Master of Business Administration

Policies

While every effort is made to provide accurate and current information, Indiana University reserves the right to change, without notice, statements in the bulletin series concerning rules, policies, fees, curricula, or other matters.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy of Indiana University

Indiana University pledges itself to continue its commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity within the university and throughout American society as a whole. In this regard, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate, and provide services to persons based upon their individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on arbitrary considerations of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Indiana University shall take affirmative action, positive and extraordinary, to overcome the discriminatory effects of traditional policies and procedures with regard to the disabled, minorities, women, and Vietnam-era veterans.

An Affirmative Action office on each campus monitors the university's policies and assists individuals who have questions or problems related to discrimination.

Admission Process

Applicants should have earned a bachelor's degree. Applications are carefully evaluated based primarily on the following factors: Quality of undergraduate degree program, undergraduate grade point average, Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) score**, and relevant work experience. Meeting minimum expectations for each factor does not guarantee admission. Offers of admission will be based in part on program capacity considerations.

Application Deadlines:

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Deadlines for consideration of admission for each semester are outlined below*.

Typically, admissions decisions will be communicated to applicants within 3 weeks of the deadline. Complete applications received by the recommended deadline will be considered for admission, denial or deferral of the admission decision until the second/final review of applications. Complete applications received after the recommended deadline but on or before the final deadline date will be handled in the final review of applications (subject to program capacity). Decisions at this stage will either be admission, denial or deferral for consideration of admission in the following semester (or summer term). An application is considered complete when:

1. applicants have submitted a completed application form with application fee and essay and
2. additional supporting materials (GMAT**, official transcripts, etc.) have been received.

* Additional processing time may be necessary for international student applications. Official transcripts from international educational institutions often require additional evaluation.
** Typically, international applicants will also be required to submit TOEFL scores.

Admissions decisions are final. An applicant who is deferred to the following semester will automatically be considered in the set of Recommended Deadline applications for that semester. Applicants who are denied admission may apply for consideration for a later semester by submitting updated application materials.

Starting Semester:

Students who are granted admission into a graduate business program are expected to start during the stated desired starting semester. Any student not starting coursework during that semester must communicate with the Director of Graduate Programs to maintain their admission status into the next semester.

Transfer Course Work:

Applicants may request a review of previous graduate transcripts for consideration of transfer credit within the 36 credit hour graduate program (generally up to 6 credit hours). Factors such as graduate program accreditation, course relevance to business administration or strategic finance, grade earned [at least a B (3.0)], and length of time since course completion will be considered. This review should be conducted at the time of admission into the graduate business program. The final disposition of all transfer coursework is coordinated and determined by the Director.

Degree Completion

1. Degree completion: Candidates for the MBA or the MSSF must fulfill the following requirements:
   1. A minimum of 36 graduate credit hours in accordance with the definition of the curriculum, of which each course counts only once toward graduation,
   2. A grade of C (2.0) or better must be earned in each graduate business course that counts toward graduation [Note: No more than two graduate business course grades may be below B- (2.7)],
   3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 for all graduate business courses at IU Southeast,
   4. Satisfactory completion of the community service requirement.
2. Seven years for degree completion: Students are expected to complete the 36 credit hour graduate program within seven years. This rule also applies to students seeking to complete both graduate business programs simultaneously. The seven year time frame starts with taking the first graduate course (not Foundations coursework).

Course Grades

Low Grade Impact on Academic Standing: For all courses in the Graduate Business Program (not Foundations coursework), earning a B- (2.7) or lower grade impacts the overall Graduate GPA negatively relative to the requirement of an overall Graduate GPA of at least 3.0. A student may earn a maximum of two grades below B- (2.7) in the Graduate Business Program. Any graduate course with a grade below C (2.0) does not count toward degree completion. For more information, see the Repeating a Course section and the Academic Standing and Disciplinary Procedures section.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Foundations GPA: A student's overall Foundations GPA is calculated based solely on the collection of required Foundations courses taken upon application to a Graduate Business Program. The overall Foundations GPA is expected to be at least 3.0. All Foundations grades earned are included in the overall Foundations GPA calculation.

Graduate GPA: A student's overall Graduate GPA is calculated based on the courses taken to complete the 36 graduate credit hour program. Grades earned in Foundations courses are not part of this calculation. Only Graduate Business course grades earned at IU Southeast are considered when determining a student's academic standing. All Graduate Business grades earned are included in the overall Graduate GPA calculation.

Withdrawal

Students are responsible for following standard timing and procedures of the Registrar's Office to officially withdraw from a course. For academic advising regarding the possible need to withdraw from a course, contact the Director of Graduate Business Programs. Typically, dropping a course within the first week of class results in no record of attempting the course. For withdrawals after the first week of class, W is recorded in place of a grade when students officially withdraw before the established withdrawal deadline. See the Registrar's Academic Calendar for specific drop and withdrawal deadline dates in each semester.

Non-standard course lengths have adjusted withdrawal deadlines. Contact the Director regarding withdrawal deadline questions for these courses.

Lack of Graduate Program Academic Activity

Students who stop taking classes for at least two consecutive regular semesters (Fall or Spring) must file an appeal for reinstatement in the Graduate Business Programs Office. If such reinstatement is granted, the student will be subject to the Bulletin in effect at the time of reinstatement. The seven-year window for degree completion still applies based on the semester when the first graduate course was taken.

Incomplete Grades

The grade of I (Incomplete) indicates that the student has satisfactorily completed the major portion of a course but is prevented by extraordinary circumstances from completing the balance of the course. The grade of I will only be given if the instructor has sufficient reason to believe that the failure to complete the requirements of the course was beyond the student's control. The grade of I should not be awarded simply to exempt a student from paying tuition for a repeated course.

The student has up to 12 months to complete the balance of the course in the manner outlined by the instructor. If the instructor does not otherwise act to remove the Incomplete within 12 months, the registrar will automatically change the I to an F. Both the student and the instructor in whose course the student received the I will be notified of this changing of grade.

Repeating a Course

Students earning an unacceptable individual course grade [less than C- (1.7) in a Foundations course or less than C (2.0) in a required Graduate Business course] must repeat the course to achieve an acceptable grade. A student may choose to repeat a course in which the original grade earned was below B (3.0). A course may be repeated for a grade only once. Regardless of whether a student must repeat a course or chooses to repeat a course, ALL grades earned (original and second) will be included in the appropriate (Foundations or Graduate) overall GPA calculation. A maximum of 6 Graduate Programs credit hours can be repeated.

Auditing

Auditing is not permitted for courses in the Graduate Business Programs curriculum.

Academic Standing and Disciplinary Procedures

Foundations Phase: To maintain good academic standing, students must maintain an overall Foundations GPA of at least 3.0. Any Foundations course with a final grade below C- (1.7) must be repeated for successful completion. A Foundations course may only be repeated for a grade one time.

Graduate Program: To maintain good academic standing, students must maintain an overall Graduate GPA of at least 3.0. Any Graduate Business course with a final grade below C (2.0) must be repeated for successful completion. A Graduate Business course may only be repeated for a grade one time.

Terms of Academic Probation or Suspension

At any point in a Graduate Business program, if a student's overall Graduate GPA falls below 3.0, the student is placed on academic probation. When placed on academic probation, the student must improve his/her overall Graduate GPA to at least 3.0 within the next 9 credit hours completed. Failure to do so will result in academic suspension, which prohibits the student from taking Graduate Business coursework until reinstatement is granted. The suspended student must file an appeal for reinstatement with the Graduate Business Programs Office. If reinstatement is granted, probationary terms of the reinstatement will be defined. At a minimum, academic suspension will prohibit the student from taking Graduate Business coursework until the end of the next regular semester (Fall or Spring).

Any grade of D+ (1.7) or lower in a Graduate Business Program course results in automatic academic suspension. The suspended student must file an appeal for reinstatement with the Graduate Business Programs Office. If reinstatement is granted, probationary terms of the reinstatement will be defined. At a minimum, academic suspension will prohibit the student from taking Graduate Business coursework until the end of the next regular semester (Fall or Spring).

Students should seek regular academic advising with the Director of Graduate Business Programs in an effort to restore and maintain good academic standing.

Academic Dismissal

A student will be dismissed from the Foundations phase when any one of the following occurs:

1. The student repeats a particular required Foundations course and earns a grade below C- (1.7) both times.
2. It becomes mathematically impossible for the student to achieve the required 3.0 GPA upon completion of the program.

A student will be dismissed from the Graduate Business Program when any one of the following occurs:

1. The student repeats a particular required (core) Graduate Program course and earns a grade below C (2.0) both times.
2. The student has earned three Graduate Business course grades below B- (2.7).
   A maximum of two grades below B- (2.7) will be allowed in Graduate Business courses. This policy applies to the collection of all graduate courses taken to simultaneously complete both Graduate Business degree plans. Repeating a Graduate Programs course does not remove the original grade from being counted. Foundations courses are not considered part of this evaluation.
3. The student does not complete all degree plan requirements within seven years of the first Graduate Business course taken.

Additionally, students should be familiar with the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. Academic or other misconduct in violation of the Code may result in dismissal.

Appeals Process

Appeals Regarding Bulletin Policies or Academic Discipline Actions: The Graduate Business Programs Committee oversees Graduate Business policy development, revision and enforcement. Students may write a letter of appeal to the Committee with any supporting documentation to seek an exception to Graduate Business Programs policy or disciplinary action.

Visiting Students in Graduate Business Courses

A qualified visiting student may seek to take up to 6 graduate business credit hours. To seek permission to take a graduate business course under "visiting" status, the candidate must:

1. Provide graduate business application materials and meet all conditions that are required for full admission into a Graduate Business Program by the final application deadline for the desired semester. (Some Graduate Business Program application material requirements may be waived for students currently in good standing at another AACSB-accredited graduate business program.)
2. Show successful completion of all expected prior coursework necessary to be prepared for entry into the desired course.

Permission to enroll in an IU Southeast Graduate Business course does not constitute admission to a Graduate Business Program.

The qualified visiting student must wait until one week prior to the first day of class to determine if a seat is available.

Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct

It is important that students understand their rights and responsibilities. Copies of the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct are available from the Office of Student Affairs, University Center South, room 155, and the Information Desk, University Center. Students are responsible for becoming acquainted with the regulations in this document, which covers such issues as academic dishonesty, grievance procedures, discrimination, and overall conduct.

Policy Governing Release of Information in Student Records

University ID (UID) Number

The University ID is now the preferred access number for your student records. It replaces the Social Security number (SSN) as the primary identifier. The SSN is still used for financial aid and employment information but is no longer considered a student ID number. All newly admitted students receive their own 10-digit UID. They can use it to create their initial computing accounts before they arrive on campus. Students do not need to know their UIDs for registration. When they log in to OneStart with their IU Network ID username and password, they are ready to register for classes. Currently enrolled students can look up their UID in the Personal Information link in OneStart.

Student Records

Indiana University Policy on Student Records (Approved: UFC 3/29/77; amended: UFC 10/2/01) In compliance with Section 438 of the "General Education Provisions Act" (as amended) entitled "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act," the following constitutes the institution's policy, which instructs the student in the procedures available to provide appropriate access to personal records, while protecting their confidentiality.

1. Certain definitions and principles contained in the law and proposed guidelines are specifically adopted in the policy:
   1. "Student" is defined as one who has attended or is attending Indiana University, and whose records are in the files of the University.
   2. "Educational records" do not include records retained by individuals which are not accessible to any other person except a substitute faculty/staff member.
   3. "Public information" is limited to name; address; e-mail address; phone; major field of study; dates of attendance; admission or enrollment status; campus; school, college, or division; class standing; degrees and awards; activities; sports; and athletic information. Records of arrests and/or convictions and traffic accident information are public information and may be released to anyone making inquiry.
   4. "Record" means any information or data recorded in any medium, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, tapes, film, microfilm, microfiche, and electronic media.
2. Public information shall be released freely unless the student files the appropriate form requesting that certain public information not be released.

Third-Party Access

In compliance with the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, and the university policy on Access to and Release of Student Education Records (https://usss.iu.edu/Pages/StudentRightsUnderFERPA.aspx), the university is prohibited for providing certain information from your student records to a third party, such as information on grades, billing, tuition and fees assessments, financial aid (including scholarships, grants, work-study or loan amounts), and other student record information. The restriction applies, but is not limited to your parents, your spouse, a sponsor, etc. You may, at your discretion, grant the university permission to release information from your student records to a third party by granting them permission to see portions of your record via self service in OneStart. By choosing to create an access record through this process, you are completing a Student
Information Release Authorization.

To use this service, you must set up a separate record for each third party to whom you grant access to information on your student records. This authorization does not authorize the third party viewer to receive information from the university by any other methods, such as phone, e-mail, or in-person visit.

Your authorization to release information will expire when your access to self-service expires. At that time, your third-party guest's access will also expire. However, you may revoke your authorization at any time by removing permission from a third party viewer through OneStart. Access can be revoked by deleting the record assigning access to your third party guest in OneStart.

For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar.