MBA for Professionals Student Handbook 2009-10

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MBA EXPERIENCE

Advice from Recent Graduates
The Willamette MBA is a demanding and rewarding experience: it will require you to schedule your time effectively, manage your time effectively and seek assistance from faculty, staff, and University resources when necessary. In fact, Atkinson alumni point out part of the learning that occurs at the Atkinson School is time and stress management - critical skills for current and future leaders. Recent graduates offer the following tips for academic success at the Atkinson School:

• Study in groups of two to six students to benefit from moral support and shared expertise.
• Seek assistance from faculty, staff, fellow students and University resources.
• Plan your time. Atkinson courses require development and pace as opposed to concentrated study for short periods of time. Understanding today's lecture, formula, or case usually depends on mastering the previous assignment
• Avoid getting bogged down in one class and letting others slip. Understand the benefits and limitations of dropping or withdrawing from a course. You may withdraw from a course any time prior to the final exam of that course. Seek advice from the Program Director or Associate Dean/Director of Admission if you have questions.

Pursue the Tools of Knowledge, Experience and Career Management
The Willamette MBA is a graduate professional degree. A professional degree requires a different approach than an undergraduate degree. A successful MBA experience requires professional growth in three areas: knowledge, experience and career management.

The best way to be sure you meet your career goals is to fully participate in all aspects of the MBA program.


Advising
MBA for Professionals students are welcome to seek advice or communicate with any member of the faculty or staff.

Faculty members are available during individual office hours and by appointment, email and telephone.

The Dean and Associate Dean/Director of Admission will have office hours at the Portland Center and the Salem campus each week. The Dean and Associate Dean/Director of Admission are also available by appointment, email and telephone

Course Difficulties
Students are expected to be proactive in discussing difficulties with course concepts, completing course work as assigned, etc., with the faculty member.

If you experience difficulty in a course, talk with your instructor. If you need to talk with someone other than the professor, talk with the Program Director, Associate Dean/Director of Admission, Associate Dean or Dean.


Individual Tutoring
Tutoring is available for any MBA for Professionals course in which a student is currently registered if the faculty member teaching the course ascertains that tutoring is necessary. The process to request a tutor is as follows:
1) The student proactively speaks to the professor about the difficulties being experienced in the course.
2) The faculty member ascertains if he/she thinks tutoring is necessary in addition to regular class reviews, etc.
3) If the professor ascertains a tutor is necessary, the professor will email Judy O'Neill, Associate Dean and Director of Admission and request a tutor for the student.
4) Upon receiveing the request from the faculty member, the Associate Dean will arrange for a tutor.

Finding a tutor may take a few days, so students should be proactive in their discussion with the faculty member.


Disability and Learning Services
The Willamette University Disability and Learning Services office facilitates reasonable accommodations for students with a qualifying disability or temporary medical condition and provides academic assistance on an individual basis to any undergraduate or graduate student who requests it.

Students desiring information regarding Disability Services may go to www.willamette.edu/dept/disability and follow the procedures listed.

Students who have a documented disability requiring accommodation should contact the Office of Disability and Learning Services at 503-370-6471 or email JoAnne Hill at jmhill@willamette.edu

Course Evaluations
Every Atkinson School course is evaluated to stimulate improvement in the quality of teaching and learning in the MBA program. The information provided by students helps pinpoint specific strengths, weaknesses, and potential improvements. Students are encouraged to discuss a course with the professor at any time and do not have to wait until the conclusion of the semester to provide input about a course.

Course evaluations are administered online near the end of the semester to ensure as many students as possible complete and return the evaluations. Students are notified in advance when course evaluations will be available.

Results are distributed to the faculty member after the recorder receives final grades for the course. Original copies of the evaluations are kept on file for three years by the dean and remain confidential.

In accordance with the School's Faculty Personnel Policies and Procedures, course evaluations are made available to the Personnel Committee in assessing the faculty member's contributions to the School's mission. During regularly scheduled personnel reviews, the faculty member is invited to respond to the evaluations by explaining actions he or she has taken or plans to take to improve the course. These reviews also influence decisions to retain, promote, tenure, and allocate resources to the faculty member. The School treats the course evaluations seriously.

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