Doctoral Academic Regulations

DBA Students

The DBA is structured into six sessions per year. Students who are accepted into the program can begin coursework in sessions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.

2025-2026 Academic Year

DBA Course Numbering

7000 - 8999

Registration

With prior consent of the student, the Coordinator of Doctoral programs preregisters all DBA students for classes each session according to degree requirements and the general course schedule. DBA courses are not completed in a particular order, and students will take a mix of courses from the core and concentration areas throughout their program completion.  The default schedule is generally predesigned, and the students are always welcome to request changes (e.g., enrolling for a second course, taking a session off from class, etc.). The Coordinator of doctoral programs is the main contact in regard to schedule changes. 

Students who do not complete coursework for a consecutive twelve months are automatically withdrawn from the program and must apply for readmission.

Students have a maximum of five years to complete the program.

Add/Drop Period 

Students may drop or add a course until Friday of the first week of classes.

Repeats

Courses in the DBA program can only be repeated once.

Students must achieve a grade of B- or higher in all classes for the degree.  Grades of C+ or lower must be repeated.  Courses completed with a grade of B- may be repeated.

All grades will remain on the transcript.

To remain in good standing a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better must be maintained.

Withdrawal from a Class

Students may withdraw from classes until the end of week 4.  Withdrawals will have a grade of W noted on the transcript.

Refunds:

Extension Requests

DBA students are given a maximum of fiveyears from the date of program entry to successfully complete the program.  If a student wishes to request an extension on this deadline due to extenuating circumstances, they may do so via the Extension Request Form.

Student Load

6 credit hours constitutes full-time statuS

3 credit hours constitutes half-time status

Leave of Absence

Students who cannot continue in the program due to extenuating circumstances can request a leave of absence from their doctoral studies on a session-to-session basis for up to a maximum overall leave period of one year. While there are many situations upon which a leave can be requested, such as the birth or adoption of a child or a serious medical condition, a leave will not be granted with the sole reason of financial hardship. The initial request for a leave should be submitted by the student to the Program Director. Verification of circumstances should be included as part of the leave request. Any time spent on approved leave will not count toward the student’s five-year completion deadline.

Textbooks and Software

Many courses will use open education resources (OER), however some courses will require textbooks. It is up to students how they choose to obtain textbooks each session, whether to buy, borrow, or rent. (Many DBA students purchase or rent their books via online bookstores such as Amazon.)  There are two ways to determine an upcoming class’ textbook requirements:

• After determining the next preregistered class, students can visit the Textbooks Requirements Library.` We encourage students to mark or “favorite” this page as it will be used frequently. 
• Review requirements in the syllabus provided in the actual course within Canvas.  Courses are not open for student viewing until one week prior to the start date, so students will not have much notice to order textbooks if this method is used.

** It is important to note that the DBA program does not utilize the on-campus book provisioning system intended for graduate and undergraduate programs, so the student should not attempt to purchase textbooks through this system.

Credit Hour Policy

All of the courses in the program are valued at three credits and are delivered online using Canvas as the course management system.  Courses follow the formula of the equivalent of 45 hours of direct instruction and 135 hours of related learning activities.  Several different types of learning activities are included within the delivery of the courses and are designed in accordance with the following expectations:

• Readings from required texts/articles and other related materials requiring at least 64 hours.
• Preparation of papers and projects related to the reading and/or required research activities requiring at least 64 hours.
• Assessment activities including feedback from faculty on papers/research projects, revisions, and discussion board posts and responses requiring at least 24 hours.
• Direct interaction with faculty and classmates using Canvas, Microsoft Teams, phone calls, discussion board postings requiring at least 28 hours.

In addition, students are required to attend  one Residency during their enrollment in the program.  This experience is credit-bearing and does not require payment of tuition.  Students must cover their own travel expenses.

DBA Grading System

A student’s GPA is calculated based on a point system. Term and cumulative GPAs are determined in the following manner:

Incompletes

A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is only to be assigned when a student, through no fault of their own, is unable to complete the requirements of a course by the end of the current session.  An “I” will not be assigned for a course where a student is definitely earning an “F.” To receive credit for the course in which an “I” is assigned, the student must complete course requirements by the date the instructor specifies, with a maximum timeframe equivalent to the course duration immediately following the current session. After the incomplete extension timeframe has elapsed, the final grade will be updated to reflect the completion of additional course requirements. If no additional course requirements were completed, the “I” will revert to the grade based on what was completed at the conclusion of the course.  

Unsuccessfully Attempted Courses

Students will be provided with a list of attempted courses that were not successfully completed and must be repeated.

Courses with a grade of C+ or lower, I (incomplete) or W (withdrawals) have not been completed successfully.

Academic Performance

Academic performance is measured by:

Credits Completed

Cumulative GPA

• Excellent 3.5 to 4.0
• Acceptable 3.25 to 3.49
• At-Risk 3.24 or below

Academic Warning and Dismissal 

Once semester grades are issued, a student will be placed on academic warning if the student’s cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 after attempting 6 credits of coursework. After attempting the next 6 credit hours of coursework, at the end of the semester, the student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or they will be academically dismissed.

After taking one semester off, students placed on academic dismissal status can re-enroll by contacting the Coordinator of Doctoral Programs. Alternatively, students can submit an academic appeal to return to Indiana Tech without taking a semester off. Upon re-enrollment, students will be placed on academic warning and must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, or they will be academically dismissed again. Students who are academically dismissed for a second time may apply for readmission to Indiana Tech after one calendar year. 

Types of Academic Dishonesty

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating, which includes submitting the work of another person as one’s own work or using aids such as generative artificial intelligence (software that can produce various types of content) without prior instructor permission. 
• Self-Plagiarism (or Recycling Fraud), which is the resubmission of part or all of one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements in the same course or in other courses without providing proper acknowledgment of the original work with accurate citations.
• Fabrication, which is the falsification or invention of information or data in any academic undertaking.
• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty, which involves assisting someone in an act of dishonesty.

Consequences

The first violation of academic integrity will be handled by faculty at the course level with an academic penalty for the course as deemed appropriate by the instructor. The instructor will notify the student of the penalty and that the incident will be documented at the university level by submitting an Academic Integrity Violation report.

After the second violation of academic integrity that has been documented by the instructor in the same course or a different course, the student will be required to meet with the appropriate dean or associate dean. At this meeting, the dean will discuss the seriousness of integrity violations and a letter from the dean will be given to the student stating that any further integrity violations will likely result in dismissal from the university.

Upon the third violation, the appropriate dean will recommend to the VPAA that the student be dismissed from the university. The VPAA will review the violations, meet with the student, and make a decision on dismissal. The decision of the VPAA is final.

Grade Appeals

This policy is intended for a student who believes that his/her final course grade is incorrect based on the course syllabus. A formal Course Grade Appeal must be initiated after the course grade has been issued but within fourteen calendar days of the next session or semester start.

The specific steps for initiating a Course Final Grade Appeal are:

Step 1: The student must first address the specific grading issues with the instructor of the course. If the instructor is unavailable, the student will contact the Director of Doctoral Programs who will then authorize an extension of time for the appeals process or will allow the student to proceed to Step 2. This step must be initiated after the course grade has been issued but within fourteen calendar days of the next session or semester start.

Step 2: If the discussion with the instructor does not resolve the problem, the student may appeal the decision of the instructor to the Director of Doctoral Programs within fourteen calendar days of the instructor’s decision. To appeal, the student will utilize Indiana Tech’s electronic Course Final Grade Appeal Form (this form). The formal Course Grade Appeal must state the student’s name, ID, the specifics of the grading issue, evidence of the instructor not following the syllabus, and the outcome of the initial meeting with the instructor. The Director of Doctoral Programs will make a determination within fourteen calendar days of receiving the Course Grade Appeal. A letter from the Director of Doctoral Programs will be provided to the student, informing him/her of the decision.

Step 3: Students may appeal the decision of the Director of Doctoral Programs by submitting an updated Course Grade Appeal to the Dean of the college providing new information exists to support the appeal. The updated Course Grade Appeal must include the information previously submitted to the Director of Doctoral Programs in Step 2, the documentation of the decision, and any substantial new information. This information will be emailed directly to the Dean. The Dean will make a determination within fourteen calendar days of receiving the updated Course Grade Appeal. A letter will be provided to the student from the Dean informing him/her of the decision. Students are allowed two appeals, after the second appeal with the College Dean, there are no further appeals available.

Note: If a student is dissatisfied with an individual grading event (such as an examination, paper, or project) he/she should meet with the instructor immediately for resolution. If not resolved, the student should use individual grading events as evidence to support their request for a change in course grade.

Residency Participation

Students must meet one on-campus summer Residency requirement prior to completing the program. Students must complete a minimum of 9 DBA credits at Indiana Tech before being eligible to attend Residency.  

Unsuccessfully Attempted Courses

Students will be provided with a list of attempted courses that were not successfully completed and must be repeated. Courses in the DBA. program can only be repeated once.

• Grades of “C+” or lower
  • Students must achieve a grade of “B-” or higher in all classes for the degree. Grades of “C+” or lower must be repeated. 
• Grades of “I” (for incomplete).
• Grades of “W” (for withdrawal).

DBA Procedure for Requesting Transfer Credit

Requests for transfer credit will be evaluated during the admission process. The request must include an official transcript showing the course(s) for which transfer credit is requested.

DBA Transfer Credit

• Entering student with an earned master’s level credits: Up to 9 hours allowed to transfer. The minimum grade of B (3.0) or equivalency will be considered for transfer credit.
• Entering student in an accredited Doctorate program: Up to 15 hours with an overall 3.25 GPA and “B” minimum for any course transferred. 
• Course credit must be fewer than ten years old to be considered for transfer.
• Students may not transfer courses graded on a nonstandard basis (e.g., pass/no pass, credit/no credit, satisfactory/unsatisfactory) to their graduate certificate or degree programs unless it can be verified by the registrar of the prior university that the grade is equivalent to a B (3.0) or better.
• Previous coursework will be evaluated by the program director based on applicability to DBA degree requirements, including course descriptions and outcomes. 

Prior Learning Assessment   

Credit for prior learning, work training, and other previous college credits may be eligible for transfer credit after preparing a portfolio and having it reviewed by a faculty member. The Registrar’s Office maintains and facilitates the process for credit review and portfolio creation and submission. Prior Learning Credit may be allowed at the PhD level for no more than 9 credit hours if a student transfers in no additional credit. Prior Learning Credit will not be accepted at the master’s level.

DBA Graduation Policies

To successfully complete the Doctorate of Business Administration:

• Complete a minimum of 54 doctoral credit hours of coursework 
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a grade of B- or higher in each course.
• Fulfill the residency requirement.
• Complete the degree within five calendar years from the date of the student’s initial course start date.
• Meet all financial, academic, and other related obligations of Indiana Tech and the DBA program.

Graduation Deadlines

Students must petition to graduate once they have completed 51 credits. Petitions for graduation must be received by Oct. 1 for December graduation or Jan. 15 for May graduation. Students are eligible to participate in commencement once they have completed the final research project. Indiana Tech holds a commencement ceremony in May for all graduates. Diplomas and final transcripts are sent only after financial clearance is received.

Ph.D. Students

The Ph.D. in Global Leadership is structured into six sessions per year. Students who are accepted into the program are able to begin coursework at any of these six entry points.

2025-2026 Academic Year

*Sessions 1, 3, and 5 include Continuous Enrollment courses that are full semester length and end on the same date as courses in sessions 2, 4, and 7, respectively.

Ph.D. Course Numbering

7000 - 8999

Registration

With prior consent of the student, the Coordinator of Doctoral Programs preregisters all Ph.D. students for classes each session according to degree requirements and the general course schedule.  With the exception of research classes, most Ph.D. courses are not completed in a particular order, and students will take a mix of courses from the research, global leadership, and concentration courses throughout their program completion.  The default schedule is generally predesigned, and the students are always welcome to request changes (e.g., enrolling for a second course, taking a session off from class, etc.).  The Coordinator of Doctoral Programs is the main contact in regard to schedule changes. Priority registration allows veterans, active duty service members, and reservists to schedule classes early. Priority registration benefits students by giving them early access to classes thus increasing the probability of getting the class(es) they want.

Students who do not complete coursework for a consecutive twelve months are automatically withdrawn from the program and must apply for readmission.

Students have a maximum of seven years from the date of matriculation to successfully defend a dissertation.

Add/Drop Period 

Students may drop or add a course until Friday of the first week of classes.

Repeats

Courses in the Ph.D. program can only be repeated once.

Students must achieve a grade of B- or higher in all classes for the degree.  Grades of C+ or lower must be repeated.  Courses completed with a grade of B- may be repeated.

All grades will remain on the transcript.

To remain in good standing a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better must be maintained.

Withdrawal from a Class

Students may withdraw from classes until the end of week 4.  Withdrawals will have a grade of W noted on the transcript.

Refunds:

RES 8111 Continuous Enrollment Development of Qualifying Paper

Following the completion of all coursework, including RES 8001, all students must maintain active status by being continuously enrolled in one of the following courses until the student successfully defends the dissertation. Students must be registered in one of these three credit courses to remain continuously enrolled, retain access to university resources, receive faculty support and guidance, and remain in good standing with the program throughout the dissertation completion process. Each three-credit continuous development course will span an entire semester and will be offered throughout the year (Fall, Spring, Summer). Students will be enrolled in these continuous development courses in the fall, spring, and summer semesters for a total of nine credits earned in a calendar year. This will continue until the successful defense of the dissertation.

• RES 8111 Development of the Qualifying Paper (3 credits- repeated as needed until successful qualifying paper defense)

During this course, students write the Qualifying Paper in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program.  The dissertation committee chairperson collaborates with the student and provides feedback on all drafts submitted by the student.  All committee members comment and provide feedback on the final draft copy.  The Qualifying Paper defense will be scheduled and conducted after the committee members determine student readiness for the defense.  May be repeated twice.  Prerequisite:  RES 8001

RES 8221 Development of the Dissertation Proposal   

• RES 8221 Development of the Dissertation Proposal (3 credits- repeated as needed until successful proposal defense)

Students work independently, under the guidance and in consultation with the committee chair, to develop the first three chapters of the dissertation. The content and outline of the chapters are in accordance with the standards of the Global Leadership program.  The student is expected to develop, write, and defend the dissertation proposal (including completing the IRB documents) prior to engaging in the proposed research. After the proposal has been reviewed and approved by the committee, the chair will schedule a proposal defense. Following the successful defense, the student is to file for IRB approval before moving ahead with the research.  May be repeated twice.  Prerequisite: RES 8111

RES8331 Development of the Dissertation 

• RES 8331 Development of Dissertation (3 credits- repeated as needed until successful dissertation defense)

In this course, students engage in independent research, as outlined in their proposal, and, working under the supervision of the chair, develop and defend a final Dissertation manuscript. Following the successful defense of the Dissertation, the student will be responsible for any final editing and the submission of a finished manuscript to the Global Leadership program. The Dissertation is comprised of five chapters: Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study, Chapter 2: Literature Review, Chapter 3: Research Methodology, Chapter 4: Results/Findings, and Chapter 5: Conclusions, Discussion, Suggestions for Future Research, and Recommendations. May be repeated three times. Prerequisite: RES 8221

Extension Requests

Ph.D. students are given a maximum of six years from the date of program entry to successfully defend the Dissertation.  If a student wishes to request an extension on this deadline due to extenuating circumstances, they may do so via the Extension Request Form.

Student Load

6 credit hours constitute full-time status

3 credit hours constitute half-time status

Leave of Absence

Students who cannot continue in the program due to extenuating circumstances can request a leave of absence from their doctoral studies on a session-to-session basis for up to a maximum overall leave period of one year. While there are many situations upon which a leave can be requested, such as the birth or adoption of a child or a serious medical condition, a leave will not be granted with the sole reason of financial hardship. The initial request for a leave should be submitted by the student to the Program Director. Verification of circumstances should be included as part of the leave request. Any time spent on approved leave will not count toward the student’s seven-year completion deadline.

Textbooks and Software

It is up to students how they choose to obtain textbooks each session, whether to buy, borrow, or rent. (Many Ph.D. students purchase or rent their books via online bookstores such as Amazon.)  There are two ways to determine an upcoming class’ textbook requirements:

• After determining the next preregistered class, students can visit the Textbooks Requirements Library https://phd.indianatech.edu/phdtextbooks/.  Students will use their Indiana tech student email and password to log in.  We encourage students to mark or “favorite” this page as it will be used frequently. 
• Review requirements in the syllabus provided in the actual course within Canvas.  Courses are not open for student viewing until one week prior to the start date, so students will not have much notice to order textbooks if this method is used.

** It is important to note that the Ph.D. program does not utilize the on-campus book provisioning system intended for graduate and undergraduate programs, so the student should not attempt to purchase textbooks through this system.

Credit Hour Policy

All of the courses in the program are valued at three credits and are delivered online using Canvas as the course management system.  Courses follow the formula of the equivalent of 45 hours of direct instruction and 135 hours of related learning activities.  Several different types of learning activities are included within the delivery of the courses and are designed in accordance with the following expectations:

• Readings from required texts/articles and other related materials requiring at least 64 hours.
• Preparation of papers and projects related to the reading and/or required research activities requiring at least 64 hours.
• Assessment activities including feedback from faculty on papers/research projects, revisions, and discussion board posts and responses requiring at least 24 hours.
• Direct interaction with faculty and classmates using GoToMeeting, phone calls, discussion board postings requiring at least 28 hours.

In addition, students are required to attend Immersion Weekends during their enrollment in the program.  These experiences are not credit-bearing and do not require payment of tuition.  Students must cover their own travel expenses.

Ph.D. Grading System

A student’s GPA is calculated based on a point system. Term and cumulative GPAs are determined in the following manner:

Incompletes

A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is only to be assigned when a student, through no fault of their own, is unable to complete the requirements of a course by the end of the current session.  An “I” will not be assigned for a course where a student is definitely earning an “F.” To receive credit for the course in which an “I” is assigned, the student must complete course requirements by the date the instructor specifies, with a maximum timeframe equivalent to the course duration immediately following the current session. After the incomplete extension timeframe has elapsed, the final grade will be updated to reflect the completion of additional course requirements. If no additional course requirements were completed, the “I” will revert to the grade based on what was completed at the conclusion of the course.  

Unsuccessfully Attempted Courses

Students will be provided with a list of attempted courses that were not successfully completed and must be repeated. Courses in the Ph.D. program can only be repeated once.

Courses with a grade of C+ or lower, I (incomplete) or W (withdrawals) have not been completed successfully.

Academic Performance

Academic performance is measured by:

• Credits Completed
• Cumulative GPA (Ph.D. students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.)
  • Excellent
    • 3.5 to 4.0
  • Acceptable
    • 3.25 to 3.49
  • At-Risk
    • 3.24 or below

Academic Warning and Dismissal 

Once semester grades are issued, a student will be placed on academic warning if the student’s cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 after attempting 6 credits of coursework. After attempting the next 6 credit hours of coursework, at the end of the semester, the student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or they will be academically dismissed.

After taking one semester off, students placed on academic dismissal status can re-enroll by contacting the Coordinator of Doctoral Programs. Alternatively, students can submit an academic appeal to return to Indiana Tech without taking a semester off. Upon re-enrollment, students will be placed on academic warning and must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, or they will be academically dismissed again. Students who are academically dismissed for a second time may apply for readmission to Indiana Tech after one calendar year. 

Additional policies for the Ph.D. in Global Leadership program may be found at: http://phd.indianatech.edu/formsandpolicies/.

Types of Academic Dishonesty

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating, which includes submitting the work of another person as one’s own work or using aids such as generative artificial intelligence (software that can produce various types of content) without prior instructor permission. 
• Self-Plagiarism (or Recycling Fraud), which is the resubmission of part or all of one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements in the same course or in other courses without providing proper acknowledgment of the original work with accurate citations.
• Fabrication, which is the falsification or invention of information or data in any academic undertaking.
• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty, which involves assisting someone in an act of dishonesty.

Consequences

The first violation of academic integrity will be handled by faculty at the course level with an academic penalty for the course as deemed appropriate by the instructor. The instructor will notify the student of the penalty and that the incident will be documented at the university level by submitting an Academic Integrity Violation report.

After the second violation of academic integrity that has been documented by the instructor in the same course or a different course, the student will be required to meet with the appropriate dean or associate dean. At this meeting, the dean will discuss the seriousness of integrity violations and a letter from the dean will be given to the student stating that any further integrity violations will likely result in dismissal from the university.

Upon the third violation, the appropriate dean will recommend to the VPAA that the student be dismissed from the university. The VPAA will review the violations, meet with the student, and make a decision on dismissal. The decision of the VPAA is final.

Grade Appeals

This policy is intended for a student who believes that his/her final course grade is incorrect based on the course syllabus. A formal Course Grade Appeal must be initiated after the course grade has been issued but within fourteen calendar days of the next session or semester start.

The specific steps for initiating a Course Final Grade Appeal are:

Step 1: The student must first address the specific grading issues with the instructor of the course. If the instructor is unavailable, the student will contact the Associate Dean of the college or the Director of Doctoral Programs which owns that particular course (for example, CJ 1100, choose College of Arts and Sciences). The Associate Dean or Director of Doctoral Programs will then authorize an extension of time for the appeals process or will allow the student to proceed to Step 2. This step must be initiated after the course grade has been issued but within fourteen calendar days of the next session or semester start.

Step 2: If the discussion with the instructor does not resolve the problem, the student may appeal the decision of the instructor to the appropriate Associate Dean or the Director of Doctoral Programs within fourteen calendar days of the instructor’s decision. To appeal, the student will utilize Indiana Tech’s electronic Course Final Grade Appeal Form (this form). The formal Course Grade Appeal must state the student’s name, ID, the specifics of the grading issue, evidence of the instructor not following the syllabus, and the outcome of the initial meeting with the instructor. The Associate Dean will make a determination within fourteen calendar days of receiving the Course Grade Appeal. A letter from the Associate Dean will be provided to the student, informing him/her of the decision.

Step 3: Students may appeal the decision of the Associate Dean or the Director of Doctoral Programs by submitting an updated Course Grade Appeal to the Dean of the college that owns that particular course providing new information exists to support the appeal. The updated Course Grade Appeal must include the information previously submitted to the Associate Dean or the Director of Doctoral Programs m in Step 2, the documentation of the decision, and any substantial new information. This information will be emailed directly to the Dean. The Dean will make a determination within fourteen calendar days of receiving the updated Course Grade Appeal. A letter will be provided to the student from the Dean informing him/her of the decision. Students are allowed two appeals, after the second appeal with the College Dean, there are no further appeals available.

Note: If a student is dissatisfied with an individual grading event (such as an examination, paper, or project) he/she should meet with the instructor immediately for resolution. If not resolved, the student should use individual grading events as evidence to support their request for a change in course grade.

Annual Academic Review Policy

https://phd.indianatech.edu/annual-academic-review-policy/

The Ph.D. program conducts an Annual Academic Review (AAR) for each student to help them progress successfully through the graduate program by allowing timely diagnosis of deficiencies, clarification of expectations for academic performance, and identification of opportunities for improvement. The department follows established rules to assess student progress toward the Ph.D. degree completion. Permission to register each term is contingent, in part, upon judgment that progress in the degree program is satisfactory.

At the end of each calendar year, the Ph.D. program will conduct an AAR of all students who had entered the program prior to the Fall 1 session of the same year. This review will address progress in the following categories:

• Academic performance
• Residency participation
• Scholarly development
• Global mindset development
• Global leadership development

At the beginning of each calendar year, students will receive a letter from the Ph.D. program notifying them of their current academic standing. The AAR evaluates students by the following academic standards

Residency Participation

Students must acquire Residency Attendance Units at a reasonable pace with the intended goal of 15 total RAUs prior to enrollment into RES8001. “Reasonable pace” is illustrated by the following:

• 18 credit hours completed = 5 RAUs
• 36 credit hours completed = 10 RAUs
• 54 credit hours completed = 15 RAUs

Students who are not on target with reasonable pace will be evaluated accordingly and encouraged to earn additional units. Students will not be permitted to enroll in RES8001, Qualifying Research Seminar, until they have earned the minimum required 15 RAUs.

Residency Attendance Units Earned

• On Target with Reasonable Pace
  • 100% or above
• Below Target
  • 75-99.9%
• Very Below Target (At-Risk)
  • 74.9% or below

Supplementary Academic Development Report

The Supplementary Academic Development Report (SADR) is a strongly recommended component of the AAR that addresses the following:

• Scholarly development
• Global mindset development
• Global leadership development

Students will be prompted to update and submit an SADR at the end of each calendar year. This report will be added to the student’s permanent record with the University and utilized by department leadership to assess overall advancement in the program as part of the AAR. The Ph.D. program highly encourages students to make this a part of their permanent academic record.

Academic Warning

Students determined to be “at-risk” in any category will be personally contacted by the Program Director for the development of an academic action plan. The student will be advised of corrective steps and given a warning period to improve academic performance.

A student who fails to achieve satisfactory progress after such a warning period will be dismissed from the degree program. Students wishing to appeal their dismissal must do so within 10 days of receiving notification of dismissal.

Ph.D. Procedure for Requesting Transfer Credit

Requests for transfer credit should be directed in writing to the Ph.D. program director no later than during the first term of doctoral study. The requests must include an official transcript showing the course(s) for which transfer credit is requested and a course description from the catalog or syllabus of the course.

Ph.D. Transfer Credit

• Entering student with an earned master’s level credits: Up to 12 hours allowed to transfer. The minimum grade of B (3.0) or equivalency will be considered for transfer credit.
• Entering student in an accredited Doctorate program: Up to 21 hours with an overall 3.25 GPA and “B” minimum for any course transferred. 
• Course credit must be fewer than ten years old to be considered for transfer.
• Students may not transfer courses graded on a nonstandard basis (e.g., pass/no pass, credit/no credit, satisfactory/unsatisfactory) to their graduate certificate or degree programs unless it can be verified by the registrar of the prior university that the grade is equivalent to a B (3.0) or better.
• Previous coursework will be evaluated by the program director based on applicability to Ph.D. degree requirements, including course descriptions, outcomes, and global elements

Prior Learning Assessment   

Credit for prior learning, work training, and other previous college credits may be eligible for transfer credit after preparing a portfolio and having it reviewed by a faculty member. The Registrar’s Office maintains and facilitates the process for credit review and portfolio creation and submission. Prior Learning Credit may be allowed at the PhD level for no more than 9 credit hours if a student transfers in no additional credit. Prior Learning Credit will not be accepted at the master’s level.

Ph.D. Graduation Policies

To successfully complete the Ph.D. in Global Leadership students must:

• Complete a minimum of 66 doctoral credit hours of coursework including 18 credit hours of research core, 18 credit hours of global leadership core, 18 credit hours of specialization, and a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation coursework.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a grade of B- or higher in each course.
• Fulfill the residency requirement.
• Complete the degree within seven calendar years from the date of the student’s initial course start date.
• Prepare and successfully defend the qualifying paper.
• Prepare and successfully defend the dissertation proposal and dissertation.
• Meet all financial, academic, and other related obligations of Indiana Tech and the Ph.D. program.

Graduation Deadlines

Students must petition to graduate once they have completed 66 credits. Petitions for graduation must be received by Oct. 1 for December graduation or Jan. 15 for May graduation. Indiana Tech holds a commencement ceremony in May for all graduates. Students are eligible to participate in commencement once they have successfully passed the dissertation defense. Diplomas and final transcripts are sent only after financial clearance is received.

Certificate

The post-graduate certificate is 12 credits and can be earned individually or paired with a degree. While enrolled in the last course, students must complete the Requestion for Certificate Completion form. Upon receipt of the form, the student’s record will be audited, and the student will receive the certificate once academic and financial clearance is obtained. Academic clearance is obtained once the student has completed all courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.