ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND REGULATION
Academic Standing
All academic records for students are kept on file in the Registrar’s office and are available to students on request. At the end of each semester students are informed of their grade, their grade point average, and credits accumulated for that semester.
Students remain in good standing as long as they maintain a 2.0 grade-point average. Students whose grade-point averages fall below this level will be placed on academic probation for one semester. A student placed on academic probation will have his/her status reviewed by the Academic Studies Committee and may be suspended from the Academy if satisfactory progress is not made by the end of the semester.
Any student who receives a C or lower in his/her major instrument will automatically be placed on probation. Failure to improve the grade within the next semester may result in dismissal.
Standard of Conduct
All students are expected to maintain a professional attitude toward their Academy performance and classroom commitments. Regular punctual attendance at, and preparation for rehearsals and classes are crucial to the attainment of professional artistic goals.
The Academy reserves the right to dismiss any student who deliberately destroys or damages property or acts to prevent the holding of any class, lesson, rehearsal or performance. It is expected that the students will conduct themselves in a manner that does not discredit the Academy in any way, and that they avoid all forms of dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism.
Since student misconduct threatens the proper functioning of the Academy of Music, procedures have been established to investigate allegations of misconduct, to impose penalties, and to appeal these penalties.
Penalties
a) Rejection of submitted work
b) Expulsion from exam, the course, or the program
c) Reprimand
d) Expulsion
e) Legal action
Student Conduct Appeals
Students may appeal any ruling to the Human Resource Committee of the Academy. The student shall be required to appeal by written documentation within thirty days of receipt of the Letter of Notification from the Registrar, advising the student of the findings and penalty imposed. Failure by a student to submit an appeal within thirty days shall result in the student forfeiting the right to appeal.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, the presentation of another person's words or ideas without acknowledgement of the source, is considered dishonest and academically unacceptable. Any student found guilty of plagiarism will receive an automatic zero on the portion of the course where plagiarism was involved. A second offence will result in a fail grade for the Course, students in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism should consult the instructor.
Scholarships, Awards, Prizes
The Academy awards scholarships to full-time degree/diploma candidates on the basis of talent, needs of the student, and needs of the school. Inquiries concerning scholarships should be directed to the Registrar.
All scholarships are for one year and are renewable annually for the duration of a student’s study, renewal depending on the progress of the student as indicated by examination and grade-point average.
Through the generosity of various individuals and organizations, many scholarships, awards, and prizes have been established; they are granted to outstanding students recommended by appropriate faculty and administrators in accordance with terms specified by the donors.
Students who are placed on academic probation will not be eligible for Vancouver Academy of Music scholarship renewal. In cases of withdrawal, Academy scholarships are automatically cancelled.
Accommodations
The Vancouver Academy of Music does not provide board or living accommodations for students.
Registration
Registration takes place at the beginning of each semester. All students are required to register, and no one will be granted entry to classes without having completed registration. After audition and acceptance and before the first day of classes, new students will receive placement for ensembles and instructions for registration in both music and academic courses.
Registration is not complete until all fees are paid. Each semester’s tuition is due and payable before lessons begin.
Transfer Credit
Transfer credit for studies taken through an accredited or similarly recognized educational institution will be awarded to a person working toward the Academy's Diploma/Degree. Transfer credit will be awarded for formal studies only on the basis of official transcripts or appropriately authenticated copies. Authenticated translation of documents may be required. Transfer credit will normally be processed by the appropriate Registry staff, who will obtain a ruling from the Music Director.
A separate information package on TRU-OL courses and transfer credit is available from the Academy.
Graduation Requirements
Bachelor of Music (Performance)
Candidates for the Bachelor of Music (Performance) Degree must earn a minimum of 127 credits in the Vocal program and 121 credits in the Instrumental program with an overall grade point average of 2.00. Six graduation grade point credits must be taken from the tru-ol. The general education requirements must ensure that the degree program satisfies the requirements of a broad basic education. Accordingly, the student must obtain 21 credits in the following courses or subjects: English Literature and Composition, Humanities, Languages, Social Science and Science/Math. Students majoring in Vocal Performance must take six credits of languages (restricted to French, Italian and German). Students are expected to complete at least two years in residence at the Vancouver Academy of Music during which time they must meet all requirements of repertoire, performance, and curriculum. Guidelines for graduation recital requirements are developed by each department in consultation with the Music Director.
Artist Diploma
Candidates for the Artist Diploma must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours with an overall average of 3.00. Students are expected to complete at least two years in residence during which time course works will include private study, ensemble participation, and presentation of two full adjudicated solo recitals. The maximum time allotted for completion of all requirements is three consecutive years from the date of initial enrollment.
Required Recitals
Bachelor of Music and Artist Diploma students are required to perform two recitals, usually in their final two years. Recitals must be adjudicated by their private teacher and one faculty member.
Examinations
a) Eligibility
A student will be eligible to sit for an examination of the Academy of Music provided that the student is registered for the course leading to the examination, or provided that the student has been specifically authorized to sit the examination under the following sections of these regulations.
b) Supervision
For each examination there will be an invigilator who will be responsible for the conduct of the examinations. Each examination will be conducted on the date and time assigned to the student by the instructor. The time allowed for the examination will be that specified on the question paper. No additional time will be allowed to candidates who arrive late for an examination. A candidate may be liable to such penalties as the Academy may determine for any misconduct or breach of the examination regulations.
c) Absence from examination
In the case of absence from an examination through ill health, the candidate must submit a relevant medical certificate and a written explanation of the absence, to be received by the Music Director within seven days of the examination. A student who, with acceptable cause, misses a mandatory examination may be permitted to take a regular examination at the next examination period or be permitted to take a special or supplemental examination, if such an examination is available. A $75.00 fee will be charged for a special or supplementary examination.
d) Examination Grade
Examination grades will be made available to the student along with the final course grade.
e) Applied Music Examination
At the end of each academic year, performance examination before a jury of two faculty members will help to determine the student’s grade in applied music. The faculty jurors for this examination will also serve as a review board charting the student's progress toward professional standing.
f) Credit by Examination (Course Challenge)
The Academy of Music provides a mechanism for students who have acquired knowledge other than by formal study to receive credit for specified courses by examination. Course challenges must be taken within the first two weeks of the classes. A student must receive a minimum grade of B+ to acquire credit for a specific course. Applied Music and Ensemble classes are not available for Course Challenge.
Students may not register for credit by examination for any course, which they have previously challenged unsuccessfully.
After unsuccessful challenge in two courses, no further registration for credit by examination will normally be allowed.
g) Appeal of Grade
Although final grades are reviewed carefully before release, students will have the right to appeal. Appeal should be submitted in writing, accompanied by the grade appeal fee ($50.00), to the Registrar, to arrive within twenty-one days of the mailing date of grades. The grade appeal fee will be refunded if the appeal is successful. The appeal should contain full particulars of the grounds of the appeal.
Grade appeal will be considered by a committee, which includes the appropriate academic representatives of the subject, and chaired by the Music Director.
Attendance
The success of the College Program requires regular and punctual attendance at all scheduled classes. Courtesy requires the student to notify the teacher if the student is unable to attend a class. Absence from class will be noted in the student’s file. More than three unexcused absences may result in the loss of one letter grade.
Teacher Evaluation
Students will be provided with faculty evaluation forms at the end of the academic year.
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