Student Resources

The Key Points

When in doubt, check the MCAD Student Handbook or the MCAD Intranet. The Student Handbook covers everything you need to know about being a student at MCAD, while the Intranet connects you to all of your MCAD Services, Resources, and Utilities (like Gmail, Canvas, and myMCAD).
While you're enrolled as a Student at MCAD, you have access to a plethora of Services and Resources to help with your academic, professional—and post-graduation!—development. Check out the MCAD Resources section of the Intranet for a comprehensive list of all of the services and resources that exist to support your development.
Bookmark the Academic Calendar, so you can keep track of important dates throughout the Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters. The MCAD Events Page is a great resource to keep up-to-date with gallery exhibitions, visiting artists lectures, and other MCAD community events.

Want to get specific? look around below!

Where Do I Find...

The Intranet + Student Handbook

Everything you need to know and more about being a student at MCAD and living on or around campus can be found in the Student Handbook. You can always find the most up-to-date version of the Student Handbook listed under the "Handbooks" section of the Student Affairs Intranet Page.

Speaking of the Intranet...The MCAD Intranet is your inside source to all campus information. This includes access to News and Events, MCAD Resources, which provides access to all campus departments and their information (like hours, location, contact info, resources, staff, and answers to questions). A full Directory that lists all offices and provides a search box for specific Staff, Faculty, or Student names. Finally, the Knowledge Base, which is a gathering of questions and answers on practically everything having to do with MCAD.

While we've provided a direct link to the Student Handbook below, why not see if you can find it on your own by opening the MCAD Intranet, navigating to MCAD Resources, and finding the Student Affairs Intranet listing.

Helpful Links

Student Resources

Student Resources

Learn about some of the resource departments on campus and the staff who are part of them by checking out the links below. The following is a small list; remember that you can see a full list of MCAD resource departments on the Intranet. You will also find out more about departments during our Orientation Sessions.

Some Resources Offered...

Student Services

Student Services

Learn about some of the student services offered on campus and the staff who are part of them by checking out the links below. The following is a small list; remember that you can see a full list of MCAD resource departments on the Intranet. You will also find out more about departments during our Orientation Sessions.

Some Services Offered...

Art Cellar
The Art Cellar is operated by the college as a convenient and affordable source of books and materials primarily for MCAD students but also open to the public. It is a non-profit store with discounted prices and all profits going to fund MCAD student scholarships. Some products include: oil paint, mediums, brushes, canvas, acrylic paint, inks, tempera, watercolors, pencils, charcoal, fine papers, sketchbooks, mat board, and light office supplies.
Library
Our library holds 50,000 volumes, 1,700 CDs and DVDs, a slide library of 145,000 images, and subscriptions to hundreds of periodicals, as well as an interlibrary loan system and online database through the Library Catalog.
Media Center
The Media Center provides technology and equipment for MCAD students, faculty, and staff. Students can check out equipment to use for their course work. The MCAD Media Center has thousands of items that can be utilized—much too much to be listed here!
Service Bureau
The Service Bureau provides color and black-and-white copies and laser prints, high-quality color inkjet prints up to 44" wide, scanning, book binding, disc printing and duplication, and more at an extremely affordable price in our on-campus facility. To pay for your prints, a PaperCut account will be set up automatically along with all your MCAD logins.

Records, Academic Advising & Registration

Classes + Registration

The Records Office takes care of just that—all of your academic records! They keep track of all information concerning your enrollment/registration, classes, grades, majors, and transcripts. They also provide advice for making the most of your Academic Advising sessions. Find answers for some of the questions about these items in the FAQ below.

FAQ

Q: How can I best prepare for registration?

A: The best way to prepare for registration is to pay attention to any email communication, announcements on the intranet, and posters put up around campus concerning advising and registration. They will often contain important dates, times, and guidelines that will ensure that your registration goes smoothly.

Q: What is the attendance policy?

A: Check class attendance policy in the Student Handbook. Individual course expectations will be given to you on the first day of class. Please see your professor with any questions.

Q: How many credits can I take in a semester?

A: Students can take up to 18 credits per semester. Any number of credits over 18 per semester is considered an overload. You must meet GPA requirements and have special approval to attempt an overload. Contact Records for more details.

Additionally, most students will take 12-15 credits per semester. If a student takes 15 credits per semester, they will graduate within a 4 year timeline. It is not generally recommended to take more than 15 credits per semester. Please see your advisor if you wish to take more than 15 credits per semester to discuss all options.

Q: Where can I find information about registration, such as the course catalog or registration dates?

A: Registration information can be found on myMCAD. Just log in to my.mcad.edu and click on the Registration Info tab, then follow the appropriate links for further information on registration (e.g. advising/registration guides, course catalog, course search, etc.).

Q: How do I look at the courses offered for next semester?

A: The course catalog for the next semester is released towards the end of the current semester. Once released, this can be accessed on myMCAD. You can use the course search function under the Registration Info tab to search for open courses and view courses that are full or closed. This is updated in real time.

Q: How do I drop a course during add/drop week?

A: You will need to complete an Add/Drop form with the Records Office on MyMCAD, under the Registration tab. Dropping a course does not require a signature during add/drop week. If you are dropping credits without adding any credits to replace them, you will also need to obtain initials from Financial Aid before the course is dropped – this will ensure that dropping credits will not have a negative impact on your aid.

Q: How do I add a course during add/drop week?

A: You will need to complete an Add/Drop form in the Registration tab of myMCAD. Adding a course requires approval from the instructor of the course. Email the professor and CC records@mcad.edu.

Q: Can I still drop a course after add/drop week?

A: Yes, you can still drop a course after add/drop week. This is referred to as a withdrawal, which will result in a “W” grade for the course and will be subject to a $30.00 withdrawal fee (“W” grades do NOT affect GPA). This requires a digital signature from the instructor of the course, and your advisor. There is a deadline for withdrawals as well; please check the Academic Calendar for details. Please note, courses that start later in the semester will have their own “add/drop” week - the first week that the class meets.

Q: How can I see my grades?

A: Grades are posted on myMCAD (my.mcad.edu) after courses end and final grades are received and processed for the preceding semester. This will be visible on the Academic Info tab, using the transcript and grade report module. Grades may also be posted on Canvas or Blackboard, depending on the nature of the course.

Keeping Up With Key Dates & Events

Key events and dates for the year can be found on the MCAD websites below. You can also find many of these dates in the MCAD Student Planner, which is available in the Learning Center. Looking for more art events out in the community? Check out mnartists.org and mplsart.com!