STUDENT

HANDBOOK

FALL2008

1250 Greensburg Road

Lower Burrelll, PA 15068

7 2 4 . 3 3 5 . 5 3 3 6
8 0 0 . 7 3 4 . 5 6 0 1 REV.: 08.28.08

www.oaa.edu
 Welcome to the
Oakbridge Academy of Arts

Art is a means of communication. It has as many forms as there are

languages. It is spoken through advertising, newspapers, and magazines.
Wether your interest is art, design or photography, you will learn to
speak the language of art at Oakbridge. At Oakbridge Academy of Arts
S T U D E N T you will receive the very best in education.
HANDBOOK
page 
Oakbridge Academy of Arts
Vision Statement

• To provide a creative and challenging environment and treat all

students with fairness and respect.
• To serve our students through active teaching, researching, tutoring
sessions, and guidance on academic matters.
• To promote academic excellence by developing high standards in the
classroom that are conductive to the different learning styles of our
students.
• To promote independent thinking, problem solving, ethics, and
“team-playing” through various classroom activities.
• To meet student needs with a faculty who will continue to learn and
grow as professionals.

Oakbridge Academy of Arts

Mission Statement

Oakbridge Academy of Arts is dedicated to providing the very best in art,

design and photography education.

Our goal is to offer personalized, professional and cost effective

education which results in an Associate Degree and prepares our
graduates for employment.

Through a partnership with industry, Oakbridge Academy of Arts

remains current in areas of art, design and photography curriculum, and
1250 Greensburg Road
Lower Burrelll, PA 15068 always stays in tune with industry standards.

7 2 4 . 3 3 5 . 5 3 3 6 Our students are our clients, and are always treated with dignity and
8 0 0 . 7 3 4 . 5 6 0 1 respect.

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S T U D E N T
HANDBOOK

Office Hours
Monday - Friday
[8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.]

Phone: 724.335.7127

Class Hours
Students are to be in class from:
8:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
12:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M..

Lunch
Lunch is from 11:30 to 12:30.

Roll Call
Attendance is taken promptly at 8:00 A.M. and 12:30 P.M.. You must be
present or you will be marked accordingly.

Tardiness & Leaving Early

Anyone who arrives late to school or leaves early must sign in at the
office in order to be admitted to class. The number of minutes will be
marked on your attendance record. Scholastic requirements are based on
contact hours with your instructor, so attendance is mandatory. Chronic
absense or tardiness may result in termination.

1250 Greensburg Road

Lower Burrelll, PA 15068

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www.oaa.edu
 Attendance
Students will receive an attendance grade in each class that will be
counted as 20% of their overall grade. Each day a student misses a class
that is not excused, their attendance grade will be lowered by 10 points.
Tardiness and early dismissals will also be factored into this grade.

S T U D E N T
Excused Absences
HANDBOOK
Excused absences include the following:
• Hospitalization of the student or student’s immediate family. The
immediate family shall consist of student’s spouse, parents, children,
brothers, or sisters.
• Death in the student’s family (three days excused absence will be
permitted for the death of the student’s spouse, children, parents,
brothers or sisters, one day is permitted for the death of any other
family member)
• Mandatory court appearances.
• Welfare, WIC, OVR, or JTPA appointments.
• Interviews for graduating students.
• Jury duty.
• Special work study requested by the employer and approved by
administration beforehand.
• Emergency room outpatient visits for emergency procedures only.
• Doctor’s excuse in reference to extended illness.
• Natural disasters (flood, fire, etc.)
• Non-hospitalized car accidents coming to school.
Students must present written documentation to the Director.

Early Dismissal
Early dismissal is permitted only when authorized by the office. Students
must stay in class until 2:30 P.M.. or until the scheduled dismissal time.
Cleanup time is 2:25.

1250 Greensburg Road The office should be notified that morning if a student is tardy or going to
Lower Burrelll, PA 15068 be absent for the day. Instructors must be alerted for early dismissal and
7 2 4 . 3 3 5 . 5 3 3 6 authorization given by the office. Repeated tardiness and absenteeism will
8 0 0 . 7 3 4 . 5 6 0 1 reflect on student’s financial aid and future job placement.

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 Makeup Work
Absent students are responsible for making up assignments.

Probation
We reserve the right to put a student on probation or permanently expel
a student for misconduct in class or on school premises. Action will be
taken according to the severity of the misconduct and the student will be
S T U D E N T informed of the action. All financial obligations must be met on a timely
HANDBOOK basis. If no reasonable agreement can be reached, this can be grounds for
dismissal.

Academic Probation
Any student who fails to achieve the required cumulative grade point
average of 2.0, for a specific term, due to academic or attendance issues,
will be placed on academic probation. Any student placed on academic
probation will be required to initiate an academic improvement plan
for that term, and this academic improvement plan will be issued and
monitored by the dean. Should a student placed on Academic Probation
not attain the required cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at the
completion of the probationary term, or before the scheduled start
of the next term, he or she will be terminated, unless conditions exist
which, in the opinion of the dean, warrant placing the student on
probation for a second term.

Report Cards
Report cards are issued at the end of each term. Incomplete and missing
projects will receive a grade of “F” which will be averaged with the
students other grades.

Dean’s List
The Dean’s List will be posted at the conclusion of each term. It will
contain the names of all students maintaining a 3.5 or higher grade point
average.

Portfolio and Progress Reports

For the sake of academic honesty, projects are to be done during class
time. Students work will be evaluated at the completion of each term
in order to assure that adequate progress is being made and that the
1250 Greensburg Road student is at the expected level. Any student not at the required level for
Lower Burrelll, PA 15068 his or her term will be placed on probation. A complete portfolio will be
required at graduation. The exact requirements for the portfolio, as well
7 2 4 . 3 3 5 . 5 3 3 6 as sample portfolios and resumes, will be provided for the students in
8 0 0 . 7 3 4 . 5 6 0 1 detail.

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 Externship and On the Job Training Programs
As a requirement of our Visual Design and Photography programs,
students are required to work in the industry to gain on-the-job practical
experience through our extern program. This required externship will
develop and strengthen the student’s educational and career preparation
and expose the student to inter-personal relationships a job requires,
both with co-workers and supervisors.
S T U D E N T
HANDBOOK
Graduation
All scholastic and financial obligations must be met before students are
awarded their official transcript and degree.

Mock Interviews
Mock interviews are conducted at the end of the seventh term to
prepare students to enter the job market. A summary of the interview
will be given to the student

Field Trips
When a class field trip is scheduled, it is expected that all students attend.
If a student does not attend, he or she is marked absent. Cost associated
with field trips are the student’s responsibility.

Library
The library is open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to all students free of charge and
located in the Visual Design school.

Alcohol, Drugs and Smoking

No smoking is permitted in the building at any time. This rule is strictly
enforced and is also a fire law. Anyone using or under the influence of
drugs or alcohol will be automatically dismissed.

Personal Property and Work Areas

Students are responsible for the upkeep around desks. We encourage
all students to keep the work area around them in order. Drinks and
food are not permitted in the instructional areas. The school is not
responsible for loss or damage of personal property. All art work and
supplies should be properly stored at the close of each class. Paints,
1250 Greensburg Road
Lower Burrelll, PA 15068
turpentine, etc., must be cleaned up and put away (not disposed of in
sinks). Please do not cut on any desk surface; cutting and matting areas
7 2 4 . 3 3 5 . 5 3 3 6 are supplied. Phone usage is strictly limited to emergency situations with
8 0 0 . 7 3 4 . 5 6 0 1 permission of a staff member.

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 Free-lance and Placement
The placement service is available to help students find jobs upon
graduation. Free-lance work is also sometimes issued through the
placement office. Free-lance work is matched to a student’s ability and
attendance record. The student handles all details of the job such as,

S T U D E N T hours, cost, materials, etc.

HANDBOOK
School Closings
School closing due to inclement weather or other emergencies will be
announced between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the following stations: WPXI-
TV Channel 11, WTAE-TV Channel 4, and on the Oakbridge Academy of
Arts website at www.oaa.edu.

Gallery
A student gallery is maintained in the building to display current work of
our “A” students, and is open to the public and business community.

Problems
If you as a student of the Oakbridge Academy of Arts feel you are having
a problem with your class work, we, as office staff and instructors, want
you to feel comfortable in coming to us for help so that you may achieve
your full potential. With the individual attention to our students that
our school emphasizes, we believe small problems corrected early can
prevent major ones later. We have an ‘open door’ policy for everyone at
Oakbridge, please take advantage of this.

Summary
As students of Oakbridge Academy of Arts, you are studying to become
professional artists or photographers. We ask that you strive to achieve
1250 Greensburg Road professionalism in your attitudes, actions, and work habits. Soon you will
Lower Burrelll, PA 15068 embark upon a career and it is your job as well as the staff’s to be sure

7 2 4 . 3 3 5 . 5 3 3 6 you are a mature individual ready to assume these responsibilities and

8 0 0 . 7 3 4 . 5 6 0 1 obligations.

www.oaa.edu