the semester.

Please refer also to the link below for NYIT Accommodation Policy for Students with Disabilities:

https://www.nyit.edu/policies/accommodation_policy_for_students_with_disabilities_us_campuses

Please refer to the link below for NYIT complete list of Policies & Guidelines:

https://www.nyit.edu/policies

Please refer to the link below for NYIT Academic Policies:

https://catalog.nyit.edu/policies_and_rules/academic_policies

SoAD Dean’s Attendance & Punctuality Policy:

Punctuality and attendance are indisputable requirements for academic and professional success. Being prepared, arriving on time and full participation in planned and registered classes are base line academic and legal requirements in the contracted agreement between students, NYiT and the SoAD. The commitment to education and professional preparation mirror real world standards, expectations and professionalism. The SoAD attendance policy requires students to attend all scheduled classes and arrive fully prepared and on time (fifteen minutes before classes, not fifteen minutes late).  Any student with two absences will receive a first written warning letter (within 3 days of the absence) from the Chair’s Office Admin who will be informed timely from the faculty member involved. A copy will be submitted by deposited in the Chair’s Office and eventually shared with the Dean if necessary. Upon the third absence the student will be notified by the faculty member and in writing through a second warning letter by the chair’s office, that they are strongly recommended to withdraw from the class avoiding failing which would compromise the GPA for the student. Prompt actions will be taken and coordinated as need among student, faculty and Chair’s office. A copy of the withdrawal letter will be timely shared with the Dean and filed in the student‘s record. This procedure for monitoring absences will commence upon a student’s official registration in the class.

Medical or personal emergency and excused absences require notification of any/all missed classes to the faculty member and coordination in making up for these. An official signed and authorized letter from the doctor or proxy must be submitted to the faculty member upon the students return to class and submitted to the Chair’s Office for archiving in the student file and record, also shared with the Dean’s Office as needed. Attendance is required at the exact hour of registered classes, however a grace period of 15 minutes prior to official roll call and attendance recording could be also offered.  Each 15-minute increment of tardiness is recorded and cumulatively applied and calculated for the duration of the semester. If a student arrives one hour late this constitutes an official absence. Absences are integrated as an important contributor for the final grading rubrics and evaluations.

Attendance: Group participation within the studio is critical. Learning occurs within an environment where students, faculty, teaching assistants and guests all contribute with consistency. Attendance and lateness is recorded, as is the timely submission of assigned work. It is expected that your studio time will not be uninterrupted by medical appointments or employment related issues.

• Two unexcused absences may result in a substantial lowering of your grade.

• School of Architecture + Design (SoAD) policy recommends your withdrawing from the course once you have accumulated three unexcused absences. Your professor is the final arbiter of whether an absence may be excused.

• Arriving to studio more than 15 minutes late, or arriving without required studio materials, will be counted as an unexcused absence. Please take precautions regarding your commute and predictable traffic and public transportation problems.

Quizzes that are missed, regardless of reason, cannot be made up. Only in extreme and documented circumstances may an Exam be taken after the scheduled exam time.  Students are responsible for collecting all notes, assignments, and other information from missed class time. 

Withdrawal Policy: 

A student may withdraw from a course without penalty through the end of the 8th week of class during a 14- or 15-week semester and through the 8th meeting during an 8-week course cycle. After this, the student must be doing passing work in order to receive a W grade. Students who are not passing after the 8th week or equivalent will be assigned the grade of WF. Students who did not notified and proceed with the regular Withdrawal process will receive an UW. 

It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor of his/her intention to withdraw from a course in writing. If a student has stopped attending class without completing all assignments and/or examinations, failing grades for the missing work may be factored into the final grade calculation and the instructor for the course may assign the grade of WF. The grade of F is used for students who have completed the course but whose quality of work is below the standard for passing. 

Withdrawal forms are available in departmental offices and through the NYIT website, and once completed must be filed with the registrar. Students should be reminded that a W notation could negatively impact their eligibility for financial aid and/or V.A. benefits, as it may change the student’s enrollment status (full-time, part-time, less than part-time). International students may also jeopardize their visa status if they fail to maintain full-time status (less than 12 credits). 

For withdrawal form, please see the link below

(https://www.nyit.edu/files/registrar/REGISTRAR_Forms_WithdrawalFromCourse.pdf)

For more information about NYIT “Manage Your Classes,” please see link below 

https://www.nyit.edu/registrar/manage_your_classes 

For more information about  NYIT “Grade & Transcripts,” please see the link below

https://www.nyit.edu/registrar/grades_transcripts

INC – Incomplete Grade Policy:

Incomplete grades can only be authorized by both the program Chair/Director & the SoAD Assistant Dean or Dean. Incomplete grade requests must be submitted by faculty for approval from the SoAD administrative leadership team within the last 4 weeks of the semester. Faculty are reminded that the “I” is restricted to cases in which the student has satisfactorily completed a substantial part of the coursework and has experienced circumstances that prohibit successful completion of course requirements. No credit will be given until the outstanding course requirements are completed satisfactorily within the given deadline, no longer than a reasonable time before the beginning of the following semester and a passing grade received. 

Faculty will provide students and the department Chair/Director with a list of requirements, schedule of completion and grading expectations. When a final grade is received that final grade will be preceded with an I, e.g., IA or IB+

See more details about Incomplete Grade Policy at:

https://catalog.nyit.edu/policies_and_rules/academic_policies

School of Architecture: Studio Culture Policy:

The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) asks that all schools of architecture have a written policy that describes the culture of the design studio and the expectations of students and faculty involved in studio-based education. This policy should be based on the fundamental values of optimism, respect, sharing, engagement, and innovation between and among the members of its faculty, student body, administration and staff. The design studio in the architecture programs is at the core of a student’s educational experience in the SoAD at NYIT. The SoAD design studio at NYIT is shaped by the three guiding principles of creativity, community, and commitment, incorporating all of the fundamental and positive values of a studio-based education.

See more details for Studio Culture Policy at:

https://www.nyit.edu/architecture/studio_culture_statement​

STUDIO CULTURE POLICY – LEARNING and STUDIO CULTURE 

The NYIT School of Architecture and Design strives to provide a positive and supportive environment that encourages the fundamental values of optimism, respect, diversity, health-related time management, collaboration, engagement, and innovation among its faculty, students, administration, and staff. 

The school encourages students and faculty to uphold these values as the guiding principles of professional conduct throughout their educational and professional careers. The foundation of academic work is intellectual integrity, academic freedom, credibility and trust. The basis of this is the School of Architecture and Design Studio Culture Policy. 

Architecture and Design is a field of study that requires tremendous passion and dedication. Professors expect a great deal, the workload can be daunting, and the range of skills and abilities one is expected to acquire is immense. The experience can be extremely rewarding—even life changing—but it can also be stressful. Studio classes can be particularly demanding, and the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) now mandates that all accredited schools of architecture draft a Studio Culture Policy Statement. 

To quote directly from its website:

“The school is expected to demonstrate a positive and respectful learning environment through the encouragement of the fundamental values of optimism, respect, sharing, engagement, and innovation between and among the members of its faculty, student body, administration, and staff. The school should encourage students and faculty to appreciate these values as guiding principles of professional conduct throughout their careers.”

Here in the School of Architecture and Design, we honor everything stated above. However, we will place special emphasis on diversity, safety, accountability, and excellence.

Diversity
Diversity is the cornerstone of the NYIT studio experience. We value reasoned judgment and creative self-expression, as well as differences in ideas and opinions and how crucial these are to foster creativity. Students and faculty are expected to treat one another with respect and dignity. Discrimination or prejudicial behavior on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, beliefs or economic background is absolutely unacceptable.

Safety
Personal safety is vital. The stealing or effacement of property that is not one’s own may serve as grounds for dismissal or suspension from NYIT. Studio workloads will never be so great as to prevent students from carrying out their responsibilities to other classes. Students and faculty can expect that studio spaces and facilities, from bathrooms to computer rooms, will be sanitary and reasonably maintained and they can also play a crucial role towards this end acting responsibly and respectfully. Flagrant littering or disrespect of school property will not be tolerated.

Accountability
Professors will clearly outline their expectations in a syllabus handed out at the beginning of the semester. If asked, they will also offer informal grade evaluations to students during the semester. Students are encouraged to participate in faculty committee discussions and deliberations. The faculty and administration are particularly welcoming of involvement and input from the NYIT chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS).

Excellence
NYIT prides itself on the teaching and research skills of its faculty and the intellectual and technical abilities of its students. To this end, students can expect that instructors will be dedicated, responsible, and competent; conversely, professors can expect that students will appear for classes in a timely fashion, complete assignments when they are due, and simply do the best work they can whenever they can.

The NYIT School of Architecture and Design Studio Culture Policy is a document that evolves with time. Some values are universal, respect for others’ opinions, for instance, while others will grow and change. Bearing this in mind, we encourage continued input from students and faculty in improving this document.

SoAD Academic Code of Conduct

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

  • Every student shall comply with the instructions and directions of the faculty, NYiT SoAD staff, or 

security guards who are acting in the performance of their duties.    

  • No student shall use abusive or disrespectful language or behavior with fellow students, members of the faculty, members of the NYiT and SoAD staff, or security guards.
  • No student shall intentionally or recklessly endanger or threaten the mental or physical health or well-being of any member of the NYiT, SoAD community or any visitor to the campus.
  • Each ‘host’ student is responsible for the actions and behavior of each guest and is subject to disciplinary proceedings in the event of any policy infractions.  Guests are to fully comply with the NYiT Code of Conduct as well as all other NYiT policies and regulations.        
  • Students must carry college identification at all times while on campus and shall produce identification for inspection if so instructed by faculty or college staff members including members of the security staff. 
  • Drinking alcoholic beverages or storing alcoholic beverages on any part of the NYiT campus is prohibited.

STUDENT USE OF NYIT FACILITIES

The SoAD provides and supports a safe, healthy and respectful learning environment, in which there is a zero-tolerance policy for acts of vandalism to and on school property, or to the work produced by students and faculty. The SoAD promotes a collegial and respectful dialogue among all the members of our community. 

Personal items and furniture that are not property of the school are not permitted on the SoAD campuses. Tampering with or moving school property without prior authorization by the NYiT + SoAD administrative teams, represent a violation of building, fire, health and safety codes. Unauthorized items will be promptly removed by NYiT Security. The student(s) found responsible for these types of violations will be subject to disciplinary actions.

  • No student shall intentionally damage or steal NYiT property or the personal property of fellow students or members of the NYiT Community.
  • No student shall enter any building, office, laboratory, room or any area of the college where he/she is not authorized.
  • Each student shall comply with the posted facility hours and promptly vacate the facility at closing times or when instructed to do so by Security. Conversation or negotiation regarding instructions to vacate the building is not permitted.   
  • Each student shall be personally responsible for maintaining the orderliness and cleanliness of their work station. Model and drawing debris, food related trash, and discarded personal possessions shall be deposited in the building trash receptacles. The studio environment shall be left in a clean and orderly state at the end of each day. All student work shall be cleared from the building at the conclusion of the semester unless it has been selected for retention in the archive or for display in the SoAD Gallery and Exhibitions Spaces.  Materials abandoned by students shall be promptly disposed of.
  • Students are not permitted to sleep overnight in any part of the building. The storage of personal and/or bedding materials in the building is not permitted. The security staff has the expressed permission to confiscate and dispose of bedding materials whenever found in violation of the Code of Conduct.  
  • Student cooking within any facility of NYiT is prohibited.
  • Showering or bathing in the restroom facilities is prohibited.
  • Students shall comply with the restrictions, guidelines, and requirements provided by the Director of Environmental Health and Safety at NYiT, representing the federal, state and municipal regulations governing the use of Education Hall, the EGGC, 16 West 61st Street LL1 studio and classroom facilities.
  • As per NYiT’s policies, smoking in any facility of the NYiT is prohibited. Students shall not litter exterior areas of the building with smoking debris.
  • As per NYiT’s policies, the possession and use of illegal chemical or organic substances and firearms on the NYiT campus are prohibited.
  • Animals are not permitted on the SoAD campuses.

In addition to the Studio Culture Policy, NYIT NYiT offers a diverse range of support mechanisms for its diverse student body and has developed a series of contracts, policies and constitutions to insure that all members of the NYiT community understand these principles; these documents are reassessed and updated on an ongoing basis and are available at www.nyit.edu/policies

Academic Integrity Policy: A learning community can only be maintained if its members believe that their work is judged fairly and that they will not be put at a disadvantage because of another member’s dishonesty. For these reasons, it is essential that all members of the NYiT community understand our shared standards of academic honesty. More than just a series of regulations, the Academic Integrity Policy serves as a guide for students and faculty for understanding these standards and their importance to NYiT.

See more info and details about NYiT Academic Integrity Policy including relevant issues such as Plagiarism, Cheating, Unauthorized Collaborations, Misrepresentation, etc. at

https://www.nyit.edu/policies/academic_integrity_policy_us_campuses

Student Handbook: The Student Handbook provides information about all aspects of NYiT to assist students. The student handbook was assessed and updated in June 2016.

https://www.nyit.edu/policies/collection/student_handbook_us_edition

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE: STUDIO CULTURE POLICY REGARDING COVID-19

In consideration of COVID-19 and similar peculiar situations, SoAD courses will follow the regulations and prescriptions as provided at institutional- NYIT, State- NY, and Department of Health level.

For the AY 2022-23, the majority of our courses are scheduled in person as before the pandemic, but All students are asked to be understanding and flexible accordingly to the evolving of any possible situation of risk. Priority of our SoAD is to guarantee a safe and healthy environment for All, and offer the best educational experience possible to everyone in consideration of the environmental conditions that we all living in.

In any event, all SoAD students are asked to have accessible at home all the necessary and qualified technology and tools to attend the few classes still scheduled In HRI (Hybrid Remote Instruction) due to reasons not COVID-19 related. 

This includes:

  • personal laptop
  • required software to fulfill course assignments during the semester
  • required digital platforms (Zoom, Canvas, Miro’, etc, as per faculty suggestion) to participate to all classes and meetings remotely
  • working camera and microphone to actively participate and perform within the class  
  • camera and digital sketch board if required 
  • material for study models (paper, museum board, chipboard, etc., scissors, tape, glue, etc.)

It is responsibility of each student to follow the faculty requests to upload material and assignments, sign for attendances and so on in the required platforms (Canvas) and to proactively participate to the class following the same criteria of the in-person classes in terms of absences. This will be also considered as part of the evaluation process. 

Please follow instructions and procedures regarding Campus Access, Academics, Health-Safety & Wellbeing, Vaccination Policy, Cleaning and Disinfection, Feeling Sick or Exposed to COVID-19 as specified at the link below about “New York Tech Returns 2022.”

https://www.nyit.edu/covid/new_york_tech_returns

 

FACILITIES, USE OF SPACE, FABLAB, PLOT SHOP AND TECHNOLOGY

In-Person and Hybrid Remote Instruction course modalities will be operative all Fall term.

We will be sharing any news about the availability of our Plotting Facilities in both our campuses (NY and LI) as soon as possible during the Fall semester, until then these will remain closed.

Printing on paper in smaller formats (max 11×17) will be available via the printers located in our libraries. 

These should be used for in class reviews with course instructors and taken home after each session.

All in class, midterm and final presentations will be conducted as specified from class coordinators and following the instructions shared by faculty through the class syllabus.

Below is the link to our NYiT Library Service

https://www.nyit.edu/library

Below is the link to the DA&D Laptop Policy
https://www.nyit.edu/architecture/digital_art_laptop_policy#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Digital%20Art%20and%20Design%20requires,in%20the%20evolving%20technology%2C%20art%2C%20and%20design%20professions.

Below is the link to SoAD laptop/ shop laptops 

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop?showMessage=1

Fab Labs will be fully operational as listed on the NYiT SoAD website.

https://www.nyit.edu/architecture/fabrication_labs

The HIVE

You will receive details with the HIVE’s schedule.

IN-PERSON CLASSROOM STUDENT POLICY

We all share responsibility for the health and safety of all in a classroom environment. Please refer to info and roles indicated at the link below:

https://www.nyit.edu/covid/new_york_tech_returns

  1. Each student is responsible to leave his/her desk empty and clean after using it during class time or for any additional work needed. Desks are going to be shared among classes and students from different academic years, and any object or material left on table would be trashed if room if this space is needed to allow the following class to take place appropriately
  2. Please use any available space on shelves located in proximity of your section within the studio space to store your material or work, and be wise in bringing away with you any valuable or important item. Storage space is at a minimum so students and faculty are reminded that only required in studio tools, materials and midterm models can be stored on shelves. Other items must be put in lockers or taken home. Over 260 students and faculty will be sharing the EGGC 502 space. Over 120 students and faculty will be sharing the EGGC 1013 space. We work together as a community to sustain the optimal studio culture etiquettes, respect and considerations of each other’s space, work, and personal well-being.