M.B.A. Degree Requirements and Academic Policies

The M.B.A. Curriculum

The Yale School of Management offers a two-year program leading to the degree of Master of Business Administration. A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science or equivalent undergraduate degree is requisite for admission to the M.B.A. program. The program requires two years of full-time study in residence and comprises both course work and non-course activities.

In the first year, students devote the majority of their time to the core courses, but are also required to participate in a formal Leadership Development Program and International Experience. In the summer following the first year, students continue their management training through internships or other appropriate activity, in fulfillment of the First-Summer Requirement. In the second year, elective courses complete requirements for the degree. See M.B.A. Degree Requirements, below.

The Core Sequence

Traditional functional management disciplines are integrated in an innovative core curriculum designed to reflect the contexts encountered by today’s managers and to better prepare students for what they will find in the workplace. Courses in the first-year curriculum are taught in three segments: Orientation to Management, Organizational Perspectives, and the Integrated Leadership Perspective.

ORIENTATION TO MANAGEMENT

The first segment of the core curriculum, Orientation to Management, introduces students to essential concepts and skills. Courses include Managing Groups and Teams, Basics of Accounting, Data and Decision Analysis, Basics of Economics, Interpersonal Dynamics, Problem Framing, and Careers.

ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

The heart of the first-year curriculum is a series of multidisciplinary courses called Organizational Perspectives, structured around the organizational roles a manager must engage and lead in order to solve problems—or make progress—within organizations. These roles are both internal—Employee, Innovator, Operations Engine, and Sourcing and Managing Funds—and external—Competitor, Customer, Investor, and State and Society.

Courses combine topics and insights from a variety of functional management disciplines to study the managerial challenges each role presents. This integrated approach allows ethical and value-based dilemmas to be introduced seamlessly and contextually into the curriculum.

A course on Negotiations is completed at the beginning of the Organizational Perspectives segment.

INTEGRATED LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE

The final segment of the core curriculum, the Integrated Leadership Perspective, presents students with a series of complex case studies of organizations of different scale, from small entrepreneurial start-ups to large multinational corporations, across a variety of sectors. These cases require students to draw on the subject matter learned in the Organizational Perspectives courses, and also rely heavily on real-world data sources such as 10-Ks and research reports, not traditionally part of M.B.A. course work.

Leadership Development Program

All Yale Management students participate in the Leadership Development Program in their first year. The program begins during orientation and continues throughout the first year with a series of exercises, workshops, assessments, and group meetings, as well as individual meetings and professional coaching to support and develop each student’s unique leadership potential.

First-year students will meet in groups of approximately eighteen, supported by two second-year M.B.A. advisers and a member of the Yale Management faculty. The materials for these meetings will be closely integrated with materials and learnings from the classroom, beginning with the Orientation to Management segment and moving through the year to the Integrated Leadership Perspective. These same small groups will travel together during the International Experience trips in January of 2009.

The Leadership Development Program is designed to allow students to seek, understand, connect to, and articulate their own individual aspirations, to inspire real inquiry, and to suggest paths for leadership at Yale and beyond.

International Experience

In January, between the first and the second terms, first-year students are required to take part in a ten-day International Experience, in which they travel to countries outside the United States, are rapidly immersed in a new environment, and meet with business, government, and nonprofit organization leaders. The faculty-led trips are tied thematically to the core curriculum, and involve intensive study and the completion of a project.

First-Summer Requirement

Between the first and second years of the program, students are required to further their management education, normally by obtaining management experience through employment or internship. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing relevant course work at Yale or another approved institution of higher learning, or by completing another approved alternate activity.

Elective Courses

Elective courses, chosen from the Course Offerings or from the approved offerings in other Yale schools and departments, complete the course requirement for the M.B.A. degree.

MBA Degree Requirements

Degree requirements are designed and administered to ensure the integrity of the M.B.A. degree program. Any exception to the requirements must be approved by the faculty. The requirements fall into the following areas: Enrollment Requirement, Leadership Development Program Requirement, Number of Course Units, Timing Requirement, Distribution of Courses, and the Quality Standard. To qualify for the M.B.A. degree, students must at all times meet the conditions to continue as a degree candidate, and must meet all requirements as follows:

Enrollment Requirement

The M.B.A. must be completed in four consecutive terms of full-time study, unless a student is permitted to take a leave of absence. A student enrolled in a joint-degree program is required to maintain continuous, full-time enrollment throughout the program and to complete degree requirements within the normal period specified for the program in the appropriate joint-degree agreement, unless granted a leave of absence.

Leadership Development Program Requirement

To satisfy the Leadership Development Program Requirement, a student must attend all group and individual Leadership Development Program meetings, and participate in peer feedback.

Number of Course Units

A student must:

1. Achieve credit, i.e., a grade of Pass or better, in 72 units of course work, of which 30 are normally earned in first-year core courses. Successful completion of more than 72 units does not offset deficiency in any other degree requirement (in particular, see Distribution of Courses and Quality Standard, below); and
2. Enroll in and receive a grade in a minimum of 16 units of course work each term. Further, each student must maintain enrollment in at least four courses during each part of the term. Taking a course overload in any part of a term does not excuse a student from the four-course minimum in any other part of a term.

Timing Requirement

To be permitted to enroll for the second year of the M.B.A. program, a student must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Have achieved Proficiency in at least 20 units of core courses;
2. Have received credit in at least 28 units of core courses;
3. Have received a grade in 30 units of core courses;
4. Have satisfied the Leadership Development Program Requirement.

Distribution of Courses

To graduate, a student must:

1. Achieve credit in each of the following core courses:
   Managing Groups and Teams (1 unit)
   Basics of Accounting (2 units)
   Basics of Economics (2 units)
   Data and Decision Analysis (2 units)
   Problem Framing (2 units)
   Interpersonal Dynamics (1 unit)
   Careers (1 unit)
   Introduction to Negotiations (0.5 unit)
   Competitor (2 units)
   Customer (2 units)
   Investor (2 units)
   Sourcing and Managing Funds (2 units)
   International Experience (0.5 unit)
   State and Society (2 units)
   Employee (2 units)
   Innovator (2 units)
   Operations Engine (2 units)
   Integrated Leadership Perspective (2 units)
2. Achieve credit in elective courses as necessary to meet the 72-unit course requirement.

Quality Standard

A student falls short of the Quality Standard if he/she:

1. Accumulates nonproficient grades in 21 or more units of course work; or
2. Accumulates nonproficient grades in 13 or more units of core courses; or
3. Accumulates failing grades in 5 or more units of core courses.

Remediation of Failing Grades in Core Courses

A student who is Proficient in at least 20 units and receives credit in at least 28 units of core courses but fails one or more core courses must remediate the failing grade(s) either by retaking the course and achieving a passing grade, by passing a proficiency examination, if offered, or through alternate activity as specified by the instructor. In no case will a grade other than Pass be recorded when a failed core course is remediated.

A failing grade in a core course must be remediated in the next term or part of term in which the course is offered. A student who does not remediate the failing grade will automatically be dismissed from the program.

Academic Standards

Review Process

The registrar conducts a review of the academic progress of all M.B.A. students at the midpoint and end of each term. Students who have received nonproficient grades are brought to the attention of the director of student and academic services and the chair of the Academic Standards Committee. Students who are in possible or imminent danger of dismissal are referred to the Academic Standards Committee.

The director of student and academic services will notify all students who are referred to the Academic Standards Committee, making every reasonable effort to provide at least twenty-four hours’ notice before the student is to meet with the committee. The student may present to the committee, either orally or in writing, any information that he/she believes is relevant.

The Academic Standards Committee

The Academic Standards Committee is composed of faculty members who hold “track” or “in the practice” appointments. The director of admissions and the director of student and academic services serve as members ex officio. The membership of the committee is a matter of public record.

The committee’s primary purpose is to review cases, to provide counsel to students in academic difficulty, and, if necessary, to dismiss students from the program, according to the policies outlined below. In addition, the committee serves as a faculty committee of review for exceptions to academic rules and for proposed changes to academic rules and/or policies.

Academic Grounds for Dismissal

Any student whose academic performance puts him/her at risk of not fulfilling all requirements for the degree may be reviewed for dismissal. In cases where dismissal is not automatic, the Academic Standards Committee may permit the student to remain in the program if the committee finds that the conditions that caused the deficient performance no longer prevail and judges that the student will be able to satisfy all requirements for the degree.

Dismissal from the M.B.A. program is automatic if and when it becomes impossible for a student to satisfy the degree requirements with respect to the Number of Course Units, the Timing Requirement, the Distribution of Courses, or the Quality Standard. Thus, dismissal becomes automatic if a student:

1. Fails to receive credit in 72 units of course work by the end of the normal period of residency; or
2. Fails to receive a grade in at least 4 courses for each term or part of term; or
3. Accumulates nonproficient grades in 13 or more units of core courses; or
4. Accumulates failing grades in 5 or more units of core courses; or
5. Fails to remediate a grade of Fail in a core course in the term or part of term in which the course is next offered; or
6. Accumulates nonproficient grades in 21 or more units of core and/or elective courses.

Within two business days of his/her meeting with the Academic Standards Committee, the student will be provided by the director of student and academic services with a written summary of his/her academic situation and the committee’s decision and recommendations.

Appeal of Academic Dismissal

A student who has been dismissed by action of the Academic Standards Committee may appeal by written petition to the dean of the School. An appeal must be filed within forty-five days from the date of the letter notifying the student of the dismissal. The dean will refer the appeal to the Faculty Review Board. The Faculty Review Board, chaired by the dean, consists of the dean and two senior faculty members. The Review Board will ordinarily reach a final decision within two months of the receipt of the letter of appeal. However, if the School is not in session during part of this time, or in instances where additional time may be required because of the complexity of the case, the dean may extend either of the time periods specified above. A student who has been dismissed and has exhausted the appeal process cannot be readmitted except through the normal admission process.

Academic Policies

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend classes regularly, be on time, and be prepared to contribute to class discussion. If religious observance, illness, or a personal emergency will prevent a student from attending a class, the instructor should be informed in advance whenever possible. If the circumstances make advance notice impossible, an e-mail as soon as possible after the missed class is the next best alternative. The student must make arrangements with a classmate to get notes and copies of class handouts.

If a student has to leave town for a personal or family emergency, or will be out of class for an extended period because of illness, he or she must first contact the director of student and academic services.

Using cell phones, browsing the Internet, or reading e-mail during class distracts classmates and interrupts their learning experience as well as the student’s own. Cell phones, pagers, or other electronic devices are to be turned off during class. The use of laptops for academic purposes is at the discretion of the instructor.

Examinations

Students are expected to take all exams at the scheduled time. Exams may be rescheduled only in exceptional circumstances such as a religious observance, incapacitating illness, or serious family emergency. Travel arrangements, mild illness, and the like are not acceptable reasons to change an exam time.

If there is a need to change the date or time of an exam, the student is to contact the director of student and academic services before the scheduled exam begins. In case of illness, the student will be required to provide written confirmation from a healthcare professional at the Yale Health Plan. An alternate exam date will be determined by the director of student and academic services in consultation with the instructor.

Incomplete Course Work

Students are expected to complete all assignments by the deadlines established by the instructor. Marks of Incomplete are rarely approved, and only in cases where incapacitating illness or serious family emergency prevents the student from completing class work on time. A student who anticipates a problem should contact the director of student and academic services before the last day of class. If the director of student and academic services approves an Incomplete, the mark must be converted to a grade no later than sixty days after the date on which grades for the term are due. If no grade has been received by that date, a grade of Fail will automatically be recorded.

Grades

There are four grades at SOM: Distinction, Proficient, Pass, Fail. No more than 10 percent of students in a given course may be awarded Distinction. Once grades are officially recorded, they may not be changed except in cases where a mathematical error has been made in computing the grade or a clerical error has been made in recording it.

If a student takes a course in another school at Yale, the SOM registrar will ask the instructor to submit the grade according to the SOM grade scale.

Course Policies

Elective Courses

Second-year M.B.A. students register for fall-term SOM elective courses during the summer, and for spring-term SOM elective courses late in the fall term. Students are permitted to rearrange their elective course selections during an add/drop period at the beginning of each term. After the add/drop period, students may not change their course schedule except by approval of the registrar; in some instances permission of the instructor may also be required.

If a student is enrolled in a course at the end of the add/drop period, but does not complete the work of the course and does not receive the appropriate permission either to drop the course or to receive an Incomplete (see Incomplete Course Work, above), a grade of Fail will be recorded. No student may take for credit a course that he/she has previously audited.

INDEPENDENT READING AND RESEARCH

This course provides an opportunity for students and faculty to work together on projects of mutual interest outside the structure of normal courses. Each independent project must have a sponsor who is a member of the Yale full-time faculty. Students must submit a Petition for Independent Study that includes the project proposal and the faculty sponsor’s signature. The proposal must indicate the means by which the student’s performance is to be judged (e.g., weekly assignments, final paper, etc.), as well as the scope of the project. A project will be assigned a course number of MGT 690 and can be worth 2 or 4 units. No more than 4 units of Independent Reading and Research may be undertaken in a term. The director of student and academic services must also approve the project before the course is entered on the student’s record. Forms are due within the first two weeks of the term in which the project will take place. Petition forms are available on the Web site and in the Office of Student and Academic Services.

NON-SOM COURSES

SOM students who take courses offered by another school at Yale University must comply with any enrollment procedures, restrictions, deadlines, and/or fees imposed by the school offering the course. In addition, the student must file the appropriate forms in the School of Management, as described below.

Students wishing to enroll in a course in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences or in one of the other professional schools at Yale must receive permission from the course instructor. Enrollment in a Law School course also requires authorization from the registrar of the Law School. Once the appropriate permissions have been obtained, the student must file an add/drop form at SOM. Once enrolled, the student must file an add/drop form with the SOM registrar if the course is dropped. The SOM registrar will notify the registrar of the appropriate school.

Students may receive credit toward the M.B.A. degree for Yale College courses only if such credit has been authorized by the SOM director of student and academic services. Petition forms for requesting credit are available in the Office of Student and Academic Services. The course will not be posted on the student’s record until credit has been authorized.

In some schools students may be offered the individual option of taking a course on a Pass/Fail or Credit/D/Fail basis. SOM students are not permitted to elect such an option.

Students are not permitted to enroll in courses outside Yale University. Furthermore, no credit will be given by the School for any course taken outside Yale University during the period of the student’s enrollment in the M.B.A. program.

The credit to be awarded for courses offered by Yale College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, or by one of the other professional schools at Yale will be determined by the registrar, in consultation with the director of student and academic services. Normally a course offered by Yale College or the Graduate School will carry 4 units of credit at SOM. Courses carrying 1 credit hour or unit in another professional school may be audited but not taken for credit.

Auditing

Students may, with the permission of the instructor, audit SOM elective courses or courses in another school in Yale University. The normal expectation for auditors is attending at least two-thirds of all class meetings; instructors may set additional conditions. Audited classes will appear on the transcript only if the instructor certifies that the conditions for auditing have been met. Auditing of SOM core courses is not permitted.

Any person who is not a degree candidate at Yale University and who wishes to audit an M.B.A. course must obtain written permission from the SOM faculty member teaching the course and the director of student and academic services. SOM does not issue transcripts for courses audited under this arrangement. The charge for auditing a course is one-ninth of the SOM tuition for the year.

Course Evaluations

At the end of each course, students are asked to evaluate the course and instructor. The course evaluation results are given to the instructor and the dean, and the aggregate results are available for review on the campus Web site after the grades have been submitted.

Joint-Degree Programs

SOM offers joint-degree study with certain master’s programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and with a number of the other professional schools at Yale. At present, these are Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Forestry & Environmental Studies, Law, Medicine, and Public Health. These agreements make it possible for a student to complete two degrees in a year less than would be required if the two programs were taken sequentially. SOM also offers opportunities for joint-degree study with doctoral programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Information about these programs, including enrollment and degree requirements, is available in the Office of Student and Academic Services.

Admission decisions for joint-degree programs are made independently by the two schools. Students may apply for concurrent admission to both schools. Alternatively, students may apply for admission to the other school during the first year at SOM. Students already enrolled in one of the other schools with which SOM has joint-degree program agreements may apply to SOM in their first or second year of study, as specified in the appropriate agreement.

The normal pattern for joint-degree candidates in programs totaling three years of study is to spend the entire first year almost exclusively in one school and the entire second year almost exclusively in the other, combining courses from both schools and completing requirements for both degrees during the third year. Candidates in joint-degree programs totaling four years of study (Architecture, Drama, and Law) normally spend two full years almost exclusively in those schools, one full year in SOM, and one year of combined study. Candidates for joint degrees in Medicine normally spend three years exclusively in the School of Medicine, one year almost exclusively in SOM, and one year of combined study.

Students in joint-degree programs are not permitted to enroll in SOM core courses before matriculating at SOM. They must maintain full-time enrollment in both schools at all times. They must satisfy degree requirements in both schools, and must receive both degrees simultaneously.

The School of Management and the other school regularly share information about the status of students enrolled for joint degrees. Shared information may include course registrations and grades, disciplinary actions, or any other information that is normally part of a student’s record. In addition, the academic officers of the two programs may share other information that they believe relevant to understanding a student’s overall performance.

The School of Management and the other school separately apply their rules governing a student’s academic performance. In applying these standards, either school may consider the student’s performance in all of his or her course work. A student whose performance does not meet the requirements and standards of a program may be advised or required to withdraw, or may be dismissed from that program. Such a withdrawal or dismissal does not automatically require dismissal or withdrawal from the other program.

The School of Management and the other school jointly apply their rules governing a student’s conduct. A charge of academic dishonesty in a course shall normally be handled by the school offering that course. If the course is jointly offered by the two schools, the charge will normally be handled by the school granting credit for that course.

A charge of general misconduct, not related to a particular course or to an event in one of the schools, will normally be handled by the school in which the student is currently registered. Jurisdiction over any case may be transferred if the disciplinary officials or committees of both schools agree. The final determination of fact, and any penalty, shall be communicated to the appropriate officials of both schools. A penalty of suspension, expulsion, or loss of course credit will apply to both degree programs.

Rights and Responsibilities of Students

Academic Freedom

The Yale School of Management is committed to the protection of free inquiry and expression in the classroom and throughout the school community. In this, the School reflects the University’s commitment, reaffirmed in its Policy on Freedom of Expression (1988), which states: “Nothing is more conducive to the advancement of knowledge and the search for truth, to individual growth and fulfillment, and to basic human liberties than a community, rare in history, where all shades of opinion can be voiced and all avenues of thought and research pursued.”

The SOM Honor Code

Guiding Principles

Honesty is fundamental to the profession and practice of management. It is therefore the bedrock premise of management education at Yale. To the community of students, faculty, and staff of the Yale School of Management honesty and integrity build the trust essential to a free and lively exchange of ideas.

The Yale SOM Honor Code is intended to foster the School’s exceptional learning environment and to support conduct that will distinguish the faculty, staff, and students in their lives as managers, at school, at school-related functions, and in the larger management community. The Honor Code will be referred to as the “Code” hereafter.

The Honor Committee has jurisdiction over all Code violations including matters of academic dishonesty and egregious violations of the social and professional norms of behavior.

Academic Integrity

The SOM community, including faculty, staff, and students, supports the highest standards of academic integrity. All academic work affords an unparalleled opportunity to put forward new and innovative ideas; at SOM we aspire to always acknowledge the ideas upon which new solutions are based.

When working on an assignment with a team, students must clarify the expectations for each member of the team.

Faculty will provide clear guidelines for students on the parameters of any group work, as well as guidelines for proper citation.

A student will contact the professor for clarification if there is a question about the way in which the group work is to be completed.

Students are encouraged to consult print resources, such as Sources, as well as online resources concerning proper citation.

Community Standards

A hallmark of the SOM community is its inclusive nature, which respects the diverse backgrounds and views of its members. SOM faculty, students, and alumni aspire to standards of conduct while at Yale, and as they function in the larger management community, that will further distinguish SOM as a center of integrity and fair dealing.

Students must uphold, among themselves, the highest standards of professional behavior.

Students must strictly adhere to ethical guidelines during the job search—with interviewers, prospective employers, and their student colleagues.

Students must remember that they represent the School as they take part in activities in the University, New Haven, and the larger management community.

Standards of individual responsibility in the job search, and in the use of School and University information technology resources, are detailed Policies of the Career Development Office and Policies on the Use of Information Technology Facilities.

Procedures of the Honor Committee

Composition and Charge

The Honor Committee considers instances of academic infractions and other serious violations by SOM students against the SOM and University communities and their guests. The committee is responsible for collecting facts pertaining to such infractions and violations, making judgments about them, and determining punishment where appropriate. In addition, the committee reviews and proposes revisions in SOM discipline policy and procedures where needed and communicates its policies and actions to the community at large.

Suspected cases of cheating or other violations of Code standards should be reported to the chair of the SOM Honor Committee or to the director of student and academic services. A list of the members of the Honor Committee may be obtained from the Office of Student and Academic Services.

The committee is appointed by the dean. It consists of three faculty members (one of whom shall be designated chair), four SOM students (two from each class in residence), and the director of student and academic services (who shall act as secretary to the committee and shall be nonvoting). Two student alternates, one from each class in residence, will also be appointed. Appointments will typically be for the academic year.

Process

The committee will collect the facts relevant to each complaint under consideration and make judgments on whether an infraction or violation has been committed and on its seriousness to the community. Based on these judgments, the committee will choose a punishment which it deems appropriate to the offense. It shall also inform the community of its actions in such a manner as to protect the identity of individuals who are the recipient of punishments.

Although deviations may be taken by the chair when appropriate to a given case, the following steps are customary:

1. The work of the committee normally begins when a member of the University community (faculty, student, or staff) brings a probable violation or infraction to the attention of the committee chair. The chair then requests a written statement and copies of any other relevant materials pertinent to the complaint.
2. Based on these materials, the chair will decide whether the offense, if the charge is true, would be of sufficient seriousness to warrant the attention of the committee. Should that be the case, the chair shall inform the student who is the subject of the complaint. At the same time the student will be given a copy of the Committee Policies and Procedures to apprise the student of his or her rights: (a) to appear before the committee, (b) to be accompanied by any member of the University community to act as his or her adviser,* (c) to examine any and all written materials being provided to the committee as soon as possible, and ordinarily at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting, so that the student may have ample opportunity to question or refute them. At the beginning of a meeting with a student who is the subject of a complaint, the chair will review the Procedures of the Committee and the process to be followed in meetings with the committee.
3. The committee will endeavor to conduct its business in such a way as to protect the privacy and personal integrity of all individuals who are involved with the case. In addition, it will seek to make its judgments as promptly as is consistent with the need to establish the facts of the case and to come to judgments based on these facts.
4. The committee will seek to make its decisions by consensus. When consensus is impossible, a majority vote will be taken. No decision shall be made without a quorum of committee members (defined as a majority of both faculty and students present and participating; at least two faculty members and three students).
5. If the committee finds an infraction or violation, it will then decide on an appropriate punishment. Among the possible punishments that can be meted out by the committee are reprimands, probation, suspensions for a specific time period, and, in serious cases, expulsion. A penalty of expulsion will appear on a student’s transcript. Correspondence related to any disciplinary penalty will remain in a student’s internal SOM file and in the files of the Honor Committee. A penalty of a full term suspension will be reported to an outside agency or individual when a student makes a written request for release of file information to that agency or individual. A penalty of a less than full term suspension will be reported under the same circumstance but only for a period of two years following the expiration of the term of the suspension. A penalty of probation will be reported under the same circumstances for a period of time the student is enrolled and will not be released after the student has graduated. Information about warnings and reprimands will not be released. To provide for some consistency in reactions to offenses year by year, the committee chair shall study the files and inform the committee (ordinarily before the first case of the year is heard) of punishments meted out in certain classes of cases in prior years. Penalties should be set based upon the severity of the infraction, rather than the impact of such penalty on the student’s personal situation.
6. The committee chair will inform those against whom complaints have been made of committee decisions within twenty-four hours of the committee’s decision.

Review

1. At the beginning of the investigation the chair will inform committee members of the individual(s) involved in a case. Committee members will be invited to excuse themselves from the case if there is a conflict of interest. If a committee member is excused, the chair will recommend to the dean a successor for temporary appointment to the committee for participation in the matter. At the beginning of the investigation, the chair will inform the student whose conduct is in question of the procedures that will be followed and will notify the student of the membership of the committee. Within one day after receiving that notification, the student may object that a member is prejudiced by stating in writing the basis for this objection. On receipt of this objection, the chair will rule on whether the member should be recused from taking part in the proceedings and, if this is done, will recommend to the dean a successor for temporary appointment to the committee for participation in the matter. A decision of the chair not to recuse the challenged member will be communicated to the student, who may within one day after receiving the notice appeal the decision to the dean. The dean’s decision to deny or grant the appeal will be final.
2. At the time the committee informs the student of its decision, it shall also inform the dean. The dean will determine whether the committee’s conclusion that a violation has occurred is supported by evidence. If the dean determines that the conclusion is not supported by the evidence, the dean will remand the decision to the committee for further fact-finding or deliberation. The dean’s decision that the conclusion is supported will be final.
3. Following the review of the record, the dean will offer any student against whom an infraction or violation is found the opportunity to meet with the dean, as promptly as the dean’s schedule may permit, to raise any objections to the proceedings on the grounds of procedural irregularity or prejudice. If objection is raised, the dean will investigate the objection and may remand the matter to the committee to correct the procedural irregularity or to re-deliberate after disqualifying the member or members found to be prejudiced. A decision of the dean that the proceedings were not irregular or that there is insufficient evidence of prejudice will be final.
4. Unless remanded by the dean after review, the committee’s finding of an infraction or violation is final. The committee’s decision on an appropriate punishment may be appealed to the Faculty Review Board. The Faculty Review Board, chaired by the dean, consists of the dean and two senior SOM faculty members. The student must provide the dean with a written request and any supporting materials within five business days after the student is notified of the committee’s decision. General dissatisfaction with the committee’s decision does not constitute substantial merit. The committee chair may submit a written or oral explanation of the committee’s decision to the Faculty Review Board. The student’s written request and supporting materials will be made available to the Review Board, but the student will not be permitted to attend the Review Board meeting. The Review Board’s role in the appeal will be to judge the appropriateness of the punishment assessed by the committee, assuming the correctness of the committee’s finding of a violation. The Review Board’s decision concerning punishment is final.

Records and Files

Minutes of committee meetings about particular cases and committee deliberations about policy and procedures will be kept by the director of student and academic services, who will act as secretary to the committee. These records will be kept in a confidential, locked file. Only the dean, the director of student and academic services, and the current chair of the Honor Committee shall have access to them. The dean and the chair will be responsible for passing committee files to the director of student and academic services to ensure the completeness of the committee files kept in the office of the director of student and academic services.

For each term the secretary to the committee shall prepare a document entitled “Actions of the Honor Committee Academic Year: 20__ to 20__,” summarizing each case in which the committee saw fit to assess any form of punishment. Each summary should include a description of the offense and the punishment assessed. These summaries should not identify the students involved and so far as possible should avoid contextual information that would reveal or encourage speculation about the identity of individual students. Honor Committee reports will be posted at the end of the academic year and at the beginning of the fall and spring terms.

Policies of the Office of Student and Academic Services

The Office of Student and Academic Services (SAS) supports academic, cocurricular, and extracurricular programs at SOM. SAS is responsible for the logistical aspects of the Leadership Development Program, International Experience, International Exchange, and other student curricular programs. SAS also works closely with student government and student clubs to enhance and enrich the student experience at SOM. SAS is also home to the Registrar and Financial Aid offices and is the liaison with the Yale University Resource Office on Disabilities.

Student Records

A permanent file is created for each student upon admission to SOM. This file contains the student’s application, essays, acceptance letter, and registration forms, as well as copies of all correspondence to the student. Access to this file is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment. When a student graduates, his/her file is transferred to the Yale University Archives for permanent storage.

ACCESS TO RECORDS

Official student records for currently enrolled students are housed in SAS. Under the Buckley Amendment, student records are accessible to faculty members, deans, and staff members who have a legitimate educational interest in review of the records. Students have automatic access to all parts of their records except recommendations submitted as part of the application for admission.

The following personal information may be released to the public unless a student requests otherwise: name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, and degrees received. Any student may request that this information be treated confidentially.

TRANSCRIPTS

Student transcripts are maintained permanently in SAS. From time to time, students may need to supply a potential employer with an official transcript from the M.B.A. program. An official copy of an SOM transcript will be released on written request from the student or alumnus/a. To have a transcript sent, a student must complete a Transcript Request form, available from SAS. Current students may obtain transcripts free of charge. The fee for an alumnus/a is $5.

International Experience

The International Experience is an integral part of the core curriculum. All SOM students are expected to complete the International Experience during their first year of study. Students with visa issues, health concerns, or a family emergency that will force them to delay the experience should contact the director of student and academic services for approval to postpone the requirement to the following academic year.

TRIP FEES

If a student, for any reason, is unable to fulfill the International Experience trip requirement during the first year, he or she must complete an International Experience trip during the second year. The student will be credited any International Experience trip fees that have been billed to his or her bursar account; however, the student will be responsible for the entire cost of the trip the following year, including any and all price increases in the International Experience trip fees and any airfare expenses and/or increases.

For all trips, if a student is unable to fulfill this International Experience trip requirement or needs to change destinations because of visa issues, a health emergency, or other unforeseen circumstances, SOM will not reimburse the student for the cost of any expenses incurred in canceling flights or other travel arrangements.

International Exchange

SOM has established a program to allow students to spend one term studying abroad while working toward the M.B.A. degree. SOM students are able to spend the fall term studying at an approved academic institution. A list of exchange partners and details about the application process are available from SAS.

While abroad, students will be evaluated on the exchange partner’s grading scale. Courses completed successfully will appear on the SOM transcripts with an indication that the credits were completed abroad. Students will not be assigned grades based on the SOM grading scale. Students are required to speak with the SOM registrar regarding their specific course schedule and course load while abroad to ensure they meet all SOM requirements.

Students selected to participate in the exchange program are expected to attend the exchange program in its entirety and participate fully. A nonrefundable program fee is required upon acceptance of an offer to participate in the program. Upon participation in the program, this fee will be credited against the student’s tuition. If a student withdraws from the program after the final deposit deadline, he or she will forfeit the program fee.

Exchange participants are expected to be good ambassadors of SOM. While abroad, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional behavior and must remember that they represent the School. Student conduct while abroad remains subject to the SOM Honor Code.

Academic Tutoring and Support

SAS is committed to providing a variety of resources to help students who are experiencing academic difficulty achieve the highest possible standard of academic excellence. To that end, SAS has developed a tutoring program to assist students with components of the first-year core curriculum. SAS provides students with personal and/or small group tutoring sessions for all courses in the core curriculum. SAS will provide each student with academic difficulties up to one hour of tutoring per week in each core subject. The Professional Communications Center is available to assist students who are having trouble with written or oral communication skills. Information about the center and its services can be found at www.som.yale.edu/students/profcommcenter.asp.

To access tutoring assistance, students must contact the senior associate director of SAS and inform the senior associate director of the subject for which the student is seeking tutoring assistance. This request must be made in writing via e-mail at the earliest opportunity in the term the student determines a need for tutoring assistance. SAS will make every effort to accommodate requests that come near the end of the term but cannot guarantee tutoring assistance if the request is made in the last two weeks of the term.

Once a request is made, the student will be given contact information for the tutor. The student will have one week from the date of receipt of the contact information to contact the tutor and set up a tutoring appointment.

If the student needs to cancel a tutoring appointment, the student will give the tutor twenty-four hours advance notice of a cancellation.

If the student initiates the process and requests an appointment with the tutor and omits to contact the tutor within one week, omits to inform SAS that he or she no longer needs a tutor, does not adhere to the cancellation policy above, or cancels two consecutive appointments with the tutor, the student will forfeit the right to participate in the tutoring program for the rest of the academic year.

If a student has any issues or concerns with the tutoring program, he or she should contact the director of student and academic services, who will investigate the issue or concern.

Student Workers

Students can be employed by SOM in a variety of capacities. Students who are employed by any SOM department or employed by SOM in any way are “student workers” and subject to this policy. Student workers can be, but are not limited to, teaching assistants, research assistants, tutors, second-year advisers, CDO coaches, admissions interviewers, or International Experience trip assistants.

Student workers will be allowed to work for SOM up to twenty hours per week during a term if they are registered in only four courses during that term. Student workers registered for more than four courses are not permitted to work for SOM for more than a total of ten hours per week. Student workers are allowed to hold more than one paid position at SOM as long as the total hours worked in all positions do not exceed these maximums. First-year students are encouraged not to work while completing the core curriculum.

Additionally, a student may not be a teaching assistant for a course he or she is enrolled in for credit.

First-year students in academic difficulty who have been seen by the Academic Standards Committee are not eligible to be employed by SOM during the first year of study.

This policy applies to the academic year, and does not apply during recess periods or over the summer.

Course Recording

If the observance of a major religious holiday or hospitalization will prevent a student from attending class, the student should inform the instructor in advance. Students missing class because of observance of a major religious holiday or hospitalization can request to have classes recorded. Classes missed because of illness, job interviews, or other personal commitments will not be recorded. Extracurricular events will not be recorded under any circumstances. Courses will be recorded only if the instructor is willing to grant permission for video- or audiotaping.

Requests for recording should be made to the director of SAS at least two weeks before the scheduled holiday. The director of SAS will review the request to decide if the course should be recorded, contact the course instructor to obtain permission for recording, and arrange for the recording. In reviewing the request, the director of SAS will also determine if the course should be videotaped—core courses are eligible to be videotaped—or audiotaped. Elective courses or events that impact a small number of students are eligible to be audiotaped only.

SAS may not be able to accommodate requests that are not received with at least two weeks notice. Students missing class because of observance of a major religious holiday or hospitalization are responsible for arranging to pick up notes or handouts from a classmate and for checking the course Web site for any relevant postings.

Alcohol

SOM is a community of adults, and the responsible consumption of alcohol has a place within School- and student-organized events. The following guidelines apply whenever alcohol is purchased with School funds and/or served or consumed on School property; a detailed statement of the School’s policies and procedures governing the service of alcohol is available from the Office of Student and Academic Services.

Alcohol may be served or consumed only in the context of School-sponsored or officially recognized club-sponsored events. School funds may not be used to support private parties.

In accordance with Connecticut state law, alcoholic beverages may be dispensed only to individuals who are twenty-one or more years old and may not be dispensed to any intoxicated person.

Alcohol that is purchased with School funds, served on the SOM campus, and/or served at any SOM student club-sponsored event must be served by a bartender who is certified by TIPS or a similar organization, is not an SOM student, and remains on duty for the entire time that alcohol is served.

Beer and wine are the only alcoholic beverages that may be served. Whenever alcohol is served, appropriate quantities of nonalcoholic beverages and food must be available at the same location.

Any exceptions to this policy must be approved in writing from the director of SAS.

Violations of any of the School of Management alcohol policies and procedures may be referred to the Honor Committee for disciplinary action.

Purchasing Card Use Policy

When a student who is not a club budget officer uses a SAS purchasing card (p-card), the student must present an authorization form signed by the appropriate club budget officer. Authorization must include: event name and date, name of vendor, items/services to be purchased via p-card, business purpose for purchase, and estimated amount of purchase.

Appropriate original, itemized receipts for p-card purchases should be submitted to SAS by the end of the next business day after the p-card is used. If appropriate receipts are not submitted within five (5) business days, the amount of the purchase may be billed to the student’s bursar account and/or the club may lose p-card privileges for the remainder of the academic year.

Reimbursement Policy

Appropriate original, itemized receipts for purchases and expenses must be submitted to SAS within ten (10) business days from the date the expense was incurred. Receipts must be accompanied by the student reimbursement form, accurately and completely prepared. When the reimbursement is for a club-related expense, the form must include the appropriate club budget officer’s signature of authorization.

No student reimbursements will be processed if submitted more than thirty (30) business days after the expense was incurred or the last day of classes for that term, whichever occurs sooner.

Fundraising Guidelines

Solicitation of alumni, faculty, or staff is not permitted without approval from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Guidelines are available in SAS.

Firearms and Weapons

The possession of explosives, guns, ammunition, air rifles, paintball and pellet guns, BB guns, Tasers, knives, or other weapons on the Yale SOM campus is prohibited.

Grievance Procedures

In an institution that is trying to meet the needs of a diverse collection of individuals (students, faculty, and staff), it is possible that the academic year may give rise to a variety of problems. Students with problems of either a program-wide or personal nature should consult the director of SAS. Cases involving possible cheating or plagiarism violations by students may be brought before the standing student-faculty Honor Committee. These matters should be brought to the attention of the director of SAS, who is an ex officio member of the Honor Committee.

Yale is committed to providing an atmosphere that is free of discrimination and sexual harassment. The Grievance Committee deals with complaints of discrimination by a student against a member of the faculty or administration on such bases as race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or handicap. The Grievance Committee also deals with all complaints of sexual harassment of students by any member of the community.

The first step in the grievance procedure is to contact a member of the Grievance Committee. Membership on the Grievance Committee is a matter of public record. A list may be obtained from SAS. The Dean’s Procedure for Student Complaints governs such cases, and a copy of this procedure may also be obtained from SAS.

Policies of the Career Development Office

The Career Development Office (CDO) works with students at Yale SOM in the delivery of high-quality programs to teach the practical career management skills necessary to succeed in the global M.B.A. marketplace. The CDO staff partners with faculty, alumni, and recruiters to present a comprehensive sequence of interactive workshops that fully prepare students for both the internship and permanent job search. In order for this process to be successful, both students and the CDO need to work cooperatively in accord with the policies outlined below.

What Students Can Expect from the CDO

Students will have equal access to all CDO services including career counseling, career development workshops, on-campus interviews, company literature and contact information, and the online alumni directory.

The CDO staff will be available to assist students in identifying and formulating a successful job search strategy by:

• Helping students pinpoint their individual skills and talents
• Critiquing résumés and cover letters
• Strengthening students’ networking techniques
• Sharing “best practice” interviewing skills
• Recommending supplemental job search strategies

Ultimately, the CDO staff will work with students to ensure that they are well positioned to make the best possible employment decisions for themselves.

EMPLOYER RELATIONS

The CDO staff will actively develop and enhance relationships with employers for the purpose of increasing employment opportunities for SOM students. These efforts will be reflected in the variety of companies participating in the on-campus recruiting program, the various educational presentations, and the job postings offered by other firms of interest.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The CDO will maintain the strictest confidentiality of student information that is obtained from counseling sessions, interview feedback, and placement records. Additionally, salary data will be published in aggregate only as deemed appropriate.

The CDO’s Expectations of Students

RESOURCES

Students should treat the career information resources—both printed and electronic—as privileged material and abide by the CDO’s user policies. Unauthorized removal, destruction, or disclosure of career information resources inhibits students’ ability to obtain information to which they are entitled.

MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Interviews, corporate presentations, and communications with employers are activities that require professional conduct. As with all SOM activities, punctuality and professional demeanor are expected. The CDO strongly discourages students from arriving late or leaving in the middle of corporate presentations. This is discourteous to both corporate guests and fellow students, and should be avoided. Students should plan to arrive a few minutes early and stay for the entire duration of the event.

INTERVIEWING WITH COMMITMENT

Campus interviews are not opportunities to “shop around” for an interesting job. Nothing is more apparent to an experienced recruiter than a student who has given very little thought as to why he/she would be interested in working for the recruiter’s organization. It misleads employers, wastes time and money, and may prevent fellow students who are sincerely interested in these opportunities from being able to obtain an interview slot. The student should arrive for an interview having thoroughly researched the organization; the student also should be prepared to explain his/her interest in working with the firm.

ADHERENCE TO SCHEDULES

Students should adhere to interview schedules and counseling appointments. SOM policy prohibits students from missing class for interviews, whether on- or off-campus. The CDO will create interview schedules that do not conflict with classes or examinations. Students are expected to keep all scheduled job interview appointments, whether on- or off-campus.

Students are also expected to keep all scheduled counseling appointments (including mock interviews) with the CDO staff and CDO consultants. A student who needs to cancel a counseling appointment should provide the CDO with one business day of advance notice.

ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWING

Confirmed first-round interviews cannot be canceled unless the student has accepted an employment offer. Students who have received an employment offer but have not yet accepted it must keep all scheduled interview appointments.

On-campus interviewers receive their confirmed schedules at least two business days in advance. A student who has accepted an employment offer and wants to cancel a first-round interview must make the request by 12 noon, two business days prior to the scheduled on-campus interview. If any situations arise that require clarification, the student should contact the CDO immediately.

A student who accepts an employment offer and needs to cancel future on-campus interviews should adhere to the following steps:

1. The CDO should be informed of the cancellation request. To advise the CDO of an interview cancellation request, an e-mail should be sent to som.cdo@yale.edu with the following subject line: Interview Cancellation Request/Interview Date. The e-mail message should include student’s full name, contact number, and the names of the companies involved.
2. If the firm has already received its final interview schedule from the CDO, a formal note of apology should be sent to the firms with which an interview is scheduled (the student should verify the schedule status with the appropriate CDO relationship manager).
3. The student should complete a job status form online through M.B.A. Career Profile.

RESPONDING TO JOB OFFERS

The student’s acceptance or rejection of an employment offer is to be communicated on or before the date requested by the employer. If additional time is required to consider an employer’s offer, it is essential to notify the person who extended the offer as soon as possible and prior to the acceptance deadline. It is not acceptable to allow a job offer to expire; students are expected to contact employers directly to reject an offer. Students should also seek guidance and counsel from the CDO.

ACCEPTING AN OFFER

Accepting an internship or full-time position is considered a serious commitment. Upon accepting an employment offer, students are expected to immediately withdraw from the interviewing process (both on- and off-campus) and to promptly notify other employers actively considering them for jobs that they are no longer available for consideration.

RENEGING ON AN OFFER

SOM does not tolerate reneging on job offers. Once a student has accepted an offer—orally or in writing—it is binding. If the student reneges on an offer (i.e., decides to reverse a decision), that student will forfeit the right to participate in full-time recruiting and all future career services typically offered to SOM alumni/ae. This is an unacceptable practice that will severely damage SOM’s reputation with companies and alumni/ae.

REPORTING PLACEMENT INFORMATION

When a student receives or accepts a job offer, the information should be reported to the CDO by completing an online placement record in M.B.A. Career Profile. Employment offer and acceptance information is vital to tracking the student’s success and that of the student body as a whole. It also helps the CDO identify students who may need additional support. All offer information (including salary data) is kept strictly confidential and reported only in aggregate.

Policies on the Use of Information Technology Facilities

The Information Technology Group (SOM-IT) at Yale SOM is committed to providing reliable technology and solutions to facilitate the academic and administrative needs of the School. All users of SOM computing and networking services, including those provided by Yale University, are expected to read and abide by the Yale Information Technology Appropriate Use Policies (www.yale.edu/its/policy). Further, in order for SOM-IT to provide the highest level of service, members of the SOM community are expected to be aware of and comply with the following additional policies:

Student hardware There is a mandatory laptop requirement for M.B.A. students. To provide the highest level of customer service and ensure optimal compatibility with SOM equipment, a standard architecture for student hardware and software exists. SOM-IT offers a laptop at a negotiated group discount. Information on these requirements is mailed to incoming students; copies are available from SOM-IT. The selected hardware is tested with the multimedia presentation equipment and network services to ensure compliance.

User rights Users have the right to free inquiry and expression, reasonable confidentiality, and due process in cases of discipline resulting from rules violations.

User responsibilities

• Legal responsibilities All use of SOM-IT facilities is subject to federal, state, and local law, and to University regulations. Users must observe intellectual property rights, in particular the software copyright law. All use of SOM computers and networks must be consistent with all contractual obligations of the University.
• Security responsibilities Users must not make or attempt any deliberate, unauthorized access to, or changes in, data in an SOM facility, for example, to read personal communications of other users or to access confidential University files. Users must not defeat or attempt to defeat the SOM-IT security systems, such as “cracking” or guessing user identifications or passwords, or compromising room locks or alarm systems. Users must not intercept or attempt to intercept data communications not intended for that user’s access, for example, by “promiscuous” bus monitoring or wiretapping.
• Denial of service Users must not deny or interfere with, or attempt to deny or interfere with, service to other users, e.g. by means of “resource hogging,” distribution of computer worms or viruses, etc.
• Personal responsibility Users are responsible for the security of their SOM-IT accounts and passwords. Accounts and passwords are normally assigned to single users and are not to be shared with any other person without SOM-IT authorization. Users are expected to report any observations of attempted security violations.

General responsibilities

• Proper authorization Users must have authorization to use any SOM-IT facility. Users must not permit or assist any unauthorized person to access the SOM-IT facilities.
• External data networks Users must observe all applicable policies of external data networks when using such networks.
• Personal identification Users of SOM-IT microcomputers, workstations, printers, or other public facilities must show University identification upon request.
• Access to data Users must allow SOM-IT personnel access to data files kept on the SOM-IT systems for the purpose of systems backups or diagnosing systems problems, including rules violations.
• For-profit use Without specific authorization, all activities using SOM-IT facilities for personal profit or for the direct financial benefit of any non-Yale organization are prohibited.
• Threats and harassment SOM-IT facilities must not be used to threaten or harass any person.
• Modification of data or equipment Without specific authorization, users of SOM-IT computing or network facilities must not cause, permit, or attempt any destruction or modification of data or computing or communications equipment, including alteration of data, reconfiguration of control switches or parameters, or changes in firmware.
• Removal of equipment or documents Without specific authorization by the owner or designated administrator, users must not remove any SOM-IT-owned or -administered equipment or documents from an SOM-IT facility.
• Foreign devices Without specific authorization, users must not physically or electrically attach any foreign device (such as an external disk, printer, or video system) to SOM-IT equipment.
• Responsibility for account Users are presumed to be responsible for any activity carried out through their SOM-IT accounts.
• Reports of violations Users must report any evidence of violation of these rules to appropriate SOM-IT personnel and other University authorities. Users must not conceal or help to conceal or “cover up” violations by any party.
• Privacy considerations Data storage and communications are not perfectly secure. There are software and physical limitations that can compromise security. SOM-IT tries to minimize such exposures, but risks exist.
• Enforcement procedures Any actual or suspected violation of the rules listed above should be brought to the attention of the director of the SOM Information Technology Group.

Policy on the Use of the University and School Names and Logos

The Yale University and Yale School of Management names, logotypes, and seals (in all formats) are protected by copyright law. Further, it is of great importance that faculty, students, and staff representing SOM use the School’s established graphic standards. Any use of the name or logotype in the title or caption of a publication or organization; any use of the above-mentioned on stationery or business cards; or their use on any item or product to be distributed or sold by an individual or an organization, must be approved by the SOM Office of Communications and by the Office of the Secretary of Yale University under such requirements and restrictions as those offices may impose. For further information, contact the Yale School of Management Office of Communications (121 Whitney Avenue) at 203.432.6009.

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