Students enrolled in the university are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and understanding the implications of all institutional policies, procedures, and requirements affecting progress toward their academic goals. These include, but are not limited to, degree and major course requirements and the university’s grading and course repeat policies. Students who fail to comply with these policies, procedures, and requirements do so at their own risk.

Academic Engagement/Attendance Policy

There is a strong positive relationship between class attendance and participation and academic success. Students are expected to maintain academic engagement by attending and/or participating in all classes. Students are responsible for the work and deadlines associated with class assignments. There is no university-wide class attendance policy, but individual instructors are encouraged to set attendance requirements for their courses in the class syllabi.

Verification of Participation

Students are expected to be on campus and participating in classes beginning on the first day of each term. In compliance with federal guidelines, students who do not attend or engage academically in any courses during the first week of class will be designated as a “no show” and will be dropped from all courses.

Late Arrival/Enrollment

Students are expected to be enrolled and participating in courses by the end of the add/swap period. Students will not be added to any courses after the add/swap deadline, unless approved by the relevant department chair. Students may be administratively dropped from any in-person or hybrid course, including those courses for which they are already registered, if they have not started attending by the first class following the end of the add/swap period.

Administrative Withdrawal

Students* are expected to be engaged and active participants in class throughout the term. Faculty are expected to outline the attendance and participation expectations for students in the class syllabus. An enrolled student may be administratively withdrawn after a prolonged period of absence or nonparticipation. Examples of prolonged periods of nonparticipation are listed below, but faculty may define a prolonged period of nonparticipation differently in the syllabus.

• Two or more consecutive weeks of nonparticipation during a semester-long course; or
• Nonparticipation in two consecutive class meetings or assignments during an abbreviated session (e.g., more than one week but less than a traditional semester); or
• Nonparticipation in any single class meeting during a course that is one-week or shorter (e.g., executive format courses, courses in Winter session or May Intensive sessions).

If it is determined that an administrative withdrawal is in the best academic interest of the student, the student will be administratively withdrawn from their class(es) and a notification of this decision will be sent to the student’s university email. Students may appeal the administrative withdrawal decision to the Committee on Academic Policy Exceptions Review within 3 business days. Students remain liable for any tuition costs related to the administratively withdrawn course(s). An administrative withdrawal could impact the student's financial aid eligibility or account status at Bentley. Students who have extenuating circumstances may appeal using the Tuition Refund Application.

*Students attending on an F-1 visa must comply with additional requirements as noted in the International Student Distance Learning Hybrid and Online Course Policy.

Professional MBA ONLY

Missing An On-Campus Weekend

Being present for on campus weekends is an essential part of the Professional MBA experience. Curricular elements that require students to be together at Bentley are scheduled for those times. However, in exceptional circumstances, students may have to miss part or all of an on-campus weekend.

In case a weekend must be missed, the student must first notify the MBA Program Director about the absence as early as possible. Based on the results of the conversation with the MBA Director, the student will immediately take action. Potential actions include registering for a course in a future semester or notifying a course’s instructor as to their absence. If an instructor is to be notified, the course’s instructor has full discretion over how missed work will be replaced and on what timeline. All work needs to be scheduled to be completed by the final day of the course. The schedule will be shared with the student after their notification.

Program Travel Policy

The MBA program maintains specific communication obligations regarding canceled or delayed travel. Those traveling to a Professional MBA event, such as the course weekends at Bentley, should ensure their flights are refundable in case an emergency leads to a schedule change. Bentley University shall not be held responsible for travel expenses in the case of an emergency. If the student must miss a weekend or any weekend coursework due to a travel delay or cancellation, they should follow the “missing an on-campus weekend” policy.

Executive PhD ONLY

Attendance & Remote Learning Policy

Students* are expected to join classes in person during immersion/residency weekends during the semester (unless they have a religious or other exemption). Students are expected to join online synchronous sessions through their Bentley Zoom account. For the latter, students are expected to attend classes synchronously despite potential time zone hurdles. While online, students are expected to attend class with a functioning microphone and camera. Cameras should be on to effectively engage in class and participate throughout the course. Solely watching recorded classes is not deemed to be acceptable course participation or completion. Course recordings are for the benefit of students who miss an occasional class or would like to watch the recording for further edification of materials. Disseminating any portion of these videos in any manner is strictly prohibited.

Additionally, if students miss more than two days of in-person residencies a semester, or more than two synchronous classes per course, they will be considered at risk for successful completion of the course and the Executive PhD Director, in conjunction with the advisor, will assess the students’ standing in the program. Those considered at risk after the assessment will have their case brought before the PhD Council and the PhD Council Academic Performance Committee for further action.

*Please note that this policy is specific to students within the Executive PhD program. All doctoral students should comply with the Verification of Participation, Late Arrival/Enrollment, and Administrative Withdrawal policies listed above.

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures

Bentley students and faculty are held to the highest standards of ethical behavior and moral conduct. Faculty are expected to adhere to Bentley’s Ethics policy and the ethics conventions of their disciplines. Each student is expected to abide by the Honor Code and to become familiar with the entire academic integrity system.

The Bentley Honor Code

As a Bentley student, I promise to act honorably in my courses and my professional endeavors, adhering to both the letter and spirit of Bentley’s academic integrity system. I will neither take advantage of my classmates nor betray the trust of my professors. My work will be honest and transparent, and I will hold myself and my peers accountable to the highest ethical standards.

I. Academic Integrity System Structure

1. Academic Integrity Council consists of at least five faculty volunteers selected by the Director of Academic Integrity and approved by the Nominations Committee, as well as a graduate student and an undergraduate student designated by their respective student government associations. The Academic Integrity Council reviews the state of academic integrity in the Bentley community; advises the Director of Academic Integrity on the process and procedures of the Academic Integrity System; and recommends Faculty Manual revisions as appropriate. A faculty member of the council serves as chair when an Academic Integrity Hearing (hereafter a Hearing) is required.
2. Director of Academic Integrity is appointed by the Provost; works with academic departments and the student organizations to implement proactive education and prevention related to issues of academic integrity; reports to the Deans Council; oversees the academic integrity process to insure its adherence to the spirit and letter of Bentley’s Academic Integrity System; and consults frequently with faculty, students and the Academic Integrity Council. When necessary, the Director organizes Hearings and stores Academic Integrity Incident Reports (the only official record, hereafter Reports). In the event of an integrity case filed by the Director, the Provost appoints a temporary Director. The Director is also responsible for insuring that all faculty members new to Bentley are familiar with the Honor Code and Academic Integrity System.

II. Faculty and Student Responsibilities and Rights in the Academic Integrity System

1. Faculty Responsibilities and Rights
   All faculty members are responsible for promoting academic integrity by managing their classes, assignments, and examinations so as to reduce temptation and opportunity for plagiarism and cheating. Faculty are required to clearly define the expectations and procedures for academic work, either as part of the individual assignment or in the syllabus or other document that presents coursework guidelines. These include, for example, overall classroom assessment procedures; examination protocols; and guidelines for citing sources in written work, for collaborating and/or receiving outside assistance on homework and other assignments.
   Each faculty member is expected to abide by the principles and procedures established in Bentley’s Academic Integrity System. A faculty member who believes an academic integrity violation has occurred must file a Report. Staff members who become aware of a possible violation must notify the Director. No sanction can be imposed on a student without a Report first being filed with the Director.
   The faculty member who alleges an academic integrity violation is entitled to ask the Director for additional resources to support the investigation of the violation and may question relevant students about an alleged violation.
2. Student Responsibilities and Rights
   Each student is expected to become familiar with and at all times adhere to the Bentley Honor Code and Academic Integrity System, including standards and expectations set out in each course syllabus, assignment, and/or examination concerning collaboration, methods of research and data collection, and other practices.
   Students are also expected to uphold the Academic Integrity System. Therefore a student who is aware of a possible violation of the standards established in the Academic Integrity System is expected to report the suspected violation to a faculty member or the Director. A student who is suspected of committing a violation must respond promptly and honestly when informed of a suspected academic integrity violation and must provide information that may aid in the investigation of an alleged violation.
   A student charged with an academic integrity violation is entitled to ask the Director for a list of student support services and will be allowed to respond to an alleged violation before the report is finalized.
3. Role of Observers
   If a member of the Bentley community believes that s/he has observed behavior related to a faculty member’s class that violates academic integrity, it is the observer’s responsibility to bring the matter to the faculty member’s attention. If the observer is not satisfied with the faculty member’s response, the observer has the right to bring the matter directly to the Director’s attention for possible action. The Director will consult with the faculty member and investigate the incident to determine whether or not a report should be submitted. The Director may arrange a Hearing, with or without the faculty member’s explicit consent, if there is sufficient evidence to suggest a violation may have occurred.

III. Violation Levels Defined and Recommended Sanctions

Violations are categorized as either Level I or Level II based on severity. The level of an alleged violation determines the appropriate steps in the academic integrity process and recommended sanctions.

1. Levels Defined
   1. A Level I violation is a single incident involving a minor proportion of graded student work within a course, including but not limited to
      1. failing to apply appropriate conventions for citing and documenting sources;
      2. giving assistance to or receiving assistance from another student or any other person on an assignment or exam when such collaboration is prohibited;
      3. accessing prohibited materials during an examination.
   2. Any violation not categorized as Level I is a Level II violation. Level II violations are serious breaches of academic integrity. They include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
      1. committing any violation such as those listed under Level I that pertain to more than a small portion of the course grade;
      2. submitting the same work or major portions thereof to satisfy the requirements of more than one course without written permission from each faculty member (including Honors and Capstone requirements);
      3. using illicit means of acquiring data, fabricating evidence, falsifying data, or fabricating sources;
      4. collaborating to exchange information during an examination or engaging in any action during an exam prohibited by the instructor, such as copying another student’s work, utilizing prohibited materials (e.g., books, notes, calculators, cell phones or other electronic devices), helping other students to copy another student’s work on an examination;
      5. altering a graded assignment or examination and asking for it to be re-graded;
      6. stealing and/or distributing an examination;
      7. purchasing or otherwise illicitly acquiring and submitting a paper or any other course materials as your own work;
      8. creating a paper or other course materials for sale and/or distribution;
      9. having a substitute take an examination or taking an examination for someone else;
      10. stealing another student’s work;
      11. intentionally impeding an investigation of an academic integrity incident or giving false witness in a Hearing;
      12. engaging in actions designed to hinder the academic success of another student or students, for example, by impeding access to course materials, hiding or removing library resources;
      13. using improper means to access computer files; and/or
      14. forging or falsifying a grade, transcript or diploma.
   3. Any alleged violation involving a student who at the time has an earlier Report on file or under investigation must go to a Hearing.
2. Recommended Sanctions
   1. Level I sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
      1. a make-up assignment at a more difficult level than the original; and/or
      2. failure or other reduced grade on the examination or assignment.
   2. Level II sanctions may include, but are not limited to:
      1. any sanctions for Level I violations;
      2. course grade of F;
      3. course grade of F being permanently calculated into the Grade Point Average;
      4. exclusion from activities such as study abroad, honors societies and programs, and varsity athletics;
      5. suspension from Bentley University; and/or
      6. expulsion from Bentley University.

IV. Academic Integrity Incident Reports and Consequences

The relevant faculty member should meet with the student(s) to discuss an alleged violation. If the faculty member still suspects that a violation has occurred, a Report must be promptly filed.

1. In the case of an alleged Level I or Level II violation, if the student(s) does not agree that a violation has taken place, the Director will schedule a Hearing.
2. In the case of an alleged Level I or Level II violation, if the student(s) agrees the incident is a violation of academic integrity, the faculty member shall propose a sanction(s) in consultation with the Director.
   1. For a Level I violation, if the student agrees to the proposed sanction(s), the faculty member implements the proposed sanction(s) only after the report has become the official record in the office of the Director. Unless the student has a prior violation on record, no Hearing is required. If, however, new information becomes available, the Director has the option of scheduling a Hearing.
   2. For a Level II violation, if the student agrees to the proposed sanction(s) no hearing is required unless the student has a prior violation on record. The faculty member implements the proposed sanction only after the Academic Integrity Council reviews and approves the sanction. Proposed sanction(s) that are more severe than a majority of Academic Integrity Council members believe are appropriate will require a Hearing.
   3. For Level I and Level II violations, if the student does not agree to the sanction(s) and/or on the nature of the violation, the Director will schedule a Hearing. 
3. Regardless of level, second violations must go to a Hearing.
4. Regardless of level or prior agreement, the Director has the authority to call a Hearing with the agreement of the student to resolve the incident in the interest of academic integrity.
5. If a Hearing determines that the allegations were unfounded, the Report is destroyed.
6. At a Hearing, only the current Report and related information will be disclosed when determining whether the student is responsible for the violation. Once a Hearing has found a student to be responsible for a violation, the Director will disclose prior Report(s), if any, to the Hearing members before sanctions are determined. Only records filed with the Director are actionable.
7. Within the university, the existence and contents of all Reports are confidential and will be maintained by the Director for seven years.

V. Academic Integrity Hearing

A Hearing is convened by the Director. The Hearing members review evidence of an academic integrity incident, decide if a violation has occurred, and set sanctions with consideration given to the faculty member’s proposed sanction.

1. Student and Faculty Rights: When a Hearing is convened, both faculty and students are entitled to:
   1. a fair Hearing in a reasonable amount of time;
   2. ample notice of the Hearing, a summary of the violation to be discussed, and an explanation of the Hearing process;
   3. access to the Director to prepare for the Hearing;
   4. the presence of witnesses accepted by the Director to give pertinent testimony;
   5. the opportunity to hear all testimony presented in the Hearing, and to respond to all testimony presented in the Hearing;
   6. the opportunity to speak on one’s behalf;
   7. the presence of one person who is not an attorney to provide support;
   8. written notice, within a reasonable amount of time, of the Hearing’s findings and any sanctions; and
   9. notification of appeal decisions, if any.
2. The Hearing: A Hearing requires five voting members. Three must be full-time faculty members, with at least one who is a member of the Academic Integrity Council. The Director solicits students from graduate and undergraduate student government. Student members are either graduate or undergraduate, corresponding with the student(s) subject to the incident review. One faculty member, who is a member of the Academic Integrity Council, serves as chair of the Hearing. The Director attends all Hearings in a neutral supporting role and is not a voting member. The Hearing membership listens to evidence, determines the presence or absence of an academic integrity violation and, where appropriate, sanctions a student.
3. Scheduling: The Director reserves the right to schedule Hearings in a way that accommodates extenuating circumstances and minimizes the impact on academic schedules of all involved parties.
4. Communication: The Director communicates the findings of the Hearing in writing to the faculty member and student involved within five working days. If a Hearing finds that a violation has occurred, the Report and supporting documentation are retained in confidence for seven academic years by the Director. Outcomes affecting transcripts will be reported to the Registrar and other relevant campus officials. In addition, the Director is authorized to respond to requests from the Honors Program Director and the authorized non-student representative of the Falcon Society to verify that specified students, identified by name and student number, have not had sanctions imposed that violate the program guidelines regarding rules of membership to these program.
5. Sanctions for Special Circumstances: Sanctions may involve restrictions on or disqualification from participation in University programs or extra-curricular activities only with a Hearing. When such a sanction is imposed, the Director may disclose only those sanction restrictions involving that program or activity to the relevant campus official.
6. Sanctions Involving Grades and Graduation: The timing of the filing of Reports may result in investigation procedures that cannot be concluded before grade reporting or degree auditing for graduation. In the case of incidents that may reasonably be expected to affect a course grade, the faculty member of the course will post a grade of Incomplete, pending the completion of the academic integrity investigation. In the event that this Incomplete affects a graduation requirement, the student shall remain otherwise eligible to “walk at graduation.” The right of an Honors Program student to walk with the Honors Program cohort at graduation is governed by Honors Program guidelines. The awarding of the degree and final transcript must await the result of the investigation. In cases where the incident cannot be addressed prior to grade reporting or prior to awarding the degree and final transcript, relevant sanctions may be applied retroactively, including transcript modification and/or rescinding the degree, as determined by a Hearing.
7. Appeals: A student may appeal the outcome of a Hearing only when:
   1. new material or information unavailable at the time of the Hearing becomes available;
   2. evidence is provided that fair process has not been followed.
      1. An appeal of Hearing decisions must be submitted in writing to the Provost and must explain in detail the reason for the appeal. It must be submitted no later than five working days from the date of the written notification from the Director informing the student of the Hearing outcome. The student will be notified within a reasonable time whether the appeal will be granted. Sanctions determined by a Hearing will stand until decision on the appeal is made.
      2. The Provost’s decision as to whether an appeal will be granted is final. If the appeal is denied, the sanction is implemented and the academic integrity process ends. The student cannot appeal the Provost’s decision.
      3. If an appeal is granted, then the Provost will either determine an appropriate sanction or refer the case to a new Hearing. If the case is to be heard again, the student will be notified within a reasonable time as to the date and time of the Hearing.
      4. The Provost, or a designee, will inform the Director of the outcome of any student appeal. The Director will notify other university officials as necessary.

Plagiarism

A serious intellectual crime, plagiarism is the use of another person’s original information, language or ideas without acknowledgment, and with the fraudulent claim implicit or explicit that they are one’s own. Perhaps students have had teachers who would accept written work copied from magazines, books or encyclopedias. This is not the case at Bentley University.

Among the chief goals of any school, college or university should be the development of intellectual honesty and original thought. Plagiarism surely defeats these goals since it involves fraud, deceit and theft. To avoid plagiarism, students should carefully distinguish their own thoughts and words from the thoughts and words of others; they also should learn how to make proper attribution when using anyone else’s thoughts or words.

A student charged with plagiarism by an instructor will be subject to the provisions of the Bentley University Academic Integrity System. Faculty, students and others having questions about the Academic Integrity System should contact the academic integrity coordinator. Plagiarism may be committed in the following ways:

• Copying. Word-for-word copying is the most obvious plagiarism. Another person’s writing must first be enclosed in quotation marks and, second, be explicitly acknowledged in a footnote, endnote or other formal reference. Both quotation marks and reference are necessary, even for quotations of as few as three consecutive words.
• Rearranging. Selecting phrases, sentences or longer passages from another author and concealing them among one’s own language is a less obvious form of plagiarism. Such an assemblage must include complete and proper references. To avoid plagiarism, it is not enough merely to rearrange the order of the quoted words or to intersperse some words of the student’s own words.
• Paraphrasing. Another form of plagiarism is the paraphrasing or restating of another person’s writing or ideas in one’s own words, without acknowledging that another’s work has been the source.
• Self-plagiarism. Work a student has done for other courses must be properly cited if it is included in another assignment. Permission to use prior work should be granted by the instructor.
• Using work prepared by another person. Using work written by a fellow student or paper mill and providing paper-writing services to another person, regardless of whether payment is involved, are among the most serious violations of Bentley’s Academic Integrity Policy. Students should take these prohibitions seriously. Often, the students who commit plagiarism do so unintentionally, as a result of having failed to consider the ethical implications of their actions. Apart from taking plagiarism seriously, students should adopt the strategies noted below to avoid even the appearance of plagiarism.
• Manage time. A chief cause of plagiarism is the failure to prepare early for deadlines. Students will know when their written work is due; they should get started early to avoid desperately seeking anywhere for words and ideas to fill the page.
• Learn how to acknowledge sources. Another cause of plagiarism is not knowing the conventions and procedures that permit graceful and proper acknowledgement.
• Take notes clearly and completely. One of the most common causes of plagiarism is the failure to label all notes taken in the library or elsewhere with the bibliographical information needed for full references.

Teachers at Bentley may legitimately assume that students understand plagiarism and that, therefore, any Bentley student who plagiarizes does so intentionally.

Commencement Participation Policy

Requirements for Participation in Commencement

Along with those students who have completed degree requirements within an academic year, other graduate students* may be allowed to participate in the spring commencement ceremony as a "Commencement Participant", provided the following conditions are met:

1. A student’s account must be paid in full.
2. After the spring semester, no more than six credits (two courses) must remain for degree completion.
3. A minimum 2.7 GPA is required for both the cumulative average of courses that qualify for a degree/certificate and major/concentrations average.
4. The student must register for summer classes to complete their degree prior to the graduation ceremony.
5. By no later than the date specified by the Registrar's office, a student completing their program of study must apply for program completion through Workday.
6. The student must not be subject to review by the Academic Performance Committee.

*Please note these Commencement Policies do not apply to doctoral students. Doctoral students must be 100% complete and have submitted their dissertation to participate in commencement.

Additional Commencement Participation Information

1. The above policy in no way obliges the Graduate School to offer any specific summer course.
2. A student allowed to participate in commencement prior to the completion of final courses will have his or her name listed in the commencement program with the May completion candidates. A special annotation, “Anticipated completion of degree in October of XXXX,” will appear and no graduation honors will be listed.
3. Diploma orders will be requested during the semester in which the degree will actually be completed.
4. A student who participates in commencement prior to the completion of studies will also have his or her name listed in the subsequent year’s commencement program. If graduation honors are earned, they will be noted in this listing.
5. Diplomas will be awarded only after all degree requirements have been completed.
6. Beta Gamma Sigma nominees will include only those students who anticipate completion of their degree requirements within the nomination year.

Course Add/Drop Policy (Professional MBA ONLY)

Students may add or drop Focus Areas within a week of the first class meeting. For skills workshops and tech labs this is allowed until the beginning of the second class session. After these times, changes to their schedule will require a permission by the MBA Director.

Course Repeat Policy

The following policy applies to repeating any course:

• A student may only repeat the same course in which an F grade has been earned (or below a B- if a doctoral student; in the doctoral program, any grade below a B- is considered a failed course); this is the only way to remove the weight of the F grade from the student’s overall GPA.
• A failed course may be repeated only once, unless the student is granted an exemption to this policy by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standing (GCAS). Exemptions are granted for a single registration of a specified course and the exemption would only apply to this policy. All other course repeat policies would apply.
• Only the first ‘F’ grade which is repeated will be replaced in weight. A second ‘F’ grade may be repeated but will still be calculated into the grade point average.
• A student may only repeat a total of two failed courses, unless the student is granted an exemption to this policy by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standing (GCAS). Exemptions are granted for a single registration of a specified course and the exemption would only apply to this policy. All other course repeat policies would apply.
• Only the second grade enters the grade point average, but the F grade will remain on the transcript.
• If the course is no longer offered or not available prior to a student’s graduation, the student must seek approval from the program director or the department chair of the failed course to select an appropriate replacement course.
• Students cannot repeat Global Business Experience (GBE) courses to the same country with the same professor, nor can a GBE to another country count as a repeat for an F grade obtained in a previous GBE regardless of a different destination and/or professor.
• If the student chooses not to repeat the course, the F will always be calculated in the student’s GPA.
• Students in advance standing undergraduate programs should refer to the Undergraduate Course repeat policy.

Professional MBA ONLY: Course Failure Policy

If a student fails a course, they must complete that course or a course of the same type (if approved by the MBA Director) the next time the course is offered. Students will be required to pay for the additional course they must take as a result of failing a course.

Credit Hour Policy

As an institution of higher education, Bentley University is responsible for determining and upholding standards related to the awarding of credit hours for student work consistent with national standards. We do this by ensuring:

• Bentley awards academic credit in the unit of credit hours. Each credit hour is measured by the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education. This reasonably approximates one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week.
  • For example, three-credit, 14-week courses typically meet for 160 minutes of classroom or direct faculty instruction weekly, and 320 minutes out of class student work is assigned each week for fourteen weeks per semester.
• Winter and Summer terms offer accelerated courses, and the schedule is adjusted to meet the above standards.
• Asynchronous courses require an equivalent amount of instruction and coursework, i.e., a total of 112 engagement hours per three-credit course. As asynchronous courses do not have the same distinction between in-class time and out-of-class time, instructors must ensure that overall course expectations, such as readings, lessons, activities, and assessments, fulfill this policy.
• These standards hold for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, directed studies, tutorials, practica, service learning, and other work where academic credit is awarded. In particular,
  • For Undergraduate Students:
    • For one-credit internships, a minimum of 40 hours of professionally appropriate engagement over at least four weeks in the internship is expected, and a minimum of four hours providing course deliverables is expected.
    • For three-credit internships, a minimum of 120 hours of professionally appropriate engagement over the semester is expected, and a minimum of 12 hours providing course deliverables is expected.
  • For Graduate Students:
    • All graduate internship policies at minimum meet the engagement hours defined in the undergraduate section above. For specifics of each graduate program, please review the internship requirements in the Graduate Catalog.

Field-Based Learning

Field-Based Learning is an important part of the graduate curriculum, allowing students to gain valuable industry experience and networking opportunities. Students can explore interests and use knowledge gained from course work in their work environment.

• Students pursuing a single MS or MBA degree may only take a total of two Field-Based Learning courses.
• Dual Degree students may take a total of three Field-Based Learning courses; however, only one such course can be shared across MS and MBA degrees.

Field-based options include:

• Credit-Bearing Internships
• Field-Based Directed Studies
• Global Business Experience courses

Note: Students are limited to taking no more than two Field-Based Learning courses to satisfy elective or concentration requirements. Students pursuing multiple MS degrees, dual degrees and concurrent certificates should speak with an advisor in Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement to determine eligibility.

Final Exam Policy

If a student has three final examinations scheduled on the same day, the student has the option to work with all three faculty members to find one to reschedule. If no faculty member agrees to an alternative agreeable to the student, then the middle exam must be rescheduled. Students must request rescheduling at least two weeks prior to the scheduled examination time.

Grading Standards

Grading System

Academic performance is officially recorded on an academic term basis in letter grades and quality points. For masters students, passing grades that range from C+ (2.3) to A (4.0) earn quality points; failures are recorded as F and earn no quality points. For doctoral students, passing grades range from a high of A (100) to a low of B- (80).

Masters Grading Rubric

What follows is the proposed grading rubric for masters-level graduate courses. The ranges in the “Numerical Equivalent” column apply to the letter grade unless specified otherwise in the course syllabus.

Grading Policy

Grade	Quality Points	Numerical Equivalent
A	4.0	95 to 100
A-	3.7	90 to less than 95
B+	3.3	87 to less than 90
B	3.0	83 to less than 87
B-	2.7	80 to less than 83
C+	2.3	77 to less than 80
F	0.0	Less than 77

Grading Policy

Grade	Quality Points	Numerical Equivalent
I	None*	Incomplete
W	None*	Assigned to indicate a withdrawal during the period starting the third week of class and continuing through two-thirds of the semester

* Does not factor in the cumulative grade point average.

There is no audit or pass/fail option for graduate-level courses.

Doctoral Program Grading Rubric

Grading Policy

Grade	Quality Points	Numerical Equivalent
A	4.0	95-100
A-	3.7	90-94
B+	3.3	87-89
B	3.0	83-86
B-	2.7	80-82
C+	2.3	77-79 (not passing for PhD students)
F	0.0	Below 77

Grading Policy

Grade	Quality Points	Numerical Equivalent
P	None*	Pass - equivalent to 2.7 or better
IG	None*	Incomplete
W	None*	Assigned to indicate a withdrawal during the period starting at the third week of class and continuing through two-thirds of the semester
NS	None*	Assigned by the Registrar's Office to indicate that a grade has not been submitted by the instructor
NR	None*	Grade given to a course that is non-graded in a given semester
S	None*	Final grade given in the Dissertation course once the student passes the defense; in other cases, the S grade can be used to indicate a non-graded PhD course has been completed satisfactorily

*Does not factor in the cumulative grade point average.

There is no audit option available for doctoral courses.

Grade Point Average

The overall GPA reflects the average of all coursework completed at the graduate level at Bentley. This average is calculated by multiplying each course grade earned by the semester hours of credits to figure the total quality points. Then the total quality points earned are divided by the total hours of coursework completed to arrive at the grade point average. The overall GPA is the average reflected on each semester’s grade report and on a student’s transcript. Graduate students who have completed multiple degrees at the graduate level or who have taken additional graduate-level courses beyond the course requirements specified for a degree should note that their overall GPA and degree GPA could differ. The degree GPA reflects the average of the course work required to complete the requirements of one degree or certificate program including any required Pre-Program or Business Fundamental courses. This average is calculated similarly to the overall GPA, but only includes the courses applicable to the degree or certificate program being pursued. In cases where a student has completed multiple degrees/certificates or has taken more courses than are required for a degree, the degree GPA is the GPA used to qualify a student for graduation honors and nomination to honor societies. The degree GPA is not printed on a student’s transcript.

Incomplete Grades Policy

As a general rule, all coursework must be completed by the end of the semester in which the course is offered. An incomplete grade is a temporary designation issued either when required work, which can be made up, is not completed by the end of the semester, or when a student’s course grade cannot be determined due to an outstanding academic integrity issue.

Faculty should not issue an incomplete grade without an agreement with the student as described below. In rare cases in which a student is unavailable to commit to the agreement due to extenuating circumstances, the Office of Student Success or the University Registrar can support faculty in determining if an incomplete grade is appropriate.

Before submitting an incomplete (I) grade in Workday, faculty members must register an incomplete grade agreement via the Registrar’s electronic form. This agreement must include:

• (A) the work due
• (B) due date(s) for the work
• (C) method for submission of the work.

Incomplete Grade Requirements

• It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they meet all elements of the incomplete agreement.
• Faculty may grant an incomplete grade when a student experiences unforeseen and extraordinary circumstances at the end of the semester.
• An incomplete grade is appropriate only if a student has consistently demonstrated course engagement and passing academic work prior to the request for an incomplete.
• Faculty must not issue an incomplete grade when the student needs to attend and repeat most of the course.
• Faculty must not issue an incomplete grade to allow a student the opportunity for grade improvement or extra credit not available to all students in the course.
• Faculty must issue an incomplete grade when an incident report of a potential academic integrity violation has been filed with the Office of Academic Integrity but a final resolution for the case cannot be achieved before the time that grades are due for the semester.

Due Dates

Faculty members have the discretion to set a reasonable deadline by which outstanding coursework must be submitted, provided that the permanent course grade is submitted in accordance with the dates below.

Note: students typically benefit from completing their outstanding work as quickly as is reasonably possible, limiting its potential interference with other responsibilities, including academic work from the following semester. Therefore, faculty are encouraged to work with the student to determine the shortest appropriate time for completion of outstanding work.

• A permanent course grade from an incomplete grade submitted in the fall or winter term must be issued no later than March 1 of the subsequent spring semester.
• A permanent course grade from an incomplete grade submitted in the spring or summer term must be issued no later than October 1 of the subsequent fall semester.

An incomplete grade, for which a permanent course grade is not issued within the required period will automatically convert to a failing grade. Individual faculty members do not have the authority to extend the completion deadline for an incomplete grade past the dates specified above.

Additional Considerations

Additional information on incomplete grades is available on the University Registrar’s website.

Graduate Academic Standing Policy

Masters-Level Policies

Bentley assigns graduate students an academic standing at the end of each fall, spring, and summer term in which a student is enrolled in classes at Bentley.

Academic Standing: External Reporting

Students with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.70 or higher will be reported, upon a student’s request or as required by law, to other institutions of higher education and other interested parties as being in good academic standing.

Students with a GPA below 2.70 shall be reported externally as not in good academic standing.

Academic Standing: Internal Definitions

Internally, Bentley University further differentiates Academic Standing to help identify students for the purposes of supporting student learning and as part of its requirement to maintain minimum academic standards.

Graduate students can earn five different types of academic standing in a given term: Good Standing, Academic Concern, Academic Recovery, Academic Separation, or Academic Dismissal.

Academic standing is noted by term and will only be retroactively altered for a specific term in the event of a university-sanctioned grade change; repeated courses will not change a student’s academic standing for a given term.

• Good Academic Standing – Students in Good Academic Standing have a cumulative GPA sufficient to graduate and show consistent success in the term under review. New students enter the university in Good Academic Standing. Note: Bentley undergraduate students who take graduate courses prior to matriculation to the Graduate School are subject to review by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standing (GCAS) when they matriculate into the Graduate School. An academic standing will be assigned based on the student’s performance in graduate courses taken while enrolled as an undergraduate student.
• Academic Concern – Students in Academic Concern remain in Good Academic Standing but have a cumulative GPA and/or inconsistent performance in the term under review that suggests that they may be at some risk of falling out of Good Academic Standing.
• Academic Recovery – Students in Academic Recovery have a cumulative GPA and/or performance in the term under review that indicate they are experiencing academic difficulties. Students in Academic Recovery may benefit from a higher level of support to help them meet their academic goals.
• Academic Separation – Students in Academic Separation have experienced academic difficulties over one or more terms and there is concern that the student is unable to achieve consistent academic success at this time. Students in Academic Separation are required to immediately suspend their studies at Bentley for a minimum period of one full fall or spring semester. Bentley remains committed to supporting students in Academic Separation with their long-term goals of academic success and degree completion. Students in Academic Separation are strongly encouraged to work with their academic advisor or student success coach during their time away from Bentley to discuss appropriate introspection, self-reflection, personal development, and preparation activities during their time away from Bentley. Before being approved to resume their studies at Bentley, students in Academic Separation must demonstrate their ability to achieve consistent academic success at Bentley if approved to resume their studies at Bentley.
• Students in Academic Dismissal have experienced academic difficulty to the extent that the Graduate Committee on Academic Standing determines that they are likely unable to successfully complete their degree and are permanently separated from the university.

Academic Standing Requirements

Graduate students at Bentley shall be considered in Good Academic Standing if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They have a cumulative GPA of 2.90 or higher
• They earn a term GPA of 2.70 or higher in a term in which they attempt 3 or more credits

Students in Good Academic Standing in the term under review shall be placed on Academic Concern if they meet any of the following criteria:

• They have a cumulative GPA between 2.90 and 2.7 and 8 or more total credits attempted at Bentley
• They have a cumulative GPA below 2.90 and fewer than 8 total credits attempted at Bentley
• They have a cumulative GPA at or above 2.90 and earn a term GPA above 2.0 and below 2.70 in a term where they attempted 3 or more credits

Students in Good Academic Standing in the term under review shall qualify for Academic Review by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standing (GCAS) to determine whether Academic Recovery, Academic Separation, or Academic Dismissal is warranted if they meet any of the following criteria:

• They have a cumulative GPA below 2.70 and 8 or more total credits attempted at Bentley
• They have a term GPA below 2.0 in a term with 3 or more credits attempted and 8 or more total credits attempted at Bentley, regardless of cumulative GPA
• They have failing grades in courses totaling 6 or more credits in the term under review and 8 or more total credits attempted at Bentley, regardless of cumulative GPA

Students (1) who began the term under review in Academic Concern or Academic Recovery, (2) who are unable to qualify for Good Academic Standing based on the criteria above, or (3) who are unable to meet the conditions of their academic standing, are subject to further review by GCAS and may be candidates for Academic Recovery, Academic Separation, or Academic Dismissal.

Students qualify for potential Academic Dismissal when they meet any of the following criteria:

• They qualify for Academic Review and have previously been placed on and approved to return from Academic Separation.
• They qualify for Academic Review and are unable to successfully achieve the requisite grade point average to complete their program of study, as determined by the Graduate Committee on Academic Standing. Note: A GPA of 2.7 in the major, concentration, as well as in the overall GPA is required for graduation.

Graduate Committee on Academic Standing (GCAS)

Potential outcomes from review by GCAS include a change in academic standing to Academic Concern, Academic Recovery, Academic Separation, or Academic Dismissal. As a result of a change in academic standing, GCAS may direct students to fulfill one or more of the following:

• Meet with an assigned academic advisor or student success professional
• Achieve passing grades in all credit-bearing courses in their next term
• Achieve a semester GPA of 2.70 or higher in their next term
• Maintain, achieve or demonstrate significant progress toward a cumulative GPA 2.90 or higher
• Enroll in and successfully complete specific courses
• In the case of Academic Separation, immediately suspend their studies at Bentley University for a period of at least one fall or spring semester and seek authorization to resume their studies (as described below)
• In the case of Academic Dismissal, students will be permanently unenrolled from the university

Notes on GCAS Practices

Every effort is made to identify students who are subject to review by GCAS before GCAS convenes to determine academic standing. Identified students are offered support in writing a statement that describes their experiences in the term under review and the challenges they faced, and that presents their plan for success in the term to come. Students are encouraged to provide relevant documentation that can support their letter to GCAS where appropriate. GCAS considers this information, along with other data, to determine the appropriate academic standing and associated conditions for students to meet in the future.

The first semester in which a student qualifies for review by GCAS is likely to result in the student being placed in Academic Recovery. However, GCAS is empowered and has discretion to determine whether Academic Separation or Academic Dismissal is in the best interest of the student on a case-by-case basis, including during the first semester in which a student qualifies for review by GCAS.

Students who qualify for review by GCAS may choose to voluntarily suspend their studies by taking a voluntary academic leave of absence, if they believe that time away from Bentley is in their best interest. Students taking a voluntary academic leave of absence after qualifying for review by GCAS are expected to immediately suspend their studies at Bentley for a minimum of one fall or spring semester and must seek authorization to resume their studies utilizing the same process described below following Academic Separation. Students who are candidates for possible Academic Dismissal as defined

above will still have their cases reviewed by GCAS, even if they elect a voluntary academic leave of absence. An Academic Dismissal supersedes a voluntary academic leave of absence.

GCAS may, at its discretion, consider any Incomplete grade (I) as a failing grade (F) in determining a student’s eligibility for review and in determining what standing and associated conditions are in the best interest of the student.

GCAS meets after each fall semester, spring semester and summer term to assign student academic standings. GCAS can delegate its authority to assign academic standings of Good Academic Standing, Academic Concern or Academic Recovery, with associated performance requirements, to appropriate university officials when it is determined that a student qualifies for such standing after the full GCAS has met following a given semester (e.g., as a result of late grades or grade changes).

Academic Separation

Students on Academic Separation are required to suspend their studies at Bentley for a minimum period of one fall or spring semester. The rationale is to provide students with sufficient opportunity for introspection, self-reflection, personal development, and preparation without risk of damage to their academic record. Bentley remains committed to supporting each student in Academic Separation with their long-term goals of academic success and degree completion. Students are encouraged to find productive ways to spend their time away, based on their individual needs. Students are also strongly encouraged to meet with their assigned academic advisor or student success coach throughout their time away from Bentley to discuss appropriate self-reflection, learning, personal development, and preparation activities during their time away from Bentley so that they can achieve consistent academic success at Bentley if approved to resume their studies at Bentley.

Academic Separation is intentionally designed as a temporary break from a formal educational experience. Students are expected to suspend their studies to engage in introspection, self-reflection, personal development, and preparation to return to a formal educational experience.

The deadline for submitting a request to resume studies is March 15 for a summer or fall term return and October 15 for a spring term return, though students are encouraged to communicate their goals for return to studies with their academic advisor well in advance of these dates. Requests to return received after these deadlines may not be considered for such term and may instead be considered for the next available fall or spring term.

To request authorization to resume studies, students will provide a statement and supporting documentation to GCAS that describes their activities while away from Bentley, demonstrates how they have overcome obstacles they have faced in the past, explains what they have learned from their experiences, and presents a detailed plan for consistent success in their Bentley coursework moving forward. Students’ academic advisor can provide students with support in drafting and submitting their request to resume studies.

Time on academic separation or voluntary academic leave of absence, totally not more than two years, will not be included in the calculation of a student's time to degree completion. See Time to Degree Completion Policy.

Appeals Process

There is no appeal for placement on Academic Concern or Academic Recovery. Students who are placed in Academic Separation or Academic Dismissal may request an appeal within four (4) business days of the date of the notification of their change in standing. Appeals are reviewed by the Dean of McCallum Graduate School or their designee. Please note that bases for appeal are strictly limited. Appeals must present either:

1. New information that was unavailable at the time GCAS met that could substantially and materially affect the decision by GCAS; or
2. Evidence of an error or misapplication of university policy (e.g., substantiated bias, material deviation from established policy or procedure).

Please note that a student’s failure to provide relevant details, context, or information in a letter or statement to GCAS prior to GCAS’s meeting will not be considered “new information” and is, thus, not grounds for an appeal.

Additional Notes

Financial aid applicants must also be aware of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards set in accordance with federal regulation. More information on SAP policy can be found in the University Catalog. Merit scholarship recipients should refer to their admission letters for their specific scholarship requirements. Undergraduate students who have questions or concerns about meeting their enrollment or cumulative GPA requirements can contact Student Financial Services.

Members of varsity sport programs are required to meet progress toward degree credit requirements and maintain minimum overall GPA requirements set forth by the NCAA. Further clarification on these requirements can be found in the Student Athlete Handbook.

International students should be aware of the potential impact of academic status change on their immigration status. The Center for International Students and Scholars is available as a resource.

Doctoral-Level Policies

Circumstances may arise that lead to a doctoral student’s dismissal from the PhD Program. This policy describes the typical circumstances that would lead to dismissal from the program and the procedures to be followed. This is not an exhaustive list of all circumstances which may lead to dismissal, but is intended to cover some of the most common situations.

Procedures

The initial discussions regarding dismissal of a doctoral student should involve the Executive PhD Director and the student’s advisor (and internal dissertation committee members. if applicable). The next step in the process would be for the case to be considered by the PhD Academic Performance Committee. If it is determined by the Academic Performance Committee that the situation may merit dismissal, the issue is brought to the full PhD Council. The PhD Council will then make the determination regarding dismissal from the program. In making this determination, the PhD Council may request additional information from the student, advisor, and faculty.

Potential Circumstances for Dismissal

This is not meant as an exhaustive list of all circumstances which may lead to dismissal, but is intended to cover some of the most common situations.

• Violations of Bentley’s academic integrity and/or judicial policies.
• Scoring lower than an 80 in the same course twice. 
• Scoring lower than an 80 for two different courses.
• Failing or needing to rewrite three different comprehensive examinations.
• Failing a retake of a comprehensive examination. If a student fails a comprehensive examination and needs to retake an exam, this retake must be passed on the first attempt (i.e., without the possibility of another retake). The retake will be a new set of questions, as compared to the original comprehensive examination.
• Failing to complete all required course work by the end of the of the 3rd year in the program unless prior authorization has been received from the Executive PhD Director.
• Failure to complete the dissertation within five years.
• Failing the dissertation proposal twice. A new proposal must be completed within three months of the failed proposal.
• Failing the final dissertation defense twice. A new defense must be completed within three months of the failed defense.

Students can petition the PhD Council to reconsider a decision of dismissal. A petition to reverse a dismissal decision should contain a statement indicating the extenuating circumstances and a realistic plan to both remedy the deficiency which lead to the dismissal decision and to successfully complete the program. In deciding on the appeal, the PhD Council will also consider the opinion of the student’s advisor and dissertation committee (if applicable) regarding the circumstances and the student’s potential for successfully completing the program.

Students dismissed from the program may be eligible to earn a master’s in business research.  Students must fulfill the conditions and regulations detailed by the program’s documentation on the master’s in business research degree. Students who are dismissed for violations of academic integrity or judicial policies would not be eligible to receive the master’s in business research degree.

Graduate Course Waiver Policy

Masters-Level Policies

As part of a student’s acceptance, Graduate Admissions will list the courses that a student is eligible to waive. Students may petition to have denied waivers reevaluated.

1. Prior to the end of Add/Swap/Drop during the first semester, the process is as follows:
   1. Students submit petition(s) for reevaluation of denied waivers via their Slate portal providing detailed documentation about each course they completed and an explanation of why they believe the course should be waived.
   2. Students will be notified of the results of their appeal.
   3. Students are not to contact program directors directly to ask about appeals during this time. Program directors will refer all requests in this period to Graduate Admissions.
   4. Graduate Admissions will continue with late appeals through the Add/Drop period.
2. After the Add/Drop period ends, a student must work directly with the designated representative for each course using the Post Add/Drop Waiver Appeal Form available on the Registrar and GSAS websites.
   1. The “Waiver Appeal” form must be completed and all required documentation attached and sent to the designated departmental representative noted on the form. The departmental representative will make the final decision.
   2. If requesting multiple waivers, a separate form for each course must be submitted to the course contact person for the specific course. Contacts are listed on the form.
   3. A copy of the approved waiver form, which must include the departmental representative’s signature, will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will enter the waiver into the student record.
3. No waiver appeals will be accepted once a student has completed his/her first semester of study at Bentley. Exceptions to this will be at the discretion of the program directors, but such exceptions should be rare and should be reserved for situations that are out of the student’s control.

Course Substitutions

In two of the Master of Science programs, specific established substitutions may be made for courses based upon a student’s prior academic history on those topics. The degree programs are:

• Master of Science in Accounting (all majors)
• Master of Science in Finance (all majors)

Substitutions are unique to each degree program. Substitutions will not reduce the number of courses required for the completion of the degree program. Rather, specific established courses will be substituted from a list unique to each degree. This should be discussed with the Graduate Admissions Officer during the application process. Specific information for each program is available on the Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement page under Waivers and Substitutions.

Doctoral-Level Policies

Course Waivers

In some cases, the core subject-based courses may be substituted when a student already has specialized knowledge in the area. In these cases, the student will still have to complete any related comprehensive examination, which may include material from core courses. However, the student will not get credit for this prior work, but will be required to take an alternative, specialized elective course so that they do not have to repeat work. It is the responsibility of the student to put forward a case for a core course substitution. The student will make this submission in writing to the PhD Council Curriculum and Assessment Committee, which will make a recommendation to the PhD Council as to whether the student may substitute a core course with an alternate elective.

Transfer of Credit

Given the unique orientation of the PhD program, transfer credit will not be given to those who have started a PhD at a different institution. However, students may petition, based on exceptional circumstances. No other previously completed coursework will typically be reviewed for transfer of credit.

Graduate Internships

All graduate students interested in completing an internship for academic credit must submit the internship approval form. There are no internships in the doctoral program.

All three-credit internships are subject to the following policies:

• All required work for an internship must be completed during the term of registration.
• Students earning 3 credits are expected to work 20 hours per week for the duration of the academic term unless otherwise noted.
• Students must have a minimum of an overall GPA of 3.0, unless otherwise noted.
• The entire application process, including faculty submission of student information to Registrar, must be completed no later than the third week of each semester.
• Any courses dropped to accommodate internship course registration beyond the add/swap/drop deadline of each semester are considered withdrawals and subject to published refund deadlines.
• Regular withdrawal deadlines and penalties apply once the student has been registered for the internship course through the Registrar’s Office.
• Regular grade reporting deadlines apply.
• All three-credit internships take place within the beginning and end dates of an academic term. Students may commence working at an internship on the first day of classes and must complete their workplace experience by the last day of final exams. Any deviations from this time line must be approved by the internship coordinator and the Associate Provost for Academic Services and Operations.

International Students who have only one course remaining in their last semester of study may not take a three-credit CPT (Curricular Practical Training) as their last course unless they take another on-campus course along with it. The three-credit internship may be an extra course, but not the only course taken in that term. For further clarification, contact the Center for International Students and Scholars.

• A three-credit internship experience cannot be used to extend a one-credit internship; students must clearly distinguish the two in terms of work responsibility and supervision.

All one-credit internships are subject to the following policies:

• Students are limited to one one-credit internship per degree program.
• All one-credit internships take place within the beginning and end dates of an academic term. Students may commence working at an internship on the first day of classes and must complete their workplace experience by the last day of final exams. Any deviations from this timeline must be approved by the internship coordinator and the Associate Provost for Academic Services and Operations. 
• Students who are still eligible to do a one-credit internship after a three-credit internship may do it at the same firm with the internship coordinator’s approval and must document in the offer letter that it is a different experience. Students must clearly distinguish the two in terms of work responsibility and supervision.
• One-credit internships are 500-level courses and are designed to be extra courses outside the degree requirements and therefore do not satisfy degree requirements.
• All one-credit internships cannot be combined with any other courses to meet the overall number of credits required to graduate.

All credit-bearing internships are subject to the following Registrar’s Office policies:

• Current tuition is charged for each credit-bearing internship.
• The application process, including faculty submission of student information to the Registrar, must be completed no later than the Add/Drop deadline of each semester.
• Any courses dropped to accommodate internship course registration beyond the Add/Drop deadline of each semester are subject to published refund deadlines.
• Regular withdrawal deadlines and refund penalties apply once the student has been registered for the internship course through the Registrar’s Office.
• Regular grade reporting deadlines apply. Incomplete grades must be changed by October 1 for spring and summer internships and March 1 for fall internships in order to avoid conversion to an F.

International students must meet immigration regulations in order to complete an internship.

Graduate assistants must obtain permission from the Associate Dean of Business to register for an internship course.

For more information about graduate Internships, please visit the Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement Website.

Graduate-Level Posthumous Degree Policy

A graduate degree may be awarded posthumously to a student in recognition of their academic achievement at the time of their death. The degree will be awarded based on the following considerations:

• The student was enrolled at the time of their passing.
• The student was in good standing.
• For master’s students:
  • The student’s earned credits typically constitute three-quarters or more of the credits required for graduation.
  • A master’s student not eligible for a posthumous degree may instead be awarded a memorial certificate, which recognizes the student’s progress toward a degree and contributions to the Bentley community.
• For PhD students:
  • The PhD degree may be awarded posthumously if the student has successfully passed their comprehensive exams.
  • A PhD student who has not passed their comprehensive exams may receive a Master’s in Business Research degree posthumously if they have completed approximately three-quarters or more of their PhD coursework.
  • A PhD student not eligible for a posthumous degree (either the PhD or Master’s in Business Research) may instead be awarded a memorial certificate, which recognizes the student’s progress toward a degree and contributions to the Bentley community.

The Provost, together with the Academic Dean, makes the final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. If approved by the Board of Trustees, the Registrar’s Office will confirm the degree or memorial certificate.

Graduation Policies

Completion of Degree Requirements for Graduation

Honors and Awards

Beta Gamma Sigma

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society for business students. Election to membership is the highest scholastic honor a graduate student can achieve. Beta Gamma Sigma is the only national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Nomination to the society occurs each spring and is determined by the degree GPA in effect at that time. Students graduating in the top 20 percent of an academic year’s graduates (September, January and May total population) receive written notification of their nomination to the society in the spring. To be considered members, nominees must accept the invitation to lifetime membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, and remit the one-time initiation fee. Those who accept the nomination are encouraged to attend the annual induction ceremony held on campus in April.

Please note that doctoral students are not eligible for Bega Gamma Sigma.

Dandes Award

The Dandes Award is presented to the graduate student(s) graduating in a given year (September, December and May) who has the highest overall GPA. In cases where there is a tie, the award is presented to all who have the same degree GPA. Students are notified in May after all grades are posted. Students with outstanding incompletes are not eligible for the Dandes Award.

Please note that doctoral students are not eligible for the Dandes Award.

Independent Study Options

Directed Study

Highly qualified students can, under the guidance of a faculty member, undertake a directed study to conduct in-depth investigation and/or analysis of a specialized topic not currently offered in the program curriculum. These courses are based solely on research or a specially designed project developed in conjunction with a faculty member. Graduate students interested in requesting a directed study must submit the request form.

Doctoral students interested in a direct study should talk to the PhD program office and request the doctoral directed study form.

Tutorial

Tutorials enable students to complete a regular course when it is not offered in the current semester. A tutorial follows the standard syllabus for a course with the following modification: the tutorial syllabus must reflect the fact that a student is completing the course independently and not as part of a class of students.

To initiate a tutorial, students must have a special need for the proposed course; e.g., the course is needed to complete a degree at a particular time.

A subset of graduate courses is only available on an independent study basis due to the fact that they are based solely on research or specially designed projects that lend themselves to a single person completing the assignment. These courses include ETH 810 Research in Business Ethics and HF 800 User Experience Thesis.

Procedure for Directed Study or Tutorial

1. Students interested in pursuing either a Directed Study or Tutorial must submit the following for approval before beginning the study:
   1. A statement explaining the reason for the request.
   2. A syllabus the student has created in collaboration with the faculty member who will be supervising. This syllabus should include the following specific information:
      1. a brief description of the study
      2. goals/objectives
      3. required readings/bibliography
      4. explanation of course deliverables — i.e., a project, papers, exams
      5. timeline for completion of course deliverables
      6. evaluation procedures — i.e., grading criteria, scope, and methods/modes of interaction between the student and the professor
   3. Directed Study/Tutorial Petition signed by the supervising faculty member and appropriate department chair. The appropriate form can be found in Workday.
2. Once complete, the Associate Dean of Business for Academic Programs will be required to sign off on the merit of the proposal.
3. If approved, the student will be registered for the approved course by the Registrar’s Office.

Deadlines

• Requests for a Directed Study or Tutorial must be submitted by the first day of the semester that the course will be taken.
• Approval must be granted prior to beginning the study.

Cost

Current tuition is charged for each Directed Study or Tutorial.

Transcript Notation

• Directed Study: The course will be recorded on the transcript with a notation of the topic investigated, along with a corresponding course number assigned by an academic department.
• Tutorial: The course will be recorded on the transcript as the appropriate course number and title.

International Student Distance Learning Hybrid and Online Course Policy

International students attending Bentley University on the F-1 Visa have special regulations for online and hybrid classes. The Department of Homeland Security requires F-1 students to maintain a full course of study, and the course of study must lead to the attainment of a specific educational or professional objective. A full course of study is defined as a minimum of: 12 credit hours for undergraduate and 9 credit hours for graduate students. F-1 students can count only one 100% online/distance learning class or three credits of online/distance learning course per semester toward the full course of study requirement [8 C.F.R. 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G)].

For hybrid courses, international students are required to maintain physical presence in these classes by attending at least 50 percent of the class sessions in person. Any hybrid course in which physical attendance in class is less than 50 percent will count as one of the online or distance learning courses allowed for an international student. Failure to comply with the regulation [8 C.F.R. 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G) will be a violation of a student's F-1 visa status.

Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Policy

Leave of Absence

Bentley graduate students are expected to maintain concurrent enrollment. However, Bentley University recognizes that there are occasions when students may require time away from their studies. Matriculated graduate students experiencing medical, personal, or professional challenges may take a voluntary leave of absence for up to one calendar year after consultation with their Academic Advisor. Matriculated is defined as a graduate student who has deposited, registered, and attended at least one day of class either in person or online. Non-matriculated students who wish to delay their active course enrollment may request deferral through the Office of Graduate Admissions. 

Students who plan to take more than one semester away from their studies must fill out the leave of absence request form. F-1 visa holders must submit a Leave of Absence form regardless of the duration of the leave. Students may not take classes at other institutions during their leave of absence. Students who take more than one semester away from their studies without obtaining an approved leave of absence request may be inactivated. Students may also request an extension to their approved leave of absence status not to exceed a total of two years.

For more details about the leave of absence and withdrawal/transfer processes, please see the Student Handbook. For any questions, please email LOA@bentley.edu. Graduate Students in the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center cohorts please refer to your Terms & Conditions in regards to the leave of absence process.

Doctoral students seeking to take a leave of absence, for any reason, must consult with the PhD Program Office prior to initiating a leave. This will allow the doctoral student to understand the curricular impact of any requested absence from the program and any potential impact on their graduation timeline.

Professional MBA ONLY: Leave of Absence Policy

Bentley graduate students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment. However, Bentley University recognizes occasions may rise when students require time away from their studies. Matriculated graduate students experiencing medical, personal, or professional challenges may take a voluntary leave of absence for up to one calendar year after consultation with their faculty advisor and the MBA Director.

Students who plan to take a full semester or more away from their studies must formally request a leave of absence by filling out an appropriate form and submitting it to the MBA Director. Students may not transfer credits earned at other institutions during their leave of absence from Bentley. Students who take more than one semester away from their studies without obtaining an approved leave of absence request will be inactivated. Students may also request an extension to their approved leave of absence status not to exceed a total of two years.

The Professional MBA Program works as a lock-step course sequence with a cohort format. As such, students returning from a leave of absence may need to extend their time away until the courses they still need to complete are offered again. Students should discuss the leave with the MBA Director to create a timeline for return that matches Bentley’s course offering schedule.

Withdrawal from the University

If a student decides that they are unable to continue attending Bentley, the student must officially withdraw from the university by filling out the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form. It is recommended that students considering withdrawal from the University consult with an advisor in Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement. Once a decision has been made to withdraw, the student must contact the Registrar's office by email requesting to be withdrawn from the degree program and the university.

Discontinuing class attendance or not taking exams does not constitute an official withdrawal from Bentley, nor does it reduce a student’s financial obligations. A withdrawal from the university must be completed by the last day of classes for the current semester.

Withdrawal from individual courses is a different procedure; all students process course withdrawals through Workday.

Missed Exam or Quiz Policy

A student who is absent from a regular examination or quiz may take a make-up examination in that course only with the approval of the instructor. Such approval is given only when, in the opinion of the instructor, the student was unavoidably absent from the regular examination for a valid and sufficient reason, such as serious illness or death in the immediate family. If possible, the student should notify the instructor prior to the regular examination.

Program Changes or Additions

Adding a Program of Study

Current graduate students interested in pursuing a second graduate credential may submit a request to the Office of Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement. 

When considering adding a program of study, please note:

• Students who wish to pursue an MBA and MS degree may be eligible to share up to four courses (12 credits) between programs taken within the past five years.
• The sharing of up to 12 credits is an option only between the MBA and one MS degree. There is no sharing for those wishing to pursue two MS degrees.
• None of the permissible 12 credits shared between an MBA and a 2nd MS degree may be shared with a concurrent certificate. That constitutes triple sharing of credits and is not permitted.
• Students who start a graduate degree as part of a Bentley University advanced standing program (which allows sharing of up to four graduate courses between the undergraduate and the graduate degree) are eligible to add a program of study through Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement, but cannot share courses between the two graduate degrees. Students who wish to pursue merit aid must apply through the Office of Graduate Admission for the second graduate degree. Sharing of courses between the two graduate degrees is not allowed. 
• There is no guarantee that the request for the second degree will be approved. Students must meet the admission requirements for the additional degree.
• Dual degree students may take a total of three Field-Based Learning courses, although only one field-based course can be shared across MS and MBA degrees.

Secondary MS Degree

• Students wishing to pursue a second MS degree must apply through the Office of Graduate Admission for the second MS degree; a second MS degree shares no courses and requires a new and full application and full admission review.
• As no courses are shared, students can take additional Field-Based Learning course/s based on the stated policy in this catalog. International students must consult with the Center for International Students and Scholars for eligibility.
• Under special circumstances, students may be able to use courses that were unused in the first degree if the courses were taken and passed within the five-year time limit for course applicability toward a second degree. Students should consult with the Office of Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement, as any previous courses must be completed within five years of the final semester of the second degree.
• Should a required course from a previous MS degree be required of the second MS degree, the second MS degree program director will be responsible for providing a suitable substitution course.

Changing a Program of Study

Students who wish to pursue a program change may submit a request to the Office of Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement. 

When considering changing a program of study, please note:

• Merit aid awarded to the original degree program is not guaranteed to be transferred to the new degree program. Students will be reevaluated for the merit aid award based on their application to the new degree program.
• There is no guarantee that the request for a program change will be approved.
• Students cannot request a change of program in their final term.

Religious Observances Policy

Residence Requirements/Course Away Policy

Students* must complete all degree requirements in residence at the Bentley Graduate School. Under rare and special circumstances after matriculation, a student may petition for a waiver of the Residence Requirement for a maximum of two courses (6 credits). Petitions for up to two courses (6 credits) of work completed at another institution will be considered. Courses must be completed at an AACSB- or EQUIS-accredited institution. Courses must also be the final two courses needed to complete the degree program. In all cases, courses must be at the graduate level and carry credits equivalent to meeting the requirements of the Bentley degree. Such appeals should be addressed to Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement. A course-away grade of B- must be earned for credit to be awarded toward a Bentley University degree.

*This policy does not apply to doctoral students. Any questions related to time away should be addressed to the PhD Program Office.

Time to Degree Completion Policy

Masters students must complete their degree program/s (including any concurrent degrees and certificates) within five years of their initial admit term. Beyond five years, without an approved Leave of Absence (see policy above), a student will be required to apply for re-admission to the Graduate School with the understanding that previous course work and GMAT/GRE scores will no longer be counted toward the degree program/s; exams and courses must be retaken. Students may request an extension in time to degree completion, not to exceed a total of seven years, in writing to the Director of Graduate Academic Advising and Engagement.

The maximum length of time for degree completion in the Executive PhD Program is five years, and in the full-time PhD program it is seven years.