Please find below a list of important NYFA Institutional Policies. Each policy is summarized with an option to click to view the entire policy.
We ask all faculty to be aware of these policies.
Please be aware that some policies, (like the Student Code of Conduct) have campus specific versions. Please be sure to click the appropriate version for your campus.
These policies are here for your reference and may be updated. If updates occur, faculty will be notified in a timely manner via their NFYA email. These policies can also be found in the Course Catalogs for each campus.
NYFA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environment, free from hostility and discrimination, and to support student success. As community members, NYFA expects students to choose behaviors that embody these values. Students are expected to act with honesty and the highest ethical standard, to be good citizens, to be respectful of diverse campus community members, to behave responsibly, to choose actions that reflect well on NYFA, and to contribute positively to NYFA and the visual storytelling industry.
Therefore, student behavior that is not consistent with NYFA’s expectations or the Student Conduct Code is addressed through an educational process that is designed to promote NYFA’s values and, when necessary, hold students accountable through appropriate consequences.
The Student Code of Conduct aims to hold students accountable for the following types of misconduct: Academic Dishonesty; Cheating; Plagiarism; Fabrication; Multiple Submissions; Unauthorized Assistance; Solicitation; Forgery; Falsifying Information; Theft; Vandalism, Damage, Destruction of NYFA Property; Trespassing or Unauthorized Entry; Misuse of NYFA Property, Materials or Resources; Housing Conduct; Parking Conduct; Event Conduct; NYFA Identification; Defamation; Conduct Threatens Health or Safety; Sexual Misconduct; Stalking; Harassment; Hazing; Retaliation; Bullying and Intimidation; Discrimination; Fraternization; Disorderly, Disruptive or Obstructionary Behavior; Failure to Comply; Controlled and Illicit Substances; Alcohol; Smoking; Professional Courtesy; Weapons; Expectations of Privacy; Encouraging, Permitting or Assisting with a Violation; Student Guests; Guest Speakers; Unauthorized Vehicles or Devices; Personal Care; NYFA Production and Locations; Violation of Any Published NYFA Rule; Regulation or Policy; Violations of Law; Violation of Disciplinary Conditions.
To view the entire policy for each campus click on the appropriate link:
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 ("Title IX") prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. NYFA does not discriminate on the bases of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any program or activity operated by NYFA, including in admission and employment.
On April 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (89 Fed. Reg. 33474).
Consistent with this commitment and complying with all applicable laws and governmental regulations, NYFA’s Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Grievance Policy (2024) establishes a standard of zero tolerance for Discrimination on the basis of Sex, as defined by the 2024 Final Rule under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and all other forms of Sexual Misconduct. NYFA will promptly respond in a fair and impartial manner to all allegations of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct, provide assistance and support to those affected, and take appropriate disciplinary action upon finding a violation of NYFA’s Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Grievance Policy (2024).
Per the 2024 Title IX Final Rule, Sex-Based Harassment is considered Discrimination on the basis of Sex if it includes harassment due to actual or perceived sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity.
As of August 1, 2024, NYFA’s Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Grievance Policy (2024) is in effect for the New York and Los Angeles campuses of the New York Film Academy.
NYFA’s Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Grievance Policy (2024) can be found in the following places:
NYFA’s Title IX website (nyfa.edu/title-ix/)
NYFA’s Student HUB Title IX and Sexual Misconduct website (hub.nyfa.edu/title-ix)
NYFA’s 2024-25 Course Catalogs (nyfa.edu/who-we-are/nyfa-catalogs/)
As a note: A federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of the 2024 Title IX Final Rule from taking effect on August 1, 2024 in Florida. Therefore, the 2020 Title IX Final Rule (85 Fed. Reg. 30026 (May 19, 2020)), as reflected in NYFA’s Title IX Grievance Policy and Procedure (2020) and NYFA’s Sexual Misconduct Policy (2020) will remain in effect for the Miami campus of the New York Film Academy.
To view the 2024 policy, or the 2020 policies, click on the appropriate link:
The New York Film Academy’s commitment to diversity is central to its role in training artists to enter an increasingly global arts community. We believe that the arts play an essential role in communicating cultural ideas and creating dialogue that enriches the lives of all those who participate. We further assert that as the arts are essential to a healthy society, the inclusion of all voices in the arts is essential to the health of a globally diverse community.
NYFA’s Diversity Policy identifies the five goals in working toward successful achievement of our mission to increase the inclusion of voices that are underrepresented or frequently misrepresented in Visual, Performing, and Cinematic Arts to create a globally inclusive environment for artists and their vital work.
To view the entire policy click here.
NYFA’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (DHR) Policy establishes a standard of zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, and retaliations in all its forms. NYFA will promptly respond via the Procedures established in this Policy in a fair and impartial manner to all allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, provide assistance and support to those affected, and take appropriate disciplinary action upon finding a violation of this Policy.
To view the entire policy click here.
*Currently NY Campus Only*
Students, staff, or faculty who are found responsible for bias-related and hate crimes are subject to NYFA disciplinary procedures and a range of sanctions up to and including suspension, expulsion, or termination of employment. In the event of receiving a report of any hate crime occurring at or on NYFA New York campus premises, NYFA will notify the New York Police Department as soon as is practicable but in no case more than 24 hours after such a report in compliance with New York Education Law Article 129A.
To view the entire policy click here.
If a student encounters a problem with a specific faculty or staff member, a NYFA policy or any other issue that may be impacting his or her learning environment, NYFA encourages students to initiate a formal grievance or complaint.
NYFA will address all appropriate student grievances promptly. A grievance is considered appropriate if a student expresses feelings of dissatisfaction concerning any application or interpretation of NYFA administrative or management-related policy.
To view the entire policy for each campus click on the appropriate link:
In compliance with this objective and in accordance with United States Department of Education Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989, Public Law 101-226, this policy, informs students, faculty and staff of: 1) NYFA’s institutional policies and standards of conduct related to alcohol and drugs, 2) the disciplinary sanctions under NYFA conduct policies for violations of standards of conduct related to use of alcohol and drugs, 3) legal sanctions and penalties related to the alcohol and drugs based on federal, state and local laws, 4) the health risks associated with alcohol and drug use, and 5) resources for help and treatment for the treatment of substance abuse and addiction.
To view the Student Alcohol & Other Drugs please click here.
To view the Employee Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy click here.
In accordance with the learning objectives of NYFA Degree and Conservatory courses, certain program courses may be taught in whole or in part via remote learning. The delivery of courses in an online format in any given semester will depend on cohort makeup, campus location, semester schedules, and other considerations.
Students whose courses will be taught in part or in whole via remote instruction will be notified via their department and the semester schedule distributed at the start of the term.
Courses taught online will employ the Zoom and Google Classroom platforms.
To view the entire policy click here.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is calculated programmatically for all active students at the completion of each semester. SAP calculations for students in non-matriculating certificate programs will be calculated separately for each individual program.
Students must meet a quantitative requirement by completing 66.67% of their attempted classes. Students must also maintain a qualitative requirement by maintaining a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
To view the entire policy click here.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that pertains to the release of and access to student education records.
FERPA affords students the right to have access to their education records, the right to seek to have their records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally-identifiable information from their education records.
The law applies to all schools that receive funds under applicable programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. In accordance with FERPA, issued by the Department of Education, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) has adopted the following policies and procedures.
To view the entire policy click here.
NYFA believes in the free pursuit of intellectual and artistic inquiry, as well as the exchange of ideas between instructors and students. Instructors are free to discuss controversial subjects in class and screen controversial works without fear of reprisal, so long as the work serves the overall goal of NYFA curriculum and does not violate any institutional or campus-wide policies
To view the entire policy click here.
NYFA expects all students to be responsible individuals who insist on high standards of honesty, personal conduct and creative integrity. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, plagiarism, and/or anything that gains an unfair academic advantage.
To view the entire policy click here.
NYFA is an open, artistic environment that embraces an artist’s right to free speech and expression. NYFA is committed to fostering an environment that promotes safety, respect and inclusivity for all members of our community. Students, faculty and staff are free to express themselves and explore their artistic horizons as they see fit, provided that they remain in compliance with state and federal law, and so long as they can successfully demonstrate that the work discussed/performed/completed was created with artistic intent. NYFA seeks to achieve a balance between protecting the safety and well-being of its students and protecting freedom of speech and constitutional rights of those same students.
To view the entire policy click here.
NYFA students and employees are forbidden from illegally downloading, uploading or sharing pirated material on campus, including, but not limited to, software, torrents, films and television shows. Failure to comply with the institution’s policy will result in disciplinary action.
To view the entire policy click here.
NYFA students and employees must adhere to industry standards and institutional policies regarding copyright laws, with respect to material they wish to produce. For NYFA coursework, students may be advised not to use, or may be prohibited from using, characters, music, and other source material they do not have rights to.
To view the entire policy click here.
The creative works produced by students at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in fulfillment of class assignments, or as individual study projects, with or without NYFA equipment, and with or without extra funds (hereafter called, “Student Works”), have a dual nature. First and foremost, the production of Student Works is intended as an educational experience. However, the product of that educational experience is an item of property that may have a market value for its creator(s) after the end of the program of study.
Each Student Work remains subject to certain restrictions until the educational experience associated with it has been completed. All Student Works are subject to the following ownership policy:
To view the entire policy click here.
This policy protects NYFA students from on-campus advertising, marketing or merchandising of credit cards.
To view the entire policy click here.
These general rules govern everyone on the NYFA campus - students, faculty, staff, and visitors and are designed to ensure the general safety and order of our community.
To view the entire policy click here.