MBA for Professionals Student Handbook 2009-10

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
The following information applies to students in the MBA for Professionals program.

Graduation Requirements
Each MBA for Professionals student is responsible for a thorough knowledge of graduation requirements. The Willamette MBA degree will be conferred on MBA for Professionals students who satisfactorily complete all of the following requirements as listed below.

• Minimum Credits Required: MBA for Professionals students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of forty eight (48) credits of approved MBA for Professionals course work. The forty-eight (48) credits include all of the following courses:

• Good Standing: MBA for Professionals candidates for graduation must have a cumulative Atkinson School grade point average of 3.00 (B) or higher, comply with requirements determined by the School's faculty, and be in Good Standing within all policies of the Atkinson School and Willamette University
  
  
• Maximum time to complete degree: The candidate must complete the MBA for Professionals degree within six (6) years from date of initial enrollment in the degree program.
  
  
• Submit petition for degree: Candidates for graduation must submit a "petition for degree" at the beginning of their final semester in the MBA for Professionals program.
  
  
• Curriculuar changes: In the event the curriculum is changed or graduation requirements are otherwise altered, the rules in effect at the time of the student's entry to the program will apply unless otherwise stated.

Good Standing
All students must maintain 'Good Standing' for continued enrollment and graduation. "Good Standing" is defined as adhering to the academic policies, standards of conduct and financial policies of the Atkinson School and Willamette University.


Good Academic Standing
All students must maintain a cumulative Atkinson School grade point average of 3.00 (B) or better and make satisfactory progress toward degree completion to be in "Good Academic Standing."

Grades
It is the responsibility of the instructor to assign grades. The Atkinson School uses a letter grade system consisting of seven regular grades. Their grade point values are:

Other grades in the Atkinson School MBA for Professionals grading system include the grades below. Each has specific requirements and implications.

Regulations Regarding "I" Grades
A grade of Incomplete (I) may be assigned by the professor for any course to indicate that all work has been completed except a final exam or an assignment given by the instructor. If more than a final exam or assignment is required to complete a course, it is necessary to withdraw from the course.

"I" grades must be cleared from the transcript by completion of the course work during the next regular academic semester. Failure to clear an "I" before the end of the following semester will result in the "I" becoming and "F".

It is the student's responsibility to take the initiative and stay in contact with the faculty member of the course for which the "I" grade was received. It is also the student's responsibility to complete the requirements within the one semester time limit as described above.

If a student formally withdraws from school before the end of the following semester, the "I" grade will not be converted to an "F". However, the student must complete the course by the end of the first semester in which they return to the Atkinson School.


Regulations Regarding "F" Grades
"F" grades are calculated in the grade point average and result in zero credits earned toward graduation.

A student who receives an "F" in a required course must repeat the course and earn a grade of "C" or higher in the repeated course.

When a course is repeated, both the "F" grade and the grade received in the repeated course appear on the transcript, and both grades are calculated in the grade point average.

"F" grades have very serious consequences. A student anticipating an "F" in a course is advised to withdraw from the course prior to the final exam of the course.

Grading Regulations Regarding Issues of Academic Honesty and Ethical Behavior
Students found to have committed plagiarism, cheating, or unauthorized possession or disposition of academic materials will receive a zero (0%) grade for the specific examination, test, paper, assignment, or project in question for their first offense. A second offense will lead to automatic expulsion.

Complete information about the definitions, policies and procedures related to Academic Honesty and Ethical Behavior is presented in the Codes of Conduct section of this handbook.


Grade Changes
Changes in grades recorded on a transcript are permitted only under the following conditions:

• Error by the instructor in computing or reporting a grade
• Completion of work in a course for which the grade of "I" has been recorded
• Administrative error in the reporting or recording of a grade.
  
  
  

Grade Appeal
The Atkinson School has a formal grade appeal process (described below). Students who want to use the formal grade appeal process as their first step are encouraged to do so. Students who want to use a more informal process as their first step are encouraged to communicate directly with the professor, and/or the Associate Dean/Director of Admission. If the issue is not resolved at the informal level, the next step for the student would be to begin the formal grade appeal process.

Formal Grade Appeal Process: The first step of a specific course grade appeal must be for the student to take the issue to the instructor in question or to the chairperson of Atkinson School's Student Affairs Committee (SAC). If the faculty member involved with the grade appeal is the chairperson of the SAC, the student may take the issue to the chairperson of the previous year.

If the issue is not resolved to the student's satisfaction at this level of appeal, the student can submit two (2) copies of his/her appeal in writing to the Associate Dean/Director of Admission, who will then distribute them as follows: one (1) copy to the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) Chair and one (1) copy to the instructor involved.

Written grade appeals must reach the Associate Dean/Director of Admission within forty-five (45) days following the general notification of grades, otherwise the grade will stand as posted and no further appeal will be available. It is the Associate Dean/Director of Admission's responsibility to notify both the SAC Chairperson and the instructor in question about the appeal.

Upon receipt of the written appeal, the SAC Chairperson will make a written request for the involved instructor's position, also to be submitted in writing. The SAC Executive Committee will then meet to review and discuss all appeal particulars, including but not limited to interviewing the parties involved in the appeal. If a conflict of interest arises within the SAC Executive Committee, the SAC Chairperson will replace the said compromised individual with an ad-hoc member of similar standing.

The process of appeal will occur during the semester (fall or spring) following the initial filing of the appeal. The appeal process is complete when the SAC reaches a consensual decision and the said decision is rendered in writing and distributed to the student and to the instructor in question.

If either party is dissatisfied with the Committee's decision, they may make a written appeal to the Dean, whose decision is final and binding.


Course Waivers
MBA for Professionals courses are not easy to waive and most courses not eligible for a waiver. However, students who have attained a professional credential that matches the content of the relevant GSMPR course may submit a written request for a waiver review to the Associate Dean/Director of Admission. Students who are granted a waiver for a course are responsible for the content of the waived course as it is applied in other GSMPR courses.

Written request: The written request must be submitted at least six weeks before the beginning of the relevant course and must include: 1) a written a rationale for the waiver, and 2) supporting information that includes a copy of the relevant credential attained and a complete discussion of the educational process required for completion of the credential.

The submitted request will be reviewed by the faculty member of the related course and then reviewed by the Dean. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the Dean is final.

Maximum of 4 credits from waived courses: A maximum of four (4) MBA for Professionals course credits may be waived for eligible students. Students on academic probation in the MBA for Professionals program are not eligible for waivers.

In addition, the combination of waived credits and transferred credits from other universities (see policy below) cannot exceed (8) semester credits.

Transfer Credits
MBA course work completed at a program accredited by AACSB International prior to enrollment in the MBA for Professionals may be considered for transfer. Requests for transfer credit are evaluated on a case by case basis and require the approval of the Dean.

Approved transfer credits are applied toward credits required for graduation. Grades earned in courses transferred to the MBA program are not used in calculating the student's grade point average. Students who are granted transfer credits for a course are responsible for the content of the Willamette course as it is applied in other GSMPR courses. Students on academic probation in the MBA for Professionals program are not eligible for transfer credits.

Eligibility requirements: To be eligible for transfer consideration, previous course work must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a graduate level MBA course from an AACSB International accredited program
• Completed within three (3) years of entry to the Atkinson School
• Show a grade of B (3.00) or higher
• Credits earned cannot have been used to complete a previous degree
• Credits earned must equal a minimum of 4 semester credits of related course work (4 semester credits is equal to 6 quarter credits)
• Meet the criteria set by the faculty member of the selected coursework

Written request: Students requesting evaluation of transfer credits earned prior to enrollment at the Atkinson School must submit a written request to the Associate Dean/Director of Admission, who will take the request to the Dean. The written request must include a rationale for the transfer credits, a copy of the course syllabus for the MBA course previously completed, and an official copy of transcript showing completion of the course and the grade received. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the Dean is final.

Maximum of 8 credits from transfered courses: No more than 8 semester credits of course work may be approved for transfer to the MBA for Professionals program. In addition, The combination of transferred credits from other universities and waived credits cannot exceed (8) semester credits.

Transfer Credits from the Atkinson School Certificate in Public Management
Eight credits earned through the CPM (Certificate in Public Management) may be transferred towards credit for the MBA for Professionals program. The Dean, in consultation with the Director of Admissions, will determine the specific courses for which the CPM credits will be applied.


Students Enrolled Part-Time
MBA for Professionals students who are enrolled in one to seven credits of Willamette MBA course work in any semester are considered part-time students. Part-time students must meet all academic and conduct regulations governing full-time students in the Willamette University MBA for Professionals program.

Requests for Exceptions to Academic Policies or Procedures
Students requesting an exception to academic policies or procedures must submit a written request and rationale for the request. The proposal should be directed to the Associate Dean/Director of Admission (joneill@willamette.edu) for review. The following are required of all written proposals.

• The student must explain the request in detail
• The student must provide information about any discussion or tentative agreements that may have occurred between the student and a faculty member (if any)
• If a tentative agreement has already been made with a faculty member, the student must provide the signature of the faculty member involved or the faculty member must send an email directly to the Associate Dean/Director of Admission discussing their level of support for the proposal and any other comments or suggestions
• The student must state a clear rationale for the request as it why it is the best alternative for their educational and career goals

If the proposal is not approved, the Associate Dean/Director of Admission will notify the student via email.

If the proposal is tentatively approved, the student must complete an interview (in person or on the telephone) with the Associate Dean/Director of Admission to discuss the implications and regulations governing the requested exception and any future implications of the exception.

Following the interview, the student must sign in writing that they understand and accept the exception that has been made and the conditions and regulations governing the exception. The signature is required for the exception to be implemented. Failure to provide a written statement accepting the conditions and regulations governing an exception voids any tentatively approved exception to policy or procedures.

Students should note that the following basic requirements of the MBA degree are never modified:

• Satisfactory completion of the minimum number of credits required for graduation
• Satisfactory completion of required courses (or substitute courses approved by the dean)
• Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in Willamette MBA course work