Academic Policies for Graduate Students

Academic Honesty
Academic Review Policy
Academic Appeal Process
Equal Opportunity Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Grading System
Laptop Policy
Leave of Absence
Time Limit
Course Waiver/Transfer Policy
Add/Drop/Withdrawal Policy
Auto Drop Policy (PDF)

 

Academic Honesty

The Graduate School of Management is a community dedicated to learning and research, both of which include the transmission of knowledge. In striving to learn, we are often dependent on what others have achieved an thus become indebted to them. We must acknowledge our reliance on and use of the ideas and writings of others. The University does not tolerate offenses such as plagiarism and cheating. You are responsible for understanding the University's policy on Academic Honesty.

All work performed by you must be your original work. This includes courses taught in any type of environment, whether campus-based, company-based, or through distance learning. When plagiarism or cheating is found to have occurred, you are subject to immediate dismissal from Graduate School of Management and the grade for the course or the work submitted is subject to change. If a degree or certificate has already been granted at the time the violation is discovered, the degree or certificate shall be revoked.

Plagiarism is an attempt to claim as your own, ideas or writings that originate with others. It is a serious offense against the academic community. Plagiarism is not lessened by a paraphrase or even by an extensive rewriting of another's work. Whenever ideas or words are borrowed, you must give credit by citing the source. All credentialed sources of information must be documented. In addition to traditional sources of information (e.g., books, journals, magazines ad news articles), information accessed through the Internet or other electronic sources must be acknowledged.

Cheating is the deceitful use of another person's work or work product and is subject to disciplinary action. When cheating is suspected during an exam, the instructor or proctor is to separate the suspect examination from those of the other students. The instructor will inform the student of the suspected cheating at the time of examination is turned in and set up an appointment regarding the suspected cheating.

The review of all plagiarized work and/or cheating cases (herein referred to as "offense") and the imposition of penalties will follow the procedure explained below:

1. An instructor who discovers an offense shall immediately inform the student, allowing the student the chance to explain the circumstances.
2. If, after conferring with the student, the instructor still determines that an offense has occured, the instructor will compile the materials of the case to include the piece of work in question and a report of the instructor's conversation with the student. These materials will be submitted to the appropriate academic dean.
3. If the student acknowledges in writing that he or she committed an offense, the case does not go to an Academic Review Board. Instead, the instructor assigns a grade on the work and a grade in the course. The appropriate academic dean reviews the case and decides on an additional penalty, if necessary.
4. If the student does not acknowledge the offense, the appropriate academic dean will submit the case, with all relevant materials, to the Academic Review Board. That Review Board will conduct its own investigation and will hold a hearing at which the student, without counsel, will be invited to present his her case and to respond to the Board's questions. The Board will decide on whether the student did commit an offense, and will base its decision only on the evidence, not on mitigating or extenuating circumstances.
5. If the Board finds that an offense did occur, it will convey its findings to the appropriate academic dean. The dean will hold a show-cause hearing with the student on why he or she should not be dismissed from the University and will decide on any penalties beyond the course grade. The student will be informed of the final decision of the hearing and the implications of the decision.
6. If the Academic Review Board in its judgment does not find sufficient evidence to support the claim of the offense, the Board will inform the appropriate academic dean. The dean will review the Board's determination and may ask the instructor to compute a grade for the piece of work and the course without regard to any offense, but solely on the basis of the quality of the student's work.

Adequate procedures for dealing with offenses in off-campus programs will be determined by the appropriate academic dean.

 

Academic Review Policy

All students enrolled in the Graduate School of Management of the College of Business are subject to the Academic Review Policy. Satisfactory status will be granted if all the admissions requirements have been met and a minimum grade point of average of 3.0 has been attained (unless otherwise stated on your acceptance letter). Student status is reviewed every trimester as grades and documents are received. All graduate level grades are reviewed, including any failed grades that have been successfully repeated.

Warning status will be assigned to those students after their first term of enrollment who:

• Earn two grades of C
• Have a cumulative GPA below 3.000

Dismissal and probation criteria have precedence over warning status. For example, if a student receives three C grades, he or she is subject to probation.

Probation will be assigned to students who:

• Earn three grades of C
• Earn one failing grade (C- and below)
• Have a cumulative GPA between 2.500 and 3.000

A student is allowed nine credit hours to clear probation. If after completing nine credit hours, the situation has not been resolved, then the student shall be dismissed. Students who are on probation may not apply for graduation or take Capstone or Thesis classes until probationary status has been cleared.

Students are subject to dismissal for any of the following:

• Two or more failing grades (C- and below)
• Four or more C grades
• Two or more C grades and one failing grade (C- and below)
• A cumulative GPA of 2.499 or below
• Failing to satisfy the Requirements of a Conditional Admission (as outlined in the admissions agreement)

Dismissal criteria have precedence over probationary status. For example, if a student receives two C grades and one failing grade during his or her first trimester, he or she is subject to dismissal without warning.

 

Academic Appeal Process

Students have the right to request a hearing before the Academic Review Board. Such requests must be filed within seven (7) business days of the date of the dismissal letter.

In order to appeal a dismissal, a student must first submit Form 180-A, Request for an Academic Review Board Hearing, along with his or her submission, provide a dated letter to the Academic Review Board that contains:

• Full name
• Explanation of academic performance (please note that valid reasons for an appeal are as follows: unresolved problems with an instructor, issues with a fellow student or team member, or access to course or course resources)
• Attach supporting documentation, if necessary (please be advised that only documentation submitted with this form will be accepted as part of the "case" for appeal; nothing submitted later will be considered).

The request will then be reviewed by the Review Eligibility Panel. The student will be notified of the Panel's acceptance or rejection of the request by email and letter before the scheduled Academic Review Board hearing for that term. If a request is denied, the student will receive a letter from the College of Business (COB) Dean informing him/her that the dismissal for the University has been upheld. If a request is granted, the student will be contacted by the Dean's office to schedule a time to appear before the Academic Review Board. The student should make arrangements to attend the meeting if he or she lives in the local area. The Academic Review Board will recommend a course of action to the College of Business (COB) Dean who may either accept or reject the Board's recommendation. The COB Dean's decision is final.

Please note that a student who has not been enrolled for three consecutive trimesters (or more), must first reapply through the Office of Admissions. Any balance owed to the University of Dallas must be paid in full before a request will be considered.

A student who has been previously dismissed has no option to appeal unless there has been an alleged violation of the student's rights to due process in grading or course participation or breach of published University policies or procedures.

Students should address any questions to:
University of Dallas
Graduate School of Management
Attn: Nicole Anderson
1845 East Northgate Drive
Irving, Texas 75062
Email: nanderson@udallas.edu

 

Equal Opportunity Policy

Federal Regulations
The University brings together, in common pursuit of its educational goals, persons of many backgrounds and experiences. The University is committed to the principle that in no aspect of its programs shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. Any student complaints pursuant to a discrimination concern should be referred to Janis Townsend, Director of Human Resources. Human Resources is located on the second floor of Carpenter Hall and the phone number is (972) 721-5382.

Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment
The University of Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Janis Townsend
Director of Human Resources
Section 504/ ADA Coordinator
Title IX Coordinator
Age Discrimination Act Coordinator
Office of Human Resources
Carpenter Hall 2nd Floor
1845 E. Northgate Drive
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 721-5382

As a Catholic institution, the University may take actions based on religion in many areas (for example, in student admissions and administrative faculty appointments), and may establish a University approved code of conduct based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Specific policies and procedures are published in the student, faculty, and staff handbooks.

Section 504 and Americans with Disabilities Act
The University will not exclude or impede an otherwise qualified handicapped individual, by sole reason of handicap, from submitting an application for employment or from participation in University programs and activities.

The University will provide any and all reasonable accommodations to facilitate handicapped applicants, students, employees, and guests access to and participation in University programs, events, classes, and administrative activities.

The University has designated Janis Townsend, Director of Human Resources, as the Section 504/ ADA Coordinator. Human Resources is located on the second floor of Carpenter Hall and the phone number is (972) 721-5382. The Coordinator is charged with ensuring that the University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

University departments sponsoring events that are open to the public must include as part of the event announcement the clause: Persons with disabilities needing special assistance to attend should contact the ADA coordinator. at least 72 hours before the event. The University will provide reasonable accommodation to those requesting assistance.

Employees and students who complain of any alleged violations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act may present their complaint to the Section 504 coordinator. The coordinator assists in an information resolution of the complaint or guides the complainant to the appropriate individual or process for resolving the complaint. Complainants who are not faculty, staff, or students who are not satisfied with the resolution of the problem by the coordinator may ask the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration to review their situation. The decision of the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration will be final.

Title IX
The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs and activities. Any person alleging to have been discriminated against in violation of Title IX may present a complaint to the Title IX coordinator. The coordinator assists in an informal resolution of the complaint or guides the complainant to the appropriate individual or process for resolving the complaint.

The University has designated Janis Townsend, Director of Human Resources, as the Title IX Coordinator. Human Resources is located on the second floor of Carpenter Hall and the phone number is (972) 721-5382.

Release of Information
Section 438 of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 protects the privacy of student's records. Students who choose to limit access to their official files must advise the Office of Student Records in writing and must renew a nondisclosure request each trimester. In the absence of such notifications, Graduate School of Management may release items considered directory information:

• Student name
• Address
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Date and place of birth
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Dates of school attendance
• Enrollment status
• Degree and awards received
• The most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student

 

Grade Appeal Process

To appeal a grade given by a professor, follow the steps below:

1. Request a conference (in person, if possible) with the professor so that an explanation of the grade may be given. This request must be submitted in writing within 14 days of the posting of the final course grade. If Step 1 does not satisfy the students concerns or if the student is unable to meet with the professor, proceed to Step 2.
2. Submit an appeal to the College of Business (COB) Dean. This appeal must be made within two weeks following a conference with the professor (or an attempt to meet with the professor). The appeal must be prepared in written form. The Dean will discuss the appeal with the student and the professor to see if the situation may be resolved. If necessary, the Dean will consult with the Academic Review Board (the student may be asked to appear) prior to making the final decision. The Dean will provide a final written statement of the situation within one month after the appeal is submitted to his/her office. This is the student's final appeal.

 

Grading System

Student academic performance is generally based on at least two measurements in each course: for example, two examinations, or an examination and a project. The exception would be a Capstone course or a Practicum, which may be solely measured on the student's overall performance as evaluated by the professor. Upon the student's request, professors will explain grades but will not change grades unless it can be shown that the original grading was in error. The Dean's Office must approve any grade changes from lower to higher grades. If a student believes that the grade was assigned incorrectly, he/she may appeal the grade according to the steps outlined in the Grade Appeal Process.

The following grade system is used:

A grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, or C signifies that the course was passed. Students may not retake the course for grade replacement. The passing grade remains on your permanent record and will be used to compute final GPA.

A grade of C-, D+, D, D-, F, or FA signifies that the course was failed, and that the student must retake the course and obtain a grade of C or higher. The failing grade remains on the student's permanent academic record and is included on any transcript, but it is not used in computing the final GPA or credit hours toward graduation. If a failing grade is earned in an elective course, the student may either retake the course, (in which case the failing grade will not be included in the GPA) or enroll in another course which will satisfy the elective requirement (in which case the failing grade will be included in the GPA). If a course has been failed more than once, only a single failing grade is excluded from the GPA. Failed courses may only be repeated once for grade replacement.

Incomplete Grades: The letter "I" denotes an Incomplete and is given only when a valid emergency prevented the student from completing coursework. For an Incomplete grade to be considered, the student must have completed a substantial part of the course requirement with a grade for that work. If the student receives an "I", he/she must perform whatever academic tasks the granting faculty member deems necessary before the Incomplete will be changed to a letter grade. An Incomplete Grade Contract must be completed by the student and the professor specifying the work required and a date for completion. The Incomplete Grade Contract must be submitted to the Office of the Dean, College of Business for final approval and a copy will remain on file in the Office of Student Records. Upon submission of the required work, the professor assigns a grade and submits a grade change form to the Dean's office for approval. If an Incomplete is not changed by the deadline specified within the contract, the grade indicated in the contract will be assigned.

 

Laptop Policy

Many Graduate School of Management courses require the use of a personal computer in the classroom, and the vast majority require the use of personal computers to produce class assignments. All students are required to have a laptop or Tablet PC.

Minimum Laptop Requirements
Operating Systems: XP, Vista or 7 for Windows; Apple Mac OS X or higher
Memory: Min 2 GB
Wireless: 802.11 G or higher

Minimum Software Requirements
Microsoft Office: 2007 (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel required. Access is recommended, but not required)
Adobe Acrobat Reader 8 or higher
Adobe Flash Player 10.2 or higher
Virus Protection: Trend, Mcaffee, Norton, or Kapersky are recommended.
Browser: Windows users: IE 8 or Firefox 3.5; MAC OS Users: Safari 4.0 or Firefox 3.5

Discounted Laptops
Click here for a list of vendors and discounted equipment.

Please keep in mind that this is a personal purchase and the university does not provide technical support.

Software
The University of Dallas offers discounted software to those associated with the university through eFollett.com. Software may also be ordered by phone at 1.800.874.9001.

 

Inactivation and Readmission

Students who do not complete a course for three consecutive terms will be required to reapply for admission. To be considered for readmission, a student must meet the current admission standards and be in satisfactory academic and financial standing. Students will be readmitted under the current catalog requirements, which means that they may be required to take additional courses, repeat courses previously taken, and may lose waivers/transfers or previously earned credits.

 

Time Limit

Students admitted to the Graduate School of Management must complete their degree within seven years from the first term of enrollment. Interruption due to military service or other extraordinary circumstances may qualify for an extension. Students who do not complete their degrees within seven years will be required to meet the requirements designated in the most recent University Bulletin.

 

Course Waiver/Transfer Policy

A waiver is granted for foundation courses when the student has taken at least 3 credit hours (with a grade of B- or better) at the undergraduate level OR at least 1.5 credit hours (with a grade of B or better) at the graduate level that are substantially similar in content to one 1.5 credit hour GSM course. ECON 5F70 and TECH 5F70 require 6 credit hours (with a grade of B- or better) at the undergraduate level OR at least 3 semester hours (with a grade of B or better) at the graduate level that are substantially similar in content to ECON 5F70 and TECH 5F70.

A transfer is granted for Value Creation courses when taken as part of an accredited MBA program. Courses must be at least 3 credit hours (with a grade of B or better), must not be foundation level courses, and must be substantially similar in content to one current GSM course. A transfer is granted for an elective course when the student has taken at least 3 credit hours (with a grade of B or better) at the graduate level that are substantially similar in content to one current GSM course.

All transfers must have been completed in the last 7 years. Pass/Fail courses do not qualify for waiver/transfer. Note: You may elect to take classes that have been waived and/or transferred and are encouraged to do so if you have no recent application of the materials being taught in those classes.

 

Add/Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Please note that the following Add/Drop/Withdrawal Policy is not an indication of refund money due. All adds/drops/withdrawals are subject to the posted refund schedule.

Students may add or drop courses during the designated add/drop period for the course via the Banner system. All Adds/Drops/Withdrawals that cannot be performed via Banner must be requested using the online Form 160. A drop takes place during the first week of a twelve week term or before the first class meeting for six week or intensive classes. A withdrawal occurs after a class has opened online or met in the classroom for six week or intensive classes, and after the seventh day of a twelve week term.

Students who fail to officially drop or withdraw from courses that they do not complete will receive a grade of "FA" and are subject to the Academic Review Policy. Failure to attend class is not an official drop/withdrawal and students are responsible for any financial obligations they incur as a result of failing to drop/withdraw.

Add Policy for the 12 week terms:

1. Students will not be allowed to add an online or hybrid class after the first Friday of the term.
2. Students will not be allowed to add an on ground class if it has met twice.
3. Students will only be allowed to add an on ground class after the first class meeting and prior to the second class meeting with advisor approval.

Add Policy for other parts of term:

1. Students are not allowed to add any 6 week class after it has met. Once Web Registration has ended and classes begin, students will need to contact their advisor to enroll in a 6 week course that has not met. Online courses may be added until the first Friday of the term.
2. Students will not be allowed to add a class offered in an intensive format once the course has met. (This includes Saturday, Sat/Sun, 4 Week or 3 Week Term).
3. Students will not be allowed to add a Summer II 10 Week course once it has met twice. Students will only be allowed to add an on ground class after the first class meeting and prior to the second class meeting with advisor approval.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy for the 12 week terms:

1. Students must withdraw from a course prior to the end of the 11th week of class with written permission from the professor.
2. Students may not withdraw from a course after the 11th week of class and must accept the grade they are assigned.
3. Students who withdraw from a course after the first week of class will receive a grade of "W" on their transcript, except during the designated add/drop week.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy for the 10 week Summer II term:

1. Students must withdraw from a course prior to the end of the 9th week of class with written permission from the professor.
2. Students may not withdraw from a course after the 9th week of class and must accept the grade they are assigned.
3. Students who withdraw from a course after the first class meeting will receive a grade of "W" on their transcript, except during the designated add/drop period.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy for Online/Hybrid Courses:

1. Students must withdraw from an online/hybrid course prior to the opening of the last module with written permission from the professor. A withdrawal request must be processed before Unit 12 opens for a 3 credit hour course and before Unit 6 opens for a 1.5 credit hour course.
2. Students may not withdraw from an online/hybrid course after the opening of the last module and must accept the grade they are assigned.
3. Students who withdraw from a course after the first unit will receive a grade of "W" on their transcript.

Drop/Withdrawal Policy for Other Parts of Term:
Other parts of term included in this policy are courses that may be offered in a shorter time frame: 6 week, 4 week, 3 week, Saturday Intensive.

1. Students must withdraw from a course prior to the last day of class for any course offered in a more intensive format. The withdrawal requires written permission from the professor.
2. Students may not withdraw from a course on or after the last day of class for any intensive classes, and must accept the grade they are assigned.
3. Students who withdraw from a course after the first class meeting will receive a grade of "W" on their transcript.

*Note: Late adds and drops are subject to the posted refund schedule regardless of then the class was added or whether or not it was attended.

Withdrawal from the University of Dallas
Students who wish to withdraw from the University of Dallas must complete the online Form 160. The request to withdraw must be submitted according to the deadlines stated in the Drop/Withdrawal Policy. Students who withdraw will receive grades of "W" on their transcript for each class attempted.