Academic Policies

Academic Policies and Regulations

Academic Adviser 
The program director will be the student’s academic adviser throughout the length of the MBA program. However, students may wish to select a graduate faculty member who will assist in defining their personal and professional objectives. The faculty advisers are not necessarily the research advisers if the student chooses to do an independent research project.

Academic Probation/Dismissal 
Any time a student’s cumulative grade-point average falls below 3.00, the student is automatically placed on academic probation and is subject to dismissal. Probationary students have three semesters in which to raise the grade-point average to at least 3.00. Failure to meet this requirement may result in academic dismissal. Probationary students should be aware of several factors:

If, at the completion of six semester hours, a student’s GPA is below 2.00, he or she will be dismissed from the MBA program.

When a student has more than three C’s that are not offset by the same number of A’s, this provides the executive director and graduate chair a basis for academic evaluation and possible dismissal.

If a student is placed on probation, he or she is asked to register for only one course per semester until the 3.00 grade-point average is attained. The exception is international students who are asked to take six hours.

If probation occurs or continues during a student’s last semester in the MBA program, the probation committee will determine what additional work, if any, the student must complete to continue and graduate. However, the probation committee may recommend that the student be involuntarily withdrawn. The MBA academic probation committee and Ashland University reserve the right to dismiss any student at any time for good cause.

Appeal Process 
Students who have complaints or questions about instructional faculty performance or conduct should follow the procedure listed below:

First, the student should consult the faculty member in question; it is only after this approach has been attempted that further recourse is appropriate. No appeal will be heard until this initial step has been taken; however, if the complaint involves conduct which the student does not feel comfortable raising with the faculty member, the student may file the complaint in writing with the academic chair of the graduate program. The written complaint must specify the details and circumstances which justify the complaint and the action or decision sought by the student.

If consultation with the faculty member in question does not produce satisfactory results, the student should submit his or her appeal in writing to the academic chair of the graduate program specifying the details and circumstances which justify the complaint and the action or decision sought by the student.

If the academic chair of the graduate program, after having consulted with the individual who is the subject of the complaint, denies the student’s appeal or complaint, he or she must submit in writing a copy of the appeal to the Dean of the appropriate school.

The Dean will review the information presented, make such inquires as necessary and render his/her judgment. If the student is dissatisfied, the final appeal is to the Provost.

A Review Committee hearing will be scheduled by the Provost, involving the student, the academic chair of the graduate program, faculty member in question, and the Dean. The committee will issue a ruling that disposes of the question or complaint, including what action, if any, is required by the student, faculty member, or University.

Course Repeat Policy 
Any student receiving a B- or lower grade in a course may choose to retake that course in an attempt to raise his grade-point average. Both grades appear on the student’s transcript. However, only the second grade will be used in calculating the GPA if the student makes a written request regarding this.

Credit Hour Limitations 
A graduate student with full-time employment should not register for more than two courses per semester. A student wishing to deviate from the normal credit-hour limitation must secure permission from the executive director of MBA. This limitation does not apply to MBA Seminars.

Residency Requirements/Full-Time Students 
Students are in residence at Ashland University when registered as graduate students in the MBA program. An MBA student is considered full time when registered for at least six credit hours in a given semester and is considered part time when registered for less than six credit hours.

Time Limits 
Students must complete all requirements for the MBA degree within five years, but this time span does not include MBA Foundations course work or MBA seminars. This period begins with the date of the earliest MBA course and ends with the last hours applied toward the degree. In extraordinary circumstances, a time extension may be granted through approval of the academic chair of the MBA program. Students must contact the MBA academic chair to initiate a time-extension appeal. A student’s file will be removed from the active program file if he or she fails to take courses for a period of two semesters. The student will then be required to apply for reactivation of the records (readmittance forms are available from the MBA office). Although the five-year time limit should be observed, no loss of credit results.

Graduation Eligibility and Application
To be awarded the Master of Business Administration degree, a student must complete a total of 36 semester hours of course work with a minimum cumulative 3.00 grade-point average. Periodic review and final approval by the MBA committee is also required for graduation. MBA Foundation courses do not count in total credit hours, nor do they count in grade-point average for graduation eligibility. Students are encouraged to attend the graduate student commencement ceremonies held once a year in May at the Ashland campus. For more information on graduation application deadlines or to apply for MBA graduation, visit the My MBA page.  Students are responsible for complying with annual time-line schedules maintained by the MBA program committee and Ashland University. If degree requirements are not completed at the specified time, a new application, which voids any previously submitted, must be filed.

Grading System, Auditing Courses, Plagiarism 
The following system of grading and point values applies to all graduate courses:

A . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 quality points

A-. . . . . . . . . . 3.67 quality points

B+ . . . . . . . . . 3.33 quality points

B . . . . . . . . . . 3.00 quality points

B-. . . . . . . . . . 2.67 quality points

C+ . . . . . . . . . 2.33 quality points

C . . . . . . . . . . 2.00 quality points

C-. . . . . . . . . . 1.67 quality points

F . . . . . . . . . . 0.00 quality points

I – Incomplete. This grade applies to work of acceptable quality when the full amount is not completed because of illness or other emergencies. It is never applied to unsatisfactory work. “I” becomes “F” if not removed by the end of the following semester.

W – Withdrawn. Assigned for official withdrawals during the first three weeks of a semester. Not used in grade-point average computation.

*IP – In Progress. This grade applies when the student fails to complete the research project during the term in which he or she registers for MBA 600. It is not computed in the grade-point average. For IP grades, students are required to complete work within one year of the posting grade. The IP becomes an F if not removed after on-year.

*Use may vary by program.

Auditing Courses 
Persons who do not wish to receive college credit or who do not meet minimal admission requirements may register as auditors upon payment of the audit fee. Official records and grades are maintained for auditors and audit classes cannot later be changed to a credit standing. Students will receive a grade report reflecting audit status.

Plagiarism 
The student who presents as his/her work, ideas or writings of another person for full or partial academic credit will be subject to disciplinary action. This action may include dismissal from the Graduate Business Administration Program. MBA term papers may not be used for more than one MBA class.