GSOM Academic Policies

Academic Integrity & Code of Conduct  

The Graduate School of Management at Clark University maintains standards of academic conduct that have preserved integrity and excellence in institutions of higher learning over the centuries. All GSOM students are expected to adhere to all parts of Clark University’s Graduate School Code of Conduct. Under these standards of conduct, all work submitted to fulfill course requirements is presumed to be the student’s own, unless credit is given for the work of others in a manner prescribed by the course instructor. Cheating, plagiarizing, and falsifying data constitute violations of the Code of Conduct, as does submitting the same paper in different courses without prior approval of the instructor to do so. It is the student’s responsibility to consult the faculty when in doubt whether a particular act constitutes academic misconduct.

To ensure academic integrity and safeguard students’ rights, all suspected violations of the Graduate School Code of Conduct are reported to the GSOM Associate Dean, Academic & Student Services. Graduate Judicial procedures will be used to hear cases of alleged violations of the Graduate Student Code of Conduct.

Several violations of academic integrity are outlined below. If you have questions concerning academic integrity, contact the professor teaching a course and/or your academic advisor.

1. Cheating has three principal forms:
       
   • Unauthorized use of notes, text, or other aids during an examination or in performance of course assignments
   • Copying the work of another
   • Handing in the same paper for more than one course unless the faculty members involved give their explicit permission to do so.
2. Plagiarism refers to the presentation of someone else’s work as one’s own, without proper citation of references and sources, whether or not the work has been previously published. Submitting work obtained from a professional term paper writer or company is plagiarism. Claims of ignorance about the rules of attribution, or of unintentional error are not a defense against a finding of plagiarism.
3. Unauthorized collaboration refers to work that students submit as their own that was arrived at through a process of collaboration without the approval of the professor. Since standards on appropriate or inappropriate collaboration may vary widely among individual faculty, students should make certain they understand a professor’s expectations before collaborating on any class work.
4. Alteration or fabrication of data includes the submission or changing of data obtained by someone else or not actually obtained in the performance of an experiment or study, except where allowed by the professor. It also includes the changing of data obtained in the performance of one’s research.
5. Participating in or facilitating dishonest activities includes, but is not limited to:

• Stealing examinations
• Forging grade reports or grade change forms, or altering academic records
• Sabotaging the work of another student
• Selling, lending, or otherwise distributing materials for the purpose of cheating
• Forging or altering graduation clearance forms
• Forging letters of recommendation
• Forging signatures on any official university document

When a student is found responsible for violating the Code of Conduct, sanctions will be imposed. Sanctions for a first offense may include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of the following responses:

• Letter of warning
• Grade of zero for the particular assignment
• Grade of F (failure) for the course
• Academic Probation
• Notation of sanction on the student’s academic record
• Suspension from the University
• Expulsion from the University

If a student is found responsible for a second offense, harsher sanctions will be imposed. These include one or a combination of the following:

• Grade of F (failure) for the course
• Suspension from the University
• Expulsion from the University

Absence Due to Religious Beliefs

According to Massachusetts state law, any student who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day will be excused from that requirement. He or she will have an opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirement missed because of such absence, provided the makeup examination or work does not create an unreasonable burden on the University. No fees will be charged by the University for making such opportunities available. No adverse or prejudicial effects will result to any students availing themselves of these provisions.

Academic Standing

The academic record for each student is reviewed after each semester. Good standing indicates that a student’s cumulative grade point average is at least 3.0 (B). While the grade of C earned in a course is a passing grade, a cumulative average of B is required for graduation. A cumulative grade point average below 3.0 is considered inadequate academic performance, and students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below it. Students below the 3.0 cumulative GPA receive an academic standing notice that outlines the expectations for them for the following semester. Students who do not fulfill the expectations outlined in their academic warning notice may be academically dismissed from GSOM.  A student may be academically dismissed from their program if they have a cumulative GPA that is below the minimum requirement to graduate (3.0) and it is very unlikely that the student can achieve the minimum GPA by the time they complete the remaining units of their program. Once a student is academically dismissed, the dismissal cannot be rescinded for a student to choose to voluntarily withdrawal instead. If a student is academically dismissed from their program within GSOM, they will not be readmitted to their program and will not be considered for any other GSOM degree program.

Audit Status

GSOM students are allowed to audit one course in their final semester, or as an alum, at a reduced tuition rate of $50.00. Any additional audits will be charged at the full tuition rate. Audits are based on professor permission and space availability. Students do not receive a grade for a course they audit, and it does not count for credit, nor count toward degree requirements. Students are expected to attend class and participate to the degree set by the professor. Students cannot audit courses that are offered through the COPACE MSIT program, including those that are cross-listed.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend classes throughout the entire semester and should plan their travel accordingly. Instructors have the right to ask students to drop their class if they miss the first week. GSOM does not permit students to take exams early because of travel commitments. Instructors have the right to issue failing grades to students who indicate they will not be present during the last week of classes.

General Graduation Requirements

Students are expected to complete their degree requirements within six years of the initial date of enrollment. The minimum cumulative grade point average required for graduation is 3.0 (B). All full-time GSOM students are also required to complete the career related degree requirements, unless they have been approved to waive those requirements (see Career Management Center Degree Requirements section above).Students may attend Commencement ceremonies if they have 1 unit remaining, provided they are registered for the remaining unit over the summer semester following Commencement. Students should contact their advisor about this at the beginning of the spring semester.

Grading System

Letter grades are used in performance evaluation as follows:

Dual MBA/MS in ES&P or Dual MBA/MA in CDP - IDCE awards C+ and C grades (viewable on a transcript), but does not consider them passing grades for credit. If a dual degree student receives a C+ or C in an IDCE course, they will not receive credit for that course and must make it up.  

Incomplete (I): An incomplete is given at the discretion of the instructor when circumstances beyond the student’s control prevent him or her from meeting specific out-of-class requirements after the last day to withdraw. Only the instructor of the course may assign an incomplete. Students have a maximum of sixty days from the date of the last class meeting to make up outstanding coursework and receive a grade. An incomplete course grade will convert to failure if the outstanding work is not completed within the specified sixty days. A student should be in good academic standing. Exceptions may be granted at the request of the faculty member and with the approval of the GSOM Associate Dean, Academic & Student Services.
Withdraw (W): Indicates that the student withdrew from the course. Withdrawal requests must be submitted in writing to the Registrar’s Office (registrar@clarku.edu or at 155 Woodland Street), prior to the posted deadline. 
A grade of F remains on transcript forever; retaking the course will result in a second grade being issued, but it does not replace the first grade. After grades have been submitted to the registrar, only the instructor can change a grade.

Leave of Absence

Current students, upon written notice to their advisor, may request a leave of absence for a maximum of two semesters or up to one full year. Students will be withdrawn after two semesters based on Title IV regulations.   A leave of absence may be granted for a number of reasons relating to work, health, travel, or personal development. Students who do not register for classes in the semester following the leave of absence will be withdrawn from GSOM and must reapply for admission.

Re-admittance

A student in good academic standing may submit a letter stating why he should be considered for re-admittance into a program to the GSOM Associate Dean, Academic & Student Services. If a student is re-admitted, he will enter the program under the current degree requirements. If these have changed since a student withdrew or was withdrawn, he must complete the new degree requirements once re-admitted.

Residency Requirement

MBA students must complete a minimum of nine units and MSF and MSA students must complete a minimum of six units at Clark to meet the residency requirement. A full-time student is defined as an individual registered for at least three full units during the fall and/or spring semester. Full-time status during the summer semester is an individual registered for a minimum of two units.

Transfer Credit

Transfer Credit - Students may receive transfer credit for a maximum of two graduate-level courses taken at AACSB-accredited schools prior to enrolling at Clark. The minimum grade for transfer credit is B and the course(s) must not have been applied to another degree program. If a course is accepted for transfer, only the credit is accepted, not the grade; transfers do not affect the GPA earned at Clark. Current students who wish to take courses at other institutions and transfer the credit to their GSOM program must petition the GSOM Associate Dean, Academic & Student Services before enrolling in the course. Transfer credit will not be given to students who do not receive prior permission. Permission is usually granted only if a student has a major schedule conflict or it is not possible for a student to take the course within GSOM. All MSF students are expected to complete all 10 units, both the required core courses and the electives, at GSOM, and therefore cannot transfer in credit from another institution.

Weather/Class Cancellations

GSOM’s day-time classes are only delayed or cancelled if cancelled for the entire university. When a decision is made to cancel or delay evening classes, it includes ALL GSOM locations. Announcements are made on all major local radio stations. Class cancellations for evening classes are posted on the GSOM website. If an instructor individually cancels a class, he will notify his class by emailing their Clark University email addresses. If a class is cancelled, professors may choose to use the scheduled make-up date. If a professor schedules a make-up class during another time, students cannot be required to attend in the case of a scheduling conflict, but they will be held responsible for the information covered in that class time.

Withdrawals

Voluntary - Students can voluntarily withdraw from a program by completing a withdrawal form  If a student withdraws after the add/drop period, they are subject to the refund schedule.

Required - Students may be required to withdraw from the University due to failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, for financial reasons,  failure to register or for failure to adhere to University rules and regulations. Students who are required to withdraw from the University may not be eligible for reinstatement and in some cases may not be eligible for a refund.

Withdrawal from Courses

A student may withdraw from a course at any time during the add/drop period without having a W recorded on his or her transcript. After the add/drop period ends, students may withdraw from courses until the date specified on the Interactive Academic Calendar on the Registrar’s Website in any given semester by completing a course withdrawal form on the Registrar’s webpage. Students should review the published refund schedule prior to submitting their form.  In cases of course withdrawals a final grade of a W will be recorded; the W grade will not be calculated into the GPA and no credit will be awarded toward earned units. Students compelled to withdraw from a course due to exceptional circumstances (e.g., serious illness) may petition the GSOM Associate Dean, Academic & Student Services for a withdrawal with reason (WR) grade; the WR grade will not be calculated into the GPA and no credit will be awarded toward earned units. Choosing not to attend class does not constitute a formal withdrawal from a course and will result in a failing grade for that course.