MBA/MScIM Program Student Handbook

2.Program Schedule (2016/2017)2.1Management Foundation ProgramStudents with a non-business degree are required to complete the Management FoundationProgram as an entrance requirement to the MBA program. The Management Foundation isdesigned to provide foundational knowledge that will help students with a limited educationalbackground in business subjects to be more successful in the MBA/MScIM Program.In general, all of the policies in this Handbook apply to the Foundation program as well as theMBA/MScIM program unless there is a specific policy for the Foundation.The following table is a general schedule for the Foundation Program offerings in 2017. You canprint a detailed version of your own course schedule from your student record.Foundation Schedule (Summer and Fall)Summer Semester 2017OrientationJune 19 – 23First day of classesJune 26Last day of classesAugust 25Fall Semester 2017OrientationSeptember 18 - 22First day of classesSeptember 25Last day of classesDecember 7Examination PeriodDecember 8 – 19No classes on July 1, August 7, September 4, October 9-10 and November 13 (Public Holidays)2.2MBA/MScIM ProgramClasses are scheduled throughout the week. You can print a course schedule from your studentrecord. The term schedules for the fall 2017 and January 2018 cohorts are as follows:Fall Semester (2017 - Term A)OrientationAugust 28 – September 1First day of classesSeptember 5Last day of classesDecember 7Examination PeriodDecember 8 - 19No classes September 4, October 9-10 and November 13 (Public Holidays)3

Spring Semester (2018 - Term A or B)OrientationJanuary 2 – 5First day of classesJanuary 8Reading WeekFebruary 26 – March 2Last day of classesApril 16Examination PeriodApril 19 – 30No classes February 12, March 30 & April 2 (Public Holidays)Intersession (2018 – Term B or C)Term BMay 7 – August 10Term C1Term C2 (Finance/Marketing Options only)May 7 – June 22June 25 – August 10No classes on May 21, July 2 & August 6 (Public Holidays)3. Coursework (Assignments)It is the student’s responsibility to submit all coursework by the deadline date specified in the courseoutline and to comply with the assessment regulations of both your program of study and theUniversity of Hertfordshire. Visit urrentstudents for detailed information on assessment regulations. If you fail to submit work forassessment without good cause, you may fail the assignment(s) concerned. Three of the courses interms 2 and 3 are franchise courses from the University of Hertfordshire. These courses will followUniversity of Hertfordshire assessment regulations which are summarized in Appendix E.3.1Assignment Assessment FormBefore submitting coursework, such as case studies, research papers, et cetera, students may berequired to complete an ‘Assignment Assessment Form’. Your course outlines will indicate howassignments should be submitted.4

3.2Formatting AssignmentsAll assignments should be submitted with a title page that includes the following information (unlessyour course instructor provides alternate instructions): Assignment name or title Course name and number Instructor’s name Date Student’s name and VIU student number (of all students in a group) The statement: “I have read the Student Academic Code of Conduct and this assignmentcomplies with the Code.”A sample title page can be found at *****.All written text should be in 1.5 line spacing and typed in Times New Roman 12 point font, and thepages should be numbered. Each assignment you submit must be printed on 8½” x 11” paper,stapled once only in the upper left corner of the document (unless your instructor providesalternate instructions).3.3Penalties for Late Submission and Assignment ExtensionsPenalties for late submission are determined by each faculty member and will be detailed in thecourse outline for each course. Ensure that you have read the course outline and complied with allrequirements specified. Some instructors may not allow late assignments, in which case you will beautomatically assigned an F unless you have made prior arrangements with your instructor.3.3.1 Extenuating CircumstancesAssignment extensions can be granted only where there are extenuating circumstances, and only bythe course instructor. If you have a condition that will affect your ability to hand in assignmentsacross multiple courses, you should consult with the Director of Graduate Business Studies.Although it is not possible to list all extenuating circumstances, serious medical problems, the deathof a close family member, or the serious ill health or injury of a partner or child will fall into thiscategory. Pre-existing, long-term medical conditions should be brought to the attention of theDirector of Graduate Business Studies as soon as they occur and medical certification must beprovided to cover coursework deadlines.Minor illnesses (such as colds and sore throats), financial pressures, work pressures, emotionalchallenges, matters of personal preference (such as religious observance) that clash with VancouverIsland University’s timetable, last minute computer failure and other similar situations will not beconsidered as grounds for extending coursework submission dates.Any medical certification must be dated no more than 5 days prior to the date of submission ormust cover the relevant date of submission.3.4ProfessionalismThe MBA program is a professional program designed to prepare you for a career in management.As MBA students, you are expected to demonstrate a high level of professional behaviour. Your level5

of professionalism is determined by your behaviours – this includes how you dress, how you talk andact, your attitudes toward tasks, how you interact with other people and your written and digitalcommunication to faculty, staff and each other.Professional behaviour is expected as you will need it to succeed in the working world after yougraduate. In order to do well in the future, you need to develop a consistent habit of actingprofessionally now. At VIU this means that you arrive to class on time, with current assignmentscompleted so that you are prepared to discuss the course material and are able to positively andconstructively contribute.You need to hold yourself to a high level of integrity and honesty by following the student code ofconduct at all times. Identify and give credit to the sources of the ideas you present when they arethe ideas of others. In class, you must demonstrate a high level of respect and understanding forothers and yourself. This means that you pay attention and listen when other people are talking.Professionalism means exhibiting both expertise and humility. Expertise means that you strive toknow as much as possible on the assigned topics while humility means that you readily admit whatyou do not know and acknowledge others who display a greater level of knowledge on a subject.You are expected to shut down and put away your Smartphones and other devices not necessary forclass and not use them in class. Using Smartphones is disrespectful of the course instructor andother students. You are required to respect the personal boundaries of others by asking permissionto use their material and by not taking photos and videos without prior explicit permission of theinstructor and others in the classroom.3.5AttendanceAttend is required in all classes in the program unless your absence is unavoidable due to a medicalemergency or similar reason. If you will be unable to attend a class, you should notify yourinstructor, providing a valid reason. For extended absences (more than one class), you need tonotify the Director and your various instructors.If you are going to be absent for reasons other than medical emergencies or a death in yourimmediate family, you need to seek permission to do so from the Director.Absences from class without valid reasons or consistently arriving late are consideredunprofessional behaviours and could result in you being withdrawn from the class or the program.3.6Section (cohort) assignment and selectionYou will be assigned into a section (cohort) at the beginning of the program. Normally students willcontinue to take all of their core courses with the same cohort throughout the program. If you wishto change your cohort or the section of one course you need to request permission of the Director.You make this request by submitting a Section Change form, citing the reason for your changerequest, and emailing it to the Director at GBSOffice@viu.ca. These requests will be accommodatedwhere possible, generally on a first come first serve basis if space allows. Section changes will not beallowed after the first week of classes.6

3.7Group WorkAs an MBA student you are encouraged to work in groups and to share experiences, knowledge,thoughts, and ideas with others. This is seen as the most constructive part of the MBA and will helpto develop your thoughts and arguments. This process will also enable you to see the way in whichsimilar problems are tackled in other cultures. There are two assessment-based reasons for workingin groups within the MBA: 1. to work in a group with the aim of completing a group project orpresentation; and 2. to develop your ideas and expose them to critical appraisal before thecompletion of an individual piece of work.3.7.1 Group Projects and PresentationsWhen working on a group project or presentation it is important to utilize the skills that you learn byworking in a team – the creation of a cohesive team, which exploits the strengths and compensatesfor the weaknesses of individuals. Compensating for an area of lack of skill implies that these skillsneed to be developed, and that the team can help in this process. It is critical that the team meetearly and determine the strengths and weaknesses of team members and develop a planaccordingly.3.7.2 Individually-Assessed Pieces of WorkGroup discussion may be used to clarify your ideas and refine your thoughts and arguments about atopic; however, you will then need to produce an individual piece of work prepared completely onyour own. It is essential that after any group discussion you write up your own account of thearguments based on the notes you made at the time. You should not interpret this to mean thatyou may continue working together with another student, as the work you produce mayconstitute plagiarism or collusion, a very serious offence. (See Section 6.1.1 for more informationabout plagiarism and collusion.)3.8TextbooksTextbooks are an integral part of the resources that you need to successfully complete the MBAprogram. Textbooks are expensive, but if you try to get by without buying them this will inevitablyimpact your ability to learn the course materials. Where available you can reduce your costs bybuying used copies. However, please note that it is illegal and unethical to make photocopies oftextbooks. If you wish to read up on this matter, please feel free to review the Copyright Act ofCanada. You are expected to purchase legal copies of the required textbooks. Students caughtwith photocopied textbooks will be dealt with accordingly.3.9Student FeedbackStudents have the opportunity to give feedback on all aspects of the program. Two students fromeach section will be elected as Student Representatives to the Student Committee. The Committeewill also include the Director. It will be the responsibility of each student representative to meetregularly with the students that he or she represents, bring student concerns to the Committeemeetings, and report back to the students. The Director will report back to the Faculty and to theDean.In addition, at the end of the program, students are given the opportunity to complete a StudentSatisfaction Survey.7

4.GradingThe following is the grading system used for the MBA program (note that grades will be translatedto a UK scale for UH transcript purposes).4.1Grading scheme (effective September 1 2010)GradeA AAB BBC 55-59Referred Pass (55%)Failure to meet theminimum pass .6710DescriptionFirst Class: Work of an excellent standard.Second Class: Work of a very goodstandard.Pass: Work of a satisfactory standard.Reserved for referred passes only.Eligible for referral (unless score is less than20%.4.2 Grading Criteria (adapted from UH Regulations)A GradesWork of an excellent standard. An ‘A’ grade will count towards a Distinction on the program as awhole. An A indicates work upon which it would be difficult to improve within the constraints ofthe course.A Grade work: Will frequently be characterised by a degree of originality. Should demonstrate a thorough understanding of key concepts within the subject. Will, where appropriate, be characterised by the application of theoretical concepts toempirical issues with appropriate reflection. Requires that all of the elements of the question set will have been addressed. Will usually show evidence of reading beyond that specified by the instructor, reflecting abroad literature review. Will show an ability to approach reading with a critical understanding. Will show evidence, where required, of an ability to evaluate contrasting viewpoints anddraw conclusions. Will demonstrate a degree of independence of thought, rather than relying simply on theideas of others, perhaps as contained in the prescribed reading for the module. Will demonstrate an ability to analyse and synthesise information. Will always be written in a clear and concise manner, will be well constructed and theargument of the work will flow smoo

Business School to liaise with VIU and visit at least twice every year. During those visits the Link . print a detailed version of your own course schedule from your student record. Foundation Schedule (Summer and Fall) Summer Semester 2