ACADEMIC ADVISING

Ringling College of Art and Design offers a comprehensive advising program with professional Academic Advisors who are knowledgeable about the degree programs and requirements, academic policies and procedures and academic resources.  The Academic Advising System is developmental and combines personal, academic and career counseling.  International student advising involving immigration rules and regulations is also handled out of this office.

The Academic Advisors see students on a walk-in basis or by appointment or you can email questions to them.  They will help you plan your course schedule, help you track your progress towards your degree and talk with you about educational planning, changing majors, and choosing a concentration or a minor.  You can also get help with time management, discuss instructor conflict concerns, learn about institutional policies and procedures, get help with grade reviews, and probation issues.  If you are interested in off-campus study opportunities, they can help you apply for the study abroad or Mobility programs. 

Basically, if you have a concern or a question and you’re not sure where to go, talking to your Academic Advisor is a good place to start.  Your Advisor is knowledgeable about all the services and resources available on campus and can refer you to the right place.

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First Year Faculty Mentors

All first year students are assigned a Faculty Mentor along with your Academic Advisor.  Your Faculty Mentor teaches in your major and works with your Academic Advisor, the Counseling staff and the Student Life staff to help you adjust to college life and studio expectations.

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Student Responsibilities

The Ringling College of Art and Design Advising staff is committed to offering high quality advising and support services to help you succeed academically at the institution.  You, the student, have responsibilities too if you want to be successful in your academic career at Ringling College.  Your responsibilities include:

  • Knowing your academic goals.
  • Reading the Student Handbook and understanding the academic policies, procedures and requirements.
  • Attending all classes and completing assignments on time.
  • Checking and answering your Ringling College of Art and Design email daily.
  • Checking your Ringling College of Art and Design campus mailbox twice a week.
  • Reading the daily announcements on the Ringling College of Art and Design Portal.
  • Knowing the Academic Calendar.  Do not miss deadlines.  Know when
  • Drop/Add ends; when to register for classes; when the last day to drop a class is, etc.
  • Scheduling courses that are consistent with your educational goals and that will meet degree requirements.  Read the course selection guide.
  • Saving personal copies of your degree audit reports and comparing them with your transcript for accuracy.
  • Meeting with your Advisor when your Advisor requests a meeting with you.
  • Asking for help when you know you are having difficulties and following through with recommendations for assistance.
  • Accepting responsibility for making final decisions on academic choices.

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Frequently Asked Questions


What do I do if I’m having a problem with a course?

  • Talk to the instructor.  Ringling College of Art and Design instructors are more than willing to meet with you outside of class to help you.
  • If it is a First-Year Studio Course, talk to your First-Year Faculty Advisor.
  • Talk to your Academic Advisor in the Office of Advising, Records and Registration.
  • Use the services offered through the Academic Resource Center.
  • Consider making an appointment with one of the counselors in the Counseling Center.
  • Do not ignore the problem and hope it will go away.  Ringling College of Art and Design has many
    support services available for you, so please take advantage of them.

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Transfer Students

Your acceptance letter from Ringling College offers you enrollment as a Freshman (1st-Year student, Sophomore (2nd-Year student) or Junior (3rd-Year student).

All of Ringling College’s studio courses are sequential and have pre-requisites.  Students have to complete the 1st-year studio courses before taking 2nd-year studio courses; 2nd –year studio courses before taking 3rd-year studio courses; and 3rd-year studio courses before taking the 4th-year capstone/thesis courses.  The Office of Admissions reviews the previous studio courses you have completed and your portfolio to determine what transfer credit will be awarded for studio work and your placement level.

If you have taken Liberal Arts courses at another college/university, those courses will be evaluated by the Academic Advisors in the Office of Advising, Records, and Registration Services to determine if they meet the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree or the Bachelor of Arts Degree. The number of Liberal Arts classes completed has no bearing on your class level. Only studio classes determine your class level.  Students enrolling with an Associate of Arts or a Bachelor of Arts degree from a regionally accredited college or university will be considered to have met the Liberal Arts requirements for the BFA degree.

Please make sure you have requested a final transcript from all colleges/universities that you have attended so that you can receive the appropriate transfer credit.


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International Baccalaureate Diploma

Ringling College recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.  Students with an IB diploma may be given credit for individual liberal arts courses if they score 5 through 7 on the IB Higher-Level Examinations.  No credit is given for Subsidiary-Level or Standard-Level work.

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Advanced Placement Credit

Advanced placement examinations in Liberal Arts and Art History courses with a score of 3, 4, or 5 will be considered for credit toward the BFA degree.  Advanced placement examinations in English Language and Composition and English Literature and Composition require a score of 4 or 5 to be considered for credit toward the BFA degree.  Advanced placement examination/portfolios in studio art with scores of 4 or 5 will be evaluated by Ringling College for credit and/or placement.

Ringling College must receive the official College Board Advanced Placement Transcript within the first year of the student's matriculation if credit is to be awarded.  No AP credit will be awarded after the student has completed one full year at Ringling College.

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Changing Your Major

Change of Major forms are available in the Office of Advising, Records, and Registration Services.  They must be signed by an academic advisor and department head for the student's prospective major.  Admission to majors with limited space is decided on a competitive basis with incoming transfer students.  Students must declare a major during the first semester of their first year.  Changing the major after completing the first year will incur an additional year of study.

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International Student Advising

Ringling College of Art and Design welcomes our international students and supports their success in a variety of ways, including special advising.

International students can obtain information and advising on immigration rules and regulations from the International Student Advisors, located in the Office of Advising, Records and Registration.  Services and information provided by the advisors include:  SEVIS compliance, I-20 signatures, visa information, employment options including OPT and CPT applications, income tax information, change-of-status assistance, as well as information on many other immigration procedures and policies.

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Off-Campus Study Opportunities

The academic advisors in the Office of Advising, Records and Registration Services must approve all off-campus study opportunities.  Study abroad brochures, summer school information, mobility applications, and curriculum approvals are available through the Office of Advising, Records, and Registration Services.  A minimum of 45 semester hours of studio and art history courses, to include the last year of the B.F.A. program, must be taken at Ringling College of Art and Design.

  • New York Studio Fine Arts Program [NYSP]

    Ringling College offers junior and senior Fine Arts students the opportunity to study and live in New York City for one semester.  Entrance into the program is granted upon successful completion and review of departmental application materials.  Senior Fine Arts students are restricted to participation in the fall semester only.  The Fine Arts faculty reviews applicants and four students are selected to participate each year.  This program is directed toward mature students who are self-motivated, disciplined, and have begun to develop a cohesive body of work.  Tuition for the semester is paid to Ringling College.  Grades received through NYSP become part of the student’s official record at Ringling College.  Information and application materials are available through the Office of Advising, Records and Registration Services.
  • Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design
    AICAD Mobility Program

    Ringling College is a member of AICAD’s Mobility Program which provides the opportunity for junior-year, full-time students in good standing, to study for one semester at any one of the following schools:

    Alberta College of Art & Design, Calgary, Canada
    Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
    Art Institute of Boston, Boston, MA
    Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH
    College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
    Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH
    Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC
    Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design, Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
    Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA
    Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT
    Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
    Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
    Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
    Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
    Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI
    Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MN
    Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
    Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA
    Nova Scotia College of Art, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    Ontario College of Art & Design, Toronto, ON, Canada
    Oregon College of Art & Crafts, Portland, OR
    Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
    Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
    Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
    Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
    San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
    School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
    School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
    University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

    Mobility is open to students with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0.  Tuition is paid to Ringling College.  Other costs are paid to the hosting institution.  Grades received become part of the student’s official record at Ringling College.

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Study Abroad: Programs Affiliated with Ringling College

Burren College of Art, Newtown Castle, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland
A Semester Program Open to Junior Fine Arts Majors

Ringling College, in cooperation with the AICAD program, provides students a semester of fine arts study immersed in the art and culture of Ireland, Burren region.  Enrollment is open to students wishing to study painting, life drawing, sculpture and/or photography.  The student’s academic advisor and department head must approve the proposed course of study.  Tuition is paid to Ringling College.  Grades received become part of the student’s official record at Ringling College.

Studio Art Centers International (SACI), Florence, Italy

A semester or a summer program open to juniors.  Ringling College has an affiliation agreement with SACI to provide junior students an opportunity to study and live in Florence, Italy for one semester.  SACI course offerings include studio art, design, crafts, art history, art conversation, and Italian culture and language.  Housing is provided.  The student's academic advisor and department head must approve the proposed course of study.  Ringling College students attending the SACI program will remain enrolled as degree-seeking students at RCAD and Pay RCAD's full-time tuition and fees.

Syracuse University, Summer Study Abroad Programs: Barcelona, Spain; Florence, Italy; London, England
Ringling College has an affiliation agreement with Syracuse University to provide students with visual arts summer programs in Barcelona, Spain; Florence, Italy; and London, England.  Students may study art history, glass casting, and pottery in Barcelona; fine arts, metalsmithing, painting, photography, and sculpture in Florence; or art history, photography, and video in London.  Students may lodge with host families or share an apartment with other students in the program.  Ringling College students attending this program remain enrolled as degree-seeking students at RCAD and pay RCAD's full-time tuition and fees.  Grades received become part of the student’s official record at Ringling College.

Information and application materials for all of these programs is available from the Office of Advising, Records, and Registration Services.

Disability Services

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Campus Resources

Academic Resource Center (ARC)

Located at The Ulla Searing Student Center - Room 227

Services Provided:

  • Tutoring
  • Writing Assistance
  • Time Management
  • Study Skills
  • Disability Services

 

 

Peterson Counseling Center

1159 Greensboro Lane

Career Center

Verman Kimbrough Memorial Library

Student Handbook

Student Life Office

Public Safety

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