Section 5: Academic Resources
5.1 Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are available online. Students must fulfill both the prerequisite course requirements and any other requirements (e.g., a minimum grade of “B+” in a prerequisite course) to take certain MBA courses. Only the course professor may make exceptions to these rules. Prerequisite courses are listed on both course descriptions and course schedules.
Course information is available on the Tepper School Current MBA Student Web site (click on Course Schedule). This site is an essential tool for course planning. It is not a registration site. The course schedule lists the number, title, professor, section, days, hours, room and any prerequisites for each course.
5.2 Course Packets
MBA course packets are distributed from the Tepper School copy center at no cost to students. Required textbooks and other course related materials are at the student’s expense. Only students whose names appear on the course roster will receive course materials; those on the waiting list will not.
All reading materials for a dropped course must be returned promptly. Student will be billed for the cost of un-returned materials and may not receive materials for other courses they add.
5.3 Academic Calendar
The MBA students academic calendar, issued by the Student Services office, is the official calendar for MBA students. This calendar differs from the official Carnegie Mellon calendar and has additional Tepper School specific dates. Students are advised to review the Tepper School MBA academic calendar carefully and use it to plan for key dates and commitments. The calendar can be found at: http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/current-students/current-graduate-students/index.aspx
5.4 Academic Advising and Tutoring
Each student is assigned an academic advisor from the Student Services staff; however, if your advisor is not available, students should feel free to talk with anyone in the office.
Students experiencing difficulty in a specific class should consult with the faculty member and/or the course TA first to see what class resources are available. Most required courses have TA sessions or review sessions as well as office hours with the TA or faculty member.
5.5 Examination Schedules
All final examinations occur at the end of each mini-semester. Exams may be given on evenings and Saturdays. Mid-term and final exam schedules are posted on the Current MBA Student website. Students are responsible for knowing the current examination schedules and are expected to take exams on the date(s) they are given.
5.6 Course and Faculty Evaluations
The Tepper School community relies on input and feedback to help drive improvement. Each mini during the final weeks of class, students evaluate both the course and faculty for each class they take. Student participation in this evaluation process is essential and the faculty, administration and the Graduate Business Association take this process very seriously. Reasons to complete evaluations include: to aid in decision making for future students considering registering for the course, to help shape/improve the course for future iterations, and to provide a primary tool that is used for tenure and promotion decisions for faculty. The expectation is that students will complete all of their course evaluations and use the document to provide honest and comprehensive information for the faculty member(s).
Evaluations are online and may be completed at any time during the evaluation period, but time is set aside in each class for students to complete their evaluation. Statistical results of past evaluations are available online. Go to: Summary Evaluation Results.
5.7 Transcripts and Unofficial Grade Reports
Only Carnegie Mellon (the HUB) may issue official transcripts. Unofficial grade reports are available from the Student Services office. You can access your grades via the Web at the Student Information Online (SIO) section by logging in at http://www.cmu.edu/hub/sio.
University policy prohibits the release of grades over the telephone, by fax or by e-mail.
5.8 Think Big
Do you have a question, a suggestion, an idea or topic you would like to discuss, and are not sure who in the Tepper School contact? Think Big could be the resource you are looking for. Express your thoughts, opinions or suggestions. All submissions are routed to Dean Dammon’s office and the Dean, an appropriate staff administrator or faculty member will respond back to you. For more information, go to: http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/thinkBig
