School of Art Resources

Welcome to the School of Art!

Please be sure to review the information below before you arrive on campus. The topics are arranged in alphabetical order except for Email and CooperConnect,  essential starting points that we have placed at the top of the list.

Email: From this point forward, you are expected to check your Cooper email account daily and use it for all college communication. If you have any difficulty accessing your account, please contact itsupport@cooper.edu.

Intranet:  CooperConnect is the college's intranet hub where important campus news, information, and events are posted.  To reduce email volume, only urgent messages are emailed so it is a good practice for students to check the site frequently.  

Academic Advising: Assistant Dean Frances Northcutt Green and Professor Doug Ashford are the academic advising team in the School of Art. They are here to help you navigate the unique and challenging BFA curriculum with confidence, intention, and success. Visit the Office of Academic Advising &-Campus Programs webpage for contact details, answers to frequently asked questions, co-curricular opportunities, and more. You will also work with the advisor in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences during your time at the Cooper Union.

Academic Integrity: You are expected to apply your best efforts in your studies and produce original work of the highest caliber. If the definitions of academic integrity are unclear to you, it is your responsibility to review your instructors’ syllabus policies and ask questions as needed. You may also consult the advising team.

Academic Standards and Regulations: Review the information about Attendance; Good Standing, Probation, Dismissal, & Administrative Course Withdrawal; and Grades here so that you understand the expectations the School of Art has for you. Contact the advising team with any questions regarding these expectations.

Asking for Help: The rigorous curriculum at The Cooper Union is unlike what you have experienced in high school. You are responsible for seeking out the help you need in order to succeed. Reach out to your instructors and to the advising team proactively whenever you have questions or concerns.

Campus Access and Visitor Passes: You will receive a photo identification card at Welcome Week. You will need to swipe your card every time you enter the Foundation Building, 41 Cooper Square, or the Residence Hall. Visitor passes for guests are issued in the School of Art Office, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM. Host students must accompany their guests at all times.

Campuswide Policies: All Cooper Union-wide policies, including the alcohol and illegal drugs policy, the student code of conduct, the leave of absence policy, the policy upholding human rights and Title IX protections, the religious observances policy, and more, can be found on the policy page. You are expected to read these policies and be familiar with your rights and responsibilities.

Club Hours: Club hours are Tuesdays 12-2 PM. Use of club hours for academic purposes (makeup classes, exams, etc.) is strictly forbidden. If a class or other class activity is scheduled during club hours, please report it to the School of Art Office, 201 Foundation Building.

Course Registration, Add/Drop, and Course Withdrawals: You will be able to view your schedule on the Student Self-Service portal by mid-August. Foundation students will take Foundation classes as detailed on the curriculum webpage. Transfer students and exchange students will work with the academic advising team to build appropriate schedules and will have the opportunity to make adjustments during the “add/drop period” at the beginning of the semester. After the end of add/drop, students who are experiencing serious academic challenges may discuss course withdrawals with the advising team. Course withdrawals result in “W” grades on the transcript. They must be completed by the deadline posted on the academic calendar, barring exceptional circumstances. Contact the advising team with any questions regarding these processes.

Disability Support Services: Students seeking accommodations due to a condition covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act will find instructions here.

Exam Credit: The School of Art and the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences do not grant credit for AP or IB exams. If you received a score of five on an AP exam which you believe covered the same content as one of the HSS core courses (HSS 1-4), see the faculty advisor in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences to discuss your placement.

Full-Time Status: You must enroll in at least 12 credits per semester to be considered a full-time student. Failure to maintain a 12-credit load has important consequences for tuition and financial aid. International students must also maintain a full-time course load for visa compliance. Contact the advising team and, if appropriate, the International Students & Scholars Office with any questions about this requirement.

Illness Procedure: Refer to these instructions if you become ill during the school year.

Lockers: You will have the opportunity to sign up for a campus locker. Instructions will be sent via email at the beginning of the semester.

Transfer Credit: If you are a transfer student or a freshman with advanced standing, please be sure to have your previous college send a final, official transcript to the Admissions Office. The faculty advisors in the School of Art and the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences will evaluate your final transcript during the summer and may email you with questions. Please respond promptly so that your standing can be determined in time for registration. Please note that the School of Art and the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences rarely grant transfer credit for dual enrollment and precollege classes. If you believe you have already covered the content of one of the HSS core courses (HSS 1-4), see the faculty advisor in the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences to discuss your placement.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.