Information for Students
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Guide to Departmental Facilities
Welcome to Film and Media. This guide explains our facilities and how to use them. For other questions please contact your instructor or the main office (613-533-2178).
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Location: At 160 Stuart Street are: the Main Office; faculty
offices; FILM 110 Teaching Assistants' office (210); DVD viewing stations (108); network-access
computers (207); seminar room, which can be
reserved for meetings (212); screening room (109); video editing rooms (3rd floor); and a lounge (102). In Ontario Hall are two larger class/screening rooms (206 and 207).
The Main Office can help with room bookings, general information and
key sign-out. Keys can be signed out by upper-year students, for coursework requiring access
to 160 Stuart Street after 4:30 P.M. -- keys must be left in the drop box, or
returned the following day by 9:30 A.M.
- Equipment is signed out in Room 105, according to guidelines
set in filmmaking courses.
Be sure equipment is in working condition and that you know how to use it when
you receive it. Any problems discovered later will be your
responsibility and in any case may cause serious disruption
to your filmmaking plans.
- Videotapes and DVDs are available to upper-year students
for course related viewing. You can search the Film Archive database,
and sign out tapes or DVD's in the Main Office. Tapes should be rewound and
tapes and discs returned to the office for filing; they are not to
leave the Department.
Note: Videotapes, DVD's, laser discs and 16/35mm films in the Department collection are for study
purposes only and must not be copied, or exhibited outside the Department.
Academic Guidelines
The teacher-student relationship is a professional one, built on expectations of mutual respect. It also bears mutual responsibilities. For the teacher, this involves preparation for classes and other meetings, establishing a clearly defined scheme for the evaluation of students' work; and attempting to ensure an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning. For the student, it entails responsible conduct respectful of the rights and needs of other students, fulfilling course requirements with work that represents commitment, and contributing to the collective enterprise of education.
The following guidelines concern the work that students undertake for courses in the Department of Film and Media, and the policies and practices of the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen's.
Grading
In May of 2009, Queen’s Senate approved the implementation of a new grading scheme, based on letter grades and a numerical grade point average (GPA). This system was implemented in the Spring-Summer 2011 term. For information about the new grading scheme go to Queen's New Grading Scheme.
Senate has defined the correspondence of percentage marks, letter grades and grade points. The Department of Film and Media has developed the following rubrics as a framework for assessment of student work.
A+ (90-100) 4.3
This mark indicates exceptional performance in both form and content. In addition to having mastered the content of the course, the student has demonstrated the ability to apply the course material in new and creative ways and/or has shown an understanding of its wider context and significance.A (85-89) 4.0
This mark range recognizes performance demonstrating thorough knowledge of concepts and techniques and showing a high degree of skill and originality in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course. The student’s work shows intellectual and creative initiative.A- (80-84) 3.7
This mark range indicates that the student has mastered the content of the course, a comprehensive understanding of concepts and techniques, and an ability to extend their application.B+ (77-79) 3.3
This mark range indicates that the student has assimilated essential concepts and techniques and shown skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.B (73-76 ) 3.0
This mark range indicates broad awareness and competent use of concepts and techniques, in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.B- (70-72) 2.7
This mark indicates knowledge of the course material and comprehension of its essential concepts.C+ (67-69) 2.3
This mark range indicates familiarity with concepts and techniques together with some ability in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.C (63-66) 2.0
This mark range indicates a basic grasp of the essential concepts and techniques of a course.C- (60-62) 1.7
This mark range indicates limited acquaintance with the concepts and techniques of a course.D (50-59) 1- 1.3
This mark range indicates marginal performance. The student has minimally fulfilled the requirements for the course.F 0-49 /0
Fail. This mark indicates that the student has failed to meet the minimum requirements of the course and has not demonstrated an adequate grasp of the material.
Grading Miscellaneous
A few important items to keep in mind about the new grading scheme, and general benchmarks:
- Failing grades will be tabulated as part of the transcript.
- A minimum GPA of 2.7 in Film & Media courses is required in order to advance into 4th year, and to graduate with Honors.
- A minimum GPA of 2.7 in Film and Media courses will have to be maintained in order to advance from Second year standing to Third year.
- Here are a few benchmarks associated with GPA:
- 3.9 – Dean’s Honors list with distinction
- 3.5 – Dean’s Honors list
- 2.8 – graduate with Honors in Film and Media
- 1.6- Graduate with a general degree (below 1.6 – probation).
Essay Writing Guidelines
The expression of ideas and communication of research form major parts of academic exercises; they are taken into account in the evaluation of a student's work and progress. Essays should follow a standard format for academic writing. Papers with numerous or serious errors in grammar, mechanics, and spelling may be returned for revision. For a recommended guide to the standards of academic writing and basic writing skills please refer to the syllabus of Film 110 or Film 206. We expect students to write essays in the MLA format, common in the humanities. The Arts and Science Calendar includes regulations on Academic Integrity. You should familiarize yourself with the policy in order to avoid dishonesty or plagiarism. See also suggestions from the Department of Film and Media on Avoiding Plagiarism.
Deadlines
Due dates for assignments are means of regulating fairness within a class. In courses that do accept late work, assignments submitted late, without an extension previously arranged with the instructor, will be penalized one grade step (i.e., A+, A, A-, B+, etc.) every two business days up to two weeks following the due date. In the case of serious medical problems or other legitimate reasons that work cannot be submitted on time, the instructor should be advised as soon as possible, and arrangement should be made to provide documentation.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes and screenings for courses in which they are enrolled. An instructor may make attendance part of the grading scheme for a course.
Incomplete Grades
Incompletes (IN) are not automatically granted to students who have not submitted all required work in a course. A student may request that the instructor submit an incomplete grade to be adjusted once all course requirements are fulfilled. Requests for incompletes should be made on forms available in the departmental office and from the instructor. The instructor will provide the student a written indication of a date by which work must be submitted. A maximum of 120 days is granted to complete the work, after which an IN will automatically become a failing grade (F).
July 2011
For further details including Academic Regulations, Conflict of Interest, and the Queen's University Code of Conduct, see the Arts & Science Calendar.
Student Bursaries in Film and Media
- Pat Douglas-Murray Memorial Scholarship:
Established by friends and colleagues in memory of Pat (Osborough) Douglas-Murray, Arts '55, who tutored students in FILM 110. Awarded in the Fall to the student entering the second year of a program with a concentration in Film and Media who has the highest standing in FILM 110, provided that the standing is first class; value $600.
- Susan Near Prize in Film:
Founded by the late Susan Near of Toronto. Awarded by recommendation of the Department on the basis of the highest standing in film courses at the end of the second year; value $285.
- Kathleen McSweeney Memorial Scholarship:
Established in November 2005 by her many alumni friends in memory of Kathy McSweeney, B.A. 1973, a beloved graduate in Film Studies. Awarded on the basis of high academic standing to a student or students registered in the final year of a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) major, medial or special field concentration in a Film Studies program. Selection will be made by the Department of Film and Media and approved by the Faculty of Arts and Science Awards Committee.
See also the Student Awards Office.
Career Services
Career Services offers Queen's students counselling on careers options, on-the-spot answers to questions about resumés or job searches, workshops on job searching and graduate study, and a library of resource material.
Film students should start with a look at their booklet Film Options: Both Education and Work. Other publications of interest include:
- Making It: The Business of Film and Television Production in Canada, Barbara Hehner, ed.
- Getting Into Film, Mel London.
- Careers in Video, Paul Allman.
- Exploring Careers in Filmmaking, Robert N. Manning.
- Opportunities in Television and Filmmaking, Shonan F.R.Noronha
- The Harvard Guide to Careers in Mass Media, John Noble.
- Film Canada Yearbook: The Indispensable Directory of the Canadian Film Industry
- Directory to Funding Sources for Canadian Studies
- Awards for Postgraduate Study at Commonwealth Universities
- Grants to Artists, The Canada Council
