Students are free to sit outside to read or to discuss their assignments with faculty members.
As long as students are working on their daily plans and completing their assignments responsibly, they are welcome to study where they wish, to take a break for coffee or fruit juice, fix a bagel or mug of soup, in other words, to make themselves at home. This is a purposeful choice, since we believe that learning takes place best in an informal, non-stressful environment where students are encouraged to ask questions and to explore avenues of thought well beyond the confines of a textbook or a particular assignment. We want our students to become self-directed learners who are actively engaged in the learning process, not passive recipients of a classroom lecture. At BFA, learning is the student's responsibility, not the teacher's. Our faculty are here to assist and encourage students in their learning, to serve as mentors, coaches, and role models.