Student Handbook & Catalog

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Vol. 2. No. 1 March 11, 2014

The Global Center for Advanced Studies

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The Global Center for Advanced Studies 4417 Broadmoor Ave SE

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512

contact@globaladvancedstudies.org 00 +1 (616) 439-1338

http://www.globaladvancedstudies.org

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Welcome to the Global Center for Advanced Studies.

The Global Center for Advanced Studies is a new higher education institution created over the past year by over one hundred world-renowned scholars dedicated to the inseparability of theory and practice. From North America to South Asia and from South Africa to Western Europe, the professors and students of the GCAS have converged to respond to the global corporate takeover of the university and more importantly, to begin to develop alternatives to the numerous crises that have subverted the power of critical thinking, intellectual exploration and active public engagement over the course of the past three decades.

Here are a few of the crises the GCAS seeks to begin to address:

1- Skyrocketing tuition costs: rising 1,120% since 1978, while real income has declined.1

2- Skyrocketing student loan debt: now over $1,000,000,000.2

3- Skyrocketing postgraduate unemployment: 53.6% are now unemployed or underemployed.3 4- Skyrocketing use of adjuncts: 75% of faculty are now low-paid and temporary.4

5- Skyrocketing use of administrators: administrators now outnumber professors by 125,000.5

6- Skyrocketing pay of administrators: most are now paid between $300,000-3,000,000/yr.6.

In addition to the more general impact of short-sighted policy decisions, the overuse and overpayment of administrators specifically, is one central force that continues to propel skyrocketing tuition costs, student debt and the reliance upon low-paid, temporary adjuncts in higher education. It is also implicated in the mounting unemployment and underemployment of recent college graduates, given that many of these expanding administrations have failed to listen not only to their own professors and students who are positioned much closer to both the everyday life of the classroom and the realities of the post-crisis job market, but even the very employers they claim to reform the university in the interest of.

In a survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) just after the onset of the economic crisis, 81% of employers said that critical thinking and effective communication skills were the single most important tools they now sought in applicants.7 This is hardly a surprise: today, of course, the ability to search out facts, figures and definitions that were once memorized is available to anyone, regardless of education, while technical abilities can often be acquired on-the-job, when needed. But those who attain the ability to critically compare possible alternatives, to actively rather than passively engage the world and to analyze rather than only cite facts, are also those who are most capable of confronting the crises of the early 21st century: whether on-the-job or protesting in the streets.

Other skills ranked highly in the AAC&U survey include “integrative learning”, the ability to “locate, organize and evaluate information from multiple sources”, understanding the implications of “new developments in science and technology”, and the “ability to innovate and be creative.” Finally, the need for an understanding of “personal and social responsibility”, the ability to “connect choices and actions to ethical decisions”, the capacity to “collaborate with others in diverse groups settings”, and to cultivate a sense of “the role of the US in the world” as well as “cultural diversity in America and other countries,” all figured highly as well.

1 M. Jamrisko and I. Kolet “Cost of College Degree in US Soaars 12 Fold: Chart of the Day” Bloomberg August 15, 2012.

2C. Weinberg “Federal Student-Loan Debt Crosses $1-Trillion Threshold” The Chronicle of Higher Education July 17, 2013

3 J. Weissmann “53% of Recent College Grads are Jobless or Underemployed – How?” The Atlantic, April 23, 2012

4 Coalition on the Academic Workforce “A Portrait of Part-Time Faculty Members” June 2012

5 B. Ginsberg The Fall of the Faculty: The Rise of the All-Administrative University (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013)

6 The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources,“2012-13 Administrators in Higher Education Salary Survey”

7 American Association of Colleges and Universities “Raising the Bar: Employers' Views on College Learning in the Wake of the Economic Downturn”Available: http://www.aacu.org/leap/documents/2009_EmployerSurvey.pdf

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Taking all of this into account then, the ironies clearly abound. What the GCAS proposes as an alternative is a new model for higher education in which the administration, not the faculty or students, are called upon to operate on a leaner budget. Championing the new, more horizontal model introduced by Occupy Wall Street, GCAS expands upon the best of what the academy has offered historically, while introducing new approaches to new problems, both in partnership with the more innovative higher education institutions that currently exist and independently, on our own.

Here are a few of the ways in which the GCAS seeks to begin to provide an alternative:

1- Our base tuition cost will be $500 per course, $5,000 per year: 1/8th the cost of elite universities.2- Our students' loan needs will be minimal: low tuition=low/no loans.3- Our postgraduates benefit from both in-study internships and after-study placement assistance.8 4- Our faculty are doubly-secure: most are already employed as professors externally to the GCAS.5- Our administration is minimal: all administrators are “professor-administrators”.6- Our top administrators are paid less than half the typical administrative salary.

Of course, administrative growth is not the only, or even the most central cause of skyrocketing tuition costs, mounting student debt, reliance upon low-paid, temporary adjuncts or rising unemployment and underemployment of recent college graduates. The main causes of the crisis in higher education are far more general, deriving primarily from the neoliberal policy agenda and its idealist presuppositions about how economies function. This then, is why GCAS seeks to operate from a position of the inseparability of theory and practice.

All of our students, regardless of which foci they choose, will pass through our gateway courses in critical theory and policy analysis, so as to emphasize the link between mind and matter, philosophy and the world in which we will live the rest of our lives. Then, after passing through in-residence courses and prior to receiving a diploma, each GCAS student will again foreground the inseparability of theory and practice by rounding out their studies with an internship, arranged between the student, a relevant institution and the GCAS administration. In this way, students become prepared not only for the realities of the post-crisis job market, but also become capable of thinking through, analyzing and transforming the world that created the situation in which we all find ourselves today.

At present, GCAS offers courses that are transferable for credit towards degreeds through our partnering institutions and schools: however, we are already starting the process of becoming fully accredited so as to issue our own MA/PhD degrees. Beyond that though, the real value of GCAS lies in the opportunities and the confidence of belonging to a community committed to the ideas, the arts, literature, the social sciences, philosophy and theology open us up to fighting for a better future for everyone. That is why our global social network already provides opportunities to change the world through writing, activism, the arts, media, film, journalism, teaching, and creating new ways to live a life dedicated to a vision of the world in which a better future that can be lived together with hope, community, and justice.

We hope that you will join us.

Dr. Jason Adams and Dr. Creston Davis, Co-DirectorsThe Global Center for Advanced Studies

8Indeed, as one recent study showed, even while only 8% on average had done so, 80% of employers prefer recent graduates to have completed an internship. M.

White “The Real Reason New College Grads Can't Get Hired” Time Magazine, November 10, 2013

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Names of the Governing Bodies (Statement of Ownership)

The Global Center for Advanced Studies is owned by The Global Center for Advanced Studies, Inc.

Board of Directors

Dr. Jason Adams & Dr. Creston Davis

Interim President: Dr. Dorothea Olkowski (Ph.D.)Co-Directors: Dr. Jason Adams (Ph.D.) & Dr. Creston Davis (Ph.D.)Academic Dean: Dr. Jason Adams (2013-2014)Dean of Student & Faculty Affairs: Dr. Creston Davis (2013-2014)Treasurer: Atty. Robert E. Goodrich

Advisory Committee:

Dr. Creston Davis (Co-Director)Dr. Jason Adams (Co-Director)Atty. Robert E. Goodrich (Treasurer)

The Structure of the Global Center for Advanced Studies (GCAS) and Faculty

The Global Center for Advanced Studies is organized to train and teach students to become masters of both critical theory as well as in policy studies. Critical theory trains students to not just think critically about logic, the organization of social, political and economic power, history, ideology, and various forms of injustices functioning in the world today, but to also give students the tools to enact and apply critical thinking into local and global communities in which we function. Thinking critically is only one goal that we seek to achieve, but left to itself it remains powerless unless it is applied to concert situations and struggles for justice. That is why our curriculum requires students to apply critical thinking in two ways: First by taking a seminar course, CTPS: 701: “The Introduction to Policy Studies, Research, and Application.” Second, each student is required to successfully complete an internship.

The GCAS not only has the best faculty in the world for critical theory, but also has a vast wealth of global social networking resources to place students into unique and precise internship experiences that address social change and gives the student invaluable experience applying critical theory to everyday reality.

The GCAS has organized eight institutes within our school and one common “Think Tank.” These institutes reflect our desire to provide the world’s best comprehensive graduate school in critical theory and policy studies as well as specialized applied areas of research as reflected in our eight institutions and areas of scholarship. [Note: we are currently developing the Sports Studies and Science Studies Institutes].

(1) Critical Philosophy(2) Policy Studies(3) Media Studies(4) Critical Theology (5) Neuroanalysis(6) Global Studies(7) Sports Studies (8) Science Studies

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GCAS Institute for Critical Philosophy

(with internships in Higher Education Teaching, Higher Education Administration and Policy Analysis)

Jason Adams * Vidhu Aggarwal * Alain Badiou * Gopal Balakrishnan * Daniel Coluccielo Barber *Agata Bielik-Robson * Ward Blanton * Kevin Boileau * Elias Bongmba * Bruno Bosteels * Arianna Bove * Rosi Braidotti * Drew Burk * John D. Caputo * Paolo Cascone * Ania Chromik * Joan Copjec * Simon Critchley * Clayton Crockett * Creston Davis * Arif Dirlik * Enrique Dussel * Farhang Erfani * Bracha Ettinger * Tom Eyers * Rocco Gangle * Antonio Garcia * Priyamvada Gopal * Adam Graves * Mike Grimshaw * Dave Hale * Azfar Hussain * Michael Jackson * Jan Jagodzinski * Adrian Johnston * Richard Kearney * Katerina Kolozova * Francois Laruelle * Alvin Cheng-Hin Lim * Catherine Liu * Paul Livingston * Catherine Malabou * Jeff Malpas * John Maus * Achille Mbembe * Nandita Biswas Mellamphy * John Milbank * Tracy McNulty * Thomas Nail * Antonio Negri * Saul Newman * Dorothea Olkowski * Samson Opondo * Peter Y. Paik * Davide Panagia * Jussi Parrika * Marcus Pound * Prasad Pannian * Denise Prince * Patrick Provost-Smith Jasbir Puar * Michael O’Rourke * Kenneth Reinhard * Joshua Ramey * Carl Raschke * Jeffrey W. Robbins * Laurie Rodrigues * Peter Rollins * Avital Ronell * Duane Rouselle * Mary-Jane Rubenstein* Michael J. Shapiro * Wolfgang Schirmacher * Daniel W. Smith * Kenneth Surin * Victor E. Taylor * Peter Thompson * Tzuchien Tho * Noelle Vahanian * Gianni Vattimo * Hent de Vries Rachel K. Ward * Janell Watson * Santiago Zabala * Slavoj Zizek

GCAS Institute for Policy Studies(with internships in Higher Education Pedagogy, Higher Education Administration and Policy Analysis)

Jason Adams* Creston Davis* Azfar Hussain* Katerina Kolozova* Thomas Nail

GCAS Institute for Media Studies

(With internships in Higher Education Pedagogy, Higher Education Administration, Broadcast Media Management, Social Media Management, Policy Analysis and Journalism)

Jason Adams * Arianna Bove * Rosi Braidotti * Drew Burk * Enrique Dussel * Bracha Ettinger * Azfar Hussain * Katerina Kolozova * Francois Laruelle * Alvin Cheng-Hin Lim * John Maus * Lisa Nakamura * Samson Opondo * Davide Panagia * Jussi Parrika * Jasbir Puar * Avital Ronell * Michael J. Shapiro * Wolfgang Schirmacher * Peter Thompson * Santiago Zabala * Slavoj Zizek

GCAS Institute for Critical Theology

(with internships in Higher Education Pedagogy, Higher Education Administration and Policy Analysis)

Alain Badiou * Daniel Coluccielo Barber * Agata Bielik-Robson * John D. Caputo * Simon Critchley * Clayton Crockett * Creston Davis * Enrique Dussel * Richard Kearney * John Maus * John Milbank * Patrick Provost-Smith * Kenneth Reinhard * Carl Raschke * Jeffrey W. Robbins * Laurie Rodrigues * Peter Rollins * Avital Ronell * Duane Rouselle * Mary-Jane Rubenstein Michael J. Shapiro * Wolfgang Schirmacher * Daniel W. Smith * Martin Strel * Kenneth Surin * Victor E. Taylor * Peter Thompson * Gianni Vattimo * Hent de Vries Rachel K. Ward * Janell Watson * Margaret Young * Santiago Zabala * Slavoj Zizek

GCAS Institute for Neuroanalysis

(with internships in Higher Education Administration, Counseling, and Policy Analysis)

Jason Adams Alain Badiou * Franco Berardi * Daniel Coluccielo Barber * Drew Burk * Joan Copjec * Clayton Crockett * Bracha * Creston Davis Ettinger * Rocco Gangle * Mike Grimshaw * Azfar Hussain * Adrian Johnston * Katerina Kolozova * Catherine Malabou * Achille Mbembe * Tracy McNulty * Saul Newman * Marcus Pound * Kenneth Reinhard * Joshua Ramey* Avital Ronell * Duane Rouselle * Michael J. Shapiro * Daniel W. Smith * Kenneth Surin * Tzuchien Tho *Janell Watson *Slavoj Zizek

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GCAS Institute for Global Studies

(With internships in Higher Education Pedagogy, Higher Education Administration, Policy Analysis and International Communication)

Vidhu Aggarwal * Gopal Balakrishnan * Agata Bielik-Robson * Elias Bongmba * Bruno Bosteels * Rosi Braidotti * Arif Dirlik * Enrique Dussel * Farhang Erfani * Priyamvada Gopal * Azfar Hussain * Michael Jackson * Katerina Kolozova * Francois Laruelle * Alvin Cheng-Hin Lim * Catherine Liu * Achille Mbembe * Samson Opondo * Davide Panagia * Prasad Pannian * Jasbir Puar * Michael J. Shapiro * Tzuchien Tho * Noelle Vahanian * Santiago Zabala

GCAS Institute for Sports Studies

(with internships in Higher Education Pedagogy, Higher Education Administration, Sports Management, and Policy Analysis)

Creston Davis * Alain Robert * Martin Strel * Dakota Jones * Christopher Haley

*We are actively recruiting professional athletes and sport & adventure specialist.

GCAS Institute for Science Studies(with internships in Higher Education Pedagogy, Higher Education Administration, Sports Management, and Policy Analysis)

Catalogue of Seminars and Course Descriptions: 2014 Academic Year

The GCAS is firmly grounded in both critical theory as well as in policy studies thus balancing out both the theoretical as well as the material application of studies. The GCAS offers one diploma in critical theory and policy studies, but there are eight different foci of study corresponding to eight institutes within the GCAS. The student will declare (or “major”) in one or more foci including: (1) Critical Philosophy; (2) Policy Studies; (3) Media Studies; (4) Critical Theology; (5) Neuroanalysis; (6) Global Studies; (7) Sports Studies; and (8) Science Studies. Our curriculum functions in the following three (3) phases: (1) Gateway Seminars; (2) Advanced Studies (focused electives); and (3) Capstone Studies (thesis/exam/internship). Each student must take three (3) Gateway seminars, which unite and ground our curriculum firmly in both critical theory as well as in policy studies. After the student successfully completes the Gateway seminars they will then take five (5) electives in their focused concentration of study. Finally, the student will consummate their studies by taking one more course, and an internship. For the final “Capstone course” the student can either write a thesis, or take an advanced independent study with a required examination. Because the GCAS believes that theory and critical thinking should not be isolated the student is required to complete their studies by completing an internship, which includes a paper.

Internships: Studies have shown that internships dramatically increase employment opportunities in both traditional and non-traditional jobs. Therefore we are requiring that all students seeking a diploma (with the exception of professors and faculty fellows) must complete an internship. Drawing on our vast social networks, the GCAS will help organize tailored internships for each student organized by each student’s gifts, desires, and abilities as we match them up to social, political, and academic organizations including providing the resources for creating new non-profit businesses and organizations.

Here is an example of the GCAS curriculum program-outline for a diploma, which can be completed within one year or over the course of several years depending on the student’s needs and schedule. This is also the outline for our Masters of Arts degree program, upon receiving accreditation. Our Doctorate in Philosophy program will be based on this curriculum program and is forthcoming.

Note: The elective courses (i.e., 801, 802, 803, 804, & 805) are (a) taken in residence; and (b) are focused on the student’s focus (“major”), i.e., Science Studies, Policy Studies, Critical Theology, etc.

CTPS: 501: Critical Theory 1: A Survey CTPS: 601: Critical Theory 2: The Breakout

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CTPS: 701: Introduction to Policy Studies, Research, and Application801: Elective 1802: Elective 2803: Elective 3804: Elective 4805: Elective 5901: Capstone Research, Thesis902: Capstone Research, Independent Study/Exam950: Internship

*CTPS 999: Creating a Non-Profit Institution

* Optional

The Gateway Seminars will be taught each academic year at least once.

CTPS: 501: Critical Theory 1: A Survey—This course will serve as an introduction to Critical Theory. The course will identify, characterize and develop the basic themes as well as the historical contexts and ideas that shape Critical Theory, Philosophy, Theology & Religion, as well as core concepts to Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and Policy Studies. It will begin with Immanuel Kant and conclude with the Frankfurt School.

CTPS: 602: Critical Theory 2: The Breakout—This course is designed to further develop the student’s knowledge of the basic themes and historical knowledge of Critical Theory, Philosophy, Theology & Religion, as well as core concepts to Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, and Policy Studies. It will do chronologically and thematically beginning with the Frankfurt School and conclude with Post-Continental (i.e., Euro-centric) studies with particular focus on Post-Marxism, Post-Colonialism, Post-Queer, and Post-Gender and Race theory.

CTPS: 701: Introduction to Policy Studies, Research & Application—This course is designed to introduce students to researching policy studies in such areas as sociology, international law & business, economics, politics, journalism, media and communication, military interventions, and corporate monopolies.

801: Elective 1—seminar [in residence]802: Elective 2—seminar [in residence]803: Elective 3—seminar [in residence]804: Elective 4—seminar [in residence]805: Elective 5—seminar [in residence]

Electives:

Electives are taken as in residence seminars of which there are several options each year. For specific options see the GCAS academic calendar schedule below. Students will take the seminars with a focus on their declared area of specialization (i.e., critical theory & policy studies, critical theology, neuroanalysis, etc.).

After the completion of phase 1 (the Gateway seminars), and phase 2 (focused electives on a declared area of study), students will then complete their studies in the following two ways:

The first route is to take 901: Capstone Research, Thesis. This path is a guided research project that results in a graded “masters thesis”. The master’s thesis is an original work of research (or equivalent artistic expression), which is submitted in partial fulfillment for the GCAS Critical Theory & Policy Studies diploma. A thesis advisory committee will be comprised of the thesis director (to be chosen from the faculty), and one or both directors (i.e., Prof. Jason Adams & Prof. Creston Davis). A thesis must be at least 35,000 words in length (or equivalent determined by the Academic Dean) and approved by your thesis

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advisory committee. The thesis will be evaluated by the committee and determined if it (a) passes; (b) fails; or (c) needs revision. In some instances the thesis may be recommended to pass with “distinction.” This honor will be judged and bequeathed by the Academic Dean.

The second route is to take 902: Capstone Research, Independent Study/Exam. This path is a guided independent research study directed by a chosen faculty member and must meet the requisite standards for three (3) credit hours of study. In addition, as a replacement for writing a master’s thesis, the student will take a comprehensive examination that covers the general field of Critical Theory & Policy Studies as well as the specific field the student declares. The student will have four hours to complete three essays examination questions, which will be graded by the Academic Dean. Any questions about this examination should be directed to the Academic Dean.

After phase three is completed, the student must past the 950: Internship requirement worth three (3) credit hours. The Internship is a crucial aspect of the GCAS as it applies critical theory to specific and concrete situations. The Internship can be designed by the student or by the GCAS Internship Assistant (and/or a culmination of both parties). In either case, the Internship must be approved by the Academic Dean. A requirement for the Internship is a written reflection on the student’s experiences, the specifications of which will be determined by the Academic Dean.

Once the student has successfully completed all three phases of the program, they will be awarded a Global Center for Advanced Studies diploma.

In addition, students are encouraged to consider taking the CTPS: 999 course, “Creating a Non-Profit Business,” which is voluntary. Taking this course will guide students into creating, organizing, and filing for a Non-Profit Business such as a 501 (c) (3) which will put into practice the GCAS mission into different sectors of society around the globe.

Possible Electives:

CTPS: 1101: Radical Theology—March 2-9, 2013. Professors John D. Caputo, Peter Rollins, Jason Adams, & Creston Davis

The following schedule is contingent upon approval from the Michigan Department of Education.

GCAS Seminar Schedule for 2013-2014

2013:

November: Application Open for Enrollment

November: Registration Open for 2014 CTPS 501, CTPS 602, CTPS 701 (Spring Term Seminars).

November: Registration Open for 2014 CTPS 1101

November: Registration Open for 2014 Denver Summer Institute I

December: Registration Open for 2014 Michigan Summer Institute II

January 1: Registration Open for 2014 (Rocky Mountain Seminar)

January 1: Registration Open for 2014 Paris Seminars (September XX)

February 1: Registration Open for 2014 London Seminar (September XX

February 1: Registration Open for 2014 Krakow Seminar (XX)

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February 1: Registration Open for 2014 CTPS 702: Introduction to Policy Studies, Research and Analysis Seminar

March 1: Registration Open for 2014 Mexico City Seminar (XX)2014:

January CTPS: 501: Critical Theory 1: A SurveyMarch CTPS: 602: Critical Theory 2: The BreakoutJanuary-December CTPS 701: Individual Research Topics (independent study)March 2-9 CTPS 1101: Radical Theology May CTPS 901: Advanced Critical Studies November CTPS 801: Critical Pedagogy December CTPS 702: Policy Studies

June-July: Denver Summer Institute in Critical Philosophy and Critical Theology

Simon CritchleyFrancois LaruelleKaterina KolozovaRosi BraidottiGianni VattimoDrew BurkCreston DavisJason AdamsSantiago ZabalaPeter RollinsSlavoj ZizekAlain BadiouBruno Bosteels

Specific courses & times TBA

Grand Rapids Summer Institute in Media Studies and Global Studies

Rocky Mountain/Philosophy & Adventure seminar: Late July, 2014 Creston Davis

Paris Seminars: Sept 1-21 Antonio Negri, Creston Davis, Jason Adams, Tzuchien Tho, etc.

Krakow Seminar: Last week in September, 2014

Calendar of School Holidays: At present there are no scheduled holidays

Enrollment dates and entrance requirements for each program.

The GCAS has a rolling-admissions policy. This means that we accept applications every day of the year for every program. Because it takes time to carefully review each application we ask that the student apply as early as possible and no less than one week prior to the start date of each seminar or course. The start date will be clearly identified on our website next to the requisite seminar/course.

Because the GCAS understands it’s nature as most fundamentally serving the public good, our seminars are open to any applicant over the age of eighteen (18) (with few exceptions) and so long as the tuition is paid and the student is in good standing. A GCAS student is someone who has enrolled in any seminar and/or has paid the annual tuition fees. Our calendar year begins January 1 and ends December 31, thus our academic year is identical to the calendar year.

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There are different categories for student enrollment including but not limited to the following:

Diploma-Seeking Student: this is a student who seeks to complete a diploma issued by the GCAS. Students seeking a diploma must meet the requirements for entrance into this program. For entrance requirements please see below (Admission Requirements, page 12).

Professional Development/Faculty Fellow: this is a Faculty Fellow who seeks to complete one or more seminars for the purposes of developing or refreshing their knowledge in a particular field of study (i.e., philosophy, critical theory, art history, etc.). To become a Faculty Fellow an applicant must meet the requirements for consideration. For these requirements please see below (Admission Requirements, page 12).

General Public Interest: This is a student or Faculty Fellow who may wish to enroll in one or more seminars for personal development and enhancement. The only requirement for taking a seminar under this category is that the applicant must be over eighteen years of age (with few exceptions) and be in good standing with the GCAS.

Student Note: The GCAS is not yet authorized to grant degrees, but through our partnerships (such as our partnership with the Institute for Social Sciences and the Humanities-Skopje, page 9) students who successfully complete seminars and courses offered at the GCAS may ask our partnering credit and degree granting institutions for credit and/or a degree. Once the GCAS has successfully completed our accreditation assessment then the GCAS will honor all successfully completed work taken at the GCAS (and partnering institutions), seminars and/or courses relative to MA/D.Phil./Ph.D. degrees.

Policy relative to absences, leaves, tardiness, make-up work, and suspension for unsatisfactory work or attendance and re-entrance conditions

Our policy for absences, tardiness, and make-up work will be clearly delineated on each seminar/course syllabus.

If a student seeks a leave-of-absence they must request this in writing to the Dean of Students & Faculty.

A GCAS student can be suspended for unsatisfactory work if they fail to meet the requirements delineated on the seminar/course syllabus.

A former GCAS student may apply for re-admittance one year after they have been dismissed for not being in good standing or other reasons. The re-admittance decision will be made by the Dean of Students & Faculty Affairs. The application for re-admittance will be the same one as the original application located on our website.

A student may be dismissed for violating the law or student conduct policies. A student may appeal the decision of the Dean of Students & Faculty Affairs. In this case a committee will be formed from the volunteers of the GCAS faculty who will meet and deliberate the student’s case. They will make a recommendation to the Dean of Students & Faculty Affairs who will then make the final decision.

Grading

Student Performance & Evaluation

The GCAS believes the traditional grading system (A, B, C etc.) is too impersonal and too susceptible to dishonest feedback about a student’s performance, gifts and abilities with respect to the seminar material. As a consequence, the GCAS grading system will be based on a detailed written evaluation of the student’s strengths and a detailed analysis on aspects that the student could improve upon. The student will be informed if her or his performance did not satisfactorily meet the requirements. These requirements will be clearly identified on each syllabus and provided to the students at the beginning of each seminar and course.

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Rules of student conduct and conditions for probation or dismissal

A GCAS student must conduct themselves within the parameters of decency and respect and be in good standing. If a student violates the law they may be dismissed. Under some conditions if a student’s conduct is thought to be out of order they may be placed on probation. A student’s probation will be spelled out clearly to them by the Dean of Students & Faculty Affairs.

Whether credit is allowed for previous education and training

Under some conditions a student may be allowed to submit previous course work for GCAS credit, which will be considered by the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean may grant previous work as credit for GCAS seminars/courses. Certified transcripts are required along with previous course syllabus/syllabi and must be supplied to the Dean of Academic Affairs for her/his consideration. If a student seeks a GCAS diploma they may not transfer other previously taken courses (with few exceptions).

Equipment to be furnished by the school (or rented)

The GCAS will commonly and routinely rent out classroom or lecture hall space for assigned seminars. In each instant, the GCAS will provide a venue that has been certified by public officials and regulators as a designated safe space, unless such laws do not apply.

Certificate & Diploma

A student or attendee receives a GCAS Certificate by successfully completing CTCS 501 Critical Theory I, CTCS 601 Critical Theory II, and at least one seminar course with one or more of our faculty members. If the attendee is enrolling as a Professional Development/Faculty Fellow, CTCS 501 and CTCS 601 requirements may be waived, at the discretion of the Academic Dean, thereby potentially reducing the overall cost.

At present, the tuition cost for a GCAS certificate is $1250 (with one seminar course: additional seminar courses are assessed at a rate of $500 each), unless contracts with our partners require higher fees. In such cases, students must also pay the difference between the GCAS base tuition rate and the increased tuition rate resulting from our contract, in order to attend those seminar courses.

A student graduates with a GCAS diploma by successfully completing CTCS 501 Critical Theory I, CTCS 601 Critical Theory II, and six residential seminar courses with our faculty members. These may be done either with an established GCAS concentration (Critical Philosophy, Critical Theology, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, etc.), or by assembling your own concentration, which must be approved by the Dean of Student and Faculty Affairs. The diploma bequeaths the recipient with lifelong membership to the GCAS.

At present, the tuition cost for a GCAS Diploma is $5000, unless contracts with our partners require higher fees. In such cases, students must also pay the difference between the GCAS base tuition rate and the increased tuition rate resulting from our contract, in order to attend those seminar courses.

After an enrolled student successfully completes and has paid tuition for a seminar course they will receive a certificate that reflects three (3) credit hours of graduate level work. They can then deliver this certificate to one of our credit granting partnering schools to receive credit from that institution, so long as that specific course is recognized by the partnering school.

For those awaiting the full accreditation of GCAS in order to receive an MA or PhD Degree, additional fees will likely apply, to cover thesis or dissertation supervision, amongst other services.

Complaints:

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We understand that cause for filing a complaint may arise. In this event it is our intention to resolve all complaints internally to the GCAS. We will do our best to demonstrate fairness. However, if the student or attendee believes the complaint is not resolved they may file a complaint with the State of Michigan at: www.michiganps.net.

Enrollment & Matriculation into the GCAS

In order to be enrolled as a student at the GCAS a prospective student must apply (see the online GCAS application on the website). Once a student has applied, their application will be carefully reviewed and evaluated. The student will normally be informed if they have been admitted into the GCAS within two weeks of applying. Once the student has been informed that they have been offered acceptance into a GCAS program (or programs) they will have one week to respond and two weeks to send in a check of $500 (or via PayPal or Credit or Debit Card). This will secure a place as a GCAS student. A student will have up to one week to apply these funds toward their first seminar (or indicate to us in writing (email)) about their plans for taking seminars with the GCAS. Once a student has registered for a seminar course or certificate or diploma program, they will be considered a fully-matriculated member of the GCAS and an enrolled student.

If a student is accepted under provisional terms, the same procedure as stated above will apply.

Refund Policy:

The GCAS does not charge an application fee. After tuition and fees are paid by the applicant, he or she may request them back in full upon request, if that request is made in writing or verbally within three business days after signing a contract with the school. All refunds will be returned within 30 days.

Refund policy: “All tuition and fees paid by the applicant shall be refunded if the applicant is rejected by the school before enrollment. There is no application fee. All tuition and fees paid by the applicant shall be refunded if requested within three business days after signing a contract with the school. All refunds shall be returned within 30 days.”

Refund policy additional information:

After 3 days, a student that requests a full refund must do so in writing (via email) to the Dean of Students & Faculty Affairs. The Dean will take the student’s request into consideration. Any request that is made after three (3) days of signing the contract and within three (3) weeks of the start of the course, the student will not be refunded under most conditions. Please director your correspondence to: directors@globaladvancedstudies.org.

The ISSH-S and the GCAS: A Partnership

The Institute of Social Sciences & Humanities (Skopje) (ISSH-S) have partnered with the GCAS to offer an accredited MA degree for our students. The ISSH-S is a fully independent institute in Skopje, Macedonia directed by the world-renowned theorist, Prof. Dr. Katerina Kolozova. ISSH-S is fully accredited by the National Board of Accreditation and Evaluation of the Higher Education of the Republic of Macedonia which, as a EU accession country, is fully integrated in the European Higher Education Area (or the Bologna Process). In other words, the legislation and the functioning of the relevant higher education related institutions in the country (the Board of Accreditation and the Ministry of Education and Science) are fully harmonized with the European Legislative Community Aquis (the corpus of pan-European Legislation). Practically, this means that any diploma issued by ISSH-S has equal legal and formal value as the diploma of any accredited higher education institution in any EU country (including the EU accession countries). This means that any diploma, certificate or courses taken with the GCAS will be fully and easily transferable to ISSH-S for such a degree (with reference to the GCAS environment in which such courses were attained), just as it would be back to any other existing university or college, graduate or undergraduate program that accepts the GCAS credits. Any MA degree obtained through the GCAS/ISSH-S with concentrations related to the ISSH-S foci of Cultural Studies, Policy Studies and/or

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Gender Studies (all of our core concentrations are transferable) will therefore be recognized by the highest degree of international credibility.

Here is a brief description of the ISSH-S:

ISSH-Skopje aims to not only contribute for the better understanding of the societies of Macedonia, Europe and globally, but also to the research fields in which it is active as well. In other words, its long-term goal setting the trajectory of its programmatic development in terms of research is twofold:

- (a) to produce convincing interpretation of the society (in its cultural-political and gendered complexity), based on solid argumentation and empirically soundly corroborated, on the basis of which -- (b) policy solutions shall be created promoting and enabling institutional and cultural transformation toward an inclusive and social justice committed society.

The challenge to interpret concrete social realities and invent plausible and feasible policy solutions to counter the realities in question will be also a challenge to test the theoretical pertinence of concepts or conceptual apparatuses employed in social and humanities research. In other words, the applied research will itself aim to conceptual innovation by serving as a provocation to test major ideas possessing the status of strong authority in the academia.

Scholarships:

The GCAS is proud to announce that we will be offering eight scholarships.

Scholarships:

(3) The Alain Badiou Scholarship: This scholarship awards full tuition remission.(2) Critical Theory Scholar Award (full-tuition remission)(3) The Humanities Scholar Award (half-tuition remission).

The GCAS is actively seeking support for future scholarships and grants, which will be made available in due course. It is possible for you to apply and a new grant and/or a scholarship will become available so we encourage students to inquire with the Dean’s office.

Tuition & Fees

The GCAS thinks education should be free and that is a vision we are working toward in hopes of accomplishing this goal as soon as possible. We nevertheless must face the realities of providing the best graduate education in the world today. As a result we need to charge tuition for attending the GCAS at least in the short term. Tuition has risen to impossible heights in the United States since the 1980s, but the GCAS is breaking with the model that only perceives the student as a commodity, using them as a means from which to make a profit. By contrast, the GCAS is a non-profit organization. So we do have to charge tuition, which will be $5,000 per academic year for a full-time, diploma-seeking student. This means that a student can complete the diploma seminar requirements for a $5,000 tuition fee for a Masters degree granted by one of our partnering institutions and/or universities, unless contracts with our partners require higher fees. In such cases, students must also pay the difference between the GCAS base tuition rate and the increased tuition rate resulting from our contract.

For all non-contracted, independent studies through the GCAS, the tuition for all students will be a maximum of $5,000 per academic year (i.e., January through December) for a full time student. This amounts to a cost of $500 per three (3) credit hour seminar/course for ten (10) courses per year.

Once we are fully accredited, our projected PhD program will function as follows: once the student completes their course work for the doctorate degree (i.e., D.Phil (60 credit hours ) and/or Ph.D. (i.e., 66 credit hours) they will need to enroll in one or more 2000+ level Thesis Direction courses, which will be $1,250 in tuition per academic year until they complete their thesis through a defense. What this means is

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that a student enrolled in a future three-year doctoral program would only pay $11,250 for this degree provided they finish in three years (and exclusive of costs for courses/seminars that may charge a higher tuition fee as explained above). A student will need a thesis director who will guide the student through the dissertation writing process (i.e., Thesis Direction course), which they can choose from our faculty (upon agreement of the faculty member in question, or through consultation with the GCAS can recommend a different thesis adviser, which the GCAS will seek to acquire).

There are no enrollment fees or application fees at the GCAS.

Additional Costs:

The GCAS is absolutely committed to providing an unparalleled graduate education in critical theory and cultural studies. We seek to provide the students with the best resources available with as little or no expense as possible. However there are some instances, owing to the nature of our unique school that additional fees may apply. For example there may be extra fees for the cost of a venue (i.e., lecture hall or classroom space). Under normal circumstances there will be no additional cost applied, however, because we will have seminars in different locations, securing an appropriate venue (size, quality etc.) may result in an extra fee charged for the requisite seminar course. We will do our very best to avoid this by informing the student ahead of time.

In addition some seminar courses will have significantly less tuition cost, such as Critical Theory 1 & Critical Theory 2. The tuition for these seminars will be $500 each, or $750 for both.

In the circumstance that a seminar course or courses associated with the GCAS cost more than $500 the student who pays for these seminars which exceeds the per course cost of $500 will be awarded credit through future tuition remission or additional tuition costs for advanced courses i.e., Thesis Direction (2000+ level). As mentioned above, this may happen as the GCAS is partnering with universities and institutions located around the world, institutions which must charge the standard tuition in accordance with their standing policies.

If you are a community organizer, a social activist, or ex-military you can also qualify for up to 5% off tuition costs.

Admission Requirements for GCAS

Admission requirements vary depending on how you enroll. There are three ways to enroll.

1. Diploma-Seeking Student: student seeking certificate for graduate credit (transferable for credit with our participating partnering institutions/universities)

2. Professional Development/Faculty Fellow: to apply as a Faculty Fellow you must be employed as a faculty member of an existing accredited university and/or college. This is the only admission requirement.

3. General Public Interest: personal enrichment.

If you are applying for a certificate for graduate credit then you must meet the following requirements:

Advanced student in an accredited bachelor degree program (at a minimum: usually graduate credit certificates will be pursued by those who are already graduate students at a university or college, or those who enroll in one of our MA or PhD-degree granting partner institutions, such as ISSH-S).

An advanced student is someone who has completed at least two years of undergraduate credit normally at least sixty (60) credit hours. If you are presently enrolled or only have two years of undergraduate credit completed at the time you are applying to the GCAS, then you must submit a writing sample. This writing sample must be sent to admissions@globaladvancedstudies.org and be a research paper of at least five

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pages in length (double-spaced) and focused on a topic related in some manner to critical theory or cultural studies (i.e., English, Art-History, Philosophy, Religion/Theology, History, Media Studies, etc.). In addition to sending in your paper you must have a recommendation from a professor sent via email to admissions@globaladvancedstudies.org. Please tell your professor to clearly indicate your name in the email subject heading, i.e., “Jane B. Doe: RECOMMENDATION”. Because all GCAS seminars/courses are graduate level, we need to assess your skills in order to properly gauge your writing and research abilities. You will not be admitted if we believe you will not pass a graduate level course.

If you have already completed your BA/BS degree in an accredited university/college please tick the appropriate box on the application.

Equipment

The GCAS will be using equipment strictly conducive to accomplishing the learning goals of each course/seminar including (but not restricted to): Paper, pencil, Laptop, computer (desktop), white/black board, chalk, lecture podium, desks, chairs, a venue (classroom that is officially approved as safe to occupy according to the Fire Marshal).

Personnel qualification for all official GCAS position-holders:

President, Co-Director, Professor

President: Personal & professional qualifications include:

7- A terminal degree, which is a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.) from an accredited University 8- Teaches at least one seminar course at least once every two years9- Reports to the directors, Jason Adams & Creston Davis (Co-Directors) every year10- Actively supports the goals, missions, and aims of The Global Center for Advanced Studies.

Co-Director: personal & professional qualifications include:

7- A terminal degree, which is a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.) from an accredited University. 8- Teaches at least one seminar course at least once every two years

Professor: personal & professional qualifications include:

1- A terminal degree, which is a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from an accredited University, unless otherwise appointed by the Co-Directors (Jason Adams & Creston Davis)

2- Generally supports the goals, missions, and aims of The Global Center for Advanced Studies.3- Teach (or be willing to teach) one seminar course at least once every two years.

Policy of Non-Discrimination

The Global Center for Advanced Studies (GCAS) does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical characteristics, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law, in its educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, employment, or other school-administered programs. The policy is reinforced by The Global Center for Advanced Studies, and where applicable, federal laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. GCAS is an equal opportunity educational institution. Inquiries regarding compliance with these statutes, and referrals to designated coordinators under the ADA/Section 504, Title IX, and the Age Discrimination Act may be directed to the directors of the Global Center for Advanced Studies at +1 (616) 439-1338, 4471 Broadmoor Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512, or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of

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Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-1100, 1-800-421-3481, TDD: 877-521-2172.

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