<p>Today, CCM Musical Theater has removed the “cut system” from its curriculum. Effective immediately.</p>
<p>Thank you for posting this info. This is consistent with what was communicated to us while we were at CCM dropping off our s, and also consistent with what our s has shared with us since he has been on campus. (He is a drama major, not MT.)</p>
<p>My D just received this email from CCM. I think it answers many questions...
Our musical theatre faculty have worked very hard over the summer to develop the new evaluation process for all musical theatre students enrolled in the College-Conservatory of Music. For further information about the Musical Theatre policies on evaluation, graduation and participation in the New York showcase, follow the link below: Evaluation</a> and Graduation.</p>
<p>D received this email today, too. She had the above confirmed by a friend of hers that is a freshman at CCM about a week ago as well. She quickly applied and set up an audition date as this was previously not a school on her "list" due to the "cut" system. But now it IS on the list and D is very excited about this school.</p>
<p>I would still bet that if a student doesn't do the work or commits illegal acts or violates school policy , they are still capable of being cut. Likewise, teachers might be required to toughen their grading and provide a "de facto" form of cut due to more kids having unacceptable GPAs. However, I do agree that cuting kids who have a good GPA wasn't the right thing to do.</p>
<p>^^^Taxguy, I have to say that THOSE criteria....not doing the work or doing something illegal or violating school policy would be cause in ANY school for possible dismissal. However, the "cuts" at CCM in the past, went beyond the normal type of college dismissal in an educational setting.</p>
<p>OK--the CCM freshmen students just finished their first term, and completed their second "board" evaluations. They performed for the CCM faculty on arrival in September, and they performed (different material) again at the end of the first term. My son is a DRAMA student. I hope someone with an MT student will post, too, so that others who may be considering CCM will know how it goes.</p>
<p>The initial performance was considered a baseline of sorts. Detailed verbal feedback was given by every one of the faculty. The expectation was that the students would improve over the first term. Each student was give a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" grade, plus detailed verbal feedback after the second performance. They were told in advance that over half of the students (there are 15 in the class) would receive "unsatisfactory" and that, indeed seemed to be the case. They were told not to work to "pass," but to do their best with material selection and performance. While everyone was given feedback from every CCM teacher, the feedback varied a bit. Sometimes it was confusing when considered with the feeback on the first round or with feedback received in class or with feedback received from another teacher. But, this is ART, not SCIENCE. Of course, faculty are available to discuss things further for those who are interested. It was very stressful for my son. </p>
<p>The performance evaluation may not correspond to the grades in class; that is, you can receive an "unsatisfactory" on boards and an A in class. And, an "unsatisfactory," while not easy to hear, does NOT mean you are in danger of being dismissed from the program. There are students in the sophomore class who have yet to receive a "satisfactory" evaluation. It is a mechanism for students to show their abilities and received feedback from a large group on strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>Now, the students were told that if they were in danger of being dismissed, they would be informed of this at the evaluation. Apparently such a recommendation is based on overall performance in the program and not just on performance on boards. Even this is not the end of the road, however, because in the past students were told to begin to look elsewhere for schools, but improved significantly over the next term and remained at CCM.</p>
<p>So, is this a "cut" program? Good question. I'll be watching to see what happens to this class as we go forward.</p>
<p>Other than this evaluation system (which, as I indicated, is stressful, and sometimes confusing), my son loves the CCM drama program, UC, the campus, and the city. So, all is very good for us this holiday season! I hope everyone else has had a wonderful first term at school!</p>
<p>I am not sure where you received your information on the sophomore MT class but unless you are sure of your facts you probably should not post on here. Seeing that your student is a drama major that might be the problem. You stated that there where some sophomores that had yet received a "satisfactory" at boards. If this is true then that student would have been asked to leave at the end of their freshman year as they were the last class to have "cuts" per say. Each of the sophomores have in fact all received satisfactory ratings on their boards. My student IS a sophomore MT major.</p>