<p>I would suggest you try to switch to one of the original schools if at all possible. My DD is a graphic design major at RIT and we spent a lot of time checking out schools beforehand. There is a big difference in art and design programs from one school to the next. Most serious schools (like the ones you turned down) have very competitive procedures to select students and then put them through a rigorous, time consuming freshman year of foundation classes in all areas of art. It’s certainly not the situation where students sign up for an art class here or there. All art students get assigned exactly the same foundation classes. Only art majors are in these programs, although non art majors may take art classes with other non art majors. Go online and check RISD’s, MICA’s or RIT’s freshman year curriculum for art or design majors to see what I mean. The serious programs give BFA degrees, for the most part, although some students prefer a BA, which consists of less “art” classes and more liberal arts education. Which degree is better depends on one’s goals. OTOH, many schools we came across treat art majors as taking maybe 6-8 art classes scattered throughout their 4 years. These classes tend to be made of art majors and non majors. </p>
<p>It sounds like your daughter is an accomplished artist already and would benefit from a program that is demanding and extensive. Most art majors we know eat, sleep and breathe art their entire freshman year, practically living in the studio. I remember the schools often sold their programs by stating their studios remained open all night or until 2-3am or whatever. I know my DD chose her dorm because it was for art majors and they had their own private art studio right on their floor (and a darkroom).</p>
<p>I know nothing about American U but I just checked the website and saw that students aren’t truly art majors until they apply after meeting certain requirements (which means there is no guarantee they will be admitted).</p>
<p>From the AU website:
“Consideration for the B.F.A. is permitted only after 18 credit hours or three semesters of studio work have been completed at American University but before beginning the senior year. Formal admission to the major (BA in art) requires satisfactory completion (grades of C or better) of 12 credit hours of studio courses and departmental approval.” </p>
<p>This also implies that intended art majors don’t really get precedence because according to their system, they have the same status as non art majors until they are officially accepted into the program. Towson and I believe JMU were this way and my daughter decided she didn’t want to deal with that weeding out process. These schools also had grade restrictions on moving forward in the program.</p>
<p>I disagree that it is a problem for a parent to be involved. I think it is beyond what your D should be handling. I think it is a matter of the administrators needing to feel “threatened” by the fact that as a parent, the situation is unacceptable and that you might not be willing to pay for her education at American if that is how she is treated. It is the total lack of caring that is so upsetting. That no one is willing to answer you and try to problem solve in order to allow a talented student to learn and grow.</p>
<p>Thank you jerzgirl. What you said also implies that if you want to become designated as an art major at AU, and need 12 hours to. get the designation, then you need to take the necessary studio courses.( I knew about the 4 studio course req.) However, there is apparently an obstacle in obtaining the 12 credits if the courses are closed from the start. Also, since they told us that there were not many studio majors, then you would think priority would still be given to “intended art majors” Again, AU clearly states on their site that the suggested program for intended art majors freshman year, includes the 200 level courses that are pre-filled by upperclassmen.</p>
<pre><code> Sorry I did not respond before to your question. Honestly, my daughter had been excited about AU, met kids on facebook going there, chose a dorm close to the Katzen Center, was looking forward to being in the art program originally presented. I just feel like I ought it to her to get some results and work it out to the best of my ability.I just hope that I can.
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<p>"However, there is apparently an obstacle in obtaining the 12 credits if the courses are closed from the start. Also, since they told us that there were not many studio majors, then you would think priority would still be given to “intended art majors”</p>
<p>I agree, cadmiumred. You would think. Such a catch 22. They need to complete 12 credits to apply to the dept but can’t get the 12 credits. So the whole cycle gets delayed… Good luck to your daughter. I feel you her (and you). No one needs this stress at finals time. She should be excited and talking about what comforter and rug to buy for her dorm. </p>
<p>Ask your daughter to see if there is a facebook for AU where current students post. Maybe she can find a current art major, preferably upperclassman. THere may be short cuts that students know about to circumvent the rules. What you need to find out is if it will be this difficult to get art classes EVERY semester or perhaps this semester is just a fluke. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. There must be some redeeming qualities that made your daughter choose this school.</p>
<p>This is totally unacceptable on every level. To sell a student a program and then not follow through? Disgraceful. Who cares about a beautiful new building if there are not the appropriate faculty and supportive staff inside?</p>
<p>I would be concerned about being one of the “few serious art students” at AU anyway. While it might seem that your D would get more intensive mentorship, perhaps the lack of peers would be detrimental to her own growth.</p>
<p>Buyer beware. Even if she goes to AU, the lack of response from faculty and staff is appalling, not to mention the fact that it sounds like you and your D were basically hoodwinked. This would not bode well, in my opinion, for her future experiences at this school. I would cut and run, as others have opined.</p>
<p>Wow! This issue seems pretty serious! Sadly, it seems to be reflecting badly on AU. I don’t know if I missed something but what would be wrong with her having to wait, exactly?</p>
<p>She has four more years to go, I don’t think AU will keep on filling her classe up so that she’ll be dettered from leaving AU with a BA in her intended major FOUR years from now! Why can’t she take her Gen Ed’s for the first sem. and apply early for next semester or when ever that will be for her Studio Art Classes? I’m sure she’ll apply early next time, and those classes which she requires won’t be jam-packed for the next four years she’ll be at AU will they?</p>
<p>PS: Don’t misunderstand my tone, I am very sorry this is happening to you. I can only imagine the stress involved in it.</p>
<pre><code> Waiting and skipping semesters is detrimental to an artists development. She has taken art courses every year through middle school and AP studio art all through high school, as well as college level coursework at the Corcoran College of art. Not only that, you need 12 credits in studio art to declare yourself as an official art major at AU. It is wrong to make her wait to start earning those credits. Would you tell a math, history, econ major that they can’t take math or econ until later on? She was excited about being involved at The Katzen Arts Center and chose Hughes as a dorm because it was close to it, assuming that she would be doing her artwork there. One of the art professors during the accepted students day told me that if we emailed her, she would have a personal workspace in one of the studios. She turned down well known art colleges like MICA and RISD, because she thought was going to take art courses with the liberal arts courses all through the 4 years. Artists and musicians do not skip years of training. We were told that there were few art majors at AU so why would you hold a serious artist back from developing their skills? They should support the few artists in the program and make sure they obtain their chosen courses. Art is a pursuit that you develop on a daily basis, like music.
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<p>James:
I forgot to mention that her advisor said the odds were low for her even getting into the appropriate studio courses 2nd semester as wel,l because priority is given to upperclassmen.</p>
<p>You are up so late in the evening! I hope you have a really nice calm breakfast and then this is how I would attack today!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Call the President’s office. Your only call of the day that you are going to make. Explain the situation, list everyone and every department you called, explain the transferring and explain that no one has called you back. Very calmly.</p></li>
<li><p>In a little bit more heated, explain the 12 credit declare a major, your very rational point about an artist not getting any art time</p></li>
<li><p>In a very happy excited voice, the positives of AU</p></li>
<li><p>In a heated voice, full tuition, chose AU over RISD, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>THen in your most assertive voice, this is my last call. I need an answer today. When and who will be calling me back. What time frame should I expect a call from you (meaning the President’s secretary) to inform me of the game plan - who will look into the scheduling, the commitment to the studio art majors, etc. Your daughter is stressed taking finals, should be happy and excited. Your calling becuase she is concentrating on being a high school student at the moment!</p></li>
<li><p>After all this is said and done and your DD matriculates at AU, send a written thank you to anyone and all, but most importantly, get a plan in writing from AU.</p></li>
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<p>I see, I knew there was more to it. I’m deeply sorry to know this. I hope all goes well. All I can say is keep on trying. It would be best to try and contact the Presidents office directly or march your way up there ( if you haven’t doen that already) if you have to.</p>
<p>cadmiumred, I’ve been following this thread. I’m really sorry that you and your D are going through this aggravation. I can totally understand your frustration with AU’s course registration, or lack thereof, especially given the schools that your D declined as well as paying full freight. cherryhillmomto2’s suggestions to you sounds like a potentially effective and sensible plan. </p>
<p>My D1 is a rising AU junior and, while we’ve been happy with AU up until now, D1 is currently in a bit of a bureaucratic snarl with the study abroad office trying to get a final confirmation on her fall plans. Hopefully, it will be resolved within the next few weeks.</p>
<p>As for your D’s predicament, I hope that it gets resolved ASAP–today, hopefully! Best of luck to her, wherever she ends up going to school.</p>
<pre><code> Thank you. You are wonderful,l and I am taking your suggestions seriously. Everyone on this post has been helpful, and I truly appreciate your advice. Sorry to report today that there is still no resolution. I called the assistant to the provost again to see if she had accomplished anything, after my call to her yesterday, and she had not. She said she hadn’t forgotten about it and would definitely get back to me before the end of the day. It is 6 p.m. now and I never received a call or email. I have been a nervous wreck. I guess that I will have to contact the president’s office tomorrow. Thank you all again!!!
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<p>So today, I call back the assistant to the Provost who was supposed to call me back yesterday. She says my daughter is closed out the 200 level art studio courses because upperclassmen are given priority!! She says thats policy? She says she has not been able to get in touch with the art department head who she wanted to find out what procedure my daughter should take to apply to getting in an upper level class. She brushed me off and said she has a meeting and would have to get back to me at a later time. I then call the PRESIDENTS OFFICE. I was told they will NOT handle personal student issues and I would have to call the Office of the Provost again. He said that is POLICY He said if I want more ofresponse I need to address my concerns in writing or no one will respond!!! When I asked the response time for the letter. , He said he had no idea. He said you are supposed to call the rovost everyday until the issue is resolved. He said the President has no power over the provost when it comes to academic issues. He kept saying they cannot break policy. After I hung up the phone, I was crying.</p>
<p>Call the Provost and schedule a one on one.</p>
<p>Call the Art Dept and schedule a one on one.</p>
<p>I’m sorry but you also need to call quickly before 1:00PM and get the ball rolling at other art colleges ASAP.</p>
<p>I would also pretend to be your daughter and email with her account the Provost and Art Dept and Scheduler, etc. explaining this week while I am being a high school senior my mother is trying to determine how am I as an art studio major able to complete 12 credits, etc…</p>
<p>Thinking of you… grab those tissues and keep placing those calls!</p>
<p>There was another thread this morning about a mom who is having a wonderful experience communicating with depts at AU. Can someone please link it here? I can’t find it, was it removed?</p>
<p>She was saying how wonderful, and that they slightly encouraged the parent to have the student call, etc, and then by the way please send all IEP/ Support services pages for her to review.</p>
<p>It struck me at first wow how lucky she was getting someone who understood customer service, and while I appreciated the plug that students need to self empower, how insensitive of AU to assume that this student could do that - especially since she had not reviewed students IEP/Support file.</p>
<p>How about e-mailing a link to this thread to everyone in the admissions office? </p>
<p>They, at least, should realize how bad this is making AU look – maybe one of them will be inspired to go talk to the provost before AU’s reputation is further damaged.</p>