VISC 304
Syllabus

VISUAL COMMUNICATION DESIGN REVIEW: Finals Week 

All projects (from last semester and this semester should be retained for Portfolio Review. To pass the review you must have a grade of C+ or higher AND pass the VisCom faculty review of all your course work {the entire year of work. All work must be hung and on tables in the 203 rooms. And you must be available for individual meetings with the faculty. More information will be given closer to the Review Date.

EXPECTED WORKLOAD

Throughout the semester you are required to work a minimum of 3 hours of homework per 1 credit hour. A 3 credit hour studio will have a minimum of 9 hours of homework per week.

Many of you will find that you will need to spend even more time per week. Studio course projects require a great deal of time in order to develop and complete. Please be aware that not all project work can be done at home or at your convenience. If you are expecting to work a full-time or near full-time job (over 20 hrs. per week) it will most likely have a negative impact on your performance and grade. It is very difficult to try and balance both a full-time job and a full load of studio classes.

ATTENDANCE

Students are required to attend class. Please be in class on time and remain for the entire period. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. Three “late” marks will equal one absence. A total of 3 absences will be allowed for any reason. On your 4th absence you will be asked to withdraw from the course. If it is necessary for you to be absent from class for more than 3 classes for any reason including medical condition, you should withdraw from the class.

In the event of any absence, students are still responsible for obtaining all information and materials from the class period and completing all assignments on time. It is your sole responsibility to find out about any new work assigned during your absence.

You agree to complete the asssigned homework in its entriety before class and have the assigned homework ready in the format requested. If work is not completed at the start of class you will be asked to leave and counted absent for the class period. 

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

If any scheduled course meeting conflicts with mandated religious observance, the student must notify the instructor prior the day of the observance that the student will be absent.

ADA NOTE

If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify me immediately so that appropriate accommodations can be provided.

NONDISCRIMINATION 

http://ioa.ku.edu/discrimination

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, retaliation, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. Please contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator at the office of Institutional Opportunity & Access IOA@ku.edu<mailto:IOA@ku.edu> with any inquiries. To report discrimination or if you need guidance on discrimination concerns, please call the office at 785.864.6414. There, you will find an easy Complaint of Discrimination form for reporting discrimination. If you need guidance on discrimination concerns or wish to report discrimination please call or email the office. The Department Chair is also always available to speak with you and assist you through this process. [Call 911 for emergencies or the Public Safety Office for non-emergencies at 785.864.5900. KU Crime Stoppers is also available at 785.864.8888.

PROJECT EVALUATION PROCEDURE 

For each project Process, Product and Craft will together make up the final grade each project.

50 % Process: includes demonstrated process of idea development, research, type/image studies, concept development, quantity and quality of sketches. More than just one idea explored, prepared for class and critique participation. I will keep track of your process. And you will hand in a process book at the end of each project.

40 % Product: comprehension of problem, originality of solution, appropriateness of solution, typography, visual invention, visual aesthetic, application/translation of concept, followed the assignment sheet or directives given in class.

10 % Craftsmanship: presentation of final, neatness, precision, technical proficiency, appropriate materials, poor craft can reduce a project grade by 1 full grade. You are learning to be professional and craft is a large part of being professional.

LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE
A superior / excellent/ exceeds expectations
B very good
C satisfactory / meets expectations
D unsatisfactory / did not meet expectations
F unacceptable

Completing the minimum requirements outlined on an assignment sheet qualifies as “C” level (or average) work. Work that exceeds minimum expectations will earn higher points in the “B” range, work that is exceptional earns an “A”. Conversely, work that does not meet the requirements for the project will earn a lower grade than “C”. The degree and quality of effort with which a student engages in the different criteria (above or below the minimum requirements) for each assignment determines how well they do.

Grade Percentage
Project 1: 30%
Excercise: 5%
Project 3: 30%
Project 4: 30%
Professionalism: 5%

LATE PROJECTS

All projects and assignments are due on the date set by the instructor. Late projects will be penalized by lowering the project grade by one full letter grade for each day that it is late. After three days, late projects will no longer be accepted. Projects are due at the start of class.

PROFESSIONALISM & PARTICIPATION

Design does not happen in a vacuum. Clear verbal skills are all important in communicating your ideas to clients and design team members. For all critiques, students are expected to come prepared to present their concepts, discuss how the form of their design supports their concept, and describe how they arrived at their ideas. Providing comment to your peers is a privilege. You will benefit from both giving and receiving feedback—you do not have to “like” another’s work, but you must provide insightful commentary in a courteous and productive manner. Students are required to turn their mobile phones to silent and refrain from surfing the web, updating your facebook page (or any social media), checking email, text messaging, etc. during class, lectures, and demos. You may use theses devices only during designated break times.

Lack of professionalism can effect lower your grade by one full letter grade. 
__ attend class on time and stay throughout the whole class period
__ prepared for every class
__ participate in classroom discussions/crits
__ maintain a positive and open-minded attitude
__ demonstrate deliberate self-disciplined and timely work habits
__ progressively strive for and achieve the highest standards of quality

PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

All work you hand in for this class must be made by you, over the course of this semester, exclusively for this class. All necessary and appropriate sanctions will be issued to all parties involved with plagiarizing any course work. Plagiarism and any other form of academic misconduct that is in violation with the University Senate Rules and Regulations will not be tolerated, and may result in failing the course, suspension from the department, or expulsion from the university.

The School of Architecture, Design and Planing Policy on Misconduct
Academic misconduct by a student shall include, but not be limited to, disruption of classes; threatening an instructor or fellow student in an academic setting; giving or receiving of unauthorized aid on examinations or in the preparation of notebooks, themes, reports, or other assignments; knowingly misrepresenting the source of any academic work; unauthorized changing of grades; unauthorized use of University approvals or forging of signatures; falsification of research results; plagiarizing of another’s work; violation of regulations or ethical codes for the treatment of human and animal subjects; or otherwise acting dishonestly in research. See full policy.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN GRADE POLICY 

If this course is required under the majors studies section on your degree check sheet you must receive a grade of C (2.0) or better to continue on to the next course in the sequence. A grade of C- (1.7) or lower will require you to repeat this course. In most cases these courses are only offered once a year. Students in the Department of Design must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA to graduate with a degree in Design.

CONCEALED CARRY

Individuals who choose to carry concealed handguns are solely responsible to do so in a safe and secure manner in strict conformity with state and federal laws and KU weapons policy. Safety measures outlined in the KU weapons policy specify that a concealed handgun:
— Must be under the constant control of the carrier.

— Must be out of view, concealed either on the body of the carrier, or backpack, purse, or bag that remains under the constant control of the carrier.

— Must be in a holster that covers the trigger area and secures any external hammer in an un-cocked position

— Must have the safety on, and have no round in the chamber.

Studio classes
These courses take place in spaces that will require students to leave belongings such as backpacks and purses away and unattended for the duration of class time. Students who choose to carry a concealed handgun in a purse, backpack, or bag must review and plan each day accordingly, and are responsible for making alternate arrangements as necessary. The university KU School of Architecture & Design’s lockers are not does not provide appropriate secured storage for concealed handguns.

Individuals who violate the KU weapons policy may be asked to leave campus with the weapon and may face disciplinary action under the appropriate university code of conduct.

*For more information on the law, safety, resources and FAQs the Provost’s Office and KU General Counsel have prepared http://concealedcarry.ku.edu.

SUPPLIES

Students will be expected to present their work in a professional manner. Quality tools and materials should be considered as an investment in one’s future.

— dropbox or google drive space
— notebook/sketchbook for class notes and assignments (bring to every class)
— earphones: that plug into the computer
— tracing paper / Graph Paper (pad or roll min.12 inches wide)
— self-healing mat to cut on in class (not too big not too small)
— push pins (always bring to class)
— fine and thick nibbed markers for sketching
— transparent tape/ glue stick
— white paper tape or masking tape
— steel ruler with cork back (18 inches) AND a heavy ruler at least 24 inches
— x-acto knife with #11 blades
— scissors