Hult International Business School MBA and MIB Student Handbook Welcome to Hult International Business School! The Student Handbook serves to assist students in understanding the policies, procedures, and services at Hult International Business School (the school). Students are responsible for becoming familiar with the policies and procedures described in this publication. Any questions should be directed to the offices of the Registrar and/or the Academic Dean. Every effort has been made to ensure that the Student Handbook is accurate upon publication. As policies pertaining to academic, financial, and other matters are regularly reviewed, it may become necessary to make changes to this handbook. The school reserves the right to make changes in its policies and procedures, program curriculum, calendar, tuition fees, refund policy, and degree requirements whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable. Notice of change will be given as is reasonable and practical under the circumstances. Such changes become effective for all students. 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. ABOUT THE HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL 5 A. About the School 5 B. Mission Statement 5 C. Host Country Law Statement 5 II. ACCESS TO RECORDS AND FILES 5 A. Confidentiality of Records 5 B. Transcripts 6 III. GENERAL 6 A. Information Technology Policy 6 B. Financial Aid Policy 7 C. Tuition and Payment Policy 7 D. Statement of Academic Freedom 7 E. Nondiscrimination and Harassment 8 F. Use of Copyrighted Materials 8 G. Copyright 8 H. Career Services 8 I. Hazing 9 IV. DAILY OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES 9 A. English Only Policy 9 B. Team Room and Equipment Reservation System 9 V. MBA and MIB PROGRAMS 10 A. Admissions Policy 10 B. Instruction and Course Information 11 i. Experiential Learning 12 ii. Curriculum 12 1. MBA Curriculum Overview 12 2. Part Time MBA Curriculum Overview 13 3. MIB Curriculum Overview 14 4. Required Courses 15 5. Elective Courses 15 a. Adding or Dropping a Hult Elective Course 15 b. Auditing Elective Courses 16 c. Directed Study 16 d. Third Elective 17 e. Credit Transfer Policy 17 C. Academic Information 19 i. Grading Procedure 19 1. Grading Standards 19 2. Grade Point Average 19 2
3. Pass/Fail Courses 20 4. Incomplete 20 5. Exemption from Formal Class Work 20 6. Class Participation 20 7. Examinations and Assignments 20 ii. Academic Difficulty and Counseling 21 iii. Academic Probation 21 iv. Academic Appeals Procedure 22 v. Dean s List 22 vi. Graduation with Honors 23 D. Program Requirements 23 i. Attendance 23 ii. Requirements for Continuation to the Next Module of Study 24 1. Entering Module B 24 2. Entering Elective Modules 24 iii. Requirements for Graduation 24 iv. Withdrawal Policy 25 v. Refund Policy 25 vi. Course, Faculty, and Module Evaluations by Students 26 vii. Settlement of Financial & Other Obligations 26 viii. Dismissal from the Program 26 E. Standard of Conduct 26 i. Honor Code 27 ii. Definitions 27 1. Plagiarism 27 2. Cheating 27 iii. Policies & Responsibilities 28 1. Staff & Instructors 28 2. Students 28 iv. Penalties 29 1. Consequences 29 2. Disciplinary Probation 30 F. Grievances and Appeals Procedures 30 3
APPENDICES Page Appendix I Academic Honesty Contract 31 Appendix II Hult Information Technology Policy 32 Appendix III Honor Statement/Certificate of Originality 34 Appendix IV Campus Rotation Program 35 Appendix V Boston Campus Information 37 Appendix VI Dubai Campus Information 40 Appendix VII London Campus Information 43 4
I. ABOUT THE HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL A. About the School Founded in 1964 as the Arthur D. Little School of Management, Hult International Business School has a long history of excellence in education and is now ranked by The Economist as 31st in the world and 16th in the United States. Attracting a truly international student body, Hult offers global undergraduate and graduate programs with world-class faculty and a unique action-learning curriculum in four world class cities - Boston, Dubai, London, and Shanghai. B. Mission Statement Hult International Business School is a global institution that transforms lives by providing an exceptionally useful and enduring education that brings together people, cultures, and ideas from all around the world. The school encourages personal growth, intellectual integrity, global sensitivity, local engagement, and civic values so that students are able to succeed in the global economy and are empowered to contribute meaningfully to their business and community. C. Host Country Law Statement All students are reminded that they are subject to the local laws and regulations of their host country and these laws may differ substantially from the laws in the students home countries. Students who have questions about local policies are advised to contact Student Services, who will be able to provide more information. Students should be aware that they are not above the law and as such, Hult reserves the right to refer matters to the Police and suspend the internal process until such investigations are concluded. Students may additionally be suspended, temporarily or partially excluded from specified Hult facilities, services and/or placement pending the outcome. II. ACCESS TO RECORDS AND FILES A. Confidentiality of Records The school complies with the US Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended. This Act protects the privacy of education records, establishes the right of students to inspect and review their own education records, and provides students the right to file grievances and complaints. The school also complies with the UK Data Protection Act of 1988. This Act protects the privacy of all data subject s records. This means that every student has the right to know the purpose for which their details are being processed, and 5
that the school will not pass on a student s personal information without the student s express permission. Students have the right to inspect their official records and files with certain exceptions, such as certain financial records and recommendations where the right of access has been waived. Student records are kept in the office of the Student Services and can only be reviewed in that office during normal business hours. Should students take exception to anything they find in their files on the grounds that it is misleading, or otherwise inappropriate, they have the right to challenge its inclusion and to seek to have it deleted or corrected. In such cases, students should submit a written request to the Registrar for a joint meeting with the Faculty Operating Committee and any other appropriate person(s) to discuss the matter in question. B. Transcripts In compliance with the US Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, and the Data Protection Act 1988, the school assures the confidentiality of student records. Transcripts and written evaluations of a student s performance will be released only upon the written request of the Student. If a student s sponsor requests periodic evaluation of a student s performance, the Student must submit a written request to the Registrar's Office authorizing release of the information sought. Transcripts will be released provided the Student has made all appropriate tuition payments and fulfilled all other obligations to the School (see Settlement of Financial & Other Obligations, Section IV E). In addition, class academic rankings, as such, are neither calculated nor distributed. III. GENERAL A. Information Technology Policy All students are required to own a personal laptop computer. Upon arrival on campus, students are given a Hult e-mail address, as well as access to desk-top computers, computer networks, and online resources. Use of the Hult e-mail address will be a lifetime privilege provided that the privilege is not abused. (Please see the full Hult Information Technology Policy in Appendix II.) The use of Hult IT resources is a privilege that may be suspended or revoked at any time should a student be found to be in violation of the Hult Information Technology Policy. B. Financial Aid Policy The school s financial aid policy is intended to advance the school s mission to deliver a useful and enduring business education to international professionals. It is based on the following objectives: (1) to promote a nationally, culturally, and 6
ethnically diverse student body, (2) to encourage outstanding applicants to enroll in the Hult Program, (3) to provide financial assistance to qualified applicants in need of such assistance. Consistent with these objectives, the school has set forth the following guidelines for the awarding of scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of financial aid: All such awards should be based on the following criteria: 1. Country of origin to ensure national, cultural, and ethnic diversity 2. Financial need 3. Specialized knowledge, skills, and/or expertise 4. Career goals 5. Entrepreneurial skills 6. Community, public, or national service 7. Evidence of Leadership Professional promise Motivation and drive Overcoming adversity, including disabilities The above factors are not exhaustive. They may be weighed differently. They may not, however, be reduced to a standard formula or ranking. They should be considered in light of the school s admissions criteria, its mission and purpose, and U.S. and UK Equal Opportunity laws. C. Tuition and Payment Policy All tuition and fees must be paid prior to the start of classes unless the Student is enrolled in the installment plan. Any students with past due accounts will be assessed late fees based on the outstanding balance due. Students with a past due account for more than one week will not be able to participate in all classes and events until they have met their financial obligations to Hult. Under UK immigration law the London school must report students that are unable to pay their tuition fees to the immigration authorities, however every effort will be made to help the student settle their fees before this report is made. Please see the campus finance department if you have any questions or contact Hult.Finance@hult.edu. D. Statement of Academic Freedom The school affirms the rights of faculty members and students to academic freedom. Academic freedom is the academic privilege of faculty and students to pursue knowledge, to speak, and to write their own opinions, ideas and philosophy without punishment. All assessments and evaluations of students and faculty are based on legitimate and articulated intellectual and professional criteria, and not on personal, political or religious views, social, national, or cultural backgrounds, or other 7
individual preferences, except as these may demonstrably affect intellectual and professional achievement. E. Nondiscrimination and Harassment The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, or physical disability in admission to, access to, or treatment in its programs and activities. The school strictly prohibits sexual, racial, and other types of harassment of students, staff and faculty. Words, gestures, actions, or other behavior which tends to alarm, intimidate, ridicule, embarrass or insult individuals, or which tends to create a hostile or abusive environment, will not be tolerated and may subject the individual to dismissal from the school. F. Use of Copyrighted Materials Members of the Hult community are expected to be mindful of the limitations and restrictions of copyright law as well as the rights with regard to fair use. Compliance with copyright laws is expected of all members of the Hult community. More information on Copyright and Fair Use guidelines can be accessed through the Registrar s Office. Materials handed out in class or used during the course of the program which are copyrighted including textbooks, articles, reports, working papers, cases, notes, manuals, video tapes, software, films, etc. -- are the intellectual property of the school or other copyright holders. Copying of electronic media (computer programs, video tapes) or films is strictly forbidden. Use or copying of copyrighted material without obtaining proper permission may incur penalties as prescribed by pertinent US laws and/or local regulations. Copying of course-pack material is forbidden and will result in immediate dismissal from the school. G. Copyright The school will hold copyright to any and all materials developed by students alone or in conjunction with faculty when this work is performed as a part of coursework. Authorship will be credited. H. Career Services The school Career Services office provides career development services to students and alumni. Our Career Services team works with each student individually to identify his/ her core strengths and develop an effective job search strategy. Through the Career Management course, students develop skills to enable them to articulate and achieve their career goals, not just upon graduation from the school, but throughout their working life. 8
Career Management topics include Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Setting Job Search Objectives, Interviewing Training, and Reference and Salary Negotiations. Many other skills and topics will be addressed throughout the year. All students are required to take the Career Management classes. Career Services also provides additional recruitment opportunities including networking events, preparation for local, regional and national fairs, and access to on-line career resources. Recruitment activities are available to all job-seeking, self-sponsored participants. Company sponsored participants may participate provided the school receives written permission for their participation from their sponsoring organizations. If a recruitment activity is scheduled to take place during scheduled class time, the student must obtain permission to attend the event from the relevant faculty member and make appropriate arrangements related to the missed work. I. Hazing The school complies with Chapter 536 of the Acts of 1985 of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which require a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and instigators of hazing as defined in MGL.C.269, ss 17 and 18. (Copies of MGL 269.17 and 18, defining Hazing and the penalties imposed, are available in the Registrar's Office.) Any student found to organize or participate in the practice of hazing shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the school, and the school may also take judicial action against individuals or organizations where there is sufficient evidence of hazing. IV. DAILY OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES A. English Only Policy Students at Hult International Business School are asked to speak only English while on campus to increase their mastery of the English language. B. Team Room and Equipment Reservation System Team room, equipment, and classroom space reservation procedures vary by location. Please see the campus-specific appendices for more details. Each team may reserve a room for a four hour maximum to give other teams a chance to use the space. 9
V. MBA and MIB PROGRAMS A. Admissions Policy The admissions policy of the Hult International Business School is intended to assess how an applicant might contribute to, and benefit from an intensive graduate business education in a culturally diverse institutional environment. It reflects a holistic approach to application review based on (1) Basic Admissions Criteria, (2) Primary Personal Factors and (3) Secondary Personal Factors, as set forth below: Basic Admissions Criteria for MBA Program 1. Substantial business experience and satisfactory GMAT score 2. Undergraduate degree 3. Undergraduate transcript 4. Letters of reference 5. English language proficiency 6. Personal Statement (Essay) Primary Personal Factors 1. National origin, ethnicity, gender (to ensure diversity) 2. Career goals 3. Entrepreneurial skills 4. Evidence of a. Leadership b. Professional promise c. Motivation and drive d. Overcoming adversity, including disabilities Secondary Personal Factors 1. Professional certifications 2. Honors and awards 3. Publications 4. Membership in professional or business associations 5. Community or national service 6. Extracurricular activities The above factors are not exhaustive. They may be weighed differently. They may not, however, be reduced to a standard formula or ranking. They should be considered in conjunction with all other admissions criteria and factors, in light of the school s mission and purpose. The admissions policy for the Master of International Business (MIB) is identical to that of the MBA with 3 exceptions: 1. Work experience 10
2. Resume 3. GMAT score --are not required. Students who have a Bachelor s Degree in business will be allowed up to two course waivers. B. Instruction and Course Information i. Experiential Learning The school subscribes to the philosophy that the education of managers is best achieved through experiential, student-centered learning. An important part of experiential learning is the opportunity to exchange ideas and information with one's peers for mutual intellectual stimulation. While this is bound to occur on a formal and informal level both inside and outside of class, we believe that we can enhance students learning experience by strategically structuring study and discussion groups. Thus, the Student follows a learning sequence that starts with individual preparation, continues with small group discussion and class discussion, and concludes with reflection, synthesis and internalization. Faculty members are encouraged to assign individual and group work that complements the learning sequence. Each class is designed to promote the acquisition of the specific skills and knowledge that are essential to succeeding in business. 11
1. MBA Curriculum ii. Curriculum Overview MBA Toolbox Four week preparatory course Module A Foundations International Accounting Finance 1 Marketing Management Global Management Managerial Economics Managerial Decision-Making Module B Integration Finance 2 Strategy Operations Management 0 credits Module C Global Application I (2 electives @ each) Module D - Global Application II (2 electives @ each) Action Learning Project 4 credits Integrated Skills Curriculum (Ongoing throughout Modules A and B) Team Skills Global Citizenship 2 credits Management Communication IT For Business Managers 2 credits Lifetime Career Management 2 credits Consulting for Innovation 1 credit Project Management 1 credit Total Program Credits = 57 12
2. Part Time MBA Curriculum Year One MBA Toolbox Module A International Accounting Finance 1 Marketing Management Module B Operations Management Global Management Management Communication Global Citizenship Lifetime Career Management Module C Choice of One Elective Module D Choice of One Elective Year Two Module A Managerial Economics Managerial Decision-Making IT For Business Managers Module B Finance 2 Strategy Team Skills/Business Execution Consulting for Innovation Project Management Lifetime Career Management Module C Choice of One Elective Module D Choice of One Elective Action Learning Project 0 credits 2 credits 1 credit 2 credits 1 credit 1 credit 1 credit 4 credits Total Program Credits = 57 13
3. MIB Curriculum MIB Toolbox Four week preparatory course Module A Fundamentals International Accounting International Finance International Marketing Global Management Module B Advancement Global Operations Global Strategy IT For Business Project Management Consulting Methods Global Citizenship 0 credits 2 credits 1 credit 1 credit 2 credits Module C Global Application I (2 electives @ each) Module D - Global Application II (1 elective @ ) Capstone: Business Execution Total Program Credits = 36 14
4. Required Courses All courses offered in Modules A and B are required for all students. 5. Elective Courses Elective courses will be offered during Modules C and D. Students must register for minimum of four and a maximum of five total elective courses to reach the required credit total for graduation. Elective courses listed in the catalog are illustrative only, representing offerings from recent years, and will not necessarily be offered in the current year. Course registration will take place one to two months before the start of elective modules C and D. a. Adding or Dropping a Hult Elective Course Students wishing to add or drop a Hult elective course must do so before the third 80-minute session of the course, whether it falls on the same day as the first session, or a subsequent date. Students must maintain two elective courses in each elective module (Modules C and D). So, for example, if the Student is registered for the last course to begin in a given module, he/she may not drop that course if it will bring him/her below the 2 course minimum. At the beginning of the third 80-minute session of the course, all registered students will be included on the official Class Roster. Students may not drop any Hult elective course after that time. If a student chooses not to continue in the course after the drop deadline has passed, a grade of F will be recorded for the course on his/her transcript. Students wishing to drop a course before the drop deadline has passed must complete the drop section of a Hult Elective Course Add/Drop Form and submit to the Registrar s Office to ensure proper documentation on their transcripts (Hult Elective Course Add/Drop form may be obtained online). Once the course has begun, the Instructor s signature will be required. Please note that adding a course is subject to available seats in the course, and at the discretion of the Instructor and Registrar who may determine that a course has already been filled. The Instructor may also decide that he or she will not take any new students at any time due to the amount of material missed. He or she may further decide to provisionally allow a student into a course with instructions to complete additional course work, or with grade adjustments due to missed class time. Students wishing to add an open course before the add deadline has passed must complete the add section of a Hult Elective Course Add/Drop Form and 15
submit the competed form to the Registrar s Office. If the course has begun, the instructor s signature will be required. Add/drop forms will be made available once the regular registration process is complete. b. Petition to Audit Elective Courses In addition to the elective courses taken for academic credit, students may petition to audit one elective course per elective Module (Modules C & D) after successful completion of all course requirements in Modules A and B, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of Module A. Auditing means attending a course for which no credit or grade is given. Audited courses will appear on the Students transcripts with a grade of AUD for Audit and 0 credits, provided that the Student meets all of the Instructor s requirements for participation, as established when the Instructor grants permission to audit. Auditors must obtain the written permission of the course instructor. Completed audit forms must be submitted to the Registrar s Office at least 1 week before the start of the Module. In awarding available seats in a given course, preference will be given to students petitioning to take the course for credit. Should seats remain at the audit deadline, petitions to audit will be considered in order of submission. The awarding of seats is at the discretion of the Registrar. Audit forms will be made available once the regular registration process is complete. c. Directed Study Students may take one directed study in the form of a research project for credit in place of one elective course. This study may be done in either elective Module (C or D), or may take place across both elective Modules to allow for more time (in which case the study will be considered as a Module D course, and the grade will be submitted for Module D). A faculty member must be enlisted to serve as advisor and mentor for the project, to monitor progress and evaluate/grade the final project. The directed study proposal must be drafted and signed by the Student and faculty advisor prior to being submitted to the Dean s Office for final approval. Proposals must be submitted to the Dean at least two weeks before the beginning of the term for which the directed study will be credited. Students may also develop a work-study focused Internships course as registered elective, in accordance with local visa regulations and approval by the Academic 16
Dean. Internships will be coordinated through the office of Career Services, although the school will not be responsible for generating internship opportunities. Students with internship opportunities should inquire with Career Services regarding requirements and procedures at least two weeks prior to the start of the relevant elective period. International students may not begin working at their internship until Student Services verifies their visa status s work authorization. d. Petition to take a Third Elective Course in Module C All students must take a minimum of 2 electives in Module C, and 2 electives in Module D. Students may petition to take a third elective in Module C, provided that there is space available in the course requested, that the Student has successfully completed all requirements for Modules A & B, and that the Student has earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of Module A. This elective will appear on the transcript and be calculated into the overall GPA. Students may petition for an extra elective in Module C only after general elective registration has been completed, giving all students a chance to get into two elective courses. Petitions to take a third elective in Module C must be submitted to the Registrar s Office at least 2 weeks before the start of the Module. No more than two elective courses may be taken in Module D. Third elective request forms will be made available once the regular registration process is complete. e. Credit Transfer Policy Students may take a maximum of six credits at an accredited or equivalent academic institution other than Hult. Courses must have a business focus, and they must present an academic challenge comparable to the required or elective course offerings at Hult. Transfer credit may count towards a Hult degree only if approved by the Academic Dean of the student s home campus. The decision of the Academic Dean, including assessment of the outside academic institution, is final. Students requesting to take elective courses outside of Hult for transfer credit must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of Module A. Transfer credits must be taken at the student s own expense. Students will not receive tuition reimbursements or refunds for courses forgone at Hult due to receiving credits from outside institutions. Each course taken at an outside institution must have a credit value of at least three credits, and will be transferred at a maximum of three credits. Students may transfer a maximum of one elective course in each elective module (Module C & D.) Students must receive a minimum grade of B- in order to receive transfer course credit at Hult, though grades received in transfer credit courses will not be 17
factored into the student s GPA. Grades must be received in the form of an official transcript from the school at which the course was taken. It is the responsibility of the student to have an official transcript sent directly to the Hult registrar at the student's home campus. All requests for transfer credit must be submitted in writing to the Academic Dean, using the Transfer of Credits form. Students are encouraged to submit requests for transfer credit to the Academic Dean as early as possible. Applications for transfer of credit will not be accepted later than two weeks prior to the start of the Module for which the student requests transfer credit to be granted. Policies regarding the number of electives allowed in Modules C and D remain in effect if a student chooses to take a course or courses outside of Hult. Academic Deans may consider special circumstances in granting exceptions to the transfer requirements enumerated here. Decisions of the Academic Deans regarding transfer credit are final. 18
C. Academic Information i. Grading Procedures 1.Grading Standards Course instructors will evaluate and assess student performance. Grades are assigned according to the Instructor s assessment of performance on the intellectual and professional criteria established for the course. The Instructor has full authority and responsibility to establish performance criteria, evaluate students performance and award grades. The faculty uses the following grading system to evaluate student performance: Points Grade Performance 4.00 A Outstanding 3.67 A- Excellent 3.33 B+ Very Good 3.00 B Good 2.67 B- Acceptable 2.33 C+ High Marginal 2.00 C Marginal 1.67 C- Low Marginal 1.00 D Unsatisfactory 0 F Fail Acceptable graduate-level work is a B- or better. The Registrar releases official final course grades at the end of each module in the form of a transcript. Individual grade breakdowns (participation, homework, and exam grades, for example) are available only from instructors. Every Hult student is entitled to know the manner in which his or her course grade was calculated. 2. Grade Point Average A weighted grade point average (GPA) is computed by multiplying the numerical grade received for each course or module by the number of credit hours per course, totaling these figures, then dividing the sum by the total credit hours. "Pass" and "Incomplete" grades and their corresponding credits are not factored into the weighted average. A "Fail" will be factored into the weighted average as a numerical grade of zero. Every course in which a student has enrolled and for which a student has been assigned a letter grade, will be denoted on his or her transcript. Every 19
letter grade denoted on the transcript will be factored into the calculation of the student s overall GPA. 3. Pass/Fail Courses Some courses, as determined by the faculty, may be graded on a "Pass" or "Fail" basis. With no numerical grades given, a "Pass" is not factored into the overall GPA. If a student does not pass, however, a "Fail" will be factored into the overall GPA as a numerical grade of zero and given weight equal to the number of credits for the course. 4. Incomplete As judged by the Instructor, students will receive a grade of I for Incomplete if they have not completed all course requirements by the end of the course. A student cannot graduate with an I in any course. To remove an I and receive a grade, course requirements or make-up work must be completed and accepted by the Instructor within one month of the end of the course or by graduation, whichever comes first. It is the responsibility of the Student to make arrangements for making up any missed work and ensuring the replacement grade is submitted. The Instructor may consider extenuating circumstances in application of this policy. An "I" is not factored into the overall grade point average. 5. Exemption from Formal Class Work No exemptions from formal course work will be granted, unless in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Academic Dean in consultation with the Instructor concerned. Students wishing for an exemption from formal course work must consult with the Academic Dean. In such cases, appropriate substitute work will be assigned and graded. 6. Class Participation Class participation is an important part of the learning experience at the school and will factor into your overall grade for each course. Each instructor will grade class participation and determine grading standards and the appropriate weight given to class participation in the overall course grade. These standards and weighting will be outlined in the syllabus for each course. 7. Examinations and Assignments Examinations are an important and integral part of the MBA and MIB programs. Instructors will announce their own examination policy at the beginning of their courses and may give quizzes and examinations at their 20