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Dismissal Policy and Procedure

NOTE: Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts shall heretofore be written as VADA for the purposes of this policy.

POLICY

VADA has the right to dismiss a student from any program if their behaviour is deemed unacceptable. The following is a list of unacceptable behaviour, and is categorized into Type 1 and Type 2 actions (each with corresponding penalties):

Type 1

  1. Continually disrupting students who are working, both in and out of the classroom.
  2. Habitual lateness, defined as more than 3 times per month.
  3. Habitual absenteeism, defined as more than 3 times per month.
  4. Habitually not completing homework or participating in class assignments (eg. learning lines, doing proper research, participating in rehearsals).
  5. Destructive behaviour causing intentional damage to VADA property (eg. props, studio space, scripts) or another individual’s property.
  6. Insubordinate behaviour and/or refusal to cooperate with instructors or class schedules.
  7. Smoking anywhere in the building.
  8. Disruptive behaviour due to cell phones, pagers, or electronic devices such as mp3 players and personal organizers.
  9. Conduct Unbecoming a VADA student while in public.
  10. Too many chits.

Type 2

  1. Use of alcohol or non-prescription drugs while attending VADA. This includes diet pills, meal replacement pills or any type of low-grade amphetamine or metabolizer.
  2. Theft of VADA property or the property of another student or staff member.
  3. Having an intimate physical relationship with an instructor or staff member.
  4. Physical and/or verbal abuse of another student or staff member.
  5. Conduct unbecoming of a VADA student while in public, where criminal charges are laid.

Note: Habitual absenteeism for part-time students is considered to be two missed classes per program – for non-industry related reasons. (Industry-related reasons are considered to be anything to do with the film and television or theatre industry except background work.)

If a part-time student misses two classes, they will be dismissed from the program (following step 4 of the Dismissal Procedure).

PROCEDURE

Type 1 offences will be dealt with following this procedure:

  1. When a student commits a Type 1 offense, the Director will bring them into his office for a discussion and a verbal warning will be issued.
  2. The second time a student commits a Type 1 offense, the Director will give them a written letter of warning. A copy of this letter is put into the student’s file.
  3. The third time a student commits a Type 1 offense, the Director will give them a ten-day suspension, effective immediately. The Director will issue this suspension with a letter – a copy of which will be put into the student’s file.
  4. The fourth time a student commits a Type 1 offense, the Director will dismiss them from the program, effective immediately. The Director will issue this dismissal with a letter – a copy of which will be put into the student’s file.
  5. Students who are dismissed before 30% of the program is completed are eligible for a refund – based on the Refund Policy and Procedure.

Type 2 offences will be dealt with following this procedure:

  1. When a student commits a Type 2 offense, they will be either given a two-week suspension or an immediate dismissal, based on the severity of their offense.
  2. The severity of the offense will be decided by the Director after investigating all aspects of the incident.
  3. If a two-week suspension is deemed most suitable, the Director will issue this suspension with a letter – a copy of which will be put into the student’s file.
  4. If immediate suspension is deemed most suitable, the Director will issue this dismissal with a letter – a copy of which will be put into the student’s file.
  5. Students who are dismissed before 30% of the program is completed are eligible for a refund – based on the Refund Policy and Procedure.