Faulkner University - MHR Student Handbook

B.S. in Management of Human Resources

Executive Program

Student Handbook

Effective for all students in the MHR Program as of September 1, 2008

Harris College of Business & Executive Education

“Faulkner University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and juris doctor degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Faulkner University. Questions related to admissions, policies, programs, procedures and/or practices of Faulkner University should be directed to the university’s relevant offices, catalogs, publications, or web sites.”

M.H.R. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The following is an official statement of Faulkner University's policies regarding adult/executive MHR students. This information is designed to provide the student a working knowledge of their rights and responsibilities as well as areas of special interest to MHR students.

Faulkner University understands and appreciates the unique needs and circumstances of the executive program student and is committed to service. It is our promise to treat our adult students with dignity, fairness, respect, and professionalism. We believe that adult students expect such treatment and will display these attitudes in all dealings with Faulkner University employees.

All requirements of the MHR degree must be completed within four (4) years of the initial enrollment to the program. Students who withdraw from the program, prior to re-entry/re-enrollment must satisfy the requirements based on the current curriculum/catalog including completion/satisfaction of any core requirement deficiencies.

Faulkner University’s executive education programs, including the MHR and BBA, are offered primarily as degree completion programs. Students graduating successfully from such programs are eligible to apply for admission to graduate programs in the College of Business of Faulkner University. Certain graduate Business programs offered by Faulkner University might require additional prerequisites

Because of the diversity in graduate programs (numerous programs across the nation and in various fields within the broad area of business, related to business, or outside of business) and the variety of entrance competencies for entry therein, it is not feasible for the University to undertake to advise students as to whether their programs of study at Faulkner will satisfy the prerequisites of other studies at other universities. Thus, the student contemplating transfer or graduate work at another institution bears the sole responsibility for ensuring that work done at Faulkner will satisfy the program requirements at a different university.

We are pleased to have you here at our University, and we wish you much success in this educational endeavor. It is the intent of the program to have a current and competitive curriculum. Changes and updates are undertaken constantly which often lead to new textbooks or additional supplements, books, and materials. Students should be prepared for costs relevant to that. Faulkner University reserves the right to change, re-design or in any way modify the program to include, but not be limited to, curriculum, calendars, instructional delivery and format.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Students should recognize that they have the primary responsibility in planning their own academic program, given the fact that this is a STRUCTURED degree completion program. All students entering the University's executive programs will be given an official evaluation of transcripts, military schools and training, etc. Any student lacking in core requirements has a variety of options available to satisfy these deficiencies: CLEP/DANTES, additional course work, etc. Students enrolled in the MHR program will not be granted permission to simultaneously take core courses. Transfer credit for core requirements will not be accepted from other schools if taken while enrolled in any of Faulkner University’s one-year degree completion programs. The Transcript Evaluators in the Registrar’s Office at the Montgomery campus will provide the student with detailed information on these options and specific courses needed to satisfy core requirements. While the Dean of the Business College and Academic Vice-President may make recommendations, the Transcript Evaluators have the responsibility and authority on the evaluation of any and all credit transferred to Faulkner University.

The Academic Vice-President, the Dean of the College of Business, and the Program Chair/Director stand ready to help with special problems.

REGISTRATION

Registration is conducted for MHR students prior to admission into the programs. Registration must be complete before attending classes. Students with incomplete registration information will not be given academic credit for courses taken.

In order to graduate with the MHR degree, students must achieve a passing grade on all coursework, including Directed Studies and the Comprehensive Final Examination. If any class, Directed Study, or Comprehensive Final Examination is failed, it is incumbent upon the student to ensure that they are properly registered to retake any failed work. This process begins by contacting the MHR Office; however, University policy mandates that, before re-enrollment/registration may be processed, the student must receive approval from the Business Office, Financial Aid Office, and Registrar's Office. Once approval has been given, the student should contact the MHR Office.

Registration will not be complete until said approvals are granted. Last minute re-enrollment/registration cannot be processed outside of normal working hours since the Business Office, Financial Aid Office, and Registrar's Office are closed. Specifically, re-enrollments/registrations on Saturday or after working hours on weeknights cannot be undertaken. Therefore, re-enrollments/registrations on Directed Study Saturdays will not be possible.

FINANCIAL AID

MHR students at Faulkner University will be subject to Financial Aid probation following the first semester of the program, and suspension following the second semester. Any student simultaneously enrolled in more than one program will be subject to the guidelines for the predominant program. In order to be eligible for financial aid, MHR students must meet the standard in the following table:

Hours Attempted	Cumulative GPA	Completion Rate
0-29	1.75	70%
30-59	1.90	75%
60 and above	2.00	80%

Attempted hours include all hours appearing on the official academic transcript as attempted, including transfer credits. This includes all letter grades, W's, I's, NC's, and any other course for which the student was charged and began attendance.

Any student placed on probation will have one term of continued financial aid in which to achieve the academic criteria appropriate for the hours attempted at the end of the term of probation. Failure to do so subjects such a student to Financial Aid Suspension.

Any extension of Financial Aid Probation beyond one term must be requested by the student in writing and must be approved by the Financial Aid Director. For additional information, please contact the Director of Financial Aid.

CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE

Regular class attendance is expected of all students and is essential for academic development. In some courses, class interaction and individual participation are such vital parts of the course objective that appreciable absence from class negates the value of the course. An education, being more than the attainment of facts and skills, includes the development of attitudes, appreciations, and understandings that are experienced from the classroom.

The following policies and procedures are to be followed in regard to absences of students:

1. Students are expected to attend class and are responsible for assignments and work missed because of absence, but an instructor is not obligated to permit a student to make up work.

2. A student who misses two meetings of any class will receive an automatic "F" in the class unless prior permission is obtained from the MHR Chair/Director and appropriate documentation is provided concerning personal illness, family illness, death of family member, work, etc. Because Module 3 (Research Methods in Management), has only three class meetings, a student who misses one meeting of this class, without prior permission from the MHR Chair/Director, will receive an automatic “F” in the class. Also, because Module 11 (Research Project) has only one class meeting, a student who misses this class, without prior permission from the MHR Chair/Director, will receive academic penalty on the Research Project. Any exception has to be approved by the Chair/Director of the MHR program. Any absences in excess of those just explained will result in the student being required to drop the course and receive no credit for work completed up to that point. Because of the lock-step nature of the MHR program, the student would have to withdraw from the program and wait for the next group to reach the course from which the student had to withdraw.

3. Students who are absent the class meeting of the final examination must have prior approval from the MHR Chair/Director and provide appropriate documentation before being allowed to retake the examination. The rescheduling of a final exam must be done through the MHR Chair/Director.

4. The handling of other absences and makeup work is at the discretion of individual instructors, but it must be consistent with the program's class attendance policy mentioned in the syllabus distributed at the beginning of the module. Assignments submitted late or exams taken late may result in points being deducted from the late assignments or exam.

5. Leaving class early or multiple occasions of tardiness are unacceptable and will be treated as an absence at the discretion of the instructor after consultation with the MHR department. While the department recognizes occasional situations beyond the control of the student may arise, appropriate documentation will be required (as mentioned above in #2) in order to grant an excused absence. Students should recognize that Executive Programs by design are fast-paced and even one absence may be detrimental to the academic progress of the student. As such, the student should seriously consider the program schedule and calendar prior to admission in order to ascertain if the program meets the student’s needs.

Instructors are required to keep an accurate record of class attendance and to notify the Program Chair/Director's office at the earliest moment an attendance problem becomes evident.

Important Note: Both the University and the Instructor reserve the right to establish, alter, or suspend assigned seating arrangements for testing and/ or general lecturing conditions at any time for any reason throughout the program.

DRESS CODE

While recognizing that personal tastes and styles may vary considerably, the University has established a dress code that all students are expected to review and follow. These guidelines are not created to dictate strict conformity or to impose oppressive restrictions, but are designed to encourage foster a Christian atmosphere and standards of modesty appropriate to Christian life (1 Timothy 2:8) and standards of personal appearance that will be expected for many students in their chosen professions.

Appropriate Dress

Students are expected to dress and to groom themselves in a way that reflects neatness, moderation and appropriateness. Students should not dress to call attention to their body parts. Students failing to observe the personal appearance policies of the University should expect to be approached by faculty, staff, or administrative personnel regarding their appearance. If a student is uncertain about any dress regulation, he/she should ask the Dean of Students. All dress code questions are decided at the discretion of the Dean of Students.

Appropriate Dress for Women

Appropriate dress for women includes slacks, jeans, modest shorts, skirts, blouses, and dresses that are modest and neat. All females are required to wear a bra when in public. Women’s hair must be neat.

Appropriate Dress for Men

Appropriate dress for men includes slacks, jeans, modest shorts, shirts, and suits that are neat in appearance. Men’s hair must be neat and not excessively long. Men are encouraged to remove headwear when they enter any building on Faulkner’s campus. The exception would be for medical conditions. Men students must remove headwear when entering chapel or a classroom.

Dress Code

Clothing must not expose skin in any of the following ways:

Low cut or wide-open necklines or arm holes
Short tops or low-cut/low-riding pants
The midriff area must not show.
Spaghetti straps are not allowed.
Pants or jeans must not have holes or be ragged.
No shorts, skirts or dresses must be more than 3” above the knee, when seated. This includes athletic attire, and applies to regulation play and practice sessions.
Extremely tight-fitting clothes, including Spandex-type clothing are not permitted.
Dresses or blouses worn over leggings must meet the length requirement stated above.
Clothes with un-Christian words or pictures are not permitted.
Clothing designed for use as sleepwear is not permitted outside of residential areas.
Athletic shorts appropriate to the sport may be worn while participating in athletic classes/activities. This type of clothing is not appropriate for other areas, such as the cafeteria or classrooms.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to plagiarism, falsification on tests and assignments, attempting to take credit for another person’s work, and abuse or inappropriate behavior toward an instructor, staff member, student, or administrator.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Faulkner University selects for admission individuals displaying academic ability, professionalism, and maturity. In an attempt to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning and consistent with our Christian principles, we have developed the following regulations governing behavior on all Faulkner University facilities. Penalties for violations of these regulations can range from verbal reprimand to dismissal from the program, depending on severity and other circumstances.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

Inappropriate behavior could be comprised of, but is not limited to the following:

· Disrespect for Administrator's or Instructor’s authority.

· Calling the administration (President, Academic Vice President or Dean of the Business College) at home with complaints. STUDENTS NOT FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROTOCOL OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITH THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND, AS NECESSARY, THE ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT, WILL BE DEEMED AS NOT ABIDING BY THE GUIDELINES OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT FAULKNER UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS CONTACTING ANY OTHER EXTERNAL (OUTSIDE OF FAULKNER UNIVERSITY) PERSON, AGENCY, OR INSTITUTION WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO BE IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT FAULKNER UNIVERSITY. ACTION TAKEN MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM, DISMISSAL, PROBATION, SUSPENSION, OR ANY OTHER ACTION AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF FAULKNER UNIVERSITY.

· Bringing children or other guests to class. Only those students registered for class may attend.

· Non-professional attitude during academic session, phone conversations, etc. Aggressive and/or offensive verbal communications with instructors, staff, or administrators.

· Construed statements, mis-quotes, or circumventing of the principal academic issue.

Examples: Taking statements made by an Instructor or Administrator made in a different context and applying them to another issue. Quoting statements supposedly made to third parties (hearsay). Combining, twisting, and molding statements to paint a scenario when the bottom line might be that a certain grade is questioned.

Faulkner University reserves the right to disenroll any student for any reason stated above and any other reason deemed worthy of dismissal. Tuition will be refunded.

Note: The recommended way to appeal a grade is to follow the procedure as outlined elsewhere in this handbook. While sincere concerns or complaints that will improve or enhance our academic offerings and services are always welcome, it is our intent to discourage constant questioning of our instructors’ best judgment relative to grades.

Alcohol or Non-prescription Drugs

Use of cigarettes or any other tobacco product on any Faulkner University campus or property of Faulkner University is strictly prohibited. Fines and/ or other disciplinary action may be imposed for non-compliance.

The possession, consumption, or use of alcohol or non-prescription drugs on the property of Faulkner University is strictly prohibited. Fines and/ or other disciplinary action may be imposed for non-compliance.

Disciplinary action for other forms of misconduct is at the discretion of the University administration and may include academic probation or a request to withdraw from school.

PLAGIARISM AND/OR COMPLICITY

Students participating in plagiarism will be given an "F" for the course. Students participating in "complicity" (example: two identical or substantially similar papers basically having similar content with the exception of manipulation of certain words or sentences via means of a word processor) may, on the recommendation of the Academic Vice-President, have their transcripts stamped with the word "complicity" when transcripts are released. While the Dean of the College of Business and the MHR Director serve on the Academic Committee, the final decision of transcripts being stamped with "complicity" rests with the Academic Vice President.

Similarly, students participating in "plagiarism" may, on the recommendation of the Academic Vice President, have their transcripts stamped with the word "plagiarism" when transcripts are released. The final decision of transcripts being stamped with "plagiarism" rests with the Academic Vice President.

THE MHR ACADEMIC COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF THE DIRECTOR, MHR DEPARTMENT, THE DEAN, COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, AND THE ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT. PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT THIS COMMITTEE COMPRISES THE FINAL BODY OF ACADEMIC APPEAL FOR FAULKNER UNIVERSITY.

PLEASE NOTE: THE MHR ACADEMIC REVIEW COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF THE DIRECTOR, MHR DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR, BBA DEPARTMENT, THE CHAIR OF THE TRADITIONAL BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, AND THE DEAN, COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.

THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE MHR ACADEMIC REVIEW COMMITTEE IS TO WORK WITH OPERATIONAL ISSUES SUCH AS GRADES, CONDUCT, COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS, AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS. THE MHR ACADEMIC COMMITTEE DEALS WITH PLAGIARISM AND/OR COMPLICITY THOUGH IT IS NOT LIMITED TO SUCH.

Disciplinary action for other forms of misconduct is at the discretion of the University administration and may include academic probation or a request to withdraw from school.

DIRECTED STUDY

The Directed Study is an essential part of the MHR Program. It is designed to challenge the student's abilities of independent thought, creativity, abstract reasoning, and problem-solving. For off-campus students, the Directed Study also satisfies the residency requirement imposed by our accrediting agency. Students should purchase books and pick up syllabi for upcoming modules at the Directed Study. This is covered in greater detail under the section heading “Textbooks”. For these reasons, regular attendance at Directed Study is imperative.

In order to assist you in successfully participating in Directed Study, we are making the following recommendations:

1. Complete 2-3 chapters of the assignment each week. The amount of work required will become overwhelming if allowed to accumulate for several weeks.

2. Plan to attend. You will be given Directed Study dates several months in advance. Upon exceptional circumstances for the university, adjustments in the calendar may be required by the MHR department. Keep these dates in mind when scheduling work or personal activities.

3. Please remember the MHR Directed Studies are on Saturdays. No "make-ups", "repeats", or other alternatives are offered on weekdays. If you are unable to accommodate this schedule, you should examine whether this program best fits your specific needs.

4. Contact the MHR Program Chair/Director or MHR Asst. Director if you have an academic question or problem regarding your assignment.

5. Have your paper neatly typed on a typewriter, word processor, or computer. If you do not have access to a typewriter or computer, your paper may be typed by another individual of your choosing. Papers that are illegible and unorganized are more difficult to grade and may place the student in a competitive disadvantage.

6. Type the question in its entirety before typing your answer. This allows for quicker and easier grading by the instructors. Points could be deducted if this is not done.

7. Place the paper in an approved type of binder (see the end of the Directed Study section for more details on binding.). Folders without brackets are unacceptable. Plastic protector pages are also unacceptable. Do not use hard-back notebooks (for reasons of storage and transportation) or sliding bar report covers.

8. Keep a copy of your paper. The University will keep the original paper submitted by

the student for such a time as the MHR Department deems necessary. It will not be returned to the student after it has been graded.

9. Copying or taking credit for work done by other students is plagiarism and is unacceptable at Faulkner University. Be cautious in sharing your work with other students; work submitted must be yours and yours alone.

10. If an emergency arises and it is impossible for you to attend, contact the Program

Chair/Director immediately.

Absences for personal illness or the illness/death of an immediate family member will allow the Program Chair/Director to assign the student an "I" (appropriate documentation for such will be necessary).

The University reserves the right to assign an "F" to students who are absent for other reasons. In these cases, the final decision will be made by the Program Chair/Director and Dean of the College of Business.

In the event that you receive an "I" you will have to wait until the seminar is offered again, and inform the Program Chair/Director before attending.

However, if you receive an "F", in addition to the above you will be obligated to register for the course(s) once again through the MHR Program Director’s/Registrar's Office and will also be billed for retaking the course by the Business Office. Registrations should take place no less than one week prior to the Directed Study.

11. Please be reminded that, among others, the intent of Directed Study is to provide an opportunity for adults to enhance their conceptual, analytical, and diagnostic skills. The syllabus provided is mostly self-explanatory. In some courses you might be assigned review/discussion questions to answer, or cases to study, or a combination of the above. Typically, 2-3 paragraph answers are expected for the review/discussion questions and 1-2 pages for the case/research questions.

12. Once again, the very basis of Directed Study is to cultivate independent thinking and have students prepared for participation in the seminar on Directed Study Saturday. The seminar begins at 9:00 a.m. (lecture begins promptly at 9:30) and ends at 2:50 p.m. Breaks are taken, including a break for lunch. Immediately following the seminar at 3:00 p.m. is an hour exam.

13. The exam is constructed taking into account your assignments and certain highlights of the seminar.

14. You will receive a grade and 3 semester hours of credit based on your assignment for each of the three Directed Studies. You will receive a grade and 1 semester hour of credit based on your exam for each Directed Study. Directed study grades will take approximately 2-3 weeks after they are turned in before grades will be posted due to the nature of the papers to be graded.

GENERAL EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR "DIRECTED STUDY ASSIGNMENTS"

This is a general outline pertaining to evaluation criteria for Directed Studies (assignments/papers). It focuses on overall performance and content submitted for a specific Directed Study.

1. Factual representation: Answers should address the question at hand in a reasonable and adequate manner and should vividly describe such.

2. Depth: The answers to questions, case analyses, or exercises should be explanative and reflect a multitude of aspects expected of upper division undergraduate students.

3. Applications: Answers should incorporate concepts and principles in the textbook or reference books and should be integrated with "real world" examples.

4. Research orientation: Answers should reflect various sources of relevant research and study undertaken by the student. While minimal research is expected, adequate research often is a decisive factor in distinguishing between a good or superior "B" and excellent or outstanding "A" directed study assignment grade. Periodicals like Business Week, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, Journal of Advertising, AMA Journal, etc. are good sources in addition to general text and reference books.

5. Format, neatness, and clarity: Answers should be numbered and attempted in sequence. The overall assignment should be neatly presented. The "paper" may be typed on a typewriter or word processor. (Neat handwriting will be accepted. The department strongly suggests that assignments be typed.) Appropriate use of paragraph numbering for clarity within each answer is recommended. Restate each question in your assignment before answering it. This allows for quicker and easier grading.

6. Style and professionalism: While all answers do not have to be eloquent, they should respect the executive orientation of the program and provide relevant examples. Answers are expected to reflect a certain amount of finesse in composition, grammar, punctuation, flow, and appropriate use of business vocabulary. Brief, bullet-point-styled answers are discouraged.

7. Synergy: Answers should provide a comprehensive view of the subject matter, and whenever appropriate, be synergistic. Example: A specific question on airline ticket pricing regarding Northwest Airlines is better answered by presenting an overall scenario about the fare structure in the airline industry.

8. Defense: Answers can sometimes be very good or excellent by having a strong defense. Although there is no substitute for a right answer substantiated by a general body of knowledge, a strong defense is recommended. The defense may, among others, reflect conceptual, diagnostic, and technical skills as well as abilities of abstract thought.

9. Progressive absorption: The MHR program, its modules, and the Directed Study are designed to build on each other. Example: Cases in Directed Study #3, Training and Development of Human Resources, could draw upon other MHR courses that have already been completed. As a result, depending upon the question, a supervision or interpersonal communications perspective may be better addressed.

10. Consistency: The directed study assignment should reflect consistency, based on 1-9 mentioned above, from chapter to chapter. Peaks and valleys or strong beginnings with gradual diminishing effort are discouraged.

Penalties (if applicable, and as determined by Program Chair/Director):

A.	Not answering 10% or less of assignments (-10)
	Not answering between 11-20% of assignments (-20)
	Not answering between 21-30% of assignments (-30)
	Not answering 31% and above of assignments ("F")
B.	A paper submitted between: 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. (-10 points)
	10:01 - 10:30 a.m. (-20 points)
	A paper submitted after 10:30 a.m. (receives grade of "F")

* It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the Directed Study paper is turned in on time. *

DIRECTED STUDY BINDING

Cover pages are perfectly acceptable. Clear plastic or card stock is commonly used and the student’s name and course information is usually included. And as a reminder, please do not forget to include your Cover Sheet that is provided with your syllabi. If you happen to forget, copies are available in the office the day of the Directed Study and can be simply stapled in if necessary.

Unacceptable are the following: hardback covers (namely three-ring binders), large bulky covers (larger than the paper presented), and sliding bar report covers. We have limited storage space and also do not wish to have any portion of your paper misplaced or damaged anywhere in the process!

Thank you for following these guidelines and feel free to call us if you have any questions.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Students receive an MHR Program calendar during registration that contains the date that the written comprehensive examination will be administered. Satisfactory completion of this exam will be required prior to graduation. The results of this exam shall be reported on a Pass or Fail basis only.

The examination shall be comprised of questions, cases, or problem situations which focus the student’s energies on the progressive absorption features of the MHR Program.

The examination is prepared by members of the Faulkner University College of Business full-time faculty. Answers to the questions or solutions to the problems are to be essay-type and are to be written and completed within the testing session.

The examination consists of 6 questions. The questions or problem situations are based on the concepts in the following courses of the MHR program:

Module 1 MHR 4300 Organizational Behavior

Module 4 MHR 3310 Statistical Methods & Research

Module 5 MHR 4310 Management Information Systems

Module 6 MHR 3320 Effective Interpersonal Relations

Module 8 MHR 4430 Human Resources Management

Directed Study 3 MHR 4390 Training & Development of Human Resources

During Semester Three of the MHR program, the students will receive a list of topics relating to the different courses from which the examination will be taken. An informational letter will be sent one to two weeks prior to the examination making known the time and location.

Full-time business faculty on the Montgomery campus will evaluate the examination and will assign either a "Pass" or "Fail" Grade. A Pass grade is the equivalent of a numerical grade of 70 or higher on each of the six questions. A Pass grade will result in the student being certified to the MHR Academic Director as having successfully completed the comprehensive examination. A Fail grade is the equivalent of a numerical grade of 69 or below on any given question. A grade of Fail requires a retake of the examination. The Pass or Fail grade designation is not used in determining grade point averages. A student who receives a grade of 69 or below will be allowed two retakes of the examination. The retake examination questions will come from the same list of topics used for the first comprehensive examination. All retake examinations will be administered on the Faulkner campus in Montgomery. Each retake of the examination costs the student a retake fee of $50.00 and this must be paid prior to taking the test. Students must register for each retake taken. A student who has repeatedly failed the comprehensive examination may apply in writing to the MHR Director to be allowed to retake the examination a third time. A final decision regarding such will be made by the MHR Academic Review Committee. Also, any student who fails to attend the Comprehensive Exam when he/she is scheduled, without prior notification, will be charged a $50 fee for the rescheduling. All students are expected to take the Comprehensive Examination on the date identified on the MHR Calendar for their group. Any question failed must be re-taken before an overall pass grade can be given for successful completion of the comprehension examination. Students will be notified when the re-take examination will be given. The re-take examination may consist of any of the questions listed in the topic areas already given out to the student during Semester 3 of the program.

A student who does not pass the retakes of the comprehensive examination must appeal in writing to the MHR Academic Director for re-admission to the program. If this petition is approved, the student must retake and successfully complete some or all of the MHR courses previously listed, as advised by the MHR Academic Review Committee. The student must then successfully complete the comprehensive examination prior to graduation. Students, who for whatever reason, withdraw from the Program and later choose to take the Comprehensive Exam would have to assume responsibility for retaking any new/updated courses in MHR curriculum. The same applies to students who complete the Program and do not take the Comprehensive Exam.

GRADING POLICY

The following symbols (grades) are used to record the achievement and quality of the work of students in each course:

Grade Significance Quality Points/Per Hour

A Excellent or outstanding 4

B Good or superior 3

C Satisfactory or average 2

D Low Passing 1

F Failure 0

W Withdrawn 0

The following symbols (grades) are not used in determining grade point averages:

Grade Significance

I Incomplete

W Withdrawn

NC No Credit

INCOMPLETE GRADES

The grade of "I" indicates that some requirement of the course is not yet complete. It is only given for reasons that in the judgment of the instructor have been unavoidable and only given with the approval of the Dean of the College of Business. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate steps with the instructor to have an "I" changed. An "I" which has not been changed to a permanent grade by the end of two modules following the module in which the "I" was assigned automatically becomes an "F". Incompletes in Directed Study must be removed within one year.

The awarding of an Incomplete grade for the Research Project is strongly discouraged. Students are encouraged to complete their Projects early in case unforeseen circumstances arise. Students must realize that the Research Project Coordinator’s contract expires the last day of Module Eleven and he/she is not obligated to continue working with students. Projects that have not been completed by the due date will be graded based on the amount of work that has been submitted.

The department strongly discourages the assignment of an incomplete grade.

GRADING PROCEDURES

The University encourages instructors to give brief exams during each class meeting (with the exception of the first) and a final exam at the last class meeting. Other examinations, homework, or outside assignments are left to the discretion of the individual instructors. The instructor may decide on their type, length, complexity, and percentage of final grade. Grading procedures are to be clearly defined in the syllabi and must be followed unless consent of the MHR Academic Program Director and Dean of the College of Business are obtained prior to said change.

Make-up Final Examinations - Make-up final examinations are discouraged due to (1) logistics of instructor availability, monitoring, access to labs, etc., (2) the tendency to compromise academic integrity and, (3) the tendency of recurrence and implications of fairness or lack thereof. Any reschedule of final examinations must be approved by the MHR Academic Director and are administered during normal business hours between 9:30-11:00 am and 1:30-3:30 pm.

GRADE REPORTS

Grade reports are made available on the Faulkner website from the Registrar's Office directly to the students. Grade reports are posted as soon as instructors have submitted final grades and should reach the student within three weeks after the module ends. We realize that many of our adult students are participating in company reimbursement of tuition; therefore, we will inform students of their grades as soon as possible (Normally within 3 weeks). University policy prohibits "faxing" grades or releasing them over the telephone. Please do not call the Registrar's Office for grades as these inquiries cause a significant reduction in expeditious processing of grades for all students.

ACADEMIC APPEAL

If a student has reason to question the decision of an instructor with regard to course content or to a grade received, the student should follow this protocol:

1. The appeal is first made to the instructor of the course.

2. If the student has further concerns, he/she may appeal to the MHR Academic Program Director. The MHR Academic Director will investigate the student’s concerns and respond.

3. If an appeal is made, the MHR Academic Program Director will forward the appeal to the appropriate committee and provide the student with a copy of the final decision.

The MHR Academic Review Committee is comprised of the Director/ Chair of the B.S. in MHR department, the Director/ Chair of the BBA department, the Director/ Chair of the M.S. in Management department, the Associate Dean of the College of Business, and the Dean of the College of Business and Executive Education. Please be informed that the Committee comprises the final body of academic appeal in the College of Business and Executive Education.

The primary role of the MHR Academic Review Committee is to work with operational issues such as grades, conduct, comprehensive exams, and special situations. The Committee deals with plagiarism and/or complicity though it is not limited to such.

If any of the individuals in the committee happen to be the instructor who has awarded the grade being appealed, he or she will be replaced in that committee by another credentialed faculty member while the appeal is being addressed.

Time Limitations: If a student decides that he/she will pursue an academic appeal through the appropriate process, specific time limitations must be observed.

Example: The appeal for a grade received in Module 4 must be made by the end of Module 5.

Example: The appeal for a grade received at a Directed Study taken on January 20 must be made by March 20.

Time frame for response/ resolution for academic appeals: the process described above generally takes 4 weeks which includes convening the appropriate committee.

STUDENTS NOT FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROTOCOL OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITH THE MHR ACADEMIC PROGRAM DIRECTOR, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, AND, AS NECESSARY, THE ACADEMIC VICE-PRESIDENT, WILL BE DEEMED AS NOT ABIDING BY THE GUIDELINES OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT FAULKNER UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS CONTACTING ANY OTHER EXTERNAL (OUTSIDE OF FAULKNER UNIVERSITY) PERSON, AGENCY, OR INSTITUTION WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO BE IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINE OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT FAULKNER UNIVERSITY. ACTION TAKEN MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM, DISMISSAL, PROBATION, SUSPENSION, OR ANY OTHER ACTION AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF FAULKNER UNIVERSITY.

CANCELLATIONS DUE TO WEATHER

For the safety of both students and instructors, MHR classes are occasionally cancelled due to severe weather. Final determination is made as soon as possible in order to allow time to contact all students. Faulkner University tracks all severe weather within the state by means of the Accuweather.com web site. All students should assume that class is being held unless they receive contact, either by phone or student email, from a Faulkner University representative. On days of questionable weather, check your student email accounts and/ or answering machines at work and at home for messages that may have been left. Please make sure Faulkner University has your most current phone numbers for this and other important types of calls.

There often isn’t enough time to inform students of rapidly changing weather warnings, so students are advised to call the MHR Department or Center closest to their location in order to determine the latest information. Other sources to check would be the local media outlets such as television and radio broadcasts for the latest weather closings update. If there is enough time to contact an entire group, the MHR Department will make a reasonable effort to contact students.

With a growing program and especially in today’s day and age, efficiency in contacting students is of utmost importance. E-mail is one of the most efficient ways of contacting a large number of people rapidly. Please be aware that we will increasingly be relying on this means to contact you not only regarding weather related issues, but also other academic issues.

Students should exercise their own best judgment as to whether or not they want to undertake travel given the weather conditions at that point in time.

CELLULAR PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM

Students are allowed to bring cellular phones into the classroom and have them on hand in case of emergencies. However, certain requirements must be followed. If your cellular phone has a vibrating option, please use it so the ringing will not interrupt the class. No casual conversations should be conducted while class is in session. Also, if your phone rings and it is an emergency call that must be taken, IMMEDIATELY excuse yourself from the classroom in order take the call.

GRADUATION

Please check with Faulkner University’s Registrar’s Office for commencement schedules. MHR encourages participation in the ceremony, but it is not mandatory.

All graduation requirements are ascertained by the Registrar’s Office and a final determination is made by the Academic Department in consultation with the Registrar’s Office.

To receive a diploma, students must have successfully completed the MHR program with a 2.0 grade point average, including a passing grade in all modules, directed studies, and the comprehensive examination. They must also have completed all core requirements (if any are required) including having official transcripts on file in the Registrar’s Office. Students enrolled in Faulkner University’s one-year degree completion programs will not be granted permission to simultaneously take core courses. Transfer credit for core requirements will not be accepted from other schools if taken while enrolled in any of Faulkner University’s one-year degree completion programs. All financial accounts must be cleared by the Business and/or Financial Aid offices.

Faulkner University’s Institutional Research Office undertakes certain effectiveness studies through tests like the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress (MAPP). Students are obligated to take such tests and extend their best efforts in order to graduate and earn a degree from Faulkner University. Further, the Institutional Research Office and/ or the Academic Vice President reserve the right to administer tests and/ or exit exams as deemed necessary by the institution. Inability or non-cooperation in undertaking any of such required tests or instruments measuring academic outcomes or effectiveness will prevent the student from graduating

Students who are eligible for graduation will be able to find a graduation application and other information on the University website. The application must be completed by the student and received by the Registrar’s Office by the deadline (approximately two months before graduation) to ensure the ordering of the diploma. You must apply to graduate even if you do not plan to participate in the ceremony. It is the student’s responsibility to verify receipt of the application. Students submitting a late graduation application will be subject to a late application processing fee.

Personalized graduation announcements/invitations may be ordered from Jostens in the Faulkner Bookstore located on the Montgomery campus. Orders must be received by the bookstore at least one month before graduation. Class rings may also be purchased through the bookstore. Students will be notified by mail regarding when and where the caps and gowns may be acquired.

Transcripts from all institutions attended are considered in calculation for honors. A Faulkner transcript will show both a Faulkner grade point average (GPA), and an Overall GPA that includes any transfer credit as authorized by the Registrar’s Office. However, the final GPA, which will be considered for honors at graduation, will include all Registrar approved credit from all accredited schools attended (technical and academic) in addition to credit awarded by Faulkner University. Students with an Overall GPA of 3.75 or higher will graduate with honors.

CONSULTATION WITH ADMINISTRATION

The Dean of the College of Business is the Chief Academic Officer of the Business College. Faulkner University is striving to make your year in the MHR program productive, pleasant, and free from problems or frustrations. Occasionally, however, situations arise in which the student feels the need to have an individual consultation with the Program Chair/Director or the Dean of the College of Business. In these situations, we request that you call and schedule an appointment. An appointment ensures that you will receive personal and uninterrupted attention. Please be assured these individuals are anxious to serve you and will meet with you at the earliest possible time. At his discretion, the Dean of the College of Business may refer , defer, or elect to consult, as the case may be, with the Academic Vice President who is the final academic authority at Faulkner University. However, please do not call the Administration at home as such calls constitute inappropriate behavior.

Please be informed that the Dean, College of Business is involved in administering or teaching the day of the Directed Study Seminar. This is an academically intensive day and will not allow sufficient time for appointments on that day. Additionally, short corridor discussions at Directed Study are discouraged since they always require follow-up action.

However, the Chair/Director of the MHR program, given the time constraints of that day, will make his/her best possible effort to meet with you. Please keep in mind, however, that many students in the MHR program with divergent needs will be on campus.

STUDENTS NOT FOLLOWING THE PROPER PROTOCOL OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITH THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND, AS NECESSARY, THE ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT, WILL BE DEEMED AS NOT ABIDING BY THE GUIDELINES OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT FAULKNER UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS CONTACTING ANY OTHER EXTERNAL (OUTSIDE OF FAULKNER UNIVERSITY) PERSON, AGENCY, OR INSTITUTION WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO BE IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT FAULKNER UNIVERSITY. ACTION TAKEN MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PROGRAM, DISMISSAL, PROBATION, SUSPENSION, OR ANY OTHER ACTION AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF FAULKNER UNIVERSITY.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION POLICY

Please be informed that it is the MHR Departmental policy to give the Professor, Director, or Dean advance notice when requesting a formal written recommendation. It is preferred and strongly recommended that the Professor, Director, or Dean have three weeks, 15 working days, to write and frame their recommendation in order to have time to reflect upon the abilities and potential of the student. The minimum prior notice that will be considered on an “emergency basis” is two weeks, or ten working days, subject to the availability of faculty or administrators. It is important to note that during the summer semester the availability of faculty and administrators is greatly limited for various reasons. Due to the nine-month length in teaching contracts for faculty, summer vacations and leaves of absences for faculty and administrators, it is crucial for the student to appropriately plan in advance any requests for letters of recommendation. While it is desirable to have a three-week advance notice, a longer period of time may be necessary during the summer term.

Recommendations are in the best judgment and discretion of the Professor, Director, or Dean. Recommendations are at the sole discretion of the individual mentioned above; and no Professor, Director, or Dean is obligated to provide a recommendation that they are not comfortable with writing.

Professors, Directors, and Deans may, at their individual discretion, require the scheduling of an appointment with the student. These appointments are based upon the availability of the Professor, Director, or Dean; and the student retains the responsibility of complying with this schedule. If an appointment is requested by a Professor, Director, or Dean, please be informed that this appointment does not create any obligation, either expressed or implied, that the professor will write a recommendation. This is merely a potential step in the academic process of those contemplating as to whether they will or will not eventually write a letter of recommendation.

When a Professor, Director, or Dean agrees to write a letter of recommendation, they may look at issues including, but not limited to, the following:

Academic Performance
GPA
Attitude and Disposition
Demeanor
Interaction with Faculty, Administrators, and Staff
Adherence to Academic Protocol
Absenteeism and Make-Ups
Overall Professionalism
Lapse in Time or Program Attendance

For those seeking to further their education beyond the Bachelor of Science in the Management of Human Resources (MHR), the Faculty, Director, or Dean will be looking closely at the student’s GMAT scores. While a score of 500 or above is strongly preferred, a minimum of 450 would be necessary for a Professor, Director, or Dean to consider writing a letter of recommendation.

The Dean, in conjunction with the MHR Director, reserves the right to alter, change, or modify this internal policy at any point for any reason.

REFUND POLICY

This policy only relates to the students who totally withdraw from school.

If the student officially notifies Faulkner University of his or her withdrawal, the withdrawal date is the date, as determined by the institution, that the student either began the withdrawal process or otherwise provided official notification to the Faulkner University Registrar Office in writing or orally, of his or her intent to withdraw. If the student drops out without notifying Faulkner University, then the student’s withdrawal date is the midpoint of the payment period.

In order to determine whether Title IV funds must be returned, Faulkner must first determine the percentage of the payment period the student completed. If the student completed more than 60% of the period, then he or she earned 100% of the aid for the period. If the student completed 60% or less of the period, then the percentage of the period completed is the percentage of aid earned. The percentage is determined by dividing the days attended in the period by the total days in the period, excluding scheduled breaks of at least 5 days in length.

From this percentage, the University determines how much Title IV aid has been earned for the period and the University retains this amount. The remaining percentage (unearned) of Title IV aid is returned to the different programs. The earned aid is determined from all awarded aid for which the student established eligibility as of the withdrawal date and which may be late disbursed under cash management and program regulations. Once the school’s share of unearned funds is determined, then the student must return the difference between the amount of unearned aid and the amount that Faulkner University must return.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

A withdrawal form must be completed and either hand delivered or mailed to the MHR Director’s office by all students choosing to withdraw. No student is officially withdrawn from class or school until this form has been cleared by the Registrar's Office, Financial Aid Office, and the Business Office.

The importance of following withdrawal procedures must be stressed. Inattention to proper procedures may result in the student receiving an "F" for the course(s) and being charged for an entire course(s).

RE-ENROLLMENT POLICY

Any student who has withdrawn from the MHR Program may re-enroll at a later date if all core deficiencies (if any) have been completed. Please note that ALL requirements of the MHR degree must be completed within four (4) years of the initial enrollment to the MHR program. A student who re-enrolls will be subject to the current requirements of the program. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the MHR Director regarding current program requirements that must be met.

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks are available at Follett Bookstore on the main campus in Montgomery. Charges for books, “buy-back” policies, return policies, and refunds are determined by Follett Bookstore and, while recommendations are made, pricing is not regulated by Faulkner University. Used books are available on a first come, first serve basis at a substantial savings. We suggest you plan to keep all texts used in the MHR Program as they may be needed in preparation for the comprehensive examination. They will serve as valuable resource material in other courses, on the job, etc. Text edition changes and new book adoptions may occur at various times during the academic year. Students should be prepared for such changes. Students will receive a handout during registration from the bookstore that outlines the process for purchasing their books. Students’ first purchase should consist of textbooks for Modules 1, 2, 3, and Directed Study 1. Textbooks needed for additional modules can be purchased at the bookstore when the student is attending Directed Study seminars. Please feel free to see the following website for more information regarding your books: /services. Please look for the link on the left side toward the bottom.

INFORMATION SOURCES

The staff of Faulkner University is committed to serving adult and executive students. When you need more information, you may contact these offices directly:

For questions regarding billing, tuition payment, refunds, fees, or company reimbursement arrangements, contact the Business Office (student accounts section).

For questions concerning student loans and loan checks, grants, VA, ANGAP, or other military tuition assistance, contact the Financial Aid Office.

For questions concerning transcript evaluations, credit transferred from other universities, receipt of grade reports, CLEP scores, etc., contact the Transcript Evaluators in the Registrar’s Office.

If you have questions concerning academic issues, or if you are uncertain who to contact, please contact the Program Chair/Director.

You may contact the Dean of the College of Business after you have contacted the Program Chair/Director or Asst. Director if an issue has not been addressed or resolved to your satisfaction.

AMERICANS with DISABILITIES ACT

Project Key, a service for students with disabilities at Faulkner University main campus, serves as the central contact point for all students with disabilities, including: Harris College of Business, V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies, Alabama Christian College of Arts and Sciences, Jones School of Law and all extended campuses. Students are responsible for informing the University of their need for accommodations and services.

Contact the Director of Project Key at 334-386-7185, or 1-800-879-9816, extension 7185. Email pmorrow@faulkner.edu, or www.faulkner.edu and click on University Services