General Policies

1. Equal Opportunity

  • In concurrence with the University of Washington’s core values, and in compliance with state and federal regulations, the School of Art + Art History + Design reaffirms its commitment to equal opportunity. The commitment extends to the recruitment of faculty, staff, and students who exhibit a dedication to creative and academic excellence and who demonstrate the ability to work with a diverse spectrum of populations.

2. Student Code of Conduct

  • The University of Washington has established rules regarding student conduct. Through the Student Conduct Code, UW students hold themselves to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability. More information at UW Community Standards & Student Conduct (CSSC).

3. Equipment and Materials Safety

  • Substances and equipment used in creative processes can be hazardous.
  • Enrollment in a class requires students to know, understand, and comply with all safety and equipment use policies for each classroom/studio.
  • Spray booths are mandatory for the use of aerosols.

4. Violence Awareness and Prevention

  • Preventing violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation is everyone's responsibility.
  • Call 911 for emergency help.
  • Call 206-685-SAFE to report non-urgent threats or concerns.
  • Safe Campus website.
  • Concerned about sexual harassment? Learn more.
  • NightRide provides a fare-free safe way for U-Pass members to get home at night.
  • Sign up for UW Alert. Register your mobile device to receive instant notification of campus emergencies via email, text, and/or voice messaging.

5. Student Health and Wellness

  • Substances and equipment used in creative processes can be hazardous.
  • Student health and well-being are important. UW Seattle offers a wide range of health and wellness services, from exceptional medical care and counseling services to recreation classes, safety resources, peer health advocacy, trainings, and more. These can be found at wellbeing.uw.edu

6. Concerns About a Course, an Individual, or an Issue

  • If you have concerns about a course, an individual, or an issue concerning the School of Art + Art History + Design, talk with the instructor in charge of the class as soon as possible.
  • If this is not possible or productive, make an appointment with the Director of Academic Advising, Art 104, or the Director of the School, Art 102.

7. Disability Accommodation

  • Your experience in this class is important to us. It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course.
  • If you have not yet established services through DRS but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but are not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical, or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu.
  • To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Student Disability Services, 011 Mary Gates Hall, 206–543-8924 (V/TTY) or uwdss@uw.edu.
  • Your instructor will receive an email outlining your academic accommodations before the first day of class. It is a good idea to discuss these accommodations directly with your instructor to ensure that your instructor can help you with your needs.

8. Religious Accommodation

  • Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy. Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form.

9. Class Participation

  • First-day attendance policy: Instructors assume that, if you are not present for roll call on the first day of a studio art class, you have decided not to remain enrolled. If you miss the first day without permission, it is your responsibility to drop the course. You may contact the instructor in advance and ask for permission to be absent on the first day.
  • Participation is essential to learning and success in all classes. Absences from class prevent participation and may negatively affect grades. If you miss class due to illness or emergency, notify your instructor, provide documentation, and set up a timeline to complete missed assignments and exams.

10. Examination Schedule

  • Students are required to turn in assignments and take exams based on the timeline provided in the class syllabus.
  • Final exams are scheduled by the University and cannot be changed. Do not make plans that will prevent you from attending your final exam(s).

11. Academic Integrity

  • The University takes academic integrity very seriously. Behaving with integrity is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. If you’re uncertain whether something is academic misconduct, ask Art Advising. We are willing to discuss any questions you might have.
  • Acts of academic misconduct may include, but are not limited to:
    • Cheating (working collaboratively on solo quizzes/exams and discussion submissions, sharing answers and previewing quizzes/exams, obtaining test answers before quizzes/exams)
    • Plagiarism (using the creations, ideas, words, inventions, or images of someone else in your work without formal acknowledgment or permission. This applies to written papers and research as well as to art, design, and architectural images.)
    • Unauthorized collaboration (working with each other on assignments)
    • Artificial Intelligence (AI) content generators, such as ChatGPT, present opportunities that can contribute to your learning and academic work. However, using these technologies may also violate the academic standards of the University. Under the Student Conduct Code, cheating includes unauthorized use of assistance, including technology, in completing assignments or exams. While some instructors may encourage you to utilize technology to enhance your learning experience, other instructors may prefer that you do your work without seeking outside help. It is your responsibility to read the syllabus for each course you take so that you understand the expectations of each of your instructors. If you are unsure of expectations, you are encouraged to ask for clarification before you use specific resources in completing assignments.
  • Concerns about these or other behaviors prohibited by the Student Conduct Code will be referred for investigation and adjudication by (include information for specific campus office).
  • Students found to have engaged in academic misconduct may receive a zero on the assignment or potentially more severe outcomes.
  • More information about reporting academic misconduct. 

12. Copyright

  • The School regularly displays student art and design in a variety of ways to highlight the quality of our students and their learning.
  • This is a traditional practice among all art schools, and we assume that by participating in UW School classes and activities, students have no objection.
  • If you have concerns about the use of your work, please contact Academic Advising + Student Services (206-543-0646 or uaskart@uw.edu).

13. Incomplete Grades

  • To request an "incomplete" grade, a student must have:
    • been in attendance and done satisfactory work through the eighth week of the quarter.
    • provided satisfactory proof for the instructor that the work could not be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control.
  • More information from the UW Office of the Registrar.

14. Grade Appeal Procedure

  • If you think the grade you received is incorrect, contact the instructor to discuss your concern.
  • If not resolved, make an appointment with the Director of Academic Advising in Art 104.

15. Materials Fees

  • All art, design, and art history classes have materials fees billed with tuition.
  • Fee amounts and justifications are listed by class in the quarterly UW Time Schedule.
  • These fees cover the purchase of materials, academic support, and equipment provided for students in each class.

16. Service Animals

17. Lockers

  • The School provides lockers and locks to currently enrolled students at no cost.
  • Students can apply for a locker online. Please allow two business days to receive your locker assignment.
  • Obey all rules and guidelines printed on the Locker Assignment sheet issued. Failure to do so will prohibit future locker privileges.
  • Students must clean out or renew their lockers by the end of finals week for the last quarter requested on their application. If lockers are not renewed before the last day of finals, the lock will be changed, and items discarded.
  • The School is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen property stored in lockers. 

18. Art Building Exhibition Policies

  • Instructors and students must receive administrative approval at least two weeks in advance to install work in the Art Building.
  • Read these policies before completing the online application form.
  • Complete the application form.
  • Contact Facilities + Safety Supervisor Becky Ryser (rayser@uw.edu), with any questions.

19. After-Hours Access

  • ART Building hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6:20 PM.
  • Students enrolled in studio classes and accepted SoA+AH+D undergraduate majors and graduate students can have their Husky Cards programmed to access the Art Building after hours.
  • After-hours access is permitted only through the loading dock door facing Chelan Lane. Tapping your pre-programmed Husky Card at the terminal grants entry.
  • Students may request after-hours access to the Art Building for course-related work by filling out this form.
  • Please allow two business days after completing the form for access to be assigned.
  • Accepted majors and graduate students only need to apply for access once a year for Autumn-Winter-Spring access. Non-majors enrolled in studio classes will only be allowed quarter access, and once the quarter is over, their access will expire. The School will reset access for every major at the beginning of the summer quarter.
  • Anyone in the building after hours is responsible for the safety and security of the building.
  • Anyone who allows an unauthorized person into the building or workspace, props open a door for any reason, or fails to adhere to their studio-specific safety policies risks losing after-hours access to the building.
  • UWPD frequently monitors the Art Building after hours to ensure your safety and security.
  • If you are having access issues, please contact the Facilities + Safety Supervisor, Becky Ryser (rayser@uw.edu)

20. Diversity

  • The School of Art + Art History + Design fosters a respectful, inclusive community that supports creative and critical expression and scholarship amidst a culture that accepts the value of every individual. The School encourages students, faculty, and staff to engage in healthy dialogue and respect the values and global perspectives of a diverse population. The School promotes and encourages a culture of compassion, understanding, and an obligation to respectful discourse in classrooms, meeting rooms, studio spaces, and beyond. The School’s philosophy is reflected in our engagement with community partners and research endeavors locally, nationally, and globally.

Updated 8/01/25