Executive MHA Program Policies and Procedures Table of Contents

Transcription

1 Executive MHA Program Policies and Procedures Table of Contents Table of Contents... 1 Registration Information... 2 Degree Request Process... 7 Student Advising in the Health Services Administration Program... 9 Graduate Non-Matriculated/Non-Matriculated Student Policies Grading Policy Maintaining Good Academic Progress Missing Class Policy Course Waiver and Substitution Policy

2 Registration Information Process Overview for Registration and Tuition Payment Registration: MHA Program Courses Because the MHA Program is fee-based rather than state-supported, students register for classes via registration forms generated by UW PCE (Professional & Continuing Education) and not through MyUW. Registration forms will typically be posted to the Resource Access Point four to six weeks in advance of each quarter. An notice will be sent to students as soon as the forms are available. The registration process is as follows. 1. Access the relevant 1 st or 2 nd year cohort form. 2. Complete the registration form. 3. Complete additional documentation, if not paying by check or credit card, for payment of course fees at time of registration (see Payment & Financial Aid information below). 4. Submit the registration form, with payment or payment documentation, directly to the PCE Registration office as indicated on the form (fax, phone, , in person, or mail). Registration forms are due to PCE the day before the quarter starts. It is strongly recommended that you register as early as possible to avoid (or troubleshoot) problems that could lead to delayed financial aid disbursement and/or late fees. Late fees begin the first day of the quarter MHA Recommended Submission Date * PCE Registration Due Date (day before quarter starts) Autumn Quarter September 9 September 24 Winter Quarter December 16 January 5 Spring Quarter March 17 March 30 Summer Quarter June 9 June 22 * If you intend to register for electives, we encourage you to register as soon as possible after receiving registration forms each quarter. Payment & Financial Aid Registration forms informally double as a quarterly invoice. A separate tuition bill will not be sent. (Exception: An invoice will be sent to third-party/employer payers, after receipt of the registration form.) You will be able to access all registration and payment forms from the MHA Program website. Payment (or proof of pending payment by a third-party payer or financial aid) is due at the time of registration. Registration forms will not be processed without this. 2

3 A late fee of $25 is assessed beginning the first day of the quarter and $75 after the tenth day of the quarter. Additional late or change fees may apply. See the relevant Credit Course Important Dates on the PCE website at $25 Late Fee Begins $75 Late Fee Begins Autumn Quarter September 24 October 9 Winter Quarter January 6 January 20 Spring Quarter March 31 April 14 Summer Quarter June 23 July 7 Financial Aid Recipients: A PCE Payment Agreement form is available for financial aid recipients. o Students receiving financial aid through the UW Student Financial Aid Office must pay PCE in full within one week after the financial aid has been disbursed (if there is a remaining balance on your account after financial aid has been disbursed). Third-Party Payer: If you have arranged for payment through a third party (your employer), a separate document (signed purchase order or letter of authorization to bill) must accompany your registration form. Third-party payer is an acceptable payment option; however, you will be held responsible for tuition and fees if payment is not received. Payment can be made to PCE by check, credit card, or proof of third-party payer or financial aid. There are no credit card processing fees for students. A Transaction Summary (i.e. receipt) is mailed by PCE to each student once registration is transacted. PCE follows UW refund / withdrawal polices. Please notify both the program and PCE, in writing, if you are requesting withdrawal from a course or for the entire quarter. The policy and process are outlined at The quarterly deadlines are outlined at Paying Non-Course Fees Non-course fees must be paid directly through your general UW student account rather than through PCE and can be accessed by logging into MyUW. These include fees for the Universal U-PASS and technology fees, as an example. 3

4 Checking Your Registration Go to MyUW at Find the Class Schedule box. This will be on either the MyFrontPage or Academics tab. Courses you are registered for will appear in the Class Schedule box. They may appear lower in the box under UW Professional & Continuing Education Courses. [Note: It may be several days after submission of your registration form(s) to PCE before courses appear in MyUW. If they do not appear after one week, contact PCE to clarify the status of your registration. See contact information below.] Checking Your Tuition Balance Go to MyUW at The Student Finances tab will not show remaining balances. Check Class Schedule for Tuition Account Balances in BOTH UW and PCE. Checking Your Financial Aid Status Go to MyUW at Click on the Student Finances tab on the left navigation column. Look for the Financial Aid box for information about Financial Aid. Direct Questions as Follows: The Program will maintain information regarding tuition and fees, as well as registration and payment processes and forms, on its website. Contact the MHA office for general questions regarding quarterly course requirements and registration or ). Questions specific to transacting registration or payment, including questions about thirdparty payer, can be addressed to PCE Registration at or Financial aid questions should be address to the Office of Student Financial Aid at or Be sure to inform the financial aid advisor of your fee- based degree status. Review registrations and remaining tuition balance in MyUW ( 4

5 Course Materials We make every attempt to provide a summary of required course materials to students two weeks prior to the start of each quarter. If specific readings/assignments are required prior to the first in-class session of each quarter, individual course faculty are expected to communicate assignments to students and provide the materials. If students have questions about the courses (i.e., syllabi, assignments, etc.), they are encouraged to contact the instructors directly. Course Syllabi Course syllabi will be posted on the course web sites as soon as they become available. If possible they will be posted before the quarter begins. The course web sites can be accessed through Canvas. You may also contact your instructor(s) to request syllabi via . Textbooks Many courses require one or more textbooks. They can be obtained in any of the following ways: 1. Students may order textbooks through various online/internet sources (such as Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble). To order online you will need to know the book s title, edition, and author(s) name(s). This information will be provided in the course syllabus. 2. Textbooks are made available at the South Campus Center (SCC) University Bookstore ( ) located behind the Health Sciences Center. It is a good idea to contact the Bookstore in advance to confirm textbook availability; shelves are stocked quarterly. Course Reading Packets (CoursePaks) Some courses have a reading packet that contains a collection of required readings (articles, etc.), which have been duplicated for your convenience. The cost and number of packets vary from quarter to quarter. Course reading packets may be purchased from the South Campus Center University Bookstore. Electronic Reserves and Online Resources Electronic reserves (E-reserves) and online journal articles are often used as supplements to reading packs and textbooks. You may access electronic reserve materials via the internet from public workstations in the UW Libraries, the Health Sciences Library Microlab, any UW Computer Lab, from home, or from any other internet-connected computer. For further information and troubleshooting tips, see the e-reserves section below or the Health Sciences Library Course Reserve Information page. Many online journals have access restrictions which require that you connect to them via a UW computer. This can be achieved by using a computer on campus or off campus, using these instructions. 5

6 Course e-reserves (readings held on reserve, electronically, at the Health Sciences Library) usually contain scanned articles or book chapters that you can access online in Adobe PDF format. After the readings have been placed on e-reserve, you can access them two ways: 1. Through the course web site. If there are e-reserves, they may be linked directly to the Canvas course web site. 2. Through the Health Sciences Library web site. If the course web site is not yet available, go to the Course Reserves page and searching by course number or instructor. The course number should include prefix, number, and section letters, if known (e.g., HSMGMT 560, HSERV 590A, etc.). Click on the link in the table that says, "+LIST OF ELECTRONIC RESERVE MATERIALS." You will see a screen with a link that says, "Connect to this title online; UW restricted." Click on this, and you will be prompted to login using your UW NetID and password. You will be asked to agree to a copyright notice (click the "accept" button), then you will see a list of titles of articles and/or book chapters on reserve, along with a link to the course web site. Click on the article or chapter you wish to read. You can then view the article. 6

7 Degree Request Process Request for Master's Degree To receive the Master of Health Administration degree upon successful completion of all degree requirements, students must submit a Master's Degree Request. The degree request should be submitted (online) within the designated time frame during the quarter in which students expect to complete their course work. Registration must be maintained through the end of the quarter in which the degree is conferred. Please review the Graduate School's Master's Degree Request web page to learn more about this process. Deadlines and Penalties Submission deadlines are typically posted on the Graduate School's Master's Degree Request web page one quarter in advance. See also the Registration Waiver Fee information. Please note: students with prior incompletes (i.e., courses yet to be graded and recorded on their transcripts) must complete the relevant course work by or within their final quarter of the program. Otherwise, they will be required to register (even if all other degree requirements are met) during the quarter in which they complete their incompletes. If you are not sure if this applies to you, please contact the MHA Program Manager. Degree Requirements Information regarding Graduate School degree requirements can be found at Master's Degree: Summary of Requirements. While the core elements of the MHA and EMHA curriculum and degree requirements will remain substantially unchanged, the program structure is flexible and will continue to evolve to appropriately meet the needs of the students and the changing health care environment. The curriculum requirements for students/cohorts entering the MHA or EMHA program or concurrent degree programs within a given year, are outlined on the website. If course scheduling or content changes have been made since posting of the original set of curriculum requirements, advising and requirements will communicated directly to the students (via program ). In the event of a change, if the student has already met the original course requirement for a particular area of the curriculum, the requirement is considered fulfilled. However, additional recommendations may be made. If the course content in question has not been completed, the new course(s) will be required. Exceptions may be made in the event that the student s continued schedule is not able to accommodate the new requirements. Exceptions must be approved by the student s faculty advisor, and ultimately the Program Director. Written approval should be forwarded to the Program Manager for the student s file. 7

8 Although a minimum credit count of 76 (as of 2013 admission) is required to complete the MHA degree (68 for the EMHA), the Program views the outlined (approved) course/content, rather than the specific credit counts for each course/content, to meet the curriculum requirement. Thus, if a student s cumulative credits are slightly reduced from what was originally anticipated, as the result of taking a newly required course(s) or the removal of a previously required course, his/her graduation request will still be approved if the specific course/content requirements have been approved and satisfactorily completed. UW Commencement Exercises If you are interested in participating in the formal UW Commencement Exercises, information regarding registration, tickets, attire, parking, etc., is available at Commencement. Each year, commencement participation is available to those registrants who graduate during summer quarter of the current academic year through summer quarter of the next year (i.e., June 2013 commencement is available to those who graduate/will graduate summer 2012-summer 2013). 8

9 Student Advising in the Health Services Administration Program Introduction The Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) programs offer various types of advising support to current students. The overall goal of this advising is to assist students in defining and reaching their academic and professional goals during their course of study and to provide perspectives that complement the learning achieved through the curriculum. We have grouped these efforts into three broad categories: academic advising, professional development, and leadership & strategic thinking. In addition to these efforts, student progress is monitored by the Student Progress Committee and tracked in Advising Records. Academic Advising Each incoming MHA student is assigned to a faculty advisor, who provides guidance at regular intervals throughout the student s two years in the program. The minimum frequency of meetings is once per quarter. The advisor and student establish advising objectives, decide on advising topics, and schedule meetings. Advising topics may include course selection, internship applications, independent study considerations, and career development choices. Academic advising is a two-way relationship between the advisor and the student, and both people have responsibilities that ensure successful outcomes. Each advisor is responsible for understanding the structure and content of the total MHA curriculum including course requirements, course sequencing, potential course substitutions, and potential areas of concentration (i.e., graduate certificate and concurrent degree options). Students are responsible for communicating their interests and concerns to their advisor and proactively engaging in the process of scheduling meetings and following up on action items. EMHA students will work directly with the Professional Development Specialist to identify advising needs, and faculty advisors will be assigned as appropriate. Students are not required to meet with a faculty advisor, but are encouraged to establish and maintain a relationship with a faculty member who shares their professional interests. Faculty advisors each have special areas of expertise within health administration and management; therefore one faculty advisor may refer a student to another one for additional advice on a particular topic or decision. Professional Development Professional Development Specialist The MHA and EMHA programs each have a dedicated Professional Development Specialist who provides advising on matters such as the mentor program, internships, the Capstone project, skill development, 9

10 networking, and fellowship applications, as appropriate. Generally this guidance is offered in the form of information sessions for groups, skill-building workshops, speakers, and individual advising sessions. Moreover, these advisors provide information on logistical matters such as requesting course waivers, registering for courses outside of the program, adding and dropping courses, understanding policies and procedures, and ensuring timely degree completion. Beyond attending scheduled events, current students can make an appointment with their respective Professional Development Specialist to seek additional input and advice. The Health Services Administration (MHA and EMHA) Mentor Programs The MHA Mentor Program provides a clear pathway for current students to bridge the theoretical aspects of their learning with the applied, practical world of health care management. Entering students select a mentor from interested and supportive members of the administrative health care or business community. Mentors offer guidance during the students' academic experience. The EMHA program assists students in connecting with prospective mentors and providing professional networking opportunities. The Professional Development Specialist works with Program faculty to identify appropriate professional and alumni contacts who will support students in their career advancement goals. The scope of the mentor and student relationship varies based on individual student interests. The personal and professional relationships that grow out of this program have the potential to become central to the MHA and EMHA student experience and increase the mentor s interaction with the Health Services Administration Program. Leadership & Strategic Thinking Through a close collaboration with the Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking (CLST) within the UW s Foster School of Business, the MHA and EMHA first-year curriculum offers an integrated series of leadership development activities designed to train students to be high performance leaders who make an impact on the healthcare management field. These activities include one-on-one coaching and group advising conducted by CLST trainers as well as competency assessments conducted periodically. Student Progress Committee The Student Progress Committee is designed to monitor individual student progress on a quarterly basis and ensures adequate transfer of relevant information among instructors and the Director, Graduate Program in Health Services Administration. This committee does not provide direct advising to students, but its efforts complement the academic advising, professional development, and leadership & strategic thinking activities that involve direct interaction with students. Since the committee meeting discussions rely on first-hand knowledge of student performance in the instructional context, instructors teaching in the current academic year are considered de facto members of the committee. The Program Director and Professional Development Specialists are permanent members. Issues requiring follow up are 10

11 communicated to the individual student s faculty advisor or the relevant Professional Development Specialist for further communication. Advising Records Any event that is deemed relevant to a student s academic progress or status is noted and/or filed in the student s electronic record. Concise summaries, related files, and other documentation are placed in the student s folder in the program s network drive. Information in these records is used as the basis of further advising when necessary and is subject to the University of Washington General Records Retention Schedule. The majority of student records are purged six years after a student s last activity in the program (i.e., normally graduation). 11

12 Graduate Non-Matriculated/Non-Matriculated Student Policies UW MHA Program GNM Policies and Procedures The UW MHA Program welcomes Graduate Non-matriculated (GNM) applications from candidates who have the goal of applying to the MHA Program and show promise for admission. Taking classes as a GNM student is an opportunity to experience the MHA Program and some of its faculty. It does not guarantee admission into the MHA Program and can be of benefit or detriment to a future MHA application depending on the impression the student makes in the classroom. Policies: The Program allows no more than two (2) GNM students per year, subject to space availability. GNM students are required to submit a plan for the year. GNM students are permitted to take a maximum of four (4) MHA Program courses totaling no more than 12 credits. GNM students are required to pay the prevailing MHA course tuition and fees, within the student s applicable residency category, in effect at the time of registration. See the Costs & Financial Aid section of the site for current rate information. GNM students are not eligible for the career development components of the MHA Program, including but not limited to internships, mentorships, advising by the career development counselor, etc. GNM students interested in pursuing an MHA degree o must apply for admission during the applicable regular application cycle for the degree. o can only apply to the program once. o will not be permitted to take additional GNM classes if their application to the MHA is denied unless specifically directed to do so by the Program. GNM students who subsequently matriculate into the MHA Program o may apply to waive courses for which they received a grade of 3.5 or higher. o may be required to repeat some of the GNM classes as a matriculated student even if a grade of 3.5 or higher was earned if there is a gap of more than one year between the completion of GNM classes and enrollment in the MHA Program. The decision is made at the discretion of the Program and will be based upon the amount of time passed since the course was taken, whether the course content has changed significantly since the course was taken, and the student s performance in the course. o will be required to pay for registration in all courses they are required to repeat but may petition the Program to waive registration for up to four (4) total credits. 12

13 o may be asked to substitute relevant electives for any credits waived. The decision is made at the discretion of the Program and will be based upon the amount of time passed since the course was taken, whether the course content has changed significantly since the course was taken, and the student s performance in the course. Applicable Courses: The following courses are eligible to be taken while in GNM status, providing the GNM student has obtained instructor approval and space is available in the classroom. Autumn: HSERV 511 (4 cr) Introduction to Health Services and Public Health HSMGMT 579 (4 cr) Accounting for Managers HSERV 551 (2 cr) Health Law HSERV 552 (3 cr) Health Policy Development Winter: HSMGMT 514 (3 cr) Health Economics HSMGMT 570 (3 cr) Quantitative Methods HSMGMT 571 (4 cr) Health Care Financial Management (accounting prerequisite) Spring: HSMGMT 578 (2 cr) Project Management HSMGMT 577 (2 cr) Environment of Care HSMGMT 523 (3 cr) Informatics in Health Care Management Process: GNM applicants must submit the following items to the MHA Program: GNM application Unofficial transcripts Resume If granted admission, the GNM student must complete an approval form and a registration form, both of which must be reviewed by the MHA Program before final submission. The GNM application and forms are available at: The GNM student will be required to obtain add codes to register for courses. It is the responsibility of the GNM student to seek and obtain help from Program staff if assistance is needed with the registration process or any other matters related to GNM status. Non-matriculated Student Policy See Department of Health Services 13

14 Grading Policy Grades will be assigned quarterly for each course. The University sets the minimum grade point requirement for a single course at 2.7 for graduate credit; and the minimum grade point average for degree completion/graduation at 3.0. For more information read the description of the Graduate School s grading system and the Department of Health Services grading guidelines, and the MHA Program's Policies on Academic Progress (below). Maintaining Good Academic Progress Students admitted to the MHA Program may continue to enroll in the program only if they maintain satisfactory performance and progress toward completion of their graduate degree as defined below. The MHA Program curriculum is a two-year sequence in which students must maintain good academic progress. Various cases in which the requirements are not met, and general guidelines to remediation of failure to meet requirements, are discussed below in detail. The recommended timeline sets forth a calendar for completing the required coursework and other major requirements for the MHA degree. Executive MHA Curriculum Schedule Academic Progress Good academic progress in the curriculum follows the policies of the University of Washington Graduate School: 1. a student must earn a 2.7 or higher to receive course credit toward the degree, and 2. a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to earn a graduate degree. Students may continue graduate study at the University of Washington only as long as they maintain satisfactory performance and progress toward completion of their graduate degree program. Failure to Maintain Good Progress Failure to maintain the requirements of the program may result in a range of actions by the Student Evaluation Committee appropriate to the seriousness of the problem. These include: placing a student on Warn Status placing a student on Probation placing a student on Final Probation 14

15 recommending to The Graduate School that the student be terminated from the program. See Failure to Meet Requirements for more policies and procedures concerning these actions. Failure to Meet Requirements The following describes circumstances under which students status in the MHA program may change, along with the most common progress of actions taken: Circumstance MHA Program Action UW Graduate School Action The student receives a course grade lower than 2.7. The student's grade point average (GPA) in a single academic quarter is below 3.0, but his or her cumulative GPA is above 3.0. The student s cumulative GPA is below 3.0 (first incident of failure to meet minimum standards student has never been placed on Warn Status before). The student s cumulative GPA is below 3.0 (second incident of failure to meet minimum standards, for cases where the student has been on Warn Status previously for other reasons). The student s cumulative GPA has been below 3.0 for two quarters. The student s cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 after one quarter of final probation The student receives individual course grades of for nine credit hours or of for 17 credit hours during any consecutive 12-month period. The student is sent a reminder of the minimum course grade requirement and a notice of the need to repeat the course or take additional credits. The student is placed on Warn Status by the MHA Program. The student is sent a reminder of the need to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. The student is placed on Warn Status. The student is placed on Warn Status by the MHA Program and sent a reminder about minimum grade requirements. The student is placed on Probation with the MHA Program. The student is placed on Final Probation with the MHA Program. The student is disqualified as a candidate for the MHA degree and dropped from the program. The student is disqualified as a candidate for the MHA degree and dropped from the program. The student will not be allowed to The UW Graduate School takes no action. Warn Status does not appear on the student s permanent record. The UW Graduate School takes no action. Warn Status does not appear on the student s permanent record. The UW Graduate School takes no action. Warn Status does not appear on the student s permanent record. The student is placed on Probation with the UW Graduate School. The student is placed on Final Probation with the UW Graduate School. The student is dropped from the UW Graduate School. First Engagement of Policy Action for a Student s Failure to Meet Requirements When a student fails to meet minimum progress in a course for the first time, the student will be reviewed by the Student Progress Committee (SPC) of the MHA Program and may be issued a warning. o A student placed on warn status is reviewed by the SPC again the following quarter. 15

16 o o Warnings issued during Spring Quarter may be reviewed again during Autumn Quarter rather than Summer. See Maintaining Good Academic Progress (page 1) for minimum progress criteria. A student placed on Warn Status may petition the SPC for o Permission to go On Leave for a specified period not to exceed one year o Continuation of warn status o Restoration of good standing status Possible decisions of the Student Progress Committee: o If the SPC decides the student has regained minimum progress when reviewed the following quarter, the student will be restored to good standing. o If there are extenuating circumstances, the SPC may grant permission for the student to go On Leave or to continue the Warn Status. o If the Warn Status is continued, the case will be reviewed again the next quarter following (i.e. during the second quarter following the original warning). o The SPC may recommend to The Graduate School that the student be placed on probation: If the student has not regained minimum progress after two quarters If the circumstances do not warrant permission to go On Leave or to continue Warn Status Subsequent Engagement of Policy Action for a Student s Failure to Meet Requirements: If a student falls behind minimum progress a second time after having regained minimum progress following the first occurrence: o The same procedure as used for the first occurrence will be followed. o The SPC can be expected to be less inclined to extend the warning and probation status beyond one quarter for each. A third failure to maintain minimum progress: o May result in the imposition of probation status without a Warn Status immediately preceding it o The probation status may not be extended more than one quarter prior to the imposition of final probation if minimum progress has not been regained. Probation Academic probation is essentially a formal warning to the student that he or she must show improvement in order to remain at the University. The case of each student placed on probation will be reviewed during each quarter the probation is in effect (except Summer Quarter). Possible decisions of the SPC: o When the student has regained minimum progress, the SPC will ordinarily recommend to The Graduate School the probationary status be removed. 16

17 o See Maintaining Good Academic Progress (page 1) for minimum progress criteria. If the student has not regained minimum progress at the time of the first review after placement on probation, the SPC may recommend: Continuation of the probation status (the ordinary action if the expectation is that the student will achieve minimum progress during the quarter immediately following) The status of Final Probation Final Probation Ordinarily, if a student on final probation has not regained minimum progress by the end of the quarter immediately following: o The SPC will recommend termination from the program. o The Committee may recommend a continuation of the final probation status if circumstances warrant. Additional Policies and Expectations: Grades: The MHA Program follows the Department of Health Services grading guidelines at Grades within the range below a 2.7 (not defined within Department policy) are allocated at the instructor s discretion based upon overall course performance. Incompletes (I) o In alignment with the University s Student Governance Policies ( an incomplete shall be given only when the student has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work in all other matters up to within two weeks of the end of the quarter and has furnished proof satisfactory to the instructor that the work cannot be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the student s control. A written statement of the reason for the giving of the Incomplete, listing the work the student will need to do to remove it, must be filed by the instructor with the MHA Program Director. o In order to obtain credit for the course, a student must convert an Incomplete into a passing grade by the last day of the following quarter. An Incomplete grade not made up by the end of the next quarter shall be converted to the grade of 0.0 (E). o A student may petition to have the incomplete extended up to one year with the approval of the instructor, the MHA Program Director, and the Department Chair. It is understood that approval would be granted only in the case of dire circumstances. Student s Responsibilities: 17

18 Retain copies of all graded work through the duration of their time in the program and produce the graded evidence of their work (with faculty comment) for Program review upon request. Retake all classes for which they received a failing grade (lower than 2.7). Program Will: Pay prevailing applicable tuition for all classes they are required to retake due to unsatisfactory progress. Provide regular feedback on the academic work of all students. This includes commenting on written papers rather than simply assigning a grade. Review student grade reports relative to academic standards on a quarterly basis. Convene a Student Progress Committee to meet immediately following any quarter for which a student has failed to make satisfactory progress. o The SPC will be comprised of the Program Director, the faculty whose course(s) was failed, the Program Manager, and the Career Development and Student Services Specialist, at minimum. Other faculty or program staff may be invited to participate as appropriate, at the discretion of the Program Director. o Per University Student Governance Policies ( in carrying out a review of a graduate student s status, the SPC will consider his or her whole situation. In addition to grade reports, the SPC will consider performance in formal course work and in seminars, research progress and achievements (if applicable), and performance and prospects in all other significant ways. Send a letter notifying students of their unsatisfactory progress and instructing them as to next steps and expectations. Designate a faculty mentor to work with the student. Direct the student to campus counseling or other resources, when appropriate and/or possible. Related Graduate School Memoranda Memorandum No. 16 outlines the Graduate School 's policy on Continuation or Termination of Students For more details regarding the appeals process, see the guidelines in Memorandum 33: Memorandum No. 33 outlines the Academic Grievance Procedure 18

19 Missing Class Policy If you miss a class session (or know in advance that you will miss a class session), be sure to contact the course instructor in order to make up any missed assignments or lecture materials, and to collect session handouts. If you know you will miss a significant portion of the in-class sessions for a specific course, you may need to make alternative arrangements or reschedule the quarter/year that you take the course. Discuss this with the instructor and your program advisor. 19

20 Course Waiver and Substitution Policy The terms, conditions, and procedures in this policy statement apply to students who wish to request a waiver or substitution of specific course requirements in the Master of Health Administration (MHA) curriculum, including the in-residence and executive programs. Final decisions will be made by the relevant Program Director. Approved course waivers and substitutions remove the necessity to complete specific courses and may result in a reduction of total credits required for degree completion. Basis for Requests The primary basis for submitting a waiver request is completion of prior equivalent coursework. Waiver requests based on work experience may also be considered. The primary basis for submitting a course substitution request is conflicting academic goals and/or schedules. Considerations and Restrictions Course Waivers The following courses cannot be waived: o HSMGMT 505 o HSMGMT 510 o HSMGMT 523 o HSMGMT 545 o HSMGMT 552 o HSMGMT 562 o HSMGMT 567 o HSMGMT 571 o HSMGMT 574 o HSMGMT 592 Program Credit Waiver Maximum - A maximum of six (6) credits of required coursework may be waived over the two-year duration of the program. Courses waived for CPMM students do not count toward this maximum (see Certificate Program Coursework section below). Class Attendance and Participation - Waivers may be given to students on the basis of prior coursework or work experience, but the team-based learning environment of the curriculum is critical to individual and team competency development. Therefore: o EHMA students receiving approved waivers will still be expected to participate in the classroom and team experiences throughout the quarter. o EHMA students receiving exemptions due to prior CPMM coursework are expected to attend class and participate in the team experiences. These students should coordinate with classmates and the instructor to clarify attendance and participation expectations. 20

21 o In-residence students should work with their advisor and/or Professional Development Specialist to determine a course of action regarding class attendance of waived and/or substituted courses. Form Submission - Students are free to discuss the request with their instructor or faculty advisor; however, the review process does not begin until the waiver request form and documentation have been submitted. Final Decision - Students should not assume a request is approved until the final decision is made by their Program Director. Students may appeal decisions to the MHA Program Director by sending an to mhap@uw.edu within ten (10) days of the Director s decision. Prior Coursework Requirements - Coursework serving as the basis for a waiver request must meet all of the following requirements: o Senior level undergraduate or graduate level course (i.e., 400-level or higher) o Equivalent or greater credit load to the course the student hopes to waive o Equivalent content to the course the student hopes to waive o Grade received must be 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale Course Waiver Request Procedure Review Course Syllabus - Students interested in exploring the feasibility of a course waiver should obtain a copy of the syllabus from the instructor to ensure they are making an appropriate waiver request. Students are encouraged to speak with the instructor about prior coursework or professional experience, but this dialogue does not constitute a waiver request or approval; the purpose is to ensure the proposed waiver request is appropriate. Prepare Documentation - Students pursuing a course waiver based on prior coursework will be expected to provide documentation (i.e., transcripts, syllabi, course descriptions, etc.). Note that students pursuing a course waiver based on work experience in lieu of coursework will be expected to take a proficiency exam demonstrating mastery of relevant course content and academic rigor. In some cases documentation (i.e., professional projects, job description, deliverables, etc.) and an exam will be required. Submit Form - Students who opt to proceed with the course waiver must complete and submit the Course Waiver or Substitution Request Form online. Send all supporting documentation to mhap@uw.edu. Documentation should include: o A list of course objectives identified in the syllabus, explaining how coursework or professional experience meets these objectives. o A copy of the course syllabus/syllabi (if relevant). See Prior Coursework Requirements for additional criteria. o Copies of professional projects (if relevant). All materials must be submitted at least three (3) weeks prior to the first day of the quarter for which the waiver is desired. Requests received after this deadline will not be considered. 21

22 Await Decision - After form submission, students should direct any follow up questions to their Professional Development Specialist. The appropriate Professional Development Specialist will route the form data and materials to the instructor and Director, who will review the information and recommend waiver approval or a proficiency exam. o The Professional Development Specialist will coordinate the scheduling of the proficiency exam when one is required. o The Professional Development Specialist will notify the student of the Program Director s decision within ten (10) business days of waiver submission. Certificate Program Coursework Waivers EMHA students who have completed and received a grade of 3.5 or higher in Certificate Program in Medical Management (CPMM) courses are automatically exempt from taking equivalent EMHA coursework. CPMM graduates do not need to submit a course waiver form to waive out of the EMHA equivalent coursework. The table below shows which EMHA courses are equivalent to the CPMM courses. CPMM Course Medical Practice Quality Measurement & Management Leadership and Change Management Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations Health Services Financial Management EMHA Course HSMGMT 567 Clinical Systems Management HSMGMT 510 Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management HSMGMT 562 Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations HSMGMT 574 Financial Management I Course Substitution Request Procedure Review Course Syllabus - Students interested in exploring the feasibility of a course substitution should obtain a copy of the syllabus from the instructor to ensure they are making an appropriate request. Students interested in pursuing a course substitution should consult their faculty advisor. Submit Form - To submit a Course Substitution Request, complete and submit the Course Waiver or Substitution Request Form online. o Course substitution requests will only be considered during the second year of the curriculum. Await Decision - The appropriate Professional Development Specialist will route the form data to the instructor and then the relevant Program Director. o The instructor will review the information and recommend substitution approval or denial, and then the Program Director will make the final decision. 22

23 o The Professional Development Specialist will notify the student of the Program Director s decision within ten (10) business days of waiver submission. Considerations Course Substitutions Approved course substitutions will normally be resolved through alternate scheduling and/or coursework in consult with the faculty advisor and the Professional Development Specialist. 23