Policies and Bylaws

Architecture Department Bylaws

School of Architecture Bylaws

The Design Studio is the core and the glory of architectural education.  A space of speculation, research, debate, intense work, collaboration, and open-endedness, it is a place to call on, create, and test ideas of home, and for those who toil and create there, to recognize affinities as they imagine communities.  Like CCNY itself, the Design Studio celebrates difference through the medium of tolerance.  In this sense, it is both the ultimate safe space and a place of risk, a scene of true free expression, governed by rigor, skepticism, and kindness.  Within its bounds, all ideas may be ventured and all will be tested.  The Design Studio connects students to larger social and urban worlds and is the hothouse for the growth of the environmental, artistic, and social consciousness that will enrich the lives of those who flourish there and who carry the responsibility to share the dreams, responsibilities, and desires they find with the world.

Students are responsible for forming positive habits in school that remain with them throughout their professional careers. This should emerge from interaction with each other, faculty, administration, and through relationships formed with diverse communities and professional constituencies in New York City. Students realize that their education is not limited to the classroom and endeavor to approach their academic studies as professionals.

Students agree to:

• Balance personal, academic, and professional obligations & responsibilities.
• Promote, cultivate, and seek interaction with other students, faculty, administration, and professionals by staying informed of current events in the architectural community at large, and participating in extracurricular activities such as attending lectures and symposia or joining clubs and organizations. These experiences will create a richer experience in the classroom and deepen students’ work and understanding of the architectural field and profession.
• Maintain professional behavior and respect class time by being prompt, prepared, and focused. Avoid monopolizing or obstructing class time.
• Inform instructors before unavoidable absences (medical, personal, emergency, etc.)
• Treat the studio and surrounding hallways as professional work spaces and exercise appropriate behavior at all times – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Remain committed to fostering a community of collaboration, diversity, and respect, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
• Recognize that school property and facilities are used by the larger Spitzer community and show care, prompt and proper cleaning, and respect at all times, particularly at semester’s end.

Faculty members are responsible for guiding students – through inspiration, mentoring and providing a comprehensive education – to become mature, engaged professionals within and beyond the architectural community. Teaching and modeling professional behavior by example, faculty members bring their unique experience, dedication and passion for the profession to studio, and have a right to expect dedication and attention from students.

Faculty agree to:

• Provide clear syllabi and supplementary materials with explicit statement of course expectations and specific due dates for assignments. Faculty should also provide updated syllabi when changes are made.
• Provide a constructive environment, facilitating healthy debate and discussion for both desk critiques and formal reviews while recognizing the diverse values, backgrounds, and interests of students and other faculty and critics.
• Respect the responsibilities students have outside school and facilitate a balance among academic, personal, professional, and cultural interests.
• Encourage and facilitate students to engage the community both inside and outside the profession.
• Remain committed to fostering a community of collaboration, diversity, and respect, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
• Respect the health and safety of students and avoid waste by providing clear, comprehensive instructions on how to use materials and by promoting the use of non-toxic, environmentally friendly materials in the studio and instructing students to take appropriate precautions.
• Start and end class on time.
• Ensure that no student misses information or be penalized because a class runs past its scheduled ending. (Students must get home to family, go to work, etc.)
• Respect and follow guidelines for students with religious observance absences.
• Respect that no formal classes are held on days off or over official breaks in the Academic Calendar; nor are students penalized for absence from an informal review session.

The Administration is responsible for upholding the overall vision and direction of the school, for engaging faculty and students in decisions about the future of the program, and aiding in their health and general well-being. The Administration should facilitate faculty and students to be responsible for their adherence to the studio culture policy.

The Administration will:

• Clearly communicate school culture expectations to entering faculty and students.
• Ensure a healthy, safe, and secure learning and work environment.
• Remain committed to fostering a community of collaboration, diversity, and respect, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
• Inform students and faculty of general maintenance and security procedures.
• Maintain proper condition of school facilities.
• Support a challenging and diverse curriculum with events such as lectures, symposia, and exhibitions.
• Manage resources to provide opportunities for scholarships and study abroad.
• Provide students with academic advisement and support.
• Ensure that students have no more than two final exams on a given day.
• Monitor that no classes will be held outside the Academic Calendar.

To help keep Spitzer clean and vermin free, we ask your cooperation in following these policies:

• Eating is allowed out of doors as well as in common areas such as the Gallery and second and third floor commons.
• Eating is not allowed in studios or classrooms.
• Toss any food waste in the common space trash cans and not in studio trash cans.
• Overnight food storage is not allowed in studios or classrooms.
• Food-related appliances and equipment are not allowed in studios. This includes refrigerators and microwaves. (We are working on procuring a microwave for common use.)

Studio Labs 219 and 319 are now open on the second and third floors, respectively. They are centrally managed by ArchIT and available only for all currently enrolled SSA students. These studio labs match the capabilities of the CADLabs, including licensed software and printing. Your cooperation is essential to ensure the proper function and success of these labs. CADLab rules and guidelines apply to both studio labs. Unlike previous semesters, ArchIT no longer distributes stand-alone plotters to studios. The studio labs hours of operation follow the opening and closing times of the Spitzer building. For any technical issues in the computer labs, please contact ArchIT for assistance. Improvements will be made overtime.