Administration - General Policies

Attendance Policy
 

Regular class attendance is essential to the scholastic integrity of Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, and full participation in classroom instruction is necessary for successful completion of a course. It is also important that students attend required rehearsals, school events, and meetings. The following policies apply to student attendance.

Excused Absences
 

Excused absences are those that occur due to illness, required school trips, performances, religious observances, or family emergencies. Calls from parents to excuse students must be made by noon of the day on which the student is to be excused. Attendance at certain major performing arts events during the course of the year is required of all students. Students who are unable to attend must be excused by the Assistant to the Principal prior to the date of the required performance.

Away Permission Forms
 

In order for a student to leave school for any reason other than school vacations, parents must give their permission and provide a reason for the absence to the Assistant to the Principal. An Away Permission Form will be issued to the student, who must show it to all of his/her teachers prior to leaving. For example, if a student attends a college audition, the absences are recorded as “excused.” It is the student’s responsibility to consult with his instructors regarding work that was missed.

Unexcused Absence Disciplinary Procedure
 

A student’s grade is reduced by five percentage points for every unexcused absence. The following disciplinary mechanisms have been developed for unexcused absences:

• One unexcused absence: a meeting will be arranged with the Assistant to the Principal.
• Three or more unexcused absences: a letter will be sent to the parents.
• Five unexcused absences: an attendance report and a warning letter are sent to the parents. If there are three more unexcused absences after the warning, the student may be dismissed from the school.

Grading Policy

Fei Tian uses three grading scales: letter grade, percent grade, and pass-fail grade. In addition, a grade point average (GPA) is maintained to indicate a student’s overall academic performance. The following tables list the relationship among different grading scales and the grade point.

Grade Point Average
A student’s GPA is computed on the following basis: multiplying the grade points earned in each course by the credit completed in that course, adding the products, and dividing the sum by the total number of credits completed.

One course credit (unit of study) represents an accumulated length of study equivalent to one instructional period (45 minutes) per day, five days a week, for the duration of one school year. Pass/fail and physical education courses are not included in the determination of the grade point average.

Incomplete Grades

Students who have not been able to complete the requirements for a subject due to an extended absence or other extenuating circumstances must contact the Principal to establish a time frame for submission of all missing assignments. In such cases, the report card will show an “I” for all incomplete work. When missing work is completed, the “I” will be replaced by the grade earned in the course. Students failing to make up incomplete work will receive an “F” for all missing assignments, which will then be averaged into the semester’s final grade.

Maintaining Good Standing
All students at Fei Tian Academy of the Arts are expected to enroll in a minimum of three academic courses each semester. Artistic courses are graded each semester. Based on this grade and the overall yearly progress, the Artistic Department will notify each student as to his or her invitation for the next school year.

Maintenance of student status at Fei Tian and all financial awards provided to a student are contingent upon, but not limited to: (i) the artistic, physical, and aesthetic suitability as determined by the Artistic Directors; (ii) academic good standing, as well as observance of rules and regulations established by Fei Tian at or following admission; and (iii) timely payment of all applicable tuition and fees. These policies may be changed without prior notice as deemed necessary to satisfy the unique circumstances of this environment.

Disciplinary Policy
Serious, habitual, persistent, or flagrant violation of the rules and regulations of Fei Tian Academy of the Arts, committed in concert or as individual acts, is likely to lead to any one or more of the following consequences:

• Revocation in whole or in part of scholarships or services afforded to the student
• Revocation of privileges
• Suspension
• Expulsion

Fei Tian reserves the right to consider the disciplinary history of any student prior to or after admission to Fei Tian in evaluating and determining the consequences to be levied upon a student found to have violated the law and/or Fei Tian’s rules and regulations. A single violation of any one of the rules, regulations, or policies of Fei Tian may result in one or more disciplinary actions. Fei Tian Academy of the Arts reserves the right to dismiss any student for any reason and at any time as deemed appropriate.

Causes for Expulsion

A student can be expelled for any or all of the following reasons:

• Failure to complete the minimum credit hours of a full-time student for one semester (unless a prior request is made to the Principal, in which case the period is extended to one year)
• Unsatisfactory academic performance, such as failing one course per semester for two semesters
• Unethical or immoral behavior
• Violations of the rules and regulations of Fei Tian Academy of the Arts
• Violations of any U.S. laws

Failure to pay tuition and fees can also be a factor leading to the expulsion of a student. However, it is the policy of Fei Tian Academy of the Arts to provide the necessary scholarships and financial support for students who exhibit outstanding academic or artistic achievement.