The goals of this program are for students to learn to investigate and represent change (we use “change” broadly to include, but not limited to, physical change, artistic change, social change, or personal change). Our work in animation and physics will help students learn about the mathematical models that help describe and explain motion in the natural world, about how to combine observation, reason, and imagination to produce such models, to explore the creative uses that can be made of them, and to consider new meanings that result. Along the way, we hope to highlight similarities and differences between how artists and scientists make sense of, and intervene in, the world. These goals and the activities we undertake to reach them support students’ work towards meeting the expectations of an Evergreen graduate:
- Articulate and assume responsibility for your own work.
- Participate collaboratively and responsibly in our diverse society.
- Communicate creatively and effectively.
- Demonstrate integrative, independent, critical thinking.
- Apply qualitative, quantitative and creative modes of inquiry appropriately to practical and theoretical problems across disciplines.
- As a culmination of your education, demonstrate depth, breadth and synthesis of learning and the ability to reflect on the personal and social significance of that learning.
In order to achieve these goals, we ask you to agree to participate in creating our learning community and abiding by this covenant.
Building a learning community
In an Evergreen “learning community” we are all co-learners with the opportunity to learn from each other, and we all have a responsibility to cultivate the ideal conditions for collaborative learning. Community is a state of being in the world that requires our attention and work to achieve. In a learning community, we collaborate to expand our knowledge and abilities. Collaborative learning develops a set of skills and experiences that will equip you to deal with a broad array of situations in future learning and work of almost any kind.
Success in a learning community does not mean that we all agree with each other all the time, or that conflicts never emerge. It means that we acknowledge each other as human beings, take delight in the variety of perspectives we bring to the table, and seek to address conflicts and differences of opinion with a spirit of generosity and flexibility.
In order to build a successful learning community, all members of the program share these responsibilities:
- Encourage the free exchange of ideas in a respectful and civil manner. This includes:
- showing respect for others who are speaking or listening (talking, whispering, text messaging, cell phone ringing, or using laptops is disruptive to the speaker and to those listening). Turn off and store all electronic devices unless explicitly invited by faculty to use them for class activities
- keeping confidential any personal information others may reveal during program discussions
- recognizing that no one is exempt from dynamics of privilege and oppression and striving to be aware of how our actions and words affect others and communicating honestly to others about how their actions affect us
- responding civilly and productively when others communicate to us how our words or actions have affected them
- abiding by the Social Contract, Student Conduct Code and the Sexual Harassment policy.
Repeated disruption of the learning environment by violating these guidelines and the spirit from which they arise may result in expulsion from the program.
Students share these responsibilities:
- Engage actively with the program. This includes coming to class on time and prepared to participate in all activities.
- Complete and submit all assignments on time according to submission guidelines. Assignments must be submitted in the appropriate format to be considered for evaluation. Students should not expect faculty to read or comment on work received late, nor should they expect to receive credit for late work.
- Keep up. Check college email and the program blog regularly for information about the program. If you miss class it is your responsibility to find out from another student what you have missed and to catch up on all assignments and announcements including changes to the program syllabus.
- Be proactive and communicate. If you have questions or concerns about your work or the program, contact faculty directly. Students with learning differences or disabilities should contact Access Services for accommodations (ph. 360-867-6348/TTY: 360-867-6834). Information about a disability or health condition is regarded as confidential.
- Take care of yourself: If you become ill, stay home and recover quickly rather than extending your illness by over-exertion. While protecting your privacy, let the faculty know by e-mail or voice-mail as soon as possible when you miss class because of illness.
- Approach all academic and creative work with integrity. If faculty detect cheating, plagiarism, or other lapses of academic integrity, they will discuss the issue with the student and may report the instance for the Campus Grievance Officer to pursue further. Plagiarism includes:
- Copying any material from the Internet for inclusion in your work without citing the author and context clearly.
- Copying text, images or ideas from a book, magazine, essay by anyone else without clear citation of the author or original context.
- Conduct program activities in a responsible manner. This includes:
- cleaning up after yourself so that overworked janitorial staff or others don’t have to do so,
- following and respecting all studio and lab safety protocols and requirements, including safe and appropriate use of equipment, careful attention to safety rules, and appropriate and timely clean-up;
- using College equipment, facilities and other shared resources responsibly, including logging in, canceling time in media labs if you realize you will not be using it, and reporting any technical problems to staff immediately.
- acting in compliance with all College policies when on field trips, including staying drug and alcohol free.
- maintain a portfolio of all work, assessments, and evaluations;
- write self-evaluations each quarter, including a transcript worthy self-evaluation at the end of the program;
- write an evaluation of each faculty at the end of the program.
Faculty share these responsibilities:
- plan and implement the program and communicate changes to the syllabus
- provide timely and thoughtful responses to student work;
- make time available for individual conferences with students, during mid-quarter, Evaluation week and as needed.
- notify any student who may be losing credit during week five of that quarter
- handle all disputes in a spirit of respect and goodwill;
- conduct interactions collaboratively and professionally;
- actively participate in faculty seminars and planning meetings.
- Write informal evaluations of each student’s progress at the end of the quarter and formal evaluations of student achievement on exiting or completion of the program.
Credit and Evaluation
Students’ work in the program will be evaluated with the learning goals in mind. Fulfilling minimum requirements and/or receiving full credit does not guarantee a positive evaluation.
Credit Equivalencies for Fall quarter (tentative):
- 5 Credits Animation Theory and Production
- 5 Credits Physics
- 3 Credits Writing
- 3 Credits Drawing if in the Drawing Track, or Calculus if in the Calculus Track.
Basis for Awarding Credit
- Regular, punctual attendance and active participation in all program activities.
- Completion and timely submission of individual and collaborative assignments.
- Demonstration of comprehension of content knowledge and competence in process skills covered in the program.
Loss of Credit
- Too many absences from class meetings during the quarter could affect credit. Repeated instances of lateness or early departure are equivalent to absence.
- Students may lose some or all credit because of unsatisfactory performance, failure to complete assignments, poor attendance, or other violations of the covenant.
- As a rule, late assignments and make-up work will not be accepted. Faculty may make exceptions if extenuating circumstances (such as illness or extraordinary family/relational needs) make class attendance or timely submission of work impossible. Clear communication is essential in these cases.
- Cheating, plagiarism, dishonesty, or other lapses of academic integrity may lead to total loss of credit.