Appointments with Administrators
Attire and Conduct
Bulletin Boards and E-mail
Contact Information
Fax Machines
Fire Drills
Food and Beverages
Guests
Guidelines for Online Social Networking
Master Class Guidelines
Personal Property
Photocopying
Publications
Release Requests
Security
Student Information Shelves
Telephones at School
Use of Classrooms and Studios

APPOINTMENTS WITH ADMINISTRATORS
If you wish to speak to the president, please see his executive assistant to make an appointment.

The dean maintains an open-door policy; in addition specific appointments can be made through the receptionist in the Main Building. To speak to the executive vice president or the controller, please make appointments through their offices.

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ATTIRE AND CONDUCT
Appropriate attire is expected to be worn at all times, especially at recitals and concerts and at special social functions. You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. Students must not engage in any conduct that is prohibited by law or that may reflect adversely upon either their reputation or that of Curtis.

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BULLETIN BOARDS AND E-MAIL
At Curtis e-mail and bulletin boards are the primary ways that the administration notifies you of lesson and rehearsal times, new policies, class schedule changes, teacher locations, special events, departmental requirements, and many other occurrences pertinent to your life at the Institute. All students should check their Curtis e-mail regularly, as many important communications are sent that way.

You are responsible at all times for observing bulletin board notices affecting your personal schedule or program. The following are the major bulletin boards that you need to read regularly, with locations and the types of information you can expect to find on each.

Registrar's bulletin board: in the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room, on the wall just outside the registrar's office. Contains lesson times for most teachers, chamber music coaching schedules, graduation information, registration deadlines, the daily room schedule, and anything else that the registrar needs to convey to students.

Orchestra bulletin board: just to the left of the registrar's bulletin board. Contains rehearsal schedules for the orchestra, seating assignments, trip departure times, dress requirements, and anything else that the orchestra staff wants you to know. Used also by the dean, the ticket office, and the library for important announcements.

President's bulletin board: on a stand opposite the entrance to the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room. Your source for announcements about recitals, Tea, policy matters, and other Curtis news.

Vocal studies bulletin boards: on the wall outside of the Opera Studio on the third floor of the Main Building and in the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room to the left of the orchestra administration bulletin board. Contains postings of schedules and other information for singers and vocal accompanists.

Student bulletin boards: near the Student Lounge. Check for information on financial services, career services, community engagement, living, international student advising, health and wellness, and student council.

Student services bulletin board: in the 1718 Building, first-floor rear. The place to go for current information on things to do, student activities, and complimentary-ticket sign-up.

Communications bulletin board: at the foot of the stairs in the 1718 Building. Find the most current information on forthcoming Field Concert Hall recitals and recent articles about Curtis.

Library bulletin boards: on the second- and third-floor landings in the Milton L. Rock Resource Center. You will find information on competitions, fellowships, and awards. Speak with the circulation manager for further information.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
For as long as you are a student at Curtis, you are required to have a working Curtis e-mail address and a telephone in your residence, and you are strongly encouraged to have an answering machine or voice mail, as well. If you change your contact information (at school or at home), please report the change immediately to either the registrar or the director of student services, so that the database can be kept current.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) defines "directory information" as information contained in the education records of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Directory information includes the following: name, sex, date and place of birth, marital status, home and school address, e-mail address, phone number, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees, honors or awards, photograph or video image, the most recent education institution attended, and parents’ names, addresses and phone numbers.

Students may choose at any time to have their directory information marked confidential by submitting a written request to the registrar.

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FAX MACHINES
If you have the permission of the dean or the registrar, you may use a Curtis machine to send a local fax. If you need to send a long-distance fax, you must provide a long-distance calling card.

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FIRE DRILLS
The Philadelphia fire marshal requires that Curtis have fire drills throughout the school year. When you hear the fire alarm, you must leave the building within three minutes. Close all doors and windows, and put out the lights if time permits. When the "all clear" is given, you may return to the building.

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FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Food and beverages may not be taken to any part of the building other than the Student Lounge. As a courtesy to other students, the Student Council asks that you please clean up after eating and/or drinking in the Student Lounge. No food or beverage is allowed in 1720 Locust.

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GUESTS
Guests are welcome at Curtis during regular school hours and are required to sign the guest book at the reception desk in the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room. Having a record of all guests is a requirement for institutional security and maintenance. Guests are not permitted to attend lessons, classes, or student practice.

Students must receive approval from the dean (or, in his absence, the registrar, director of student services, or executive assistant to the president) in order for their guests to be permitted beyond the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room. Only faculty, staff, and students are allowed free access to the practice rooms and areas beyond the Common Room. Guests may be shown the school only if permission has been granted and if they are accompanied by a student or staff member while in the building. Attendance at rehearsals of any kind is subject to approval by the instructor or conductor in charge. Parents may wait for their students in the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room only and are not permitted in practice- or classrooms. In no instance are students permitted to open the basement door to allow entry to the building.

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GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING
Social networking websites, such as Facebook and MySpace, are increasingly popular among university and secondary school students. Curtis students should be aware that social networking sites can pose risks that should be considered carefully by anyone contemplating a post. Items posted on these sites are available for worldwide view by virtually anyone and can circulate long after posting. (Do you really want future employers or colleagues to read later about your activities last weekend, or to read your opinions about another individual, written in a moment of anger?)

The following guidelines are intended to build your awareness of the risks of public exposure on these sites and to promote safety.

1. Do not use any identifying information, such as your name, address, or school name.
2. Do not post photos of yourself.
3. Reference to drugs, alcohol, and sexual behavior should be avoided.
4. Set your web page to "private."
5. Follow Curtis's guidelines for conduct: "You are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. Students must not engage in any conduct that is prohibited by law or that may reflect adversely upon either their reputation or that of Curtis."

Adapted from guidelines drawn up by the Dalton School, New York City.

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MASTER CLASS GUIDELINES
A listing of confirmed master classes is posted in the registrar’s glass case in the Student Lounge and on the second floor bulletin board. Students are required to attend all master classes for their instrument; attendance is taken. Students are strongly encouraged to attend other master classes of interest, as their schedules allow. Major teachers are asked to recommend students to play for the string and piano master classes. For other instruments, usually all students participate. For string and piano master classes, students are contacted via e-mail by the master class coordinator to confirm availability and repertoire. Please respond promptly. If there are any master class questions, contact Elaine Katz.

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PERSONAL PROPERTY
Please leave all coats, hats, books, instruments, etc., in your locker. Do not at any time leave personal property or library materials in the halls, studios, classrooms, coat room, Field Concert Hall, or the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room, as this may result in loss of property or accidents.

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PHOTOCOPYING
Photocopiers for student use are located in the main room of the library's second floor and in the Student Lounge in the 1726 basement. Vending cards to operate these machines are for sale from Patricia Lombardo in the Business Office (1718, second floor), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., payable by cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard.

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PUBLICATIONS
Each Wednesday the communications office distributes Take Note, a bulletin of current Curtis announcements and activities, via e-mail. This office also produces Overtones, the official magazine of The Curtis Institute of Music, two times a year. Copies are available in the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room. Submit news about your recent accomplishments to Jennifer Rycerz.

RELEASE REQUESTS
A release request is an official request to be away from Curtis during the semester. Blank release requests are available from the registrar.

You must submit a completed release request -- signed by your major teacher and any other pertinent faculty members--for any of the following reasons:
1) You anticipate being absent from Curtis for any reason during the term.
2) You are participating in any public performance not sponsored by the school (this includes performance jobs arranged by Curtis) between September 4 and commencement, May 17.
3) You plan to apply for a position or teach, either privately or in connection with other institutions.

Because school and class schedules often must be altered on very short notice, Curtis needs to know in advance when you plan to be away and why. You must submit a release request even when you foresee no apparent conflict with school activities, classes, or lessons. In order to take makeup tests or quizzes, you must have been released from the class you originally missed.

Since release requests require the signature of your major teacher(s) and the teacher(s) of whatever class(es) you might miss, you should begin circulating them early. Return your completed release requests to the registrar at least ten days prior to your absence/performance but not more than sixty days in advance. The registrar will then present the requests to the dean for approval.

If your release request is approved, the registrar keeps it on file; if approval is denied, the registrar returns the form to you. Curtis reserves the right to deny approval if such action is warranted. Academic difficulties are a sufficient reason for faculty members to refuse to sign your release requests. If you have not processed a release request and a lesson is posted that you cannot make because of an outside commitment, that lesson cannot be rescheduled.

Career-oriented activities such as major solo performances and auditions will receive priority when release requests are submitted for consideration.

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SECURITY
A photo ID is issued to all Curtis students. Please carry it with you at all times and keep it easily accessible to speed your entry to 1726 Locust Street and the Rock Resource Center at 1720 Locust Street, where the security guard is required to ask for photo identification.

Students who must visit 1718 Locust Street for classes, meetings, or work-study will be buzzed into the building by the guard at 1726 Locust Street, who monitors the entrance by digital video camera. If you are not recognized, you may be asked to visit 1726 Locust Street briefly for an ID check. If you have lost your Curtis photo ID, contact the director of student services and financial assistance immediately to obtain a new one.

On occasion guards making their rounds at night or on weekends will need to lock the inner doors to 1726 Locust Street. In every case, they will post a notice indicating when they will return. The vestibule will remain open so no one is required to wait on the street in inclement weather or after dark.

Please cooperate with our security staff as they carry out their required procedures to ensure your safety and that of the entire Curtis community.

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STUDENT INFORMATION SHELVES
Information and application forms for financial aid and on-campus employment, as well as timesheets for student workers, are available on the student information shelves located in the Student Lounge vestibule.

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TELEPHONES AT SCHOOL
To make a local call, you may use the phones either in the Student Lounge or in the hallway on the third floor of the Main Building. For long-distance calls, please use the pay phone in the hallway on the main floor of the 235 Building or in the basement hallway of the Main Building. Staff and Faculty Lounge telephones are not to be used by students. Please also note that cell phone use is not permitted in any of the public spaces at Curtis, including the Gary and Naomi Graffman Common Room.

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USE OF STUDIOS AND CLASSROOMS
Curtis students are not allowed to teach private lessons in Curtis studios or classrooms when school is in session from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends and at other times not specified above, students may teach if they have written permission from the dean (or another senior staff member, the registrar, or the director of student services) on file at the 1726 security desk. Permission will be granted on a case-by-case, one-time-only basis.

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