1. School of Visual Arts
  2. Visual Arts Student Resources
  3. Visual Arts Policies & Handbooks

Visual Arts Policies & Handbooks

Clear expectations. Professional standards. Student success.

The School of Visual Arts is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and professional environment where students can thrive artistically and academically. Our policies and guidelines are designed to support your growth, promote equity and accountability, and prepare you for the expectations of the professional industry.

All students are responsible for understanding and following the standards outlined here. These policies apply to studio use, coursework, and participation in School-sponsored activities.

Student Handbook

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Student Affairs describes the expectations for behavior and conduct in the UL Lafayette community, and outlines the procedures to be followed when these expectations are not met.

Review the Student Handbook

General Building Rules

  • As of August 2014, use of tobacco is not longer allowed on campus grounds.
  • Electronic cigarettes are allowed outside most buildings but not indoors.
  • Bicycles are NOT to be stored or ridden in the building. No riding of skateboards, scooters, etc.
  • Students are not to prop open exterior doors or otherwise disable door locks or mechanisms.
  • Students are to follow parking policy for building. Parking is permitted in designated spaces only.
  • Students are not to park in loading areas, fire lanes or any other space marked as “no parking”.
  • Students with handicap tags/plates must follow the same rules and have vehicle/tag registered with Parking and Transit.  Students are not allowed to park in any of the construction areas.
  • Furniture (sofas, hammocks, bedding, futons, etc) are not allowed in studios.
  • All visual arts students are responsible for following each studios safety rules. Failure to do so could result in personal injury.
  • Students must wear closed toe shoes in the printmaking, metalwork and jewelry, sculpture and ceramics studios all studio areas. It highly recommended that students always wear closed toe shoes while working in all the studios.

Studio Culture

  • The School of Visual Arts strives to empower students and faculty to become leaders in a world that requires a unique combination of creativity, conceptual abilities and technical skills while contributing to the quality of artistic and creative life regionally, nationally and globally.
  • To this end, the School of Visual Arts Core values for student learning are:
  • The School values learning; through the cultivation of creativity in a student centered learning environment that encourages free and open inquiry.
  • The School values community; through our partnership with the community to enhance cultural, creative and intellectual life in the region.
  • The School values artistic expression; through the promotion, exchange and dissemination of diverse artistic and scholarly view points.
  • The School values integrity; through the use of the highest academic, artistic and ethical standards.
  • The School values diversity; through the engagement of all our stakeholders in our pluralistic quest to full-fill our mission.
  • The School values resources; traditional, new and emerging technologies.
  • The School values communication; by providing mechanism for open communication and constructive dialogue that fosters a shared understanding and respect.
  • Furthermore, the students and faculty support, encourage, and strive to foster a studio that engages a culture of optimism, a culture of respect, a culture of sharing, a culture of engagement, and a culture of innovation.

School of Visual Arts Computer Policy

Certain concentrations in the School of Visual Arts are dependent on computers and software. All students concentrating in computer art and animation, graphic design, new media and digital arts and photography must own laptop computers with specific capabilities as well as software.

Students are urged to check with the visual arts office prior to purchasing in order to assure that the computer and software are correct.

Technology Requirements

The Schoool of Visual Arts embraces and utilizes the latest software and hardware technology used in professional settings and in private artistic expression. To maintain these standards, students concentrating in Computer Art and Animation, Graphic Design, New Media and Digital Art, and Photography are required to purchase specific computer hardware relevant to their respective curricula. 

Due to the rapid advancement of both hardware and software, the School of Visual Art recommends students avoid purchasing anything until a student starts their concentration; typically, the second semester of their sophomore year.

Technology Requirements by Program

  • Laptop-PC Only with Windows 11
  • Processor (CPU): 64-bit Intel i7/i9 or AMD with SSE4.2 instruction set
  • RAM: 16 GB minimum
  • Hard Drive: 1 TB minimum
  • Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia Geforce or AMD
  • Three-button mouse
  • MacBook Pro: Minimum 13-inch M-2 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine
  • RAM: 16 GB of RAM or more
  • Hard Drive: Minimum 512 GB storage
  • Membership to Student Version of Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Membership to Pantone Connect
  • Laptop-PC Only
  • Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen or Intel i7
  • RAM: 16 GB minimum
  • Hard Drive: 1 TB minimum
  • Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia Geforce or AMD
  • Laptop: Apple Macbook Pro or PC
  • Processor (CPU): Intel 7th Gen or new Core i5 or higher processor
  • RAM: 16 GB of RAM or more
  • Hard Drive: Minimum 512 GB external storage

Safety Standards & Policies

Students must show consideration for their fellow classmates, faculty and the facilities. Students shall be respectful of their environment or lose the privilege to work there. Students are required to follow the policies and procedures outlined for each School. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.

  • 1st offense: You will be required to meet with the department head. You could be assigned four hours of community service or other action to rectify the infraction.
  • 2nd offense: Your courses will be put on hold, you will lose shop privileges, you will have a counsel session with the Dean of Students, and be assigned 10 hours of community service.
  • Spray paints, spray adhesives, bondo, etc… must be used in studios with ventilation and spray booths. No spraying or use of chemical agents, or solvents is permitted in the building.
  • All flammables including spray paints, spray adhesives, bondo, etc must be stored in metal safety cabinets.
  • Students are required to wear safety glasses when using any tools, chemicals or glazes in studio areas
  • No hand tools or power tools of any kind are permitted to be used without training from your instructor.
  • No sanding of any kind is permitted in the studios at anytime. All sanding, whether wood, plaster, metal, bondo, acrylics, must be done in the wood shop. Plaster, mortar mixes and concrete mixes must be used only in designated areas.
  • Students assume the responsibility for knowing all safety requirements of any approved tool they own or borrow and bring into studio.
  • Students are not permitted to bring the following tools in the studio at any time: band saws, circular saws, table saws, radial arm saws, miter saws, jigsaws, reciprocating saws, or similar saws, routers, belt sanders, palm sanders, spindle sanders, disc sanders, grinders, or similar sanders/grinders, kilns, hand torches, soldering or welding equipment, or similar heat sources, pneumatic tools, and drill presses.
  • All students are required to attend woodshop orientation and safety classes prior to using the woodshop. In addition all students are responsible for knowing the woodshop safety manual.
  • Use of X-Acto blades and Box Cutters are the most common cause of accidents in Fletcher. Proper use and handling will ensure safe operation.
    • EYE PROTECTION –Students must wear safety glasses/goggles when using X-Acto knives/box cutters.
    • Take Precautions – Use cutting board or matte on stable surface. Cut resistant gloves should be worn. Clamp material and/or straight edge securely before cutting. Use rubber backed rulers/straight edge.
    • Be Aware of Surroundings - Be aware of those around you and the direction in which you are cutting. Always make sure free hand is clear of the path in which you are cutting.
    • Proper Use – Use caution and focus. Take your time and void distractions. Never force the cut, make multiple light cuts into thicker material. Before cutting, see if safer option is available in wood shop.
    • Storage/Disposal – Make sure blade is covered or retracted before walking with tool. Never store tool with exposed blade.  Dispose of used blades properly.
  • All work and materials must be performed or stored in the studio areas. At no time may work be stored or materials be stored in corridors, lobbies, crit areas, or studios in Fletcher Hall or the Visual Arts Annex. Storage of work the studio areas must be approved by studios major professor. All students must follow studio coordinators storage policies.
  • All walkways both within and around studios must be clear in case of fire or emergency for egress.
  • All students must remove all projects, tools and supplies from their work area each semester before or on the designated clean-out day at the end of each semester. All paper and materials must be cleaned from around your work area. Students are responsible for working conditions of their area and surrounding area at all times. Students may be asked to hang work for exhibitions and fall and spring student show. Work that is left in the studio after the clean out date will be discarded. In many studio areas, a certain percentage of the student’s grade will be determined by the final removal of all items and cleanliness of the studio.

Seek medical attention if you are injured. For minor cuts, First Aid kits and eye wash stations are available throughout the studio areas. Call University Police 482-6447 or 911 if emergency assistance is needed.

All students who wish to use the Fletcher Hall Wood Shop must complete safety training with the shop coordinator.

To prepare for Level I Shop Training, download and print out the entire Woodshop Safety Manual and review ahead of time. On the day of the training, you must bring the FULL shop manual, closed-toe shoes, safety goggles, and a writing utensil. There will be a short test immediately following the training session.