USF SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE & COMMUNITY DESIGN PORTFOLIO POLICY (Adopted – Fall, 2002 – applies to those students who completed Design I during the Fall 2002 semester or thereafter) The purpose of this policy is to best serve the interests of the students and of the school.  Portfolio reviews--mandatory, requested, and optional—will assist the faculty in evaluating student progress, as that of the school’s.  Student portfolios are sometimes also used to determine the granting of scholarships and awards.  Further, these portfolios will aid students in obtaining part-time and long-term employment.  The SACD portfolio policy is as indicated below. A.                 Every student must maintain a bound portfolio recording his or her work undertaken in the School for every academic term.  This portfolio must included, but is not limited, to the following:  1.  Design projects from each studio course, identified by course name and the year and semester take.  Visual documentation must be accompanied by project title, a brief written description , and the duration of each project (ie., 2-weeks, 5-weeks, 12-weeks, etc.).  The visual documentation must include presentation drawings and photos.  Inclusion of preliminary sketches, daybook recordings, and other materials that lead the presented design may also be included.  2.  Visual and written  documentation  from studio-like, elective courses (ie., Landscape Design, etc.).  The written descriptions for such work must meet the same requirements as set above for the studio projects.  3.  A curriculum chart showing all courses that the student has taken at the SACD as well as other courses completed elsewhere that are intended to meet the school's prerequisite, electives, and required course requirements.   4.  OPTIONAL: Evidence of student research and reporting accomplishments as submitted in non-studio courses (ie., Architectural History, Professional Practice, Design Theory, Design Development, etc.).  5.  OPTIONAL:  Other evidence of creative or scholarly accomplishments (ie., drawings, writings, photographs, etc.) beyond formal academic requirements. B.                 Portfolios must be in a uniform format not smaller than 8”x10” or larger than 12”x18”.  Other recommended format sizes include, 8.5”x11”, 11”x14”, and 11’x17”.  The use of manufactured leather or vinyl binders with archival quality, clear plastic insert sheets—as available from most art supply retailers—is highly encouraged. C.                 In order for the faculty to review and assess student progress, portfolios will be submitted and reviewed at least twice during each student’s matriculation through the program.  First, after completion of Core Design Studios I-III, and second, prior to admission into Master’s Project Planning.  The first review is to determine each student’s readiness to proceed to the advanced studios.  The second review is regarded as a “pre-master’s level comprehensive exam,” and will determined each student’s readiness to complete his or her master’s project. D.                 In addition to the two required submissions, students may wish to review portfolio content with their individual advisers on a semester-by-semester basis.  Further, in addition to the two mandatory reviews, the school reserves the right to require students to submit their portfolios for faculty review on a more regular basis. E.                 Students are to submit along with their portfolio a CD containing raw image files of all projects documented in the portfolio. The images shall be saved in a Tiff format with a minimum of a 300 dpi resolution. The CD should be inserted in the portfolio. The faculty will use the submitted raw image files to archive, publish, and display the work of the School. F.                 Full attribution must be given to collaborators on all group projects documented in the portfolio. G.                Portfolios must be permanently bound along one edge. Viewers of the portfolios must be able to turn pages as in a book, magazine, etc. A collection of loose sheets temporarily bound with bands or placed in a box is not acceptable. Unbounded portfolios will be rejected. SUBMISSION SCHEDULE First Submission:  Portfolios showing work from Core Design Studios I-III, and other required work indicated above, are to be submitted no later than the first day of class in which the student is enrolled in their first Advanced Design Studio (A, B, or C).  Faculty review will occur during the first week of class of each Fall and Spring semester.  Students who do not meet the submission deadline or who do not pass the faculty review will be dropped from advanced design.  Students who fail the review will be required to repeat certain basic design studios in order to enhance their design skills.   First Submission Eligibility Requirements:  In order to submit a portfolio for faculty review, each student must:  a)  be fully admitted into the program, b) have a design studio GPA of 3.0 or above, c)  have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and d) have satisfied all of the prerequisite requirements indicated in their admission acceptance letter.   Second Submission:  Portfolios showing work from Core Design Studios I-III and Advanced Design Studios A-C and other required work indicated above, are to be submitted no later than the first day of class of the semester (Monday) in which they are registered for Master’s Project Planning.  (Note:  Some of the School’s curriculum charts allow students to submit a portfolio for admission into Master’s Project Planning without having completed all three Advanced Design Studios.  In all instances, however, the portfolio MUST contain work from two Advanced Design Studios, one of which must be Advanced Design B.)  Faculty review will occur during the first week of the Fall and Spring semesters.  Students who do not meet the submission deadline or who do not pass the review will be dropped the master’s project design course.  Students who fail the review will be required to take certain basic or advanced design studios in order to enhance their design skills.   Second Submission Eligibility Requirements:  In order to submit a portfolio for faculty review, each student must:  a) be fully admitted into the program, b) have a design studio GPA of 3.0 or above, c) have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, and d) have satisfied all of the prerequisite requirements indicated in their admission acceptance letter.   Those students who wish to complete a Master's Project must submit a one-page, 250-word abstract on the topic they wish to investigate. A short annotated bibliography shall be attached to the abstract. Both the abstract and bibliography are be submitted in a sealed envelope and must be received by 5:00 pm on the first day of classes (Monday) of the Master's Project Planning semester for which the student is registered. Only those students who submit an abstract will be considered for the independent Master Project option. During the abstract review process, the faculty may deny a student of the Master's Project option and elect to advance the student into the Design D Studio option.   Portfolio Policy Adopted 6 October 2002,  revised and clarified February 1, 2005.