2021-2022 Catalog

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Sawyer Business School

Graduate students (degree or certificate) in the Sawyer Business School are expected to earn at least a “B” (3.0) in all courses attempted. Failure to maintain this average can lead to academic dismissal. Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at the completion of each semester as well as to graduate. "A," "A –," "B+," and "B" represent satisfactory work. "B-", "C+", and "C", represent passing but unsatisfactory work. There is no grade below a “C” that is a passing grade in graduate school. It is the student's responsibility to monitor his/her academic progress. Formal guidelines for academic performance and consequent actions are as follows:

Warning

  1. Issued when a student's semester GPA falls below 3.0 for the second consecutive semester with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  2. Issued when a student receives an “F” grade in an elective course with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  3. Issued when a student receives a 2nd Incomplete grade (I)

Probation

  1. Issued when a student's cumulative GPA falls below 3.0
  2. Issued when a student receives an “F” grade in a required course with a with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  3. Issued when a student receives a second “F” grade in an elective course with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  4. Issued when a student has three (3) or more “I” grades; student will be blocked from registration for the next semester and continuously until achieves two or less “I” grades within the timeframe of the agreed upon “I” grade deadline; grades must be passing grades in each course to progress in program

Extended Probation

Issued on a case by case basis for serious extenuating circumstances for a student who demonstrates strong progress toward regaining good academic standing.

Steps for Granting Extended Probation

  1. Student must meet with the program director and provide documentation outlining extenuating circumstances.
  2. Program director must forward the student’s documentation and provide a letter of support as well as an agreed upon plan of action to the dean of graduate programs.

Dismissal

  • May be issued when a student receives a 2nd “F” grade in a required course
  • May be issued when a student receives a second “F” grade in an elective course with a cumulative GPA below 3.0
  • May be issued when a student does not meet the conditions of his/her probation in the semester following the probationary term

Once a student is dismissed from Suffolk University, s/he is no longer considered a Suffolk University student. A student dismissed from any dual degree program is dismissed from all programs that constitute the dual degree. Dismissals are recorded on the student transcript. A student seeking re-admission to a single Sawyer Business School program must complete a new application for admission and provide supporting documentation required for admission consideration. Students will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Applying to Return to the University

A student may appeal for readmission to the program from which they were dismissed by taking the following steps:

  1. Student must petition the Program Director, in writing, requesting readmission within 14 days of receiving the dismissal letter. The petition letter should include personal contact information, including the former Suffolk University ID. The letter should address any difficulties or extenuating circumstances they experienced while enrolled in their degree program that resulted in the academic performance leading to their dismissal.
  2. Student must meet with the Program Director and provide documentation outlining any such extenuating circumstances, e.g., transcripts from other institutions, letters from a current faculty member, etc.
  3. Program Director must forward the student’s documentation and provide a letter of support as well as an agreed upon action plan to the Dean of Graduate Programs:

    Michael Behnam, Ph.D.

    Dean of Graduate Programs

    Sawyer Business School

    120 Tremont Street

    Boston, MA 02108-2770

The student will be notified of the decision in writing by the SBS Dean of Graduate Programs.

  • If readmission is denied, the student is dismissed without any opportunity to appeal for readmission to the Program
  • If readmission is granted, the student's progress will be closely monitored by the Program Director. If satisfactory progress is not achieved as defined in the agreed-upon action plan, the student will be dismissed with no opportunity for readmission to the Program.

Students who are dismissed for academic dishonesty will not be allowed to apply for readmission.

For more information, please call the Sawyer Business School Graduate Programs Dean’s Office at 617-573-8088.

Attention International Students: If your appeal is successful and you are readmitted, bring a copy of your readmission letter to the International Student Services Office located on the 9th Floor of 73 Tremont Street, 617-573-8154, if you are on a visa or I-20. This re-admittance is academic and does not ensure that the university will be able to reinstate you through immigration.

Policy for students seeking re-entry since their last enrollment

A student previously enrolled in a Sawyer Business School graduate degree program who has not been officially enrolled for two or more semesters (fall/spring) or who did not comply with the terms of an applied leave of absence must apply for readmission and meet the following criteria to be considered for re-entry:

  1. A student seeking re-entry 5 or less years since their last enrollment:
    1. Submit a Re-Entry Form and resume to the Office of Graduate Admission.
    2. If the student is in good academic standing, with no outstanding payment issues, the Office of Graduate Admission will issue official Re-Entry Admission letter.
    3. If a student is not in good academic standing, the graduate program director, in consultation with the Dean of SBS Graduate Programs, will make an admit decision. If a student is readmitted, the Office of Graduate Admission will issue an official Re-Entry admission letter.
    4. If readmitted, students will be subject to the academic requirements for the degree at the time of readmission and readmitted under the current catalog year.
    5. All review of prior coursework and academic performance will be handled on a case by case basis for relevance and current following current waiver and transfer policies.
  2. A student seeking re-entry with more than 5 years and less than 7 years since their last enrollment:
    1. Submit a Re-Entry Form and resume to the Office of Graduate Admission
    2. The graduate program director will make admit decision based on the following
      1. Why the student left the program
      2. Earned Suffolk grades in the graduate program to date
      3. Resume – what student has done since leaving the program
      4. GMAT or GRE score taken when admitted to the program (if testing was required)
    3. If readmitted, students will be subject to the academic requirements for the degree at the time of readmission and readmitted under the current catalog year.
    4. All review of prior coursework and academic performance will be handled on a case-by-case basis for relevance and currency following current waiver and transfer policies. Any exceptions being requested must be reviewed and approved by the Dean of SBS Graduate Programs.
  3. A student seeking re-entry with 7 or more years since their last enrollment:
    1. Must completely re-apply to the program including application for admission, new GMAT or GRE (if required for standard admission to the program), and all other components of a standard first-time application to the program
    2. If admitted, students will be subject to the academic requirements for the degree at the time of readmission and admitted under the current catalog year.
    3. All review of prior coursework and academic performance will be handled on a case-by-case basis for relevance and currency following current waiver and transfer policies.
All re-entry applicants to the Executive MBA shall do the following:
  1. Submit a Re-Entry Form and resume to the Office of Graduate Admission.
  2. The Office of Graduate Admission will send these documents to the Executive MBA Academic director.
  3. The Academic director will make the admit decision based on the following:

 

  • Earned Suffolk grades in the graduate program to date
  • Resume- what student has done since leaving the program
  • Why the student left the program
  • GMAT or GRE score taken when admitted to the program(if testing was required)

D. Re-entry due to Military Service

Suffolk University will make the necessary accommodations to work with service members or reservists due to service requirements. Students are encouraged to view the University's information regarding military service for more information.