Section 6: Academic Policies
6.1 Early Graduation
Students considering early graduation should complete a Petition for Early Graduation form and meet with a Student Services academic advisor. Students who receive permission to graduate early are still required to pay either four semesters of Full-Time tuition, 192 units at the FlexTime rate, or some combination of the two. Course schedules, offerings, and mini-semester timings will not be changed to accommodate such students.
6.2 Transfer Policy
Transfer between programs can only occur at the beginning of a semester and is available to students in good academic standing. Only one transfer is allowed per student. When considering the possibility of transferring, students are required to take the following actions:
- Meet with a Student Services academic advisor
- Meet with a Tepper School Financial Aid staff member
- Meet with a Career Opportunities counselor
- Talk with the Office of International Education if visa status is affected.
FlexTime to Full-Time
FlexTime students in good standing (i.e., overall GPA of B or better with no academic integrity offenses) and who have no admissions restrictions may transfer into the Full-Time program only after completing their first year required course sequence, mini 1 through and including mini 6.
FlexTime students may also transfer at the beginning of their 2nd spring or their 3rd fall semester. Students who have completed more than 144 units are not eligible to transfer.
The timing of required curriculum completion, capstone completion, COC access, graduation date, and tuition charges will all be determined by a Student Services advisor based on the actual time of the transfer. Students must accept the conditions of the transfer at the time of the decision.
Full-Time to FlexTime
Full-Time students may transfer into the FlexTime program after completing at least 1 semester (2 minis). Students who have completed more than 132 units are not eligible to transfer. Students must provide a compelling reason as part of the transfer process. Included below are some reasons for decisions to transfer.
- Employment (i.e., student has accepted a full-time job)
- Medical issues (for student, student’s partner or student’s dependent children)
- Scheduling issues due to military service.
Students transferring from Full-Time to FlexTime are expected to reduce their course load accordingly. FlexTime students are expected to take two classes per mini semester each mini semester. Students wanting to expand the course load to 18 units per mini semester will need permission from their Student Services advisor. Students who switch from Full-Time to FlexTime will not be permitted to take more than 18 units per mini semester. The timing of required course completion, capstone completion, COC access, graduation date and tuition charges will all be determined by a Student Services advisor based on the targeted time of the transfer. Students must accept the conditions of the transfer at the time of the decision.
6.3 Leave of Absence
A leave of absence (LOA) means that a student leaves the Tepper School of Business/Carnegie Mellon with the firm and stated intention to return.
Full-Time students may petition for a one-time leave of absence for up to two calendar years. FlexTime students may be granted a one-time leave of absence for up to one calendar year (in addition to their three year limit). Students must meet with a Student Services academic advisor and complete the necessary paperwork to initiate the leave. Students on leave are not permitted to attend classes or maintain employment (Tutors, TA’s etc) as students at Carnegie Mellon while their leave is in effect. In addition, students are not active with the Career Opportunities Center while on LOA.
Student’s campus ID and e-mail accounts are suspended during a leave of absence. Returning from a leave of absence requires the completion of additional paperwork. Leave of absence status has additional issues for international students. Consulting with OIE is essential before processing a leave.
6.4 Withdrawal from Program
A withdrawal from the Tepper School or the university means to leave with no intention to return at any time.
Withdrawal from the MBA program is initiated by meeting with a Student Services academic advisor. Campus ID’s and e-mail accounts are terminated. Withdrawal from the program has additional issues for international students. Consulting with OIE is essential before processing a withdrawal.
6.5 Academic Review and Academic Probation
The Masters Academic Actions Committee (MAAC), composed of Tepper School faculty members (appointed by the associate dean for education and the executive director, masters programs), reviews the academic performance of all MBA students at the end of each semester. The MAAC’s academic actions are communicated to students in writing by the executive director regarding the following outcomes of the scheduled MAAC meetings.
Any Full-Time MBA student with a cumulative GPA less than 5.0 (B Average) at the time of an academic performance review, or with an overall GPA less than 5.0 (B Average) in one semester, or a required course GPA of less than 5.0 (B average) in one semester, is automatically placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation are required to seek approval from the executive director of student services for all academic activities, including selection of electives, until removed from probation. At the discretion of the executive director, masters programs, students on academic probation may be denied admission to certain courses. Students on academic probation may neither take courses pass/fail nor register for independent studies. Students on academic probation may also be restricted from participation in co-curricular or club activities, or from pursuing student leadership positions within the MBA program.
Any FlexTime MBA student with a cumulative GPA less than 5.0 (B average), or a required course GPA of less than 5.0 (B average) in one semester at the end of her/his first spring semester or second fall semester is automatically placed on academic probation.
All students who are below the minimum required GPA, (B average) at the end of mini 1 will be barred from exempting any mini 2 courses, even if they have successfully passed the exemption exam. Students who are below the minimum required GPA (B average) at the end of mini 2 will be put on academic probation and are barred from exempting any mini 3 courses.
Students on academic probation are automatically removed from probation after the next academic review if their cumulative GPA and their required course GPA is 5.0. However, co-curricular activities may continue to be restricted until further notice from the executive director, masters programs.
Students who do not achieve a 5.0 (B average) in their required courses GPA or their cumulative GPA, after two sequential semester MAAC reviews may be dismissed from the program. Any student having questions of their academic standing is encouraged to contact Student Services. This should be done sooner, not later, during the mini.
6.6 Dismissal from Program
MBA students with a GPA less than 5.0 for two consecutive reviews may be dismissed from the MBA program.
Should students wish to appeal the expulsion, the executive director, masters programs will explain the appeal process. Students dismissed at any time for unsatisfactory academic standing or infraction of regulations will not be refunded tuition or related fees.
First year Full-Time students who fail two or more of their required courses in any mini semester will be subject to an academic review and may be asked to take a leave of absence or be dismissed from the program. Any first year FlexTime student who fails two or more required courses in their first semester will be subject to an academic review and may be asked to take a leave of absence or be dismissed from the program.
6.7 Required Suspension from Program
University suspension is a forced, temporary leave from the university. There are three types of suspension for students that apply to both graduate and undergraduate students:
Academic suspension is the result of poor academic performance or violation of academic regulations and is imposed by the student's college or academic department. (Section 6.6 –Dismissal from Program).
Disciplinary suspension is the result of serious personal misconduct and is imposed by the dean of student affairs.
Administrative suspension is the result of failure to meet university financial obligations or failure to comply with federal, state or local health regulations and is imposed by Enrollment Services. (See Student Accounts Receivable Collection Policy and Procedures for financial obligations. Contact Student Health Services for information about health regulations).
This University policy is available online: http://cmu.edu/policies/documents/Suspension.html .
6.8 Withdrawal of a Degree
The university reserves the right to withdraw an already-conferred degree, should it discover that either the work upon which the degree was based or the academic records in support of it were falsified.
