Rider University has a number of academic policies that graduate students must be aware of as they study. Grading policies, proficiency exams, and withdrawal policies are all issues that a student may have questions about during his or her tenure at Rider. Please utilize the following information to answer questions or contact the College of Business at (609) 896-5127.

Attendance

It is the policy of Rider University that students shall regularly attend all scheduled class meetings. Failure to comply with this policy will be considered justifiable cause for imposing penalties (e.g., reduction of grade, failure, etc.) at the discretion of the professor teaching the course. Each professor is expected to exercise judgment in determining the validity of any absence and the nature of the penalty to be assessed. All registration and financial arrangements for graduate courses must be completed and the student must be in attendance no later than the second meeting of each course.

Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses

A student may add a course through the first week of the semester provided the course is still open for registration. Dropping a course may occur through the second week of the semester. After the second week of the semester, a withdrawal from the course is necessary and a W is recorded on the transcript.

A graduate student who wishes to withdraw officially from one or more graduate or undergraduate courses must submit a written request and must obtain the approval of the associate dean or department chair of graduate studies, or dean of the respective school. Withdrawals are not permitted during the last two weeks of class except for reasons of validated physical or psychological incapacitation as approved by the dean of the college. Students who do not withdraw officially from courses they fail to complete will receive a grade of F for those courses.

Grades and Transcript Notations

A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better must be achieved in all graduate course work attempted at Rider. The letter designations used to grade the quality of achievement in graduate courses and the quality points assigned to these letter designations to complete grade point averages are:

Other designations are as follows:
I ...Incomplete
P ...Passing
S ...Satisfactory progress
U ...Unsatisfactory
W ...Withdrew
X ...Audit

Policy for Grade of Incomplete

Students who, as a result of extenuating circumstances, are unable to complete the required work of a course within the normal time limits for the term may request an extension of time from the faculty member. Such extensions of time should be granted only in cases in which illness or other serious emergency has prevented the student from completing the course requirements or from taking a final examination. The request for extension of time must be made prior to the last scheduled class meeting except in those unusual situations in which prior notification is not possible. The faculty member shall determine whether or not to grant the request for a time extension and the type of verification (if any) required to support the request. The faculty member shall specify the time, up to four weeks from the last date of the term, by which work must be completed by the student. If the faculty member agrees to the request, the notation "I" (incomplete) is submitted on the grade roll. In those situations where the faculty member has not received a request for an extension of time, the notation "I" (incomplete) may be submitted on the grade roll by the faculty member when, in his or her judgment, such a determination appears justified. Upon submission of completed required work, the faculty member will submit a change-of-grade form to the registrar.

Students who, as a result of extenuating circumstances, are unable to submit the required work at the end of the four-week period may request an extension of the incomplete grade. The request for an extension of the incomplete must be made prior to the expiration of the four-week period. If the faculty member agrees to the request for an extension, the faculty member shall specify the time, up to a maximum of two weeks from the date of expiration of the four-week period (i.e., six weeks from the last date of the term) by which work must be completed by the student and shall submit an extension-of-incomplete form to the registrar. Upon submission of completed required work, the faculty member shall submit a change-of-grade form to the registrar.

Failure of the registrar to receive from the faculty member a change-of-grade form or an extension-of-incomplete form at the end of the four-week period, or a change-of-grade form at the end of the six-week period, shall result in the automatic assignment of the grade F.

Interruption of Studies

Students who interrupt their studies must notify the appropriate graduate program office. If studies are interrupted for up to one year, students may return with the approval of the advisor. However, if two calendar years elapse between the last date of attendance and the next registration, students must submit an application for readmission together with a nonrefundable readmission fee. Students will be responsible for the application and degree requirements in force at the time of readmission.

For students to remain in good standing with the division, they must file a notification of non-attendance form announcing their intention to not attend any semester prior to the beginning of that semester. The form may be procured from the approved graduate office.

Proficiency Exams

Proficiency exams for each core course will be offered before the beginning of the spring, summer and fall semesters of the academic year. The examinations will be scheduled on specific dates and times approximately two weeks before each semester.

• Spring 2013 proficiency tests will be scheduled on:
  Monday, January 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  Wednesday, January 9 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Summer 2013 proficiency tests will be given on:
  Monday, April 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  Wednesday, April 17 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Fall 2013 proficiency tests will be given on:
  Monday, August 12from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  Wednesday, August 14 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

A student will only be allowed to take an individual proficiency test (e.g., economics) one time. Application due dates for the testing are:

• December 7 for the spring
• March 29 for the summer
• July 22 for the fall

Students will only be allowed to take the proficiency examinations within one year of the start of their first semester.

If you intend to take the proficiency exam for a core course go to the following link to print out a copy of the application: "Application for Proficiency Exam". Instructions are noted on the application as to fees and where to mail the application. Students should also note the time limitations of the exam, etc. stated below.

Students are required to bring their Rider Bronc I.D. with them before they will be allowed to take the test.

Also since NO CELL PHONES will be allowed in the exam room, it is suggested that students bring a watch to help pace their progress during the timed exam.

Proficiency Presentation:
PMBA-8000 Executive Communications
Proficiency Rubric
Presentation Guidelines
This test is not given on the above dates.  Please contact the Graduate Business Studies office at 609.896.5127 about signing up for this particular "presentation" test.  Once this test "presentation" is scheduled you will be given a month's notice to prepare.

One and three-quarter hour exams:
PMBA-8040 Financial Principle - Exam Guidelines

Two-hour exams:
PMBA-8060 Marketing Principles - Exam Guidelines
PMBA-8070 Management Theory - Exam Guidelines

Two and one-half hour exams:
PMBA-8030 Economic Analysis - Exam Guidelines
PMBA-8050 Calculus - Exam Guidelines
PMBA-8052 Operations Management (one 8.5 x 11 reference sheet of formulas and notes allowed) - Exam Guidelines

Three-hour exams:
PMBA-8010 Information Technology - Exam Guidelines
PMBA-8020 Fundamentals of Accounting - Exam Guidelines
PMBA-8051 Fundamentals of Statistical Analysis (Open Book) - Exam Guidelines