MBA Handbook

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Handbook

(March 2017)

Table of Contents

1. Overview
   1. Vision Statement
   2.  Purpose and Mission
   3. Implementation
   4. Educational Objectives
   5. Accreditation
   6. Policy Changes
    
2. Curriculum
   1. Foundation (Leveling) Courses
   2. Core Courses and Prerequisites
   3. 4+1 BBA to MBA
   4. Design Elements for Core Courses
      1. Course Syllabus
      2. Course Learning Objectives
      3. Course Evaluations and Measure to Minimize Grade Inflation
      4. Student-Faculty Interaction
      5. Preventing Cheating During Exams
      6. Policy on Electronic Devices
      7. Writing Style
       
   5. Areas of Concentration
   6. Course Scheduling
   7. Internships
   8. Masters Research
   9. Transfer, Waiver, and Substitution of Courses
   10. Proposals for Curriculum Change
    
3. Admission
   1. Application Package
      1. Students with English as a Native Language (Domestic Students)
      2. Students with English as a Second Language (Normally International Students)
      3. Conditional Admission (exceptions for the GMAT or GRE)
      4. The MBA program does not accept Non-English-Speaking Students
      5. GMAT Fee Waiver
       
   2. Timing of Application Submission
   3. Admission Criteria
   4. Classification of Students
    
4. Student Policies and Information
   1. Registration Priority
   2. Costs and Fees
   3. Cheating
   4. Satisfactory Academic Performance
   5. Incompletes ("I")
   6. Advising and Mentoring
   7. Adding a Concentration
   8. On-Campus Students/Virtual Courses
   9. Credit Hour Registration for MBA Students
    
5. Administrative Duties and Responsibilities
   1. MBA Committee
   2. Participating Faculty (Teaching in the MBA Program)
   3. MBA Graduate Coordinator
   4. Department Heads
   5. Dean of College of Business and Entrepreneurship 
   6. MBA Graduate Faculty (As a Group)
   7. Alumni Association
    
6. Academic Qualification
   1. Academically Qualified and Professionally Qualified
   2. Qualifications to Teach in MBA Program
    
7. Assessment and Improvement
   1. Background and Introduction
   2. Program Entry Assessment (Benchmark)
   3. Program Exit Assessment
      1. Assessment Tests
      2. Survey of Graduating Students
       
   4. Student Evaluation of Instruction
   5. Post-Graduate Assessment (Alumni Survey)
   6. Assessment Test Administration 
      1. Information for Students
      2. Information for Faculty
      3. Test Time-Line and Duties
      4. Assessment Test Retakes
       
   7. Assessment Analysis
      1. Initial Analysis
      2. Corrective Action
      3. Documentation 
       
    

I. Overview

A. Vision Statement

The Fort Hays State University (FHSU) MBA will prepare innovative, ethical, problem-solving business leaders who are prepared to meet the challenges of a globally dynamic business environment.

B. Purpose and Mission

The FHSU MBA is a rigorous program designed to prepare students for career success by focusing on stated educational goals and learning objectives to be accomplished through a series of standardized core courses and additional electives.

C. Implementation

The MBA program continues the "high-tech, high-touch" tradition of FHSU. In the finest tradition of accredited programs, students interact with academically and professionally qualified instructors in small classes ensuring that the student is at the center of the collaborative learning experience. All on-campus courses are offered in state-of-the-art mediated classrooms. Many classrooms also feature individual computer access. The FHSU campus is fully Wi-Fi accessible and the University "laptop initiative" ensures that every student has access to and is trained in the latest computer productivity tools. Virtual courses generally use Blackboard and include a wide variety of innovative electronic delivery methodologies. The program complies with all guidelines of the FHSU Graduate School.

The program provides the flexibility of either virtual (online) or traditional (on-campus) formats. Both virtual and online options offer affordable education without sacrificing academic rigor. The MBA is an innovative program that offers specializations in several areas (see below) and is constantly pursuing new initiatives. Not all areas of specialization are available online.

D. Educational Objectives

Goal 1: Graduates of the MBA program will integrate concepts from the Business Disciplines
Objective: Demonstrate comprehension of the functional areas of business: accounting, economics, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, and strategic management. Objective: Demonstrate comprehension of global business issues.

Objective: Understand and analyze social responsibility and ethical issues facing businesses today.
 
Goal 2: Graduates of the MBA program will be effective communicators
Objective: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in written form through reports, letters, strategic plans, etc.

Objective: Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in oral form when making presentations and proposals.

Goal 3: Graduates of the MBA program will be critical thinkers and problem solvers
Objective: Critically evaluate, analyze, and synthesize data and information to solve complex business problems.

Goal 4: Graduates of the MBA program will understand how information technology can be a point of strength for an organization.
Objective: Understand the connection between business and information technology.

Objective: Understand the critical role information technology plays in deploying enterprise initiatives to achieve broad general business goals.

E. Accreditation

FHSU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. 

F. Policy Changes

Changes in MBA Policy must be approved by the MBA Committee and the Robbins College of Business Dean. All Programmatic modifications must meet the guidelines of the FHSU Graduate School and be approved by the Dean. 

II. Curriculum

The FHSU MBA Consists of 33 semester credit hours - 24 hours of core and 9 hours of concentration courses or electives. The program must be completed within 8 years from the first program of study course.

A. Core Courses and Prerequisites

All MBA students are required to take the following MBA Core courses:

MBA 811: Advanced Managerial Accounting

MBA 812: Marketing Management

MBA 813: Information Systems for Management

MBA 814: Business Research and Quantitative Methods

MBA 815: Managerial Economics

MBA 816: Advanced Corporate Finance

MBA 817: Strategic Management

MBA 831: Organizational Behavior in a Global Environment

B. 4+1 BBA to MBA

This program is designed for high-performing Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students desiring a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in an accelerated timeframe.  Qualified students have the opportunity to earn a BBA and an MBA in a 4 + 1 year time frame – saving time and earning valuable credentials.

Program Admission Requirements:

·         This program is available to FHSU BBA students majoring in Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management (Management or Human Resource Management), or Marketing.

·         A student must have attended an on-campus FHSU BBA program for at least two years.

·         A minimum 3.3 GPA (on last 60 credits)

·         Receive a 3.0 GPA in the following classes: ECON 201, ECON 202, ACCT 203, ACCT 204, MKT 301, MGT 301, FIN 305, and MATH 250. Grades in these classes must be a "C" or better.

·         Meet Graduate School standards for English language requirements.

Program at a Glance

   First Semester of Senior Year

·         Apply to the MBA program by October 1 (spring start) or March 1 (fall start)
(Graduate School Application, meet above program admission requirements)

·         Receive conditional admission to the MBA program dependent on maintaining a 3.0 GPA on graduate classes and 3.3 GPA in last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work.

o   After a student has been accepted to the program, he or she will work with the MBA Coordinator and the student’s advisor to plan the final undergraduate semester/first semester of the MBA program. 

o   The MBA Coordinator will create a letter to the Graduate School and Registrar that will identify the two undergraduate classes to be:  1) waived if the student will have 120 or more credit hours without the two undergraduate classes; 2) considered as “credit by examination” if the student will need to the classes to meet the 120 credit hour minimum.  The memo will be signed by the MBA Coordinator and the department chair of the student’s undergraduate major.  In “credit by examination” situations, the MBA Coordinator will also prepare a letter to the provost signed by the department chair giving permission for the student to take an advanced standing examination.  The letter should include:

1.  Student’s local address

2.  Student’s social security number

3.  Course title, number, and credit hours

4.  Very brief explanation as to why student is requesting permission to test out

o   The Provost approves/disapproves the request and sends letter to department chair with a copy to student

o   Student takes copy of approved letter to Student Fiscal Services Cashier Office (SH 110-G) and pays a fee for each course.   

o   When the student completes the two designated graduate classes with a 3.0 GPA or higher and pays the fee, this will satisfy the “credit by examination” requirement.

Second Semester of Senior Year

·         6 credit hours of MBA courses (shared BBA/MBA credits are charged graduate tuition rate).  Each concentration has differing course requirements.  A student must take the specified courses for his or her concentration.

o   The student will complete one 3 credit hour concentration course (shared BBA/MBA credits)

-  Accounting concentration course (ACCT 601, ACCT 608, ACCT 610, or ACCT 612)

-  Finance concentration course (ECON 640, FIN 641, or FIN 645)

-  International Business course (ECON 644, FIN 645, or MKT 606)

-  Human Resource Management course (MGT 611, MGT 612, MGT 613, or MGT 614)

-  Marketing course (MKT 601, MKT 604, or MKT 609)

-  General concentration course (one concentration course from any MBA concentration)

o   The student will complete one 3 credit hour MBA core course (shared BBA/MBA credits)

-  Accounting, Finance & International Business Majors - MBA 815: Managerial Economics - replaces ECON 651: Managerial Economics

-  Management Majors – MBA 831: Organizational Behavior – replaces MGT 410: Organizational Behavior & Development

-  Marketing Majors – MBA 812: Marketing Management – replaces MKT 650: Marketing Strategy

·         Complete all other requirements for BBA. Student will graduate with BBA degree.  A student must complete a minimum of 120 undergraduate credit hours. 

Summer Term Following Senior Year – 3 credit hours

·         The student will complete a 3 credit MBA core course (MBA 831, MBA 815, MBA 816, or MBA 813 – depending on course rotation)

Fifth Year at FHSU – 24 credit hours

·         Fall semester – the student will complete 12 credit hours

o   3 MBA core courses 

o   1 MBA concentration course 

·         Spring semester – the student will complete 12 credit hours and satisfy other graduation requirements:

o   2 MBA core courses

o   MBA 817: Strategic Management (capstone course)

o   1 MBA concentration course

o   Comprehensive exams

o   Graduate with MBA Degree

Program Progress Requirements

To remain on the accelerated BBA/MBA program pace a student must register in the coursework outlined for his or her concentration and in the number of credit hours specified per semester.

C. Design Elements Common to All Core Courses

While we envision a diversity of pedagogic approaches, each customized by the expert instructor to meet specific course and MBA learning objectives, each course should contain the following basic common design elements:

1. Course Syllabus

Every core course (and every MBA course) should comply with the format of the officially adopted Standard Syllabus.

2. Course Learning Objectives

Each instructor must establish a list of course learning objectives. Learning objectives should be tied to course materials and assignments and should be consistent with the stated MBA program objectives. Learning objectives should be sufficiently general that they can be limited to a small number of items. Course pre- and post-tests should be tied to course learning objectives.

3. Course Evaluations and Measures to Minimize Grade Inflation

Course evaluations of individual student performance may take a variety of forms (exams, papers, projects, oral presentations, group work, etc.). Regardless of the form, all evaluations should be tied in specific ways to the course learning objectives. AACSB requires:

• That there be a monitoring mechanism to ensure that the proper learning experiences occur
• That course syllabi, examinations and projects should be regularly reviewed to see that learning experiences are included to prepare students to accomplish learning goals.

The MBA Committee will undertake reviews to accomplish the above monitoring function on a periodic basis.
Instructors should avoid grade inflation, ensuring that academic standards are met.

4. Student-Faculty Interaction

AACSB standards state, "Curricula facilitate student-faculty and student-student interactions appropriate to the program type and achievement of learning goals.” Each core course must be designed to facilitate student-faculty interaction. Key design features include student-faculty ratio (class size), ratio of degrees offered per faculty member (relative to peer institutions), etc. Student-faculty interaction could take the following forms:

a. Class discussions

b. Opportunities for students to ask for clarification

c. Faculty feedback on student work

d. Discussion boards

e. E-mail or telephone correspondence

5. Preventing Cheating During Exams

It is the responsibility of each instructor to ensure that opportunities for students to cheat in a course are kept to a minimum. Some specific recommendations include the following:

• Ensure that students put their book bags and other belongings in the front of the class prior to taking exams. This will prevent access to unauthorized items.
• If possible, seat students with space between them to prevent glancing at other's papers,
• Prohibit the use of cell phones, electronic translation devices, and other electronic devices during exams.
• If cheat sheets or equation formulas are allowed, check them for conformity to established rules.
• Do not leave the exam area or leave students unsupervised during exams.
• Use new exams or tightly control exams so that unauthorized copies are not available to students.
• For online courses, consider requiring proctors for exams, in accordance with RCOBE proctor guidelines.

6. Policy on Electronic Devices

A faculty member may, at his/her sole discretion, prohibit the use of computers, cell phones, calculators, electronic translation devices, digital cameras, or any other electronic device either during regular class sessions or during exams or both.  The sole exception might be if a student is required to have some device or other special arrangements because of a documented disability.  In making the determination with respect to electronic translation devices, in particular, the faculty member should consider the following:

a.         These devices will typically not be allowed during the students’ assessment exams.  Therefore, to allow them in the class could create a false expectation by the student about what he or she will be required to do to graduate.

b.         One of the major objectives of the MBA program at Fort Hays State University is that students acquire the ability to communicate both orally and in writing (presumably in English).  Written communication, as is true with any communication, requires that a student be competent to both send and receive information.  Students who are unable to complete exams and assignments written in the English language without the assistance of a translation device may not have met this objective.

c.         These devices can be used to store course information.  And, since this information can be stored in a foreign language, which the instructor may not be able to read, these devices can be used effectively to cheat on exams.

Penalties for a student’s failure to comply with the policies regarding electronic devices that are established by the instructor could result in, among other things:

a.         Loss of use of the device.
b.         Grade penalties.
c.         Failure on exams and/or other assignments.
d.         Failure in the class.

Punishments and appeals will be handled through established academic processes and procedures.

7. Writing Styles

APA is the style that will be taught and will be acceptable in all MBA classes.

D. Areas of Concentration

A concentration consists of 9 hours in a specialized area. Besides a general MBA, the following areas of concentration (specialization) are currently available:

On-Campus Only

• • Accounting (for undergraduate accounting majors or equivalent)

Online or On-Campus

• • Agribusiness
  • Corporate Communication
  • Digital Marketing
  • Finance
  • Management Information Systems
  • Information Assurance
  • International Business
  • Sports Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Leadership Studies
  • Health Care Management
  • Marketing
  • Tourism & Hospitality Management
  • Production and Operations Management

All MBA core classes are offered both on campus and online. Concentration classes in Accounting are offered only on campus. Concentration classes in all other areas may be offered either online, or both on campus and online.

The FHSU MBA is an innovative program that consistently strives to add additional areas of concentration wherever and whenever resources and demand permit. 

Faculty leaders for the concentration areas include:

E. Course Scheduling

The MBA Committee will establish a course rotation schedule sufficient to allow a fully-matriculated student to complete all MBA degree requirements in no more than two-years. This two-year rotation does not count Foundation Courses.

F. Internships 

Work experience of any kind enhances the value of the MBA degree.  Through work experience, MBA students can develop contacts that help them to network, learn how classroom concepts are applied to real-world problems, and gain insights into real business operations that can improve the classroom learning environment for themselves and their peers.  Temporary work experiences provide an opportunity for students to exhibit their competence and can often lead to permanent work. 

Students may obtain credit for short-term work experiences through formal internship arrangements.  However, internship credit is available only as an add-on (which will increase the number of credit hours beyond the 33 hours required to graduate) and not as a substitute (replacement) for existing courses.  There is no internship credit available in the MBA core.  Any internship credit must be arranged directly with the department head of the core-area of interest.  Students seeking internship credit must comply with the departmental rules and procedures required for earning internship credit in that department. The student is responsible for finding and arranging any internship opportunity.

Internship credit is made available because some employers may require an internship arrangement as a precondition for making temporary employment available.  Internship credit is not made available to fulfill any graduation requirements. 

G. Masters Research

The MBA degree is not fundamentally a research degree-rather, it is a practitioner degree. However, occasionally an MBA student (especially one with the intention to obtain a Ph.D.) may wish to work with a faculty member on a research project. A Research Project is a designed research study and a written report (Masters Thesis) that is conducted under the direction of or with the collaboration of a faculty member. Such a Research Project will not take the place of comprehensive exams or regular course work but may provide additional credit beyond the minimum required for graduation if approved by the advisor. Only a few individuals will have the opportunity to participate in this very limited opportunity. Research performed in a role as a graduate assistant would not be accepted. An interested MBA student should declare his/her interest and must arrange to work with an individual faculty member very early in his/her program (first semester).  Research performed in a role as a graduate assistant would not be accepted. Unless a willing faculty member volunteers to work with the student, no opportunity will either be available or guaranteed. It is expected that the faculty member will only be interested in working with the student if:

• the faculty member and student both share an interest in a common topic,
• the student has outstanding research skills, and
• the student has excellent writing and communication skills, and
• the faculty member has the time for the project.

Students who declare an interest in a research project late in their program are unlikely to find a willing faculty member. Most faculty members and students should expect that this work will result in a co-authored paper that could be of great value to a new Ph.D. student and the faculty member.

H. Transfer, Waiver, and Substitution of Courses:

• Requests for transfer, waiver, or substitution of any MBA Courses should be submitted through the MBA Graduate Coordinator to the MBA Committee for approval.
• No more than nine credit hours will be considered for transfer, waiver, or substitution.
• Students are expected to complete their graduate coursework using FHSU courses.
• Comprehensive exams will test overall FHSU MBA core coursework, even if coursework is transferred.

I. Proposals for Curriculum Change

Proposals for course or curriculum changes or changes in or the addition or removal of areas of concentration should be submitted to the MBA committee for approval.

III. Admission

A. Application Package

A Complete Application Package depends on the applicant's ability to speak English and will include the following:

• Students with English as a Native Language (Domestic Students)
  
  • Paid graduate application.
  • Current resume
  • Official transcript(s) in English for all undergraduate and graduate course work.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Personal Statement from student that states:
    • Reason for seeking an MBA at FHSU.
    • Professional or career goals.
    • Description of prior work experience.
    • A statement of whether the student is applying as an On-Campus or Online Student.
     
  • Other requirements as specified by the FHSU Graduate School.
   
• Students with English as a Second Language (Normally International Students)
  
  • All material required of Domestic Students, plus
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 550, or
  • Other proof of ability to speak and understand English acceptable to the MBA Committee
    
•  The MBA program does not accept Non-English-Speaking Students

B. Timing of Application Submission

• Applications are accepted for admission throughout the year.
• A Complete Application Package should be received by the MBA Graduate Coordinator no later than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of course work.

C. Admission Criteria

The MBA Committee may establish automatic admission criteria and will make decisions on the admission of any student to which such automatic admission criteria do not apply. Admission is competitive and is based on grades, courses taken, and other materials included in the Complete Application Package.

D. Classification of Students

Students are classified, upon admission, as either an On-Campus or Online student and as either a Kansas Resident, a Resident of Contiguous State, or a Non-Resident.

IV. Student Policies and Information

A. Registration Priority

 Refer to the FHSU Academic Calendar for dates and priority of registering for classes.

B. Costs and Fees

A complete summary of MBA tuition and fees is provided through Student Fiscal Services.

C. Cheating

The FHSU University Catalog contains a clear and strong statement on academic honesty. This statement reference is included in the standard syllabus for every MBA core course. The policy includes an extensive list of dishonest academic practices and provides for sanctions (as selected by appropriate classroom instructors commensurate with the seriousness of the infraction) for violations of the policy. The full policy can be viewed in the online University Catalog. This handbook, in the "Core Course Design Elements" section above, delineates procedures for preventing cheating during exams as well as a policy for the use of electronic devices in the classroom or during exams. The MBA Committee believes it is vital that student expectations regarding academic dishonesty be clearly communicated to incoming MBA students as early as possible in the program.  

D. Satisfactory Academic Performance

No grade below C may be applied to graduation. No more than two grades of C may be applied toward graduation. No course taken for Pass/Fail or Credit/No-Credit or audited may be applied toward graduation. Each student must achieve acceptable scores on the MBA Major Field Test (MFT), and the FHSU Post Test in order to graduate.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of B (3.00) in the 33-hour program courses. If, at the end of any semester, the cumulative GPA in the 33-hour program courses is below 3.00, the student will be given one semester to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.00 or better. If, after that semester, the cumulative GPA in the 33-hour program courses is still below 3.00, then the student may, at the discretion of the MBA Committee, be suspended from the MBA program.

E. Incompletes ("I")

A grade of "I" will be awarded only if the student is prevented from completing a course due to circumstances beyond his/her control (for example, medical emergencies, family emergencies, or military deployment). Students receiving an incomplete must have been passing the course before the circumstances arose that led to the incomplete. Poor performance is not a basis for awarding an "I." Instructors giving an "I" will complete the form provided, setting forth the time allowed and tasks to be accomplished to make up the "I." Students are expected to make up the "I" as soon as possible. Normally, an "I" must be made up within one year and one semester, although the instructor can impose a different deadline. 

F. Advising and Mentoring

All MBA students will receive academic advice, discuss career goals, academic difficulties, and success with the MBA Graduate Coordinator. A faculty “mentor” may be assigned and consulted for advice on concentration, career, and educational goals, or preparation for certificates.

G. Adding a Concentration

Any student wanting to change their program of study to extend graduation must formally contact the MBA Coordinator by the following dates:
March 1 (spring graduate)
July 1 (summer graduate)
October 1 (fall graduate)

In a student’s final semester, program of study changes will not be allowed after these dates.

H. On-Campus Students/Online Courses

Based on admission applications, students who apply to take their classes at the FHSU Hays, Kansas, campus are considered on-campus students. These students should register in on-campus sections of MBA courses. On-campus students wanting to take a virtual class must be approved by the MBA Committee. Requests can be made through the advisor.

I. Credit Hour Registration for MBA Students

An MBA student must seek approval from the MBA Committee if he/she would like to register in 11 or more credit hours in a 16-week semester (7 or more credit hours in summer). The MBA Committee would strongly suggest 9-10 credit hours each 16-week semester for full-time students.

V. Administrative Duties and Responsibilities

A. MBA Committee

Members are appointed to serve on the MBA Committee by the Dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship (Dean). The MBA Committee has the following duties and responsibilities:

• With respect to Administration, Policy, and Procedure:
  • Consider and recommend changes in MBA policy and procedure.
  • Review and update this MBA handbook.
  • Review and update the MBA Web Page.
  • Review and update the MBA Course Catalog.
  • Maintain an up-to-date MBA affinity diagram.
  • Help prepare and evaluate MBA Program marketing materials.
   
• With respect to Curriculum
  • Meet as required with all necessary faculty in a collaborative effort to resolve issues or deficiencies revealed through the assessment process.
  • Approve all requests for waiver or exemptions of the curriculum or foundation courses submitted by individual MBA students.
  • Approve any non-FHSU course to be used as credit toward the MBA degree, including transfer and substitute credits.
  • Determine the course rotation schedule sufficient to allow graduation from the program within a two-year period.
   
• With respect to Admission
  • Design an admissions policy and an administrative procedure to handle admissions to the MBA program.
  • Review special situations such as students who request certain waivers of requirements or courses, or students who fail to meet automatic admission criteria.
   
• With respect to Student Policies and Information
  • Determine policy with respect to grading, including what constitutes a passing grade and how incompletes are to be made up.
  • Develop a policy regarding academic honesty and procedures for communication that policy to students.
   
• With respect to Assessment
  • Design and conduct an effective assessment program.
  • Prepare a rubric for use in evaluating the MBA activities (written presentation, oral presentation, and group work).
  • Prepare, administer, and process alumni and employer surveys.
  • Add additional questions to the Student Evaluation for assessment purposes, as desired.
  • Determine passing scores for MBA assessment exams.
  • Hold an annual assessment meeting.
   

B. Participating Faculty (Teaching in the MBA Program)

• Meet the requirements to be either MBA Academically Qualified (MBA-AQ) or Professionally Qualified (PQ).
• Assist the MBA Committee in implementing course, curriculum, and program changes as suggested by the assessment process.
• Incorporate opportunities for student-faculty interaction into course design.
• Maintain academic standards of the MBA program when teaching MBA courses.
• Complete the Incomplete form on Lotus Notes Workflow as required.
• Act as a secondary mentor for students wishing to discuss areas of interest, careers, etc.

C. MBA Graduate Coordinator

• Serve as a member of the MBA Committee.
• Take, distribute, and maintain a file of the minutes of all MBA Committee Meetings and MBA Committee decisions.
• Accept requests for waivers or substitutions of MBA Core courses and forward these requests to the MBA Committee for approval.
• Accept and process applications for admission to the MBA program:
  • Apply automatic acceptance criteria as established by the MBA Committee.
  • Forward non-conforming or marginal applications to the MBA Committee for a decision.
   
• Maintain files or databases containing:
  • Summaries of all assessment exam and assessment activity (scores).
  • Spreadsheet containing admission, grade, and assessment data (to be used for periodic analysis)
  • Exit Surveys and Alumni Surveys.
  • A list of MBA graduates and their contact information (Obtained from the Alumni Association and used for Graduate Alumni Survey).
  • The minutes of all MBA Committee meetings and summaries of MBA Committee decisions, whether made in committee or online.
  • Student applications.
  • Results of MBA assessment meetings--problems and corrective actions.
   
• Act as the primary advisor and contact point to assist students in enrolling for classes, planning their course schedule, and similar administrative matters.

D. Department Heads

• Consider teaching requirements of MBA courses in assigning faculty teaching loads.
• Participate in academic appeals made by MBA students.
• Assist the MBA Committee in implementing course, curriculum, and program changes as suggested by the assessment process.
• Choose or provide procedures for the choice of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs).

E. Dean of College of Business and Entrepreneurship

• Propose changes to and charge MBA Committee with tasks necessary to assure continuous improvements and alignment with AACSB Accreditation Standards.
• Participate in academic appeals made by MBA students.
• Convene meetings of the MBA Graduate Faculty as is required.
• Assist the MBA Committee in implementing course, curriculum, and program changes as suggested by the assessment process.
• Approve changes in MBA program policy and procedure.

F. MBA Graduate Faculty (As a Group)

• Vote on all proposed changes in MBA Program Policy. Only changes approved by the MBA Graduate Faculty are official and binding.

G. Alumni Association

• Maintain a current list of MBA graduates, along with their contact information.

VI. Academic Qualification

A. Scholarly Practitioners (SP), Instructional Practitioners (IP), Scholarly Academics (SA), and Practice Academics (PA)

A faculty member will be deemed to be Scholarly Practitioners (SP), Instructional Practitioners (IP), Scholarly Academics (SA), and Practice Academics (PA) according to the policies for such qualifications established by the College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

B. Qualifications to Teach in MBA Program

The following faculty qualification standards will be maintained by the MBA program:

VII. Assessment and Improvement

A. Background and Introduction

In concept, assessment should efficiently provide easily interpreted, objective, usable program data relevant to longitudinal and cross-sectional program effectiveness. Longitudinal effectiveness is the ability of our program to enhance the knowledge and skill of our students over time—to add value. Cross-sectional effectiveness is the ability of our program to compete with peer programs. Assessment provides benchmarks against which program changes can be measured and evaluated.

B. Program Entry Assessment (Benchmark)

Upon entry into the MBA program and in connection with the Graduate Success Lab, each student will take the FHSU Pre-Test. These exams will establish a benchmark against which to compare the post-assessment results in order to measure the value-added in the program in the functional areas as well as in the areas of reading, writing, critical thinking, and mathematics. Results (scores) from these exams are maintained by the MBA Graduate Coordinator.

C. Program Exit Assessment

1. Assessment Tests

All graduating MBA students, both on-campus and virtual, will sit for one standardized ETS exam — the three-hour MBA Major Field Test (MFT). Students will, on the same date, take the FHSU MBA Post-Test. These exams also serve as part of the assessment process. These exams will be used to assess the following areas

1. MFT evaluates the students' functional knowledge and critical thinking skills
2.  Other knowledge and skills as determined by FHSU MBA Committee.

From the semester a student finishes their last class on the program of study, he/she has one year to take comprehensive exams. 

MBA 817: Strategic Management is not a preparatory course for comprehensive exams. The comprehensive exam scores are not factored into the MBA 817 final grade.

Scores are not released by the MBA Committee. A pass/fail decision will be made within approximately two weeks of the exams ending. The pass/fail decision is determined by reviewing the two exam scores against a historic mean and standard deviation.

2. Survey of Graduating Students

Each graduating student will complete a survey that seeks to elicit feedback regarding how the MBA program can be improved. Results of this survey will be evaluated by the MBA Committee to determine if improvements to the MBA program can be implemented. Copies of the survey will be retained by the MBA Graduate Coordinator. The graduate survey will assess the following areas:

• Student attitudes.
• Teaching quality.
• Mentoring and Advising.
• Curriculum.
• Possible areas of Program Improvement.

D. Student Evaluation of Instruction

Student evaluations of instruction will be administered in each section offered each semester. Evaluations will consist of the standard student evaluation of instruction. The MBA Committee may choose to add up to five additional questions to the CourseEval for assessment purposes.

E. Post-Graduate Assessment (Alumni Survey)

Alumni, having gained the perspective of work experience, are in a unique position to provide meaningful feedback regarding the effectiveness of the MBA program. The MBA Committee will prepare, periodically, a survey instrument designed to elicit feedback from alumni about the MBA program, with the idea that improvements to the program can be made. The MBA Graduate Coordinator will maintain, as well as is feasible, a mailing list of MBA alumni so that the survey can be administered. The MBA Committee will evaluate the surveys. The MBA Graduate Coordinator will maintain a file containing these surveys. The graduate survey will assess the following areas:

• Effectiveness of the program in preparing students for the workplace.
• Potential new courses.
• Program strengths and weaknesses.
• Possible curriculum changes.

F. Assessment Test Administration

All program assessment tests will be administered in on-line format. On campus exams will be administered on Friday of the second week of April and November. Fort Hays will appoint an Institution Administrator (typically Dean's administrative assistant) and Proctor Administrator in accordance with ETS requirements. The duties and responsibilities of these individuals are outlined in the ETS Institution Administrator Manual and ETS Proctor Administrator Manual, both which are available at the ETS website (see admin-mapp.ets.org and admin.mft-ets.org). Off-campus virtual students will take the exams online under the supervision of a proctor. Virtual students will be responsible for finding their own Proctors. Copies of the FHSU Academic Honesty policy and Proctor Approval Forms (Student Responsibility and Proctor Responsibility) are available at the MBA Comprehensive Exam Blackboard site.

1. Information for Students
   • Descriptions of all tests (MFT, PP, and MBA Post Test)
   • Sample questions for all tests
   • Study aids--PowerPoint slides from MBA courses
   • Proctor form
   • FHSU Academic Honesty Policy
   • Notice to online students of deadlines for finding proctors
   • Announcement of dates and times of tests and materials allowed
    
2. Information for Faculty
   • Instructions for on-campus proctors (to be send when proctors are assigned)
   • Instructions for online proctors (to be sent as email when virtual proctors are assigned)
    

 3. Exam Time-Line and Duties

4.  Comprehensive Exam Retakes

Students who fail the Comprehensive Exam will be allowed one retake at their own expense. The MBA Committee will determine the following:

• Courses (if any) that must be taken or other recommendations to improve deficiencies.
• A suspense date for the retake (last date the exam can be taken)
• The type of retake (could be the entire battery of exams, a new version of the FHSU Post Test, a short case, or other type of exam).
• Location and conditions of the retake (on or off campus, how proctored, etc.).

The MBA Committee will inform the candidate in writing (see Sample Notification Letter in section VIII) of their performance on the exam and all relevant conditions and determinations above. The letter will advise students that failure to successfully complete the retake will result in suspension from the program.

G. Assessment Analysis

1. Initial Analysis

Annually, the MBA Committee will hold an initial assessment meeting. This meeting will review the following items (provided by the MBA Coordinator):

• Results from the MBA pretests from Graduate Success Lab
• Assessment test results for the last 6 semesters
• Results of assessment activity
• Graduate survey results for the past year
• Student evaluation forms from courses for the past year
• Post Graduate Assessment Survey

2. Corrective Action

If further action is suggested from Step 1 above, the MBA Committee will schedule a meeting with all affected faculty to address the issue. This will be a collaborative effort and could involve faculty from one or several courses. The intention will be to develop program or course modifications to improve the program.

3. Documentation

All deficiencies, issues, opportunities for improvement, and all recommended program or course changes involved in the process will be documented and maintained by the MBA Coordinator.