Graduate Academic Regulations

• CPS (Evening and Online) Students

  • Graduate
  • Graduation Policies

• Ph.D Students

  • ​Transfer Credit
  • Graduation Policies

College of Professional Studies (CPS) Graduate

2019-20 Academic Year

Transfer Credit

Students who have attended graduate classes at another college or university may transfer credit under the following guidelines:

• Courses must be discipline-related with grades of “B” or better.
• The number of credits to be transferred cannot exceed nine (9) credit hours.
• An official transcript must be received by Indiana Tech
• The institution at which the credit was earned must be accredited.
• The prospective student must submit a course description and, if possible, a course syllabus.

Credit Hour Policy

A three-credit, face-to-face course that meets for six weeks: 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

• Classroom instruction of at least 24 hours.
• Readings from required texts/articles and other related materials requiring at least 60 hours.
• Preparation of papers and projects related to the reading and/or required research activities requiring at least 56 hours.
• Assessment activities including feedback from faculty on papers/research projects, revisions, and discussion board posts and responses requiring at least 20 hours.
• Direct interaction with faculty and classmates using live discussion platforms, phone calls, discussion board postings requiring at least 20 hours.

A three-credit, online course: courses follow the formula of the equivalent of 45 hours of direct instruction and 135 hours of related learning activities.  For online graduate courses, 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 60 hours.
• Preparation of papers and projects related to the reading and/or required research activities requiring at least 80 hours.
• Assessment activities including feedback from faculty on papers/research projects, revisions, and discussion board posts and responses requiring at least 20 hours.

Direct interaction with faculty and classmates using live discussion platforms, phone calls, discussion board postings requiring at least 20 hours.

Graduate Curriculum

At the time of admission, the curriculum chosen by the student is specified by the degree program as listed in the university catalog.

Students wishing to change degree programs must complete the Change of Curriculum Form available on our website at Registrar.IndianaTech.edu. A $10 fee will be assessed.

Upon changing degree programs, all students must follow all conditions of the most current academic catalog.

Students may change to the curriculum of the current year with the approval of the registrar. Students may not change to a curriculum in force prior to their enrollment, nor may students revert to previous curriculum requirements after officially changing to a current year curriculum.

Students are notified upon completion of their change of curriculum by their Indiana Tech email.

Academic Probation & Dismissal

A student will be placed on academic probation if the student’s GPA is less than 3.0 after 12 credit hours of coursework. After the next 6 credit hours of coursework, the student must have a GPA of at least 3.0 or they will be academically dismissed.

Students placed on academic dismissal status for the first time may apply for readmission after a period of one semester, not including winter or summer semesters. The Registrar’s office determines whether or not a student is readmitted and will notify these students through email and U.S. mail of the decision within two weeks of the student requesting readmission. Upon readmission, these students will be placed on academic probation and will need to earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher or they will be academically dismissed.

Statement of Academic Integrity

Indiana Tech is an academic community that values and promotes academic integrity. All members of our community have an obligation to themselves, their peers and the institution to uphold the code of ethics by demonstrating honesty, accountability, respect, and professionalism. When academic integrity is compromised, learning is minimalized and the goals of the academic community cannot be realized.

In order to maintain academic integrity, faculty are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Maintain and role model personal academic integrity
• Clearly define for students the expected level of collaboration (as it applies) on assignments/projects/homework
• Confront academic dishonesty when it is believed to have occurred and adhere to the policy as stated on their course syllabi
• Report incidences of academic dishonesty by completing infraction cards and submitting them to the assistant dean of their college
• Act to prevent violations of academic integrity
• In order to maintain academic integrity, students are expected to adhere to the following guidelines:
• Maintain personal academic integrity
• Ask faculty to clarify any aspects of permissible or expected cooperation on any assignment
• Treat all graded academic exercises as work that is to be conducted individually, unless otherwise permitted
• Report any instance of academic dishonesty to the instructor or assistant dean of their college

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 unauthorized aids.
• Plagiarism, which is the misrepresentation of another person’s work as one’s own. Submitting any writing that does not properly acknowledge the quoting or paraphrasing of another person’s words or that fails to give proper credit for another person’s ideas is plagiarism. Acts of plagiarism can also include the unacknowledged use of other forms of media including, but not limited to music, video, audio, theater projects, compositions, website, and computer software.
• 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.

CPS Graduate Course Numbering

5000 - 7599

CPS Student Load

9 or more hours constitutes full-time status

6 hours constitutes three quarter time

4.5 hours constitutes half time

CPS Graduate Grading System

The university uses the letter grades “A,” “B,” “C” and “F” in the graduate program. The use of +/- grades is optional. The grade of C- is not available for graduate courses.

Incompletes

These are the general guidelines for submitting a course incomplete request.

• More than 50% of the course session has elapsed.
• The student has encountered an unexpected situation that is beyond his or her control.
• The student is:
  • In good academic standing - up to date on all of the course assignments and has at least an overall passing grade.
  • Able to complete all of the remaining coursework within a session (5 weeks for an undergraduate course; 6 weeks for a graduate course) that immediately follows the session in which the student is currently enrolled.
  • Able to provide support documentation to substantiate the need for extra time should the student not be able to complete the course requirements.

Withdrawals

No grade will be recorded on transcripts for any drop during the first week of classes each semester. Withdrawals with a grade of “W” will be allowed until the end of the third week of class. After the third week, students may not withdraw from a class.

Graduate Grade Exchanges

A grade exchange is allowed on courses in which a grade of “B-“or lower has been earned. Although a given course may be repeated more than once, by choice or necessity, the grade exchange provision above will apply only the first time the course is repeated. The “B-” or lower grade will be exchanged with the grade earned in the first repeat attempt, regardless of if that grade is greater than, equal to, or less than the original “B-” or lower grade. The exchange grade, as well as any subsequent grades earned by repeating the class are used to calculate the cumulative GPA and degree major cumulative GPA. The following detail regulations apply to the grade exchange:

• No grade exchange will be made unless the student completely repeats the course.
• All grades will remain on the student’s transcript
• The grade exchange policy can be used for up to two different graduate classes.
• A graduate-level course may not be repeated more than two times.

Grade Appeals

Indiana Tech expects all faculty to adhere to fair grading practices that are explained to students and clearly identified in course syllabi. The right to appeal a grade is provided to give students recourse when they feel a grading policy has resulted in arbitrary treatment that places them at a disadvantage compared to other students taking the class. A student must initiate the grade appeal before the end of the session immediately following the session when the grade was issued. The appeal consists of the following process:

• The student must first discuss the grade with the instructor.
• Having failed to resolve the dispute, the student may appeal in writing to the assistant dean of the campus location at which the class was taken. The appeal must state the student’s name, ID, course name, and the specifics of why the grade is being appealed. A review is then conducted of the instructor’s grading practices and a ruling is issued.
• The student may appeal the decision of the assistant dean. The appeal must be made in writing and sent to the associate dean. Students should be aware that the prior decision can be overturned only in cases where substantially new information has come to light.
• Having again failed to resolve the dispute, the student may make a final appeal in writing to the dean of the college in which the course was taught. Such appeals must state the student’s name, ID and the specifics of the decision being appealed. Students should once again be aware that prior decisions can be overturned only in cases where substantially new information has come to light.
• All appeal decisions are final with the dean of the college in which the course was taught.

Sufficient Progress

Students are expected to maintain sufficient progress toward their degree completion. If a student has not finished a course for a period of three (3) years, the student must meet the requirements of the curriculum that is in force at the time of re-registration.

CPS Graduation Policies

Petition for Graduation

All students who wish to receive a degree from Indiana Tech must file a Petition for Graduation with the registrar’s office. The graduation process is complete after the student has achieved academic and financial clearance to graduate. Diplomas and final transcripts are sent only after financial clearance is received.

Students can submit petitions when they are within 2 semesters of the anticipated course work completion date, or when:

• Graduate students have earned 27 credits
• The Petition for Graduation is posted at www.IndianaTech.edu.

Graduate Graduation Requirements

To qualify for graduation from Indiana Tech, you must successfully:

• Submission of all official transcripts from transfer institutions from which you are receiving transfer credit.
• Complete all necessary credits for the degree, with no more than 9 transfer credits
• Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 with no more than 9 credit hours of C work counting toward the degree. 
• Complete all course work within seven years after completing the first class.

Commencement Ceremony

Students planning to participate in the May commencement exercises must file the petition prior to Feb. 1. Petitions filed after Feb. 1 will not be accepted for participation in the commencement ceremonies.

Note: Undergraduate students must be within 15 credits by March 31 to participate in May commencement. Graduate students must be within 12 credits by March 31 to participate in May commencement.

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.

2019-20 Academic Year

Ph.D. Course Numbering

7000 - 8999

Registration

With prior consent of the student the Assistant Director 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 cores throughout their program completion.  The default schedule is generally predesigned, the students are always welcome to request changes (e.g. enrolling for a second course, taking a session off from class, etc.).  The Assistant Director is the main contact in regards 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 six 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.

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:

Week              Percentage of Refund

One                              100%

Two                              75%

Three                            50%

Four and after                0%                  

Continuous Enrollment 

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-RES 8112 Development of the Qualifying Paper(3-6 credits)
• RES 8111 Development of the Qualifying Paper (3 credits)
• RES 8112 Development of the Qualifying Paper (3 credits) as needed

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 once.  Prerequisite:  RES 8001

RES 8221-RES 8223 Development of the Dissertation Proposal   (3-9 credits)

• RES 8221Development of the Dissertation Proposal(3 credits)
• RES 8222Development of the Dissertation Proposal(3 credits) as needed
• RES 8223Development of the Dissertation Proposal(3 credits) as needed

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-RES8334 Development of the Dissertation (3-12 credits)

• RES 8331Development of Dissertation (3 credits)
• RES 8332Development of Dissertation (3 credits) as needed
• RES 8333Development of Dissertation (3 credits) as needed
• RES 8334Development of Dissertation (3 credits) as needed

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 hours constitutes full time status

4.hours constitutes three quarter status

3 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 six year completion deadline.

Textbooks and Software

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

• After determining the next preregistered class, student 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 student to mark or “favorite” this page as it will be used frequently. 
• Review requirements in the syllabus provided in the actual course within Blackboard.  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 the graduate and undergraduate programs, so 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 Blackboard 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 upon a point system. Term and cumulative GPAs are determined in the following manner:

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.

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.

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 Probation and Dismissal 

A student will be placed on academic probation if the student’s GPA is less than 3.0 after 12 credit hours of coursework. After the next 6 credit hours of coursework the student must have a GPA of at least 3.0 or they will be academically dismissed.

Students placed on academic dismissal for the first time may apply for readmission after a period of one semester, not including summer semesters. The Registrar’s office determines whether or not a student is readmitted and will notify these students through email of the decision within two weeks of the student requesting readmission. Upon readmission, these students will be placed on academic probation and will need to earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher or they will be academically dismissed.

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

Grade Appeals

Indiana Tech expects all faculty to adhere to fair grading practices that are explained to students and clearly identified in course syllabi. The right to appeal a grade is provided to give students recourse when they feel a grading policy has resulted in arbitrary treatment that places them at a disadvantage compared to other students taking the class. A student must initiate the grade appeal before the end of the session immediately following the session when the grade was issued. The appeal consists of the following process:

• The student must first discuss the grade with the instructor.
• Having failed to resolve the dispute, the student may appeal in writing to the assistant dean of the campus location at which the class was taken. The appeal must state the student’s name, ID, course name, and the specifics of why the grade is being appealed. A review is then conducted of the instructor’s grading practices and a ruling is issued.
• The student may appeal the decision of the assistant dean. The appeal must be made in writing and sent to the associate dean. Students should be aware that the prior decision can be overturned only in cases where substantially new information has come to light.
• Having again failed to resolve the dispute, the student may make a final appeal in writing to the dean of the college in which the course was taught. Such appeals must state the student’s name, ID and the specifics of the decision being appealed. Students should once again be aware that prior decisions can be overturned only in cases where substantially new information has come to light.

All appeal decisions are final with the dean of the college in which the course was taught. 

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:

Academic Performance

• 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

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 into 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

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.

• 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. Is inconsistent with policy above.
• Grades of “I” (for incomplete).
• Grades of “W” (for withdrawal).

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 Probation

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 probationary period to improve academic performance.

A student who fails to achieve satisfactory progress after such a probationary 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: official transcript showing the course(s) for which transfer credit is requested and course description from the catalog or syllabus of the course.

Ph.D. Transfer Credit

• Up to 12 doctoral credits or up to 9 master’s level credits (or up to a combined total of 12 doctoral and master’s level credits) from a regionally accredited graduate school may be transferred toward the Ph.D. in Global Leadership Program.
• Course credit must be fewer than seven years old to be considered for transfer.
• The minimum grade of B (3.0) or equivalency will be considered for transfer credit.
• 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 from 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

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 six 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 Application Deadlines

Graduation applications must be received by Feb. 1 for May graduation, Oct. 1 for December graduation, or June 1 for August graduation.