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Graduate Student Handbook
2023-2024
For students in the MBA and MS programs
The University at Buffalo School of Management continuously strives to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to make
documents accessible to visitors with disabilities using assistive technology. If you need help accessing this document’s content,
contact the School of Management Graduate Programs Office at 716-645-3200 or mgtgsrv@buffalo.edu.
Table of Contents
PURPOSE OF HANDBOOK 4
MISSION, VISION, GOALS AND VALUES 5
Our Mission 5
Our Vision 5
Our Goals 5
Our Values 5
CALENDARS FOR 2022-2023 5
University Calendar 5
STUDENT RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND CODE OF CONDUCT 5
Graduate Student Expectations 5
School's Right to Amend Rules and Procedures 9
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS 9
Full-Time MBA Program 9
Professional MBA Program (Part Time) 10
Master of Science in Accounting 10
Master of Science in Business Analytics 10
Master of Science in Finance 10
Master of Science in Management Information Systems 11
BS/MS Programs 11
GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 11
Academic Dismissal 11
Academic Grievance 11
Academic Grievance Preamble 11
Grievance Definitions and Limits 12
Academic Grievance Consultative Resolution and Formal Resolution 12
Academic Integrity 18
Academic Integrity Preamble 18
Examples of Academic Dishonesty 18
Consultative Resolution 18
Right to Appeal 20
Academic Integrity Grievance Policies: Other Related University Policies 23
Academic Probation 24
Academic Withdrawal 25
Approval for Courses outside the School of Management 25
Transfer Between Programs 26
Copyright: Higher Education Opportunity Act 4137 Notification 26
Course Availability 26
Course Sharing Limits 26
Credit Hour Requirements/Curricular Restrictions 27
FERPA 29
Financial Obligations 29
Grading Procedures/Requirements 29
Repeating Courses 31
Graduation 31
Guidelines for Course-Related Activities during Non-Class Times in MBA and MS Programs 32
Holds 32
Independent Study-Supervised Research 32
Internships (Full-time MBA and MS students) 32
Leave of Absence 33
Student Honors and Awards 34
Time Limits for Degree Conferral 34
Transcripts 34
Tuition and Fees 34
University Course Evaluation System (Campus Labs) 34
Use of Dual-Listed Courses Toward Both an Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Program 35
Use of Historical Coursework Toward a Current Graduate Degree Program 35
Withdrawal from the Program 35
SERVICES 35
1Capen 35
Academic Advisement 35
Accessibility Resources 36
Ciminelli Family Career Resource Center 36
Computer Resources 36
Counseling Services 37
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 37
School of Management Alumni Association 37
Student Organizations and Association 37
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
PURPOSE OF HANDBOOK
In this handbook, you will find a comprehensive description of the programs, policies and procedures that
are relevant for your School of Management graduate degree program. In conjunction with the
School of
Management website, it will provide you with a comprehensive guide to surviving and thriving during your
graduate studies.
The general policies and procedures of the Graduate School are found in the
Graduate School Policies
Library, which is available online or in 408 Capen Hall, North Campus.
You are responsible for understanding and following these policies and procedures at all times. We
encourage you to take full advantage of all the resources the School of Management and the University at
Buffalo offer to help you succeed.
While this handbook has been developed to assist you throughout your academic program, it does not
constitute all UB or School of Management policies concerning students. It is your responsibility to be
aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and deadlines.
We wish you the very best and hope for an engaging, challenging and successful graduate education.
Sara Langston, Graduate Programs Director
Melissa Falgiano, Online and Professional MBA Program Director
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MISSION, VISION, GOALS AND VALUES
Our Mission
The mission of the University at Buffalo School of Management is to discover and deepen our
understanding of management concepts and applications that drive effective organizations and use them
to produce principled and insightful leaders who create positive change in the world.
Our Vision
A world of transformational leaders and organizations who change society for the better.
Our Goals
Define the future of management.
Forge highly capable, engaged and ethical leaders.
Make a positive impact on business and society.
Create a School of Management with world-class capabilities.
Our Values
The UB School of Management is a vibrant and inclusive community of big thinkers and big doers, who
are leading business into the future. We work together to question and upend theories, lifting each other
up and driving change. Because at the UB School of Management, ambition is a virtue, tenacity is a
given, and discovery happens everywhere, from the classroom to the boardroom.
CALENDARS FOR 2023-2024
University Calendar
U
niversity calendars are official for all School of Management graduate students. The Office of the
Registrar maintains Official Academic and Student Calendars
that provide critical academic and financial
dates. Refer to the Academic Calendar for semester start/end dates and holidays and consult the student
calendars for a month-by-month schedule of all critical academic and financial dates. Official university
dates are binding.
The university maintains a general university events calendar
that also includes many opportunities.
Attendance on Religious Holy Days
On those religious holy days when members of a faith observe the expectation of their religion that they
be absent from school or work, individual students will be excused from class without penalty if expressly
requested. If such a requested absence results in a student’s inability to fulfill the academic requirement
of a course scheduled on that particular day, the instructor must provide an opportunity for the student to
make up the requirement without penalty. Students shall not be charged any fees or experience any
adverse or prejudicial effects due to absence from coursework due to religious observance.
If a student absence cannot be resolved between the student and the class instructor, or either party is
aggrieved by the process, appeal shall proceed to the Graduate School.
STUDENT RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND CODE OF CONDUCT
Graduate School Policies
As a student in the School of Management, you are subject to university and school regulations
concerning student affairs, conduct and discipline as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
. The
Student Code of Conduct describes what is expected from you as a UB student, including your rights and
responsibilities, standards of behavior and an overview of student-related university policies.
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It is your responsibility to know the regulations in effect and keep informed on matters relating to
registration, prerequisites, degree requirements, dates, etc. It is also your responsibility to check your UB
email account and stay informed on all matters relating to your program, degree requirements, etc.
The School of Management reserves the right to make changes in programs, policy and regulations as
circumstances dictate, subsequent to publication. You are expected to have knowledge of the information
contained in this handbook and other university publications, and will be prompted to read and affirm the
Student Code of Conduct via your HUB student center.
For more information on Graduate School Policies and Resources see
Graduate School Resources for
Students.
School of Management Code of Professionalism
As a School of Management graduate student, you are considered a professional and your behavior in
and out of the classroom, as well as working on a team, affects others. We expect you to arrive to class
on time, pay attention to your instructors and focus on class materials. While major obstructions or
disruptions in class are rare, you should still understand the expectations for student behavior (yours and
your peers) — as well as the consequences for inappropriate actions. Instructors are encouraged to
review and enforce policies for addressing obstruction or disruption in the classroom.
School of Management faculty and staff expect every student (in and out of the classroom) to engage in
conduct consistent with the professional and ethical behavior that business organizations expect of their
employees. There is a general set of behavioral expectations that apply to a businessperson while
working in a team (and with other peers), meeting with a faculty/staff member or interacting with their
supervisor/superiors. As a guide, consider how you would interact and behave in a business
environment and apply the equivalent standard to your in-class and out-of-class interactions.
Professionalism, or lack of, is considered part of your academic progress. Therefore, there is ZERO
tolerance with respect to any conduct that interferes with the educational, professional and behavioral
expectations for any/all students. Upholding standards of professionalism is critical to the mission and
reputation of the school. Your role as a student can either contribute to the excellent reputation, and,
therefore, the value of your degree as a future alum, or it can have negative consequences for you as a
student and the school’s reputation. This includes not only interactions among students, but also any
behavior that impedes the ability of faculty in delivering the highest level of academic rigor and integrity
and as such is a threat to the integrity and reputation of the School of Management. Everyone in the
School of Management community (faculty, staff, students and alumni) has an obligation to uphold the
highest ethical standards related to academic, professional and interpersonal activities related to the
program.
Obstruction or Disruption in Class
Disruptive behavior is any behavior that interferes with the rights of other students, faculty and staff, and
their access to an appropriate learning or work environment. Examples include persistently speaking
without being recognized, continuing conversations that distract the class or, in extreme cases, physical
threats or personal insults.
• If a student is disruptive, the instructor should ask them to stop and warn them that continuing
such disruptive behavior can result in academic or disciplinary action.
• Should the disruptive behavior continue, the faculty member is authorized to ask the student to
leave the classroom or site.
• A student may be dismissed from the course for the remainder of the semester, subject to
Student Conduct Regulations and due process proceedings, as appropriate.
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• If, in the instructor’s best judgment, the behavior creates a safety risk or makes it impossible to
continue class or function, the instructor should contact University Police to assist in removal of
the student and/or may dismiss class for that day.
Behaviors expected in class
• Arrive on time to class and be prepared to participate. Students should not ask an instructor in
class to go over material they missed.
• Attend all classes, and if unable, notify the professor as soon as you know you will not be to
attend.
• Keep cell phones and other electronic devices turned off during class unless otherwise instructed
by your faculty member(s).
• Respect your peers/colleagues and faculty by refraining from disruptive behavior. For instance,
do not engage in non-class activities such as speaking with your peers during the class on non-
academic topics, use a laptop/tablet/cell phone for personal matters during class, or leave before
the professor has dismissed the class.
• Focus on class material during class time. Sleeping, talking to others, doing work for another
class, checking email and exploring the internet are unacceptable and can be disruptive.
• Do not pack book bags or backpacks to leave until the instructor has dismissed class.
• Students should address faculty as “professor” or “doctor” Calling faculty by their first name is not
appropriate unless given explicit permission from the faculty member.
• If any special accommodation (verified by the university) is needed, notify the instructor in
advance by sharing an accommodation letter prepared by UB Accessibility Resources.
• Take responsibility for missed learning and participation opportunities if you miss class and
respect the policies as set forth in your instructor’s guidelines in the syllabus.
• Participate in all classroom activities.
• Foster academic honesty.
Behaviors expected outside of class
• Treat all communication with peers and faculty/staff members as professional communications
whether these are in-person or virtual during class, meetings or outside of class. Microsoft Teams
is not an approved channel of communication in our programs. Do not use it to contact faculty or
staff.
• As a member of a team, attend all team meetings and fully contribute to the group’s discussions,
presentations and work products.
• Respect the need to plan ahead and schedule tasks so each group member has ample
opportunity to meet academic obligations.
• Be a responsible member of your group who is respectful of each individual and their right to
receive an education and contribute to group work.
• Be gracious and respectful with working professionals and faculty who take time to interact
with you in and outside the classroom.
• Honor appointments with advisors, employers, faculty and staff.
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• Foster academic honesty.
Any disruptive behavior should be referred to the Students of Concern Team. Faculty, staff and students
are able to submit a report related to disruptive behavior in or out of the classroom
, or when there is a
concern about any student.
Graduate Student Expectations
Platinum Rule
“Do unto others as they would want done to them.”
What to Expect – Of Yourself
• You get out of this program what you put into it. Effort is key.
• Ask for help from faculty and staff.
• Be a team player.
• Practice self-compassion.
What to Expect – In Class
• Read each course syllabus thoroughly.
• Attend all scheduled classes; if you cannot make a class, let the professor know ahead of time.
• Remove distractions by turning off cell phones and logging out of social media on your laptop.
• Submit assignments on time.
• Complete course evaluations
thoughtfully.
What to Expect – Faculty Office Hours, Appointments and Meetings
• Consult the course syllabus for each professor’s designated office hours.
• Determine the best form of communication for each professor.
• Use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation when you communicate by email.
• Keep appointments you set with a faculty member, teaching assistant or advisor. If you are
unable to make an appointment, let them know as soon as possible.
What to Expect – Program Administration
• Regularly check emails from your faculty, advisor and program office.
• Regularly check School of Management digital screens and website for upcoming events.
• RSVP for enrichment events and be sure to attend—your participation matters. Always dress to
impress.
• Schedule advising appointments with your academic advisor to be sure you are on track to
graduate on time, as well as to answer any questions you may have.
• Watch for and meet graduation filing deadlines.
What to Expect – From Your Classmates
• Recognize that everyone comes from different backgrounds (for example, family, culture,
language or general experiences). Seek to embrace and understand different points of view.
• Follow professional conduct and maintain professional demeanor.
• Communicate with and respect each other.
• Harassment and discrimination of any kind is prohibited and can result in disciplinary action. For
more information about sanctions and the conduct process, visit the UB Student Guide
.
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What to Expect – Presentations, Papers and Coursework
• Do not plagiarize. According to Merriam-Webster, plagiarism is defined as “the act of using
another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person.”
• You cannot copy and paste from the internet and call that work your own. You must give credit
when using direct quotes, paragraphs or even summary of someone else’s ideas.
• To properly cite sources, the School of Management uses APA citation format.
• Report intellectual property violators to your faculty or faculty director.
• Understand the difference between plagiarism and collaboration.
• To learn more, review the University at Buffalo’s Academic Integrity policies
What to Expect – Career Resource Center (CRC) and Career Advisors (Full-Time MBA and MS
programs)
• Be proactive in your pursuit of internships, jobs and other opportunities. Begin your search early.
• Engage fully in CRC activities, programs and events.
• Show up for interviews on time, well prepared and well groomed.
• Keep your alumni interactions professional.
• Update your résumé/CV as required and meet with your career advisor on a regular basis.
• When you set up an appointment with your career advisor, keep it. If you are unable to make an
appointment, let the CRC know.
School's Right to Amend Rules and Procedures
The School of Management reserves the right to amend its rules and procedures when necessary. The
school grants students the right to petition for relief from its rules and procedures in individual cases. The
school, however, does not have the authority to waive requirements set by the State University of New
York.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Full-Time MBA Program
As a full-time MBA student, you complete this 60-credit-hour program in two years. As a dual degree MBA
student your program length will vary based on your other degree program.
Curriculum Map for Full-Time MBA Program - Single Degree, 60 Credit Hours
Curriculum Map for Full-Time MBA Program - Dual Degree, 48 Credit Hours
Curriculum Map for Full-Time MBA Program - Dual Degree, 45 Credit Hours
Curriculum Map for Full-Time STEM MBA Program – Single Degree, 60 Credit Hours
Dual or Collaborative MBA Degrees
• Accelerated MBA for GME Residents/Fellows
• Combined Undergraduate and MBA programs
o BS Biomedical/Engineering/MBA
o BS Chemical Engineering/MBA
o BS Civil Engineering/MBA
o BS Computer Science/MBA
o BS Electrical Engineering/MBA
o BS Industrial Engineering/MBA
o BS Mechanical Engineering/MBA
o BS Business Administration/MBA
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• Combined Graduate/Professional and MBA Programs
o AuD/MBA
o DDS/MBA
o JD/MBA
o MArchitecture/MBA
o MD/MBA
o MPH/MBA
o MS Real Estate Development/MBA
o MSW/MBA
o PharmD/MBA
Online MBA Program
The OMBA program requires completion of 48 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0
or higher. The curriculum consists of 12 core courses (36 credits) and 12 elective credits. You may
complete this program in 24 to 48 months. Most students will complete the program in 33 months with
continuous part-time enrollment.
Curriculum map for the Online MBA program
Professional MBA Program (Part Time)
The PMBA program requires completion of 48 credit hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0
or higher. The curriculum consists of 12 core courses (36 credits) and 12 elective credits. You may elect
to speed up or slow down your progress, thus completing the program in as few as 27 months or as many
as 48 months.
Curriculum map for Professional MBA program
Master of Science in Accounting
Satisfy the 150-credit-hour CPA licensure requirement in our full-time, one-year (30-credit-hour) program.
For more information about licensing, visit our licensure disclosure site
.
Curriculum map for MS in Accounting program
Master of Science in Business Analytics (In-residence)
As a full-time business analytics student, you complete this 30-credit-hour program in one year.
Curriculum map for MS in Business Analytics program
Master of Science in Business Analytics (Online)
As a full-time online business analytics student, you may complete this 30-credit-hour program in 21
months to 48 months.
Curriculum map for MS in Business Analytics program
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Master of Science in Finance
As a full-time finance student, you complete this 36-credit-hour program in three semesters.
Curriculum map for MS in Finance program
Master of Science in Management Information Systems
As a full-time management information systems student, you complete this 31-credit-hour program in one
year.
Curriculum map for MS in Management Information Systems program
BS/MS Programs
Combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs provide a definitive and efficient pathway
to a graduate degree.
Program options include:
• BS Accounting/MS Accounting
• BS Business Administration with Financial Analysis Concentration/MS Finance
• BS Business Administration with Management Information Concentration/MS in Management
Information System
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Academic Dismissal
Graduate students not meeting the written terms of their academic probation may be academically
dismissed from the program by the director of graduate studies, chair of the department or faculty
director. Such dismissals shall be done in a timely fashion but no later than three weeks after the
completion of the term. The Graduate School will be notified in writing of all such academic dismissals.
Dismissal may occur after only one semester if the academic performance is determined by the Retention
Committee to be so poor that the committee feels the chances of succeeding in the program are minimal.
Students who have been dismissed from the graduate programs by the Retention Committee will receive
written notice of dismissal. In most cases, a student is given a period of 10 days to respond to the
dismissal if he or she feels that there are extenuating circumstances of which the committee is unaware.
Graduate students who are dismissed for academic reasons from a graduate program will have a “GRD”
(Graduate School) service indicator placed on their academic record to prevent future registration.
Academic Grievance
Academic Grievance Preamble
It is an objective of the University at Buffalo and its Graduate School to encourage the prompt
consultative resolution of grievances of graduate students as they arise and to provide orderly procedures
for the formal consideration and resolution of complaints that cannot be resolved through consultation.
This set of procedures is designed to provide a well-defined, yet appropriately flexible structure that
recognizes and reflects the issues unique to graduate education, as well as academic areas common to
all faculty-student or administrator-student relationships.
The following procedures provide a sequence of steps for the orderly and expeditious resolution of
grievances initiated by graduate students. While recognizing and affirming the established principle that
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academic judgments and determinations are to be reached solely by academic professionals, it is the
Graduate School's intention to secure, to the maximum extent feasible, equitable treatment of every party
to a dispute. To that end, those who oversee the grievance process are charged to pay heed not only to
issues of procedural integrity, but also to considerations of substantive fairness.
Grievance Definitions and Limits
1. Definition: A grievance shall include, but is not restricted to, a complaint by a graduate student:
1. That he or she has been subjected to a violation, misinterpretation or inequitable
application of any of the regulations of the university, the Graduate School, a college or
school or department or program; or
2. That he or she has been treated unfairly or inequitably by reason of any act or condition
that is contrary to established policy or practice governing or affecting graduate students
at the University at Buffalo.
2. Time limit: A grievance must be filed within one calendar year from the date of the alleged
offense. The department chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight), college or
school dean or the dean of the Graduate School may extend this time limit upon demonstration of
good cause.
Academic Grievance Consultative Resolution
Virtually all disputes originate in the department (or program where there is no chair oversight) and
should, if feasible, be resolved through consultation between the disputants. The parties should meet and
exert a good faith effort to resolve the dispute amicably.
At the request of either or both parties, the consultation may be recorded by a departmental or program
note-taker (a staff or faculty member, but not a student). If a departmental or program note-taker is
present during the consultation, the student may have an additional note-taker of their choosing also in
attendance. Neither note-taker may actively participate in the consultation between the parties to the
grievance other than to request repetition or clarification of statements made by either party during the
consultation session.
It may be useful for the student to seek first the assistance of his or her advisor, department chair (or
program director where there is no chair oversight), or director of graduate studies acting as a mediator to
aid in evenhandedly resolving the dispute.
Academic Grievance Formal Resolution
I. Departmental- or Program-Level Review
Step 1: The student who believes that the grievance is severe or has been unable to obtain an
acceptable consultative resolution should submit in writing to the department chair (or program director
where there is no chair oversight) a description of his or her complaint, including any evidentiary or
supporting materials and a request for a hearing. (If the department chair or program director is a party
against whom the grievance is brought, either as a teaching faculty member or as chair or director, or
where the department chair or program director can demonstrate that it will best serve the interests of the
parties, direct petition to the school or college level may be pursued.)
Step 2: The department chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight) shall begin to
assemble a Departmental or Program Grievance Committee within 20 academic days
1
of receipt of the
student’s appeal (see Appendix A). The department chair or program director shall give the Departmental
or Program Grievance Committee and each principal a copy of the written grievance, including any
evidentiary or supporting materials, and a copy of the Academic Grievance Policy and Procedures for
graduate students.
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Upon initial review of the materials and statements presented by the grievant, if the Departmental or
Program Grievance Committee finds the grievance does not have reasonable supporting grounds, the
committee shall conclude the grievance is without merit. In this initial review, the committee may also
consider materials or statements submitted by the teaching faculty member(s) against whom the
grievance is lodged. If the grievance is found without merit, the committee shall report this denial to the
department chair or program director. The committee shall complete this initial review within 15 academic
days¹ of its receipt of the grievance. The department chair or program director shall then submit a
Statement of Decision to the principals (via certified, return receipt mail), the college or school dean and
the dean of the Graduate School within 10 academic days¹ of receipt of the committee’s decision.
If the Departmental or Program Grievance Committee finds the statement of grievance has reasonable
supporting grounds, the committee shall begin to assemble a hearing (as provided below) within 20
academic days
1
of the committee’s receipt of the written grievance.
Step 3: The Departmental or Program Grievance Committee shall convene hearing(s) as necessary to
allow both principals the opportunity to present their positions and shall allow each principal the right to
question the presentation(s), written and verbal, of each principal and of others who contribute
information to the committee. Principals shall be notified of the hearing date, location and Grievance
Committee member names at least 72 hours prior to a scheduled hearing.
The hearing(s) shall be conducted in a fair and expeditious manner, but shall not be subject to the rules
governing a legal proceeding. Each principal shall have the right to be present (under unusual
circumstances, if either party is considered to pose a physical threat to the other or to the committee, the
chair of the committee may request that either the student or instructor participate by phone) and to have
one advisor present at all hearings. In no such case shall the advisor be an attorney, unless he or she is a
member of the UB faculty who is not acting in a legal capacity on behalf of a principal. An advisor may not
speak on behalf of or advocate for a principal or otherwise address members of the hearing committee.
Hearing(s) shall be conducted in confidence (see Appendix B).
Step 4: The Departmental or Program Grievance Committee shall submit its recommendation(s) in
writing, including findings and reasons for the recommendations, to the department chair (or program
director where there is no chair oversight) within 10 academic days¹ of the final meeting of the committee.
Step 5: The department chair or program director shall consider the committee's findings and
recommendations and render a final decision. This Statement of Decision and an indication of the
student's right to appeal the department chair's or program director’s decision (including time limit) shall
be submitted, in writing, from the department chair or program director to the principals (via certified,
return receipt mail), the college or school dean and the dean of the Graduate School within 10 academic
days¹ from receiving the Departmental or Program Grievance Committee's written recommendations.
Files shall be maintained in the offices of the dean and the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School.
II. School- or College-Level Appeal
Step 1: If either principal wishes to appeal the departmental or program ruling, a written statement of the
appeal, including any additional evidentiary or supporting materials, shall be filed within 10 academic
days¹ of receipt of the department chair's (or program director’s where there is no chair oversight)
Statement of Decision. The appeal shall be filed with the college or school dean. (If the dean is a party
against whom the grievance is brought, either as a teaching faculty member or as dean, or where the
dean can demonstrate that it will best serve the interests of the parties, a direct petition to the Graduate
School level may be pursued.)
Step 2: Upon review of relevant materials, including all materials and statements presented during prior
hearings and materials and statements subsequently presented, if the college or school dean does not
find that the statement of appeal provides reasonable grounds to appeal nor raises doubt concerning the
adequacy of prior review, the dean may issue a formal decision regarding the appeal. In such a case, the
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dean shall submit a Statement of Decision to the principals (via certified, return receipt mail), the
department chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight) and the dean of the Graduate
School within 20 academic days¹ of receipt of the appeal.
Alternatively, if the dean deems it necessary or appropriate to consider further the circumstances of the
appeal, he or she shall begin to assemble a Decanal Grievance Committee within 20 academic days¹ of
receipt of the appeal. The Decanal Grievance Committee shall include no fewer than two faculty
members and two graduate students. In those college/schools comprised of multiple academic
departments, the Decanal Grievance Committee shall not include representatives from the department(s)
or program(s) involved in the grievance (see Appendix C).
Step 3: The dean shall give the Decanal Grievance Committee and each principal a copy of the
Academic Grievance Policy and Procedures for graduate students, the original written grievance, the
written appeal to the school or college level, any supplemental materials and statements and all
documentation and recommendations from the departmental or program proceedings.
Step 4: The Decanal Grievance Committee shall convene hearing(s) necessary to allow both principals
the opportunity to present their positions and shall allow each principal the right to question the
presentation(s), written or verbal, of the principals as well as others who contribute information to the
committee. Principals shall be notified of the hearing date, location and Grievance Committee members
at least 72 hours prior to a scheduled hearing.
The hearing(s) shall be conducted in a fair and expeditious manner, but shall not be subject to the rules
governing a legal proceeding. Each principal shall have the right to be present (under unusual
circumstances, if either party is considered to pose a physical threat to the other or to the committee, the
chair of the committee may request that either the student or instructor participate by phone) and to have
one advisor present at all hearings. In no such case shall the advisor be an attorney, unless he or she is a
member of the UB faculty who is not acting in a legal capacity on behalf of a principal. An advisor may not
speak on behalf of or advocate for a principal or otherwise address members of the hearing committee.
Hearing(s) shall be conducted in confidence (see Appendix B).
Step 5: The Decanal Grievance Committee shall submit its recommendation(s) in writing, including
findings and reasons for the recommendations, to the college or school dean within 10 academic days¹ of
the final meeting of the committee.
Step 6: The dean shall consider the committee's findings and recommendations and render a final
decision. This Statement of Decision and a statement of the student's right to appeal the dean's decision
(including time limit) shall be submitted in writing from the dean to the principals (via certified, return
receipt mail), the department chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight) and the dean of
the Graduate School within 10 academic days¹ from receiving the Decanal Grievance Committee's written
recommendations.
Files shall be maintained in the offices of the dean and the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School.
III. Graduate School-Level Appeal
On rare occasions, when all established procedures within a college or school have been exhausted, it
may be appropriate for the dean of the Graduate School to consider a final university appeal. In general,
the dean of the Graduate School will consider only those appeals that document violations of applicable
due process in prior proceedings or which establish sound cause to believe that prior proceedings have
resulted in a decision contrary to law, the polices of the SUNY Board of Trustees or policies of the
University at Buffalo. In general, the dean of the Graduate School will not consider appeals that merely
challenge the appropriateness of a judgment reached following a full and fair review of a matter by the
department or program and the dean of the college or school.
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Step 1: If either principal wishes to appeal the decision(s) of the college or school dean, the written
statement of appeal, including any additional evidentiary or supporting materials, shall be filed within 10
academic days¹ of receipt of the Statement of Decision. The appeal shall be filed with the dean of the
Graduate School.
Step 2: Upon review of relevant materials, including all materials and statements presented during prior
hearings and any materials and statements subsequently presented, if the dean of the Graduate School
does not find that the statement of appeal provides reasonable grounds to appeal nor raises doubt
concerning the adequacy of prior review, the dean of the Graduate School may issue a formal decision
regarding the appeal. In such a case, the dean of the Graduate School will submit a Statement of
Decision to the principals (via certified, return receipt mail), the department chair (or program director
where there is no chair oversight) and dean within 20 academic days¹ of receipt of the appeal.
Alternatively, if the dean of the Graduate School deems it necessary or appropriate to consider further the
circumstances of the appeal, he or she shall begin to assemble a Graduate School Grievance Committee
within 20 academic days¹ of receipt of the appeal. The Graduate School Grievance Committee shall
include no fewer than two faculty members and two graduate students. The Graduate School Grievance
Committee shall not include representatives from the college/school involved in the grievance (see
Appendix D).
Step 3: The Graduate School shall give the Graduate School Grievance Committee and each principal a
copy of the Academic Grievance Policy and Procedures, the original written grievance, the written
appeals to both the school/college and the Graduate School levels, any supplemental materials and
statements and all documentation and recommendations from the departmental or program and decanal
proceedings. Principals shall be notified of the hearing date, location, and Grievance Committee
members at least 72 hours prior to a scheduled hearing.
Step 4: The Graduate School Grievance Committee shall convene hearing(s) as necessary to allow both
principals the opportunity to present their positions and shall allow each principal the right to question the
presentation(s), written or verbal, of the principals as well as others who contribute information to the
committee. The hearing(s) shall be conducted in a fair and expeditious manner, but shall not be subject to
the rules governing a legal proceeding. Each principal shall have the right to be present (under unusual
circumstances, if either party is considered to pose a physical threat to the other or to the chair, the chair
of the committee may request that either the student or instructor participate by phone) and to have one
advisor present at all hearings. In no such case shall the advisor be an attorney, unless he or she is a
member of the UB faculty who is not acting in a legal capacity on behalf of a principal. An advisor may not
speak on behalf of or advocate for a principal or otherwise address members of the hearing committee.
Hearing(s) shall be conducted in confidence (see Appendix B).
Step 5: The Graduate School Grievance Committee shall submit its letter of recommendations, including
findings and reasons for recommendations, to the dean of the Graduate School within 10 academic days¹
after the final meeting of the committee.
Step 6: The dean of the Graduate School shall consider the committee's findings and recommendations
and render a final university decision/determination. The dean of the Graduate School's Statement of
Decision shall be submitted in writing to the principals (via certified, return receipt mail), the department
chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight) and the academic dean within 10 academic
days¹ from receiving the Graduate School Grievance Committee's written recommendations.
The decision/determination of the dean of the Graduate School constitutes the final step in the university
review process and may not be further appealed. Files shall be maintained in the office of the dean and
the Graduate School.
¹Academic days are defined as weekdays when classes are in session, not including the summer or winter sessions.
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Academic Grievance Appendix A
Departmental or Program Grievance Committee Membership
The department chair (or the program director where there is no chair oversight), or the chair of the
departmental or program Grievance Committee, shall assemble, from a pool of individuals comprising the
Departmental or Program Grievance Pool, a Departmental or Program Grievance Committee comprised
of no fewer than two faculty members and two graduate students or a larger number of participants
maintaining this same ratio. The members of the Grievance Committee shall be selected so that no
member is involved in a disproportionate number of grievances.
Each principal to the dispute shall have five academic days
1
to request, without stipulating a reason, the
replacement of one member of the committee assembled to hear the grievance. If any principal finds the
replacement committee member inappropriate, the party shall transmit, within five additional academic
days¹ of member identification, a written statement of the grounds for this “challenge for cause” to the
department chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight) who shall rule on its merits and
either retain or replace the committee member so challenged. Each committee member selected shall
have the option of disqualifying him/herself from the committee by stipulating reasons why he or she feels
unable to deal with the grievance in an unbiased fashion.
Academic Grievance Appendix B
Confidentiality of Proceedings
Once the department chair (or program director where there is no chair oversight), college or school dean
or the dean of the Graduate School initiates a grievance hearing, principals and committee members shall
have the obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings and of all materials or testimony
presented in hearing proceedings, until a decision is formally transmitted to the principals involved in the
grievance.
If a breach of confidentiality by either principal (as defined above) is formally brought to the attention of
the Grievance Committee, upon a majority vote of the committee, it may choose to consider this breach a
case of possible misconduct. If a committee member is charged with a possible misconduct, such charge
will be heard at the next highest level Grievance Committee. Such consideration shall take precedence
over the pending grievance and a misconduct hearing shall be conducted and findings shall be
transmitted, in writing, to the principals and committee members and shall be placed in a supplemental
file of the grievance proceedings. Such findings may then be considered in the subsequent review of the
grievance.
Academic Grievance Appendix C
Decanal Grievance Committee Membership
The college or school dean, or the chair of the school or college Grievance Committee, shall assemble,
from a pool of individuals comprising the college or school Grievance Pool, a Decanal Grievance
Committee comprised of no fewer than two faculty members and two graduate students or a larger
number of participants maintaining this same ratio. In those college/schools comprised of multiple
academic departments and programs, the Decanal Grievance Committee shall not include
representatives from the department(s) or program(s) involved in the grievance. The members of the
Grievance Committee shall be selected so that no member is involved in a disproportionate number of
grievances.
Each principal to the dispute shall have five academic days
1
to request, without stipulating a reason, the
replacement of one member of the committee assembled to hear the grievance. If any principal finds the
replacement committee member inappropriate, the party shall transmit, within five additional academic
days¹ of member identification, a written statement of the grounds for this “challenge for cause” to the
academic dean who shall rule on its merits and either retain or replace the committee member so
challenged. Each committee member selected shall have the option of disqualifying him/herself from the
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
committee by stipulating reasons why he or she feels unable to deal with the grievance in an unbiased
fashion.
Academic Grievance Appendix D
Graduate School Grievance Committee Membership
The Graduate School Grievance Committee shall be comprised of no fewer than two faculty members
and two graduate students (all from outside of the college/school involved in the grievance) or a larger
number of participants maintaining this same ratio. The members of the Graduate School Grievance
Committee shall be selected so that no member is involved in a disproportionate number of grievances.
Each principal to the dispute shall have five academic days
1
to request, without stipulating a reason, the
replacement of one member of the committee assembled to hear the grievance. If any principal finds the
replacement committee member inappropriate, the party shall transmit, within five additional academic
days¹ of member identification, a written statement of the grounds for this “challenge for cause” to the
dean of the Graduate School who shall rule on its merits and either retain or replace the committee
member so challenged. Each committee member selected shall have the option of disqualifying
him/herself from the committee by stipulating reasons why he or she feels unable to deal with the
grievance in an unbiased fashion.
Grievance Pool Development
The dean of the Graduate School shall encourage departments to request faculty and student
representatives for the departmental, program and decanal pools, and encourage departments and
programs to facilitate development of faculty and student representatives to ensure a suitable pool of
personnel for departmental, program decanal and Graduate School grievance committees.
Departmental or Program
The departmental or program representatives in the Grievance Pool shall be selected by the respective
faculty and student constituencies in an appropriate democratic fashion and in no case shall these
representatives be appointed by the departmental, program or decanal administration. The members of
the Grievance Pool shall be selected so that no member is involved in a disproportionate number of
grievances. If deemed appropriate, the Departmental or Program Grievance Pool may also serve as the
Departmental or Program Academic Integrity Pool.
Decanal
The college or school Grievance Pool shall include two representatives, as appropriate, from each
department or program: one faculty member and one graduate student. The departmental and program
representatives in the Grievance Pool shall be selected by the respective faculty and student
constituencies in an appropriate democratic fashion and in no case shall these representatives be
appointed by the departmental, program or decanal administration. The members of the Grievance Pool
shall be selected so that no member is involved in a disproportionate number of grievances. If deemed
appropriate, the Decanal Grievance Pool may also serve as the Decanal Academic Integrity Pool.
Graduate School
The departmental representatives comprising the Graduate School Grievance Pool shall be selected by
the respective faculty and student constituencies in an appropriate democratic fashion and in no case
shall these representatives be appointed by the departmental, program or decanal administration. The
members of the Grievance Pool shall be selected so that no member is involved in a disproportionate
number of grievances. If deemed appropriate, the Graduate School Grievance Pool may also serve as
the Graduate School Academic Integrity Pool.
Amended policies promulgated by President John B. Simpson, 26 June 2008. Effective 25 Aug. 2008.
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Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity Preamble
Academic integrity is a fundamental university value. Through the honest completion of academic work,
students sustain the integrity of the university while facilitating the university's imperative for the
transmission of knowledge and culture based upon the generation of new and innovative ideas.
When an instance of suspected or alleged academic dishonesty by a student arises, it shall be resolved
according to the following procedures. These procedures assume that many questions of academic
dishonesty will be resolved through consultation between the student and the instructor (a process known
as consultative resolution, as explained below).
It is recommended that the instructor and student each consult with the Academic Integrity Office and/or
the Office of Student Advocacy for guidance and assistance.
Examples of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Aiding in academic dishonesty. Knowingly taking action that allows another student to engage
in an act of academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to, completing an examination or
assignment for another student, or stealing an examination or completed assignment for another
student.
• Cheating. Includes, but is not limited to: (1) use of any assistance not authorized by the course
instructor(s) in taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (2) dependence upon the aid of sources
beyond those authorized by the course instructor(s) in writing papers, preparing reports, solving
problems or carrying out other assignments; or (3) stealing tests or other academic material
belonging to the course instructor(s).
• Falsifying academic materials. Fabricating laboratory materials, notes, reports or any forms of
computer data; forging an instructor's name or initials; resubmitting an examination or assignment
for re-evaluation that has been altered without the instructor's authorization; or submitting a
report, paper, materials, computer data or examination (or any considerable part thereof)
prepared by any person other than the student responsible for the assignment.
• Misrepresenting documents. Forgery, alteration or misuse of any university or official
document, record or instrument of identification.
• Plagiarizing. Copying or receiving material from any source and submitting that material as one's
own, without acknowledging and citing the particular debts to the source (quotations,
paraphrases, basic ideas), or in any other manner representing the work of another as one's own.
• Purchasing academic assignments. Purchasing an academic assignment intended for
submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement.
• Selling academic assignments. Selling or offering for sale any academic assignment to any
person enrolled at the University at Buffalo. No person shall offer any inappropriate assistance in
the preparation, research or writing of any assignment, which the seller knows, or has reason to
believe, is intended for submission in fulfillment of any course or academic program requirement.
• Submitting previously submitted work. Submitting academically required material that has
been previously submitted, in whole or in substantial part, without prior and expressed consent of
the instructor.
Consultative Resolution
Step 1: If an instructor has reason to believe that a student may have committed an act of academic
dishonesty, the instructor shall notify the student suspected of academic dishonesty within 10 academic
days
1
of discovery of the alleged incident by email to the student’s UBIT address.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
If an individual other than the instructor, including other students, faculty or staff members, has reason to
believe that a student may have committed an act of academic dishonesty, the individual shall notify the
instructor or the Academic Integrity Office within 10 academic days
1
of discovery of the alleged incident.
Once the alleged incident has occurred, the student may not resign from the course without permission of
the instructor. If the instructor does not wish to allow the student to resign from the course, the instructor
will assign an incomplete grade while the incident is under review.
The instructor will meet and consult with the student within 10 academic days
1
of the date of notification.
During the consultation, the instructor will inform the student of the alleged incident and share a copy of
the academic integrity policy and procedures with the student. Either party may request department note-
takers (staff or faculty, but not teaching assistants) and/or an audio or video recording device may be
used to record the consultation meeting. If the student fails to attend the consultative meeting, the
instructor has the authority to reach a decision without consulting the student directly.
Step 2: If, after consultation with the student, the instructor believes the student did not commit an act of
academic dishonesty, no sanctions will be imposed and the student will be notified of that finding by
official university email. Procedures end.
If, after consultation with the student, the instructor believes the student did commit an act of academic
dishonesty, the instructor has the authority to impose one or more of the following sanctions (see list
below). Such sanctions will be assigned a “pending” status until the Academic Integrity Office receives
notice from the instructor of the sanction and confirms the case at hand is the student’s first academic
integrity infraction. If the student has a prior infraction(s), then the sanction may be revised by the Office
of Academic Integrity.
• Warning. Provide written notice to the student that he/she has violated a university academic
integrity standard and that the repetition of the wrongful conduct may be cause for more severe
sanctions.
• Revision of work. Require the student to replace or revise the work in which dishonesty
occurred. (The instructor may choose to assign a grade of “I” [Incomplete] pending replacement
or revision of the work.)
• Reduction in grade. Reduce the student’s grade with respect to the particular assignment/exam
or final grade in the course.
• Failure in the course. Fail the student in the course, to be indicated on the transcript by a grade
of “F” without comment or further notation.
• Remediation. Require the student to complete a UB Academic Integrity Office remediation
assignment. Upon the student’s successful passing of the assignment, the academic integrity
officer will so inform the instructor, who may then change other sanctions he or she originally
assigned to the student.
1
• Such other reasonable and appropriate sanction(s) as may be determined by the instructor
with the exception of any Academic Integrity Office or university sanction described below.
• Recommendation of the following Academic Integrity Office sanctions. The Academic
Integrity Office must review and approve these recommendations.
• Failure in course, remediation required, temporary notation of academic dishonesty. A
grade of “F” for the course is recorded on the student’s transcript and a notation of an academic
dishonesty is entered on the student’s transcript. The student is required to complete an
Academic Integrity Office remediation assignment. Upon the student successfully passing the
assignment, the Academic Integrity Office will remove the notation from the student’s transcript.
Failure to successfully complete the Academic Integrity Office remediation assignment will result
in the notation remaining permanently on the student’s transcript.
• Failure in the course with permanent notation of academic dishonesty. A grade of “F” for the
course is recorded on the student’s transcript with a permanent notation that the grade of “F” was
assigned for reason of academic dishonesty.
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• Dismissal from the degree program. The academic integrity violation results in ineligibility for
continuation in the student’s degree program.
• Dismissal from the degree program with notation of academic dishonesty. The academic
integrity violation results in ineligibility for continuation in the student’s degree program, with a
notation on the student’s transcript that the dismissal is for reason of academic dishonesty.
• Dismissal from the department. The academic integrity violation results in ineligibility for
continuation in any degree program within the department.
• Dismissal from the department with notation of academic dishonesty. The academic
integrity violation results in ineligibility to continue in any degree program within the department
with a notation on the student’s transcript that the dismissal is for reason of academic dishonesty.
• Recommendation of the following university sanctions. The Academic Integrity Office must
review and recommend these sanctions to the university president or his/her designee. Only the
president or his/her designee may suspend or expel a student from the university.
o Suspension from the university. The student is suspended for a defined time period
with stated conditions that will include a permanent notation on the transcript.
o Expulsion from the university. The student is expelled, with permanent notation on the
transcript.
1
Instructors may not impose the remediation sanction to a student who previously received an academic integrity sanction(s).
Step 3: Within 10 academic days
1
of the consultative resolution, the instructor shall notify the student of a
decision, any sanction(s) imposed and the student’s right to appeal that decision, in writing. This decision
letter shall be sent via email to the student’s UBIT address, with copies to the Academic Integrity Office,
the department chair and the school/college dean’s office. It is the instructor’s responsibility to report the
sanction, regardless of severity, to the Academic Integrity Office. A copy of the instructor’s decision letter
will be retained in a confidential file in the Academic Integrity Office in perpetuity. The student shall have
access to their own confidential file.
Upon request and with the student’s permission, academic integrity violations and sanctions may be
reported by the Academic Integrity Office to an authorized body.
Right to Appeal
The student may appeal the instructor’s findings. The student’s request for an appeal must be submitted
in writing to the Academic Integrity Office within 10 academic days
1
after the instructor has notified the
student of his or her decision. In the appeal, the student articulates if they are appealing the original
judgment of academic dishonesty, the resulting sanction(s)/recommended sanction(s), or both.
Step 1: In cases where the student seeks to appeal an instructor decision, the student and instructor shall
each provide evidence supporting his or her position, any relevant documentation and the names of
potential witnesses to the Academic Integrity Office (hereafter referred to as the office). The office will
review all case materials.
If the office finds no cause to further consider the circumstances of the case, the office will notify the
student, via email to the student’s UBIT address, and the instructor within 10 academic days
1
of receipt of
case materials, that the sanction(s) articulated in the instructor decision letter will be enacted. Student
appeal procedures end.
If the office finds cause to further consider the circumstances of the case, the office will notify the student,
via email to the student’s UBIT address, and the instructor within 10 academic days
1
of receipt of case
materials, that an adjudication committee (herein referred to as the committee) will be assembled.
Step 2 (Committee Review): The Academic Integrity Office will convene the committee to a hearing. The
student and the instructor will be given at least 72 hours’ notice of the hearing, and all materials will be
provided to the committee, the student and the instructor within 72 hours of its occurrence. Hearings shall
take place on academic days unless all principals agree otherwise.
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At the hearing(s), the committee will provide sufficient opportunity for both principals to present their
positions and shall allow each principal the right to question those presentation(s) to the committee. The
hearing(s) shall be conducted in a fair and expeditious manner, but shall not be subject to the rules
governing a legal proceeding. Each principal shall have the right to be present and to have one advisor
present at all hearings. In no such case shall the advisor be an attorney, unless he or she is a member of
the UB faculty who is not acting in a legal capacity on behalf of a principal. An advisor may not speak on
behalf of a principal or otherwise address members of the hearing committee. Either principal may ask
the committee chair if they may participate in hearings remotely. In exceptional circumstances, such as
where either party is considered to pose a physical threat to the other or to the committee, the committee
chair may require that either principal participate remotely.
The technical and formal rules of evidence applicable in a court of law are not applicable at academic
integrity hearings, and the committee may review all relevant and reliable information that will contribute
to an informed final decision. The committee shall only consider information relevant to the current
alleged misconduct. Information regarding a student’s formerly alleged or documented academic
misconduct cannot aid in determining whether or not the student is responsible for violating academic
integrity in the current case. However, such history may be introduced during the sanctioning phase of the
case under review. At the conclusion of the hearings, the committee will meet privately to deliberate the
case. All hearings and committee meetings shall be confidential.
The committee will provide the student, the instructor, the department chair, the Academic Integrity Office
and the school/college dean with a written statement of findings and any sanctions assigned within 10
academic days
1
of the final meeting of the committee.
The decision made by the committee may take one of three forms.
• Findings Overturned, No Sanction. A finding that no academic dishonesty took place and that
no sanctions will be imposed. The student is thus exonerated, and any documentation related to
the case within the Academic Integrity Office will be expunged.
• Findings Sustained, Sanctions Sustained. A finding that academic dishonesty occurred as
described in the original instructor decision letter and that the sanction(s) stand as previously
enacted or recommended.
• Findings Sustained, Sanction Revised. A finding that academic dishonesty occurred, but that a
different sanction from the one originally enacted by the instructor is more appropriate. This
finding may involve an alternative sanction that is either more or less severe from the one
originally enacted.
No Right to Further Appeal
The decision of the committee is final, and no further appeal is available.
1
Academic days are defined as weekdays, when classes are in session, not including the summer or winter sessions as defined by
the regular University Academic Calendar.
Days in the final exam period and reading days are not considered academic days. With
the agreement of all principals and the Academic Integrity Office, proceedings may continue during non-academic days.
Appendix A: Academic Integrity Pool Membership and Adjudication Committee Participation
The Academic Integrity Office shall assemble a pool of faculty and students willing to participate on
adjudication committees for academic integrity cases. The Office of Academic Integrity is responsible for
ensuring that the pool reflects the diversity of the campus community and for training all members of the
adjudication pool. It is the responsibility of each decanal unit to name student and faculty members to this
pool. With the assistance of the Academic Integrity Office, each decanal unit will update its pool
membership annually. Accordingly, each year, decanal units will also solicit departments to invite faculty
and student representatives for service in the academic integrity pool. To ensure a suitable breadth and
depth of membership in the pool, the Academic Integrity Office will encourage departments to facilitate
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
continuous academic integrity training and development of faculty and students for future hearings.
Typically, duration of service in the academic integrity pool is two years.
From this pool, the Academic Integrity Office will form an adjudication committee for each hearing of no
fewer than two faculty members, two graduate students and one member of the Academic Integrity
Office. Members from the academic integrity pool will be selected so that no one member will be involved
in a disproportionate number of academic integrity cases. To that aim, the student and the instructor shall
have five academic days
1
to request, without stipulating a reason, the replacement of one member of the
adjudication committee assembled to hear the case. If any principal finds the replacement committee
member inappropriate, the party shall transmit, within five additional academic days
1
of member
identification, a written statement articulating grounds for objection to the Academic Integrity Office. The
Academic Integrity Office will review and then rule on the merits of the objection, and either retain or
replace the committee member. Each committee member shall have the option of disqualifying
him/herself from the committee by stipulating reasons why he or she feels unable to review the case in an
unbiased fashion.
Appendix B: Confidentiality of Proceedings
Members of the adjudication committee have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of hearing
proceedings and of all supporting materials or testimony presented. If a breach of confidentiality by either
principal is formally brought to the attention of the adjudication committee, upon a majority vote of the
committee, it may choose to review this breach for possible misconduct. If a committee member is
charged with misconduct, their alleged breach of confidentiality will be reviewed by an alternate
adjudication committee. Such review shall take precedence over the pending case, a misconduct hearing
shall be conducted and findings shall be transmitted, in writing, to the principals and committee members.
Findings will be placed in a supplemental file of the case proceedings. Such findings may then be
considered in the subsequent review of the case.
Appendix C: Sample Infractions and Possible Sanctions
Most Severe
Range of Possible Sanctions
Repeat
Having a different student take
an exam.
F in course with transcript
notation, dismissal from the
major, suspension, expulsion
Suspension, expulsion
Hiring or having someone do an
online course.
F in course with transcript
notation, dismissal from the
major, suspension, expulsion
Suspension, expulsion
Purchasing or selling and
submitting materials.
F in course with transcript
notation, dismissal from the
major, suspension, expulsion
Suspension, expulsion
Handing in another’s work.
F in course with transcript
notation, dismissal from the
major, suspension, expulsion
Suspension, expulsion
Severe
Range of Possible Sanctions
Repeat
Cellphone use during an exam.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course with transcript
notation
Possessing a cheat sheet.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course with transcript
notation
Changing answers on an exam
and asking for a re-grade.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course with transcript
notation
Plagiarism.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course with transcript
notation
Falsifying data.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course with transcript
notation
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
Severe
Range of Possible Sanctions
Repeat
Copying someone else’s lab
report or homework.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course, mandatory
remediation
Copying from another person’s
exam.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course with transcript
notation
Using the same paper for
multiple classes.
0 on assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
Less severe
Range of Possible Sanctions
Repeat
Improper citation of others’
work.
Warning, revise work,
mandatory remediation
0 on assignment, F in course
Illicitly obtaining copies of old
exams.
Warning, revise work, 0 on
assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course
Working together where it is
explicitly forbidden.
Warning, revise work, 0 on
assignment, F in course,
mandatory remediation
F in course
Aiding or abetting a student’s
academic dishonesty or violating
the integrity of a course or
academic activity in a course or
not.
Referral to Campus Judicial
Procedures or University Policy
Department
The above list of sample academic integrity infractions and sanctions is not exhaustive. It is meant to offer
some general information about common infractions and possible associated sanctions.
Academic Integrity Grievance Policies: Other Related University Policies
Other University at Buffalo policies may apply to situations to which the Academic Integrity Policy and
Procedures for Undergraduates, the Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures for Graduates, the
Academic Grievance Policy and Procedures for Undergraduates or the Academic Grievance Policy and
Procedures for Graduates apply. Among these are UB's Responsible Conduct in Research and Creative
Activity and Student Conduct Policies, as well as professional school or program policies and procedures.
Priorities and relations among these are addressed by these specifications:
1. Responsible Conduct in Research and Creative Activity
The Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures (AIPP) and the Academic Grievance Policies and
Procedures (AGPP) are secondary to UB's Responsible Conduct in Research and Creative Activity
(RCRCA) policies and procedures. The RCRCA addresses misconduct that may include violations of the
AIPP or AGPP. If proceedings initiated pursuant to the RCRCA include possible violation of the AIPP or
AGPP, formal actions pursuant to the AIPP or AGPP shall be postponed until the RCRCA proceedings
are completed. If the RCRCA proceedings result in recommendation of formal AIPP or AGPP
proceedings, these shall be initiated promptly. If the RCRCA proceedings result in findings that a student
has violated the AIPP, penalties that may be imposed include dismissal from the program in addition to
any and all specified in the AIPP. If the RCRCA proceedings result in findings that a student has not
violated the AIPP, the student may not be charged again with the same offenses under the AIPP. RCRCA
proceedings, findings and penalties shall be neither challenged nor appealed through the AIPP or AGPP.
2. Other University Policies and Procedures
The Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures (AIPP) and the Academic Grievance Policies and
Procedures (AGPP) are independent of UB’s other policies and procedures. Many of these provide for
investigation and recommendation of actions regarding alleged misconduct, but neither provide for nor
may result in findings that a student has violated the AIPP. If other proceedings include possible violation
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
of the AIPP, formal actions pursuant to the AIPP shall be postponed until the other proceedings are
completed. Should findings or recommendations of these proceedings provide bases for charges
pursuant to the AIPP, formal proceedings under the AIPP shall be promptly initiated. Except as here
provided, proceedings findings and recommendations resulting from other proceedings shall be neither
challenged nor appealed through the AIPP or AGPP.
3. Professional School and Program Policies
UB professional school or program student conduct policies and procedures are subject to the provisions
governing relations of the Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures (AIPP) and Academic Grievance
Policies and Procedures (AGPP) to UB’s Responsible Conduct in Research and Creative Activity and
other policies and procedures. Professional school or program student conduct policies and procedures
shall be congruent with the provisions of the AIPP for Undergraduates for baccalaureate programs and to
the AIPP for Graduates for all other programs. Any appeal of procedures or actions taken pursuant to a
professional school or program’s student conduct policies and procedures shall follow the provisions of
the AIPP or AGPP applicable to the degree level of the program. Charges of misconduct by a student in a
professional school or program that does not set its own student conduct policies and procedures shall be
considered pursuant to the provisions of the AIPP applicable to the degree level of the program. Penalties
that may be imposed upon findings of misconduct by a student in a professional school or program
include dismissal from the program in addition to any and all other penalties specified in the AIPP.
Promulgated by President John B. Simpson, 16 Dec. 2005. Effective, 28 Aug. 2006.
Academic Probation
A student is automatically placed on probation following any semester in which he or she develops one or
more of the following indications of unsatisfactory progress:
• Cumulative quality point average less than 3.0.
• Accumulated grades of Incomplete for 12 or more credit hours.
• Other academic infractions as described in this handbook.
• Full-time students: Less than 9 hours of new coursework completed during the past semester.
o Exceptions:
a) Students needing fewer than specified number in their last semester need only
complete the credits necessary for graduation.
b) International students must register for 12 hours of coursework in each semester to
maintain satisfactory visa status.
A student placed on probation shall receive written notice of this fact. Such notice shall inform the student
that dismissal may occur at the end of the following semester if he or she remains on probation at that
time.
Students on probation may be permitted to take graduate-level courses in excess of the number required
in their programs provided that the Retention Committee certifies that:
• The student has a reasonable chance of completing the degree, and
• The student is making progress towards the completion of the degree.
Students who are not in good academic standing, or who are put on academic probation, are not eligible
to participate in university activities, including athletics.
From: Graduate School Policy Library
Any graduate student who receives a grade of U or F in any course, including lab work or informal credit
(e.g., independent study, research, dissertation guidance, etc.); or who indicates a lack of ability as
determined by the director of graduate studies or student's academic advisor, must receive an immediate
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
academic review. Upon completion of the academic review, the director of graduate studies may place
the student on academic probation.
Any student who is not in good academic standing as defined above or who is otherwise determined to be
making unsatisfactory academic progress must be placed on academic probation. A probationary letter
must be issued to the student (with a copy to the advisor, if applicable) indicating the conditions that must
be met and outlining an appropriate period of time in which to regain good academic standing. The
outcome that will result if the conditions are not met must also be included in the probationary letter.
In general, academic review takes place at the end of each fall and spring semesters. Online programs
also complete academic reviews after the summer semesters. After review, the department must issue
probation letters to the appropriate students. Probation letters must indicate the terms of the probation
and the pathway toward its removal. After the specified period outlined in the probation letter, the student
must be sent another letter to either remove the probationary status or issue a second probationary letter
with new conditions for regaining good academic standing or to dismiss the student from the program.
Academic Withdrawal
Under extraordinary circumstances, graduate students may petition for total academic withdrawal
from a
given term. The Graduate School will only consider cases where the student or department (on the
student's behalf) can document:
• Lengthy medical incapacitation of the student or a member of the student's immediate family
• Death of a student's immediate family member
• Military orders issued to a student
• Other similarly extraordinary measures as petitioned by the student.
Academic withdrawal is for the entirety of a student's registration in that term (i.e., these cases are
considered on an all or nothing basis). The deadline for graduate students to submit petitions for total
academic withdrawal is the end of the subsequent academic term. The Graduate School reserves the
right to consult members of the faculty and others as appropriate when reviewing total academic
withdrawal cases.
Academic withdrawal from the term will be indicated on the transcript by the symbol W (withdrawal) next
to each registered class. For the purposes of determining good academic standing/satisfactory academic
progress, courses given W grades are considered to be attempted credit hours but are not considered to
be successfully completed.
Approval for Courses outside the School of Management
Transfer Credit Policies (courses taken outside of UB)
The program faculty director will review requests for transfer credits on a case-by-case basis. Per the UB
graduate school policy, up to 20% of a program’s required credits can be considered for transfer credits.
To be considered for transfer credit, a graduate course must have a full ‘B’ grade or better completed at
an equivalent AACSB-accredited program within the last 10 years.
Transfer Credit Process
If you wish to petition for transfer credit, the program faculty director must first evaluate any transfer
coursework for its applicability toward any graduate program of study. Once transfer credits are deemed
appropriate and applicable by the department, file a Graduate Student Petition for Transfer Credit
form
during your first year at UB. Upon receipt of the transfer credit petition, the Graduate School will evaluate
credit and grade equivalences, and verify the courses were completed at an accredited or recognized
institution. UB must receive a final official transcript from the transfer institution before the transfer credits
may be formally approved and recorded on your UB record.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
Non-School of Management Graduate Elective Coursework
All students must fulfill all core requirements and complete all electives at the graduate level. Elective
coursework outside of your programs approved curriculum is at the discretion of the faculty director. You
must receive written confirmation from the program faculty director before enrollment.
MBA and PMBA only
To request approval for credit of a non-School of Management course, submit the following electronically
to your academic advisor and faculty director:
• Course title and number
• Course syllabus
• Explanation of the management content in the course and correlation to career goals
Exception: If a course was used to fulfill degree requirements for a graduate degree previously awarded,
it cannot also be used for a School of Management graduate degree.
Transfer Between Programs
Transferring between graduate programs within the School of Management is not allowed. If you
determine you would like to switch programs, you must apply, follow the admission process and be
admitted into the new program you desire. If admitted, the faculty director will evaluate your previous
graduate coursework and determine which credits, if any, may transfer.
Copyright: Higher Education Opportunity Act 4137 Notification
The University at Buffalo School of Management complies with the Higher Education Opportunity
Act. You can find more details here
.
Course Availability
School of Management faculty and administrators pride themselves on the richness and flexibility of our
curriculum and course offerings. To offer a quality education at an affordable price, enrollment levels may
occasionally affect the variety of courses available or reduce the range of days and times that sections of
the same class can be offered. Generally, the school reserves the right to cancel a class if the enrollment
drops below a reasonable number. In the case of required courses, the school guarantees the course will
be available to students who need to take it to graduate but may decide to consolidate sections of the
same course if enrollment is low. In such cases, courses may not be offered every semester. In
extenuating circumstances, if a required course is needed for conferral and has been cancelled, a
substitution will be approved by the faculty director. Courses with low enrollment may be cancelled
altogether if a suitable alternative is available in the same semester. If you wish to take a particular
course, we recommend taking it as soon as possible, as long as all prerequisites have been met.
Course Sharing Limits
In cases where a student wishes to use selected graduate-level courses to satisfy the degree
requirements of more than one post-baccalaureate (graduate and/or professional) degree program, the
following limitations apply:
1. The integrity of each master's level degree program must be observed by the student's
completion of a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit at UB. Individual degree programs may
establish minimum credit hour requirements that exceed that level.
2. No more than 10% of the total credit hours required to complete two UB master's degree
programs may be comprised of “shared courses” (i.e., courses applied to both programs). For
example, in the case of two MS degree programs, each of which requires 30 credits (i.e., a total
of 60), no more than six credit hours (10%) of the 60 may be comprised of courses applied to
both programs. Similarly, in the case of two degree programs that, in total, require 90 credit hours
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
between them, no more than nine credit hours (10%) of the 90 may be comprised of courses
applied to both programs.
3. In cases where one or more specific courses are explicitly required by both programs (i.e., not
merely as acceptable electives), such course(s) are considered “shared courses” under policy
definitions and will be the first course(s) counted toward the 10% limit. If those specific courses
explicitly required by both programs exceed the normal 10% “shared courses” limit, the 10% limit
is waived and all such courses may be counted toward both degrees.
Credit Hour Requirements/Curricular Restrictions
C
ontinuous Registration Requirement
As part of the registration process, students select a program of courses with the advice of their advisors
or committee and with the approval of their program director. Students must then officially register every
semester for the appropriate courses according to established registration procedures and within the
deadline dates announced by the Office of the Registrar
.
Graduate students must register for a minimum of one credit hour each fall and spring term until all
requirements for the degree are completed. If continuous registration is impossible at any time, the
student must secure a leave of absence
from the Office of the Registrar. Failure to secure a leave of
absence by the end of the semester in which the leave is to begin will result in a $350 reactivation fee
being assessed to the student’s account when the student subsequently registers for classes. Students
may not be on a leave of absence when the student subsequently registers for classes. Students may not
be on a leave of absence in the semester immediately preceding degree conferral. Under rare
circumstances, the continuous registration requirement may be waived for the semester immediately prior
to degree conferral if:
• The student has applied for graduation or has an approved PhD Application to Candidacy on file
in the Graduate School; and,
• The student will not be using any university services or faculty time; and,
• The student submitted all required conferral materials to the Graduate School prior to the first day
of the semester.
Students may request a waiver of continuous registration by filing the
Graduate School Petition for Waiver
of Continuous Registration with the Graduate School.
Credit Hour Requirements for MS Management Information Systems and MS Business Analytics
(in-residence) programs
MS MIS* and MS BA in-residence students are registered for 6 credit hours in the summer semester.
Summer registration will be conducted on your behalf by the Graduate Programs Office.
For subsequent fall and spring semesters, students will self-enroll via the HUB system in a maximum of
12 credit hours.
An enrollment audit will be conducted after the add/drop period ends. If a student is enrolled in more than
the maximum 12 credit hours, the student will be administratively dropped from the last elective added to
their schedule.
*MS MIS students will complete their 1-credit capstone during the winter semester or second summer
semester.
Curricular Requirements for MS Finance program
MS Finance students will enroll in a maximum of 12 credit hours for each semester during their program.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
An enrollment audit will be conducted after the add/drop period ends. If a student is enrolled in more than
the maximum 12 credit hours, the student will be administratively dropped from the last elective added to
their schedule.
Credit Hour Requirements for Full-time MBA program only
MBA students are registered for a maximum of 15 credit hours in their first semester. Subsequent
semesters allow for up to 19 credit hours per semester. For permission to exceed the maximum credit
hours, you must follow the credit hour override request policy below.
Credit Override Request Policy (Full-time MBA program only)
To submit a credit override request for review, your current cumulative graduate point average (CGPA)
must be greater than 3.4. If your CGPA falls below 3.4, your request will not be considered.
If you meet the CGPA requirement, compile the following information:
• Justification for the need to exceed 19 credit hours for the semester
• A summary of your projected course loads and commitments for the remainder of your program
• A PDF copy of your transcript (available in HUB Student Center)
• Weekly snapshot of your schedule in an Excel document or table format that includes your
coursework along with any other commitments (work, family, clubs, etc.)
Submit all information to the MBA advisor at least one week before the semester begins. Your program
faculty director will review your request, and you will be notified of the decision via email.
If an exception is granted, you must register for your core classes before registering for electives. If there
is a time conflict between a core course and an elective, you must drop the elective.
Dual- and Cross-Listed Undergraduate and Graduate Courses
A graduate course may be dual- or cross-listed with an undergraduate course only when the
undergraduate course is a 400-level offering. In such a case, a clear explanation of the additional work
that graduate students are expected to undertake for the graduate-level offering (i.e., extra recitation
sections, extra projects, additional papers, etc.) must be explained in the course syllabus.
First-Semester Registration Requirements (Full-time MBA program only)
The first-year curriculum is the same for all MBA students. Students in the first semester of the full-time
MBA program will take 15 credit hours of required core courses, and the Graduate Programs Office will
complete registration. Information regarding your courses, schedule and registration will be available
through the HUB Student Center approximately two weeks before the start of the semester.
MBA students who have been conditionally admitted to the program are prohibited from registering for an
elective during the first semester. All other MBA students (including dual-degree students) are not
encouraged to take electives until after their first semester.
For requests to exceed 15 credit hours of MBA registration in the first semester, refer to the credit hour
requirement policy.
Global Programs – Maximum Credit Hours
The maximum amount of Global Program and Experience the 50 credits that may be used toward a
graduate degree is 10% of the total credit hours required for the program. Any additional credits over this
threshold will not be used toward the degree requirement. Not all graduate programs allow global
programs course credit to be used towards degree credit, please review your program curricular planner
for specific details. If you take a global programs course and it is not an approved course in your program
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
it will not count toward your degree. Note: If you are registering for more than three credit hours of Global
Programs, review the repeatable courses policy.
Online programs students interested in global programs courses should contact their faculty director
regarding fit within their curriculum plan.
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was enacted to protect student information. It
mandates that you, the student, are allowed to inspect your education records and limit others from
reviewing the information without your permission.
For a complete statement of student rights under FERPA, see Article 8 (Administrative Regulations)
of
UB’s Rules and Regulations and UB’s Access to Student Information FERPA Policy.
Financial Obligations
Per SUNY policy, when you register, you assume responsibility for paying all tuition and fees associated
with your enrollment/registration. You must pay even if you did not attend a single class unless you have
dropped or resigned your courses according to the published deadlines. This applies to those who are
withdrawing from the university, as well as those who have fallen below full-time status.
For complete details, see the Student Accounts website: Student Accounts Financial Liability Deadlines.
Grading Procedures/Requirements
Grades: Blank/Missing
The appearance of a space “” next to a class on the transcript denotes that no grade has been recorded
for that class. All UB students are responsible for checking their transcripts at the end of each term.
Should a student discover a “missing grade” they should consult immediately with the instructor or the
staff in the associated department, to validate their grade. At the end of the following term an F grade will
be recorded on the student’s record if an alternative grade is not recorded by that time.
Courses taken in any given year during:
Blank grade will default to F on
Summer semester
Last day of the following fall semester
Fall semester
Last day of the following spring semester
Spring semester
Last day of the final session in the following
summer
Grades: Resign (R)
Graduate students have the prerogative to resign any course for which they have registered without GPA
penalty through the end of the 11th week of the fall or spring term. All course resignations processed
during the permissible dates (as published in the class schedule available through the Office of the
Registrar) will be indicated as officially resigned courses by the notation “R” on all grade reports,
transcripts and other official university documents. Resignation from all courses should be done through
the HUB Student Center, which students may access through the MyUB portal
. There are no quality
points attached to an “R” designation.
Prior to resigning from a course, you should speak with an academic advisor and financial aid advisor to
understand the implications of taking this action, both financially and academically. Instructions on how to
resign a course are available on the Office of the Registrar website
.
Grades: Incomplete (I)
For all graduate-level courses, an interim grade of incomplete (I) may be assigned if you have not
completed all requirements for the course. A grade of “I” can be assigned only if you have a passing
average in course requirements already completed and successful completion of unfinished coursework
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
could result in a final grade better than the default grade. The instructor shall specify, in writing, the
requirements left to be fulfilled. An interim grade of “I” shall not be assigned to a student who did not
complete assignments due to non-attendance in the course.
Assignment of an incomplete grade is at the discretion of the instructor. The instructor must specify a
default grade when the “I” grade is submitted. A default grade is the letter grade the student will receive if
no additional coursework is completed and/or a grade change form is not filed by the instructor. The
default grade can be A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, S or U.
The default grade shall become the grade of record if the I grade is not replaced by a permanent grade
12 months after the close of the term in which the I was assigned according to the following chart:
Courses taken in (semester)
Will default in 12 months on*
Summer
Aug. 31
Fall
Dec. 31
Winter
Jan. 31
Spring
May 31
*If an extension to the incomplete timeframe is sought, the above chart indicates the due date for the
corresponding Petition for Incomplete Extension
form to be filed with the Graduate School.
When assigning an incomplete grade, the instructor may set an earlier deadline for completion of the
outstanding course requirements. If an earlier date for completion is set, the instructor shall inform the
student thereof in writing.
Any course graded with incomplete that will count toward a graduate degree must be changed to a
permanent grade before that degree is conferred. At any time prior to the default date, a student may
elect to change the “I” grade to the default grade using the Grade Retrieval
form.
Grade Changes: Incomplete (I) Change
Changing an existing incomplete (I) grade before the default date does not require an explanation nor
approval of the Graduate School. Once an “I” grade has defaulted to the corresponding permanent grade,
it cannot be changed. However, if an instructor makes an error, a correction can be made to that final
grade if it was assigned before the default date. Such a correction must be requested before the end of
the term following the default date listed on the incomplete default date chart.
If an “I” grade is changed to a failing grade, the course, if offered again, may be repeated for credit.
Grade Submission Dates
Faculty shall submit grades for all courses by the due date scheduled for each term, which shall be no
less than seven days (including weekends and holidays) after the last day of the term's final examination
sessions or the last day of classes of a term not having separately scheduled final examination sessions.
Courses offered in a non-standard term (e.g., a non-standard summer session) may have a shorter time
for grade submission. Grades may be obtained by students and advisors through the HUB Student
Center available through the MyUB portal the day after they are submitted.
Grades: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) and Satisfactory with Written Evaluation
The instructor shall make explicitly evident within the course syllabus the grading procedures for a
course. The syllabus shall specify whether the class will be graded with “S/U” or with weighted letter
grade options.
Students who wish to be graded on a basis different from the one articulated in the syllabus must submit
a written request to the instructor by the resign deadline for the course as denoted in the
Student
Calendar. The instructor's decision will be final and will be transmitted to the student in writing.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
An “S” indicates credit earned and “U” indicates no credit earned. The “S” grade should be awarded only
in those instances where a student's weighted grade would have been equivalent to a “B” or better. No
more than 25% of required formal course credits in a student's graduate program (not including courses
taken as research, thesis, project, portfolio and dissertation guidance, or because of the COVID-19
pandemic any course taken during the spring 2020 semester) shall be graded on an S/U basis. An
academic unit may establish a lower percentage limit.
Exclusive of “S” grades, courses to be included as satisfying degree program requirements must average
B or better. The U grade indicates unsatisfactory performance, but is not computed in the overall grade
point average reflected on the official transcript.
Note: Satisfactory with written evaluation (SW) grades shall not be construed as S grades for this
purpose.
Grades: Audit (N)
The School of Management does not allow students to audit courses.
Repeating Courses
If a graduate student repeats a course that is not normally "repeatable" (including dissertation, research,
thesis, project or portfolio guidance; independent study; directed readings, etc.), only the highest grade
earned in the course will be counted toward the degree and used to calculate the grade point average
associated with the graduate degree program requirements. However, the student's official graduate
transcript will record all courses attempted (including repeated courses). All resulting grades earned are
calculated in the cumulative GPA reflected on the students' final official transcript.
The School of Management does not allow students to retake a course unless they have failed and
received approval from the faculty director.
Degree Conferral
Before degree conferral is possible, all master's candidates must complete all degree credit requirements
as outlined for their program completion and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Make sure your records and degree requirements maintained in your program office are up to date by
periodic scheduled appointments with your academic advisor.
Follow these steps to ensure your application is filed on time and correctly:
1. Log on to MyUB and access your HUB Student Center.
2. Under the “Academics” section, click the “My Academics” link.
3. Make sure the information that appears is accurate, and click “Apply for Graduation” link.
4. In the “Select an Academic Program” box, click the link for “Management Master’s.”
5. Select the expected graduation term from the drop-down menu.
6. Click the “Continue” button.
7. Click the “Submit Application” button.
8. You should receive a confirmation message indicating you have successfully applied for degree
conferral.
9. If you did not receive a confirmation or are still having trouble, contact the Graduate Programs
Office.
Note to 3/2 MBA and dual MBA students: You may need to go through this process twice, applying to
each major. Contact the Graduate Programs Office if you have any questions.
Conferral dates and deadlines are as follows:
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
Graduation Term
Application Deadline
Conferral Date
Fall
October 15
February 1
Spring
February 22
June 1
Summer
July 15
August 31
Guidelines for Course-Related Activities during Non-Class Times in MBA and MS
Programs
The credit hour requirements of MBA and MS programs cover only mandatory and regular class time
(e.g., a 2-credit course delivered over seven weeks requires two 2-hour class meetings each week for
seven weeks). Instructors may offer course-related activities during non-class times, such as review
sessions, exams, competitions and presentations by executives. These extra activities, however, should
not incorporate any new course content. Attendance at the activity should be fully voluntary and should
not be a requirement of the related course.
Instructors are not expected to give extra course credits for the purpose of encouraging students to attend
the activity. Instructors also have the responsibility to ensure any information and activity content beyond
the requirements of the related course are not tested on exams for the course. To facilitate student
attendance, the scheduling of these activities should be coordinated with the non-class program time that
is accessible to all students.
Holds
The university uses service indicators/holds to prevent students from registering for classes, receiving
grades and releasing student records, including diplomas, enrollment certification or transcripts. Holds
may be placed by various offices on campus for outstanding financial obligations or for failing to submit
required documents requested by the university. You can review your holds
and the actions to resolve
them in your HUB Student Center.
For questions or concerns about resolving your hold, contact the office that placed it. Your program office
cannot resolve holds placed by other university offices.
Independent Study-Supervised Research
Independent studies (supervised research) are usually limited to 3 credit hours. To be eligible for an
independent study a student must do the following: download an independent study form from your
program’s current student website, complete the required information, obtain the proper signatures, and
return it to your program office before the add/drop deadline for the semester. Typically, students do not
participate in an independent study or supervised research until their second semester.
Internships (Full-time MBA and MS students)
Within the Career Resource Center, the Internships and Experiential Learning team builds relationships
with employers to develop relevant internship opportunities for School of Management graduate students.
The CRC’s graduate advisor team can assist you with internship and job search strategies. Credit-bearing
internships provide you with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-
world projects within diverse professional work environments.
Requirements
Graduate students must have a CGPA of 3.0 or above to be eligible for an internship.
Note: Full-time MBA students must fulfill one 3-credit internship. Only one 3-credit internship may count
toward the 60-credit graduation requirement. Academic registration for internships is equal to three
academic credits, enrolled during the same semester as the internship occurs.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
Students must complete a minimum of 150 hours of participation during the internship.
International students must obtain work authorization, called Curricular Practical Training (CPT), prior to
the start of the internship. Registration for academic credit corresponding with the internship is necessary
to request CPT. Students will work directly with the Internships and Experiential Learning team to initiate
this process once an internship offer is accepted. A new I-20 is issued by UB International Student
Services verifying the CPT work authorization. International students may not begin their internship
participation until the new I-20 is received.
All students participating in credit-bearing internships must submit academic assignments as outlined in
the Internship and Experiential Learning syllabus. Internships are graded pass/fail.
The Internship Search
Internship postings are located in BizLink
, the CRC’s exclusive online career management system. All
internship postings in BizLink are screened by the internship program director and eligible for academic
credit. Postings reflect experiences in privately held, publicly traded, government and nonprofit
organizations.
Conduct your internship search by browsing and applying to postings in the BizLink system. We
encourage you to use a multi-pronged approach, including attending on-campus events, such as career
fairs and employer speaking engagements; using LinkedIn and other forms of social media; applying
directly to employers' websites; and networking with contacts on and off campus.
Internship Waivers
MBA students who have one year of full-time post-bachelor’s managerial experience in a relevant
professional environment may be waived from the internship requirement. You will be notified of your
waiver status in the fall of your first year and can accept the waiver or complete an internship. If you
choose to accept the waiver, you must take an additional course to replace the three credits otherwise
provided by the internship. If you do not qualify for a waiver and do not complete an internship, you will
not graduate until the internship requirement is satisfied.
Note: An internship waiver does not override the need for international students to earn academic credit
as part of the process for obtaining their CPT.
Awards
Each year, the Career Resource Center honors the outstanding achievements of student interns and
employers at a reception attended by the dean, faculty, staff and employers. For more information, visit
the internships website
.
Leave of Absence
A request for a leave of absence must be reviewed with your academic advisor and approved by the
faculty director using a Graduate Student Petition for a Leave of Absence form
. The form must then be
forwarded to the Office of the Registrar by the last day of classes of the semester in which the leave is to
begin.
Normally, leaves are granted for a maximum of one year, but may be extended for up to one additional
year if circumstances warrant. Each department may establish its own policies within the limits of these
guidelines. All leave requests must be supported by adequate documentation.
Students approved for a leave of absence remain liable for any outstanding tuition and fee charges.
International students are advised to consult with International Student and Scholar Services
, 220 Talbert
Hall, North Campus, 716-645-2258, prior to applying for a leave of absence.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
Failure to register for classes or secure a leave of absence by the last day of classes of the semester in
which the leave is to begin, will result in the student losing their access to register for classes in a future
semester. To regain registration access within a subsequent five-year period, the student's home
academic department must file a semester record activation request on behalf of the student (see the
Returning Student Semester Record Activation and Associated Fee section
for more details).
Student Honors and Awards
Beta Alpha Psi
Beta Alpha Psi, the national accounting fraternity, is a scholastic and professional organization that
encourages and recognizes scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting. By
promoting the study and practice of accounting and providing opportunities for interaction with practicing
accountants, the organization hopes to encourage in students a sense of ethical, social and public
responsibilities. Students who have attained the appropriate cumulative grade point average in
accounting courses and are in the upper 35% of their class in all university courses are eligible for
membership.
Beta Gamma Sigma (MBA students only)
Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society honoring outstanding students in management.
Membership is based on character and high scholarship, and for MBA graduates is restricted to those
graduating in the upper 15-20% of all UB MBA programs in a given year. Information concerning Beta
Gamma Sigma is available from your program office.
School of Managements Honors (PMBA students only)
For outstanding performance in the Professional MBA program, the School of Management awards the
degree “With Distinction” to graduates with overall grade point averages of 3.75 and above in all MBA
courses. The honor is recorded on your final transcript.
Time Limits for Degree Conferral
Master's degrees must be completed within four years from the student's first registration date in that
master's degree program. Doctoral degrees must be completed within seven years from the student's
initial formal matriculation in that doctoral program. Requests for extensions of time limits must be
petitioned using the Extension of Time Limit to Complete a Degree Program form
. Each divisional or area
committee may establish its own stricter policies within the constraints of these overarching institutional
policies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spring 2020 term is excluded from UB's time-to-degree
calculations.
Transcripts
Official transcripts of record are sent from the Office of the Registrar at the student's request or may be
given to students in a sealed envelope. Students may use the HUB Student Center through the MyUB
portal to print unofficial copies at any time while they are enrolled at UB. Official transcripts can be sent
directly to a college, institution or company upon student request. Transcripts cannot be issued for any
student whose financial obligations to the university have not been met.
Tuition and Fees
The most up-to-date tuition and fees information is available on the Student Accounts
website.
University Course Evaluation System (Campus Labs)
The School of Management uses the University Course Evaluation System. Toward the end of each
semester, you will receive a reminder via your active email, preferably your UBIT account. The evaluation
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
window is usually a month, and all School of Management students are expected to complete course
evaluations during this time.
Help your department and the school by participating in this important exercise. It will only take 10
minutes of your time to give feedback on the courses you took during the semester. These evaluations
are anonymous, and your instructors will only see aggregate results after all grades have been submitted.
This is an important way of participating in the decision-making process for the school, and all graduate
students are expected to do so.
Visit the evaluation website
.
Enter “University at Buffalo” for the school
Username: UBIT name
Password: last four digits of your UB Person Number
For questions, contact Dianna Cichocki, clinical assistant professor of management science and systems,
at diannaci@buffalo.edu
.
Use of Dual-Listed Courses Toward Both an Undergraduate and Graduate Degree
Program
Dual-listed courses that are taken at the undergraduate level and applied toward an undergraduate
degree cannot be taken later at the graduate level and applied toward a post-baccalaureate degree or
advanced certificate if the student received a “B” grade or higher in the undergraduate level offering.
Use of Historical Coursework Toward a Current Graduate Degree Program
Coursework more than 10 years old, whether from another institution or from UB, that is to be included in
a current graduate degree program must be petitioned at the time of the student’s matriculation to the
program. The student should submit a Use of Historical Coursework Petition
upon admission to the
graduate program to determine whether such courses and associated graduate credits can be applied
toward the current degree program requirements. The director of graduate studies reviews the
coursework to determine whether the content of those courses is still relevant and applicable, and the
student must demonstrate their continued knowledge of the course content.
Withdrawal from the Program
If you wish to withdraw from your program, you should notify both the faculty director and academic
advisor via email. It is your responsibility to withdraw from any classes for which you may have registered
for subsequent semesters. If you withdraw from a master's program and wish to return at a later date, you
must reapply to the program. Review the Leaving UB and Not Returning to UB
websites to ensure you
understand what is required to complete the withdrawal process.
SERVICES
1Capen
1Capen
streamlines essential student services in one convenient location, so you can get on with the
business of being a student.
Academic Advisement
Your assigned advisor is a resource for academic planning, who can assist you in choosing courses, resolve
concerns regarding your curricular plan and ensure you are on track for degree conferral. You can view your
assigned advisor in your HUB student center.
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
Establish an ongoing relationship with your advisors and meet with them. Advisors can answer your questions
about such matters as course selection, registration and other opportunities. You will work with your advisor
for the duration of the program.
Accessibility Resources
The UB School of Management strives to ensure that students who are in need of services receive them,
including those who need reasonable accommodations. It is important that anyone who requests such
accommodation contact the Office of Accessibility Resources
.
If you need reasonable accommodations, contact the office at the beginning of each semester to contract with
them concerning needed accommodations for the courses you’re taking. In addition, provide your instructors
with a copy of the accommodation letter from Accessibility Resources that details accommodations you may
need at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are encouraged to identify methods of course content
delivery that are accessible to all students.
Ciminelli Family Career Resource Center
The Career Resource Center
(CRC), located on the third floor of the Alfiero Center, serves as the primary
career exploration, internship and job search resource for all School of Management students. The CRC
offers a collaborative environment that promotes proactive career exploration and development with lifelong
strategies for individual career success.
The CRC maximizes connections between our students, employers and networks—and works with you to
create an individualized plan based on your career goals. Your participation in professional development
opportunities like MBA Advantage or MS Advantage, along with career development workshops, résumé
critiques, individual advisement, interview practice and career strategy seminars, will help you develop a
personalized strategy for achieving your career objectives.
In addition, the CRC can connect you to the world of business through opportunities like Network New York
and Coffee Cup Conversations, the Career Connector Network and LinkedIn, business simulations and
competitions, campus recruiting and other events. Lastly, the CRC will help you manage the job-search
process. Whether it’s identifying target companies, managing multiple job offers or even compensation
negotiations—the CRC will support you every step of the way.
It is important to the CRC to serve employers effectively and efficiently by providing them with qualified
candidates who can make immediate contributions to business goals. The CRC’s recruiting partners are
committed to the school and recognize the value of our world-class curriculum, emphasis on real-world
practice, global perspectives and solid career preparation.
The CRC provides employers countless ways to develop their campus brand and access students through
networking events, information sessions, speaking engagements, career fairs and innovative career
development programs. In addition, the CRC offers personalized assistance to employers in getting to know
School of Management students and formulating a recruitment strategy that will provide the maximum benefit
to their organization.
As a result of the CRC's ability to connect employers with School of Management talent, recruiters recognize
UB graduates in national surveys for their outstanding communication, analytical and team skills—critical
indicators of your ability to make an immediate and valuable impact.
Computer Resources
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Graduate Student Handbook, Revised – 5/2023
UB students are required to have access to a computer with a webcam and printer. This access goes beyond
what is provided in the university’s public computing sites, the university’s My Virtual Computing Lab and the
School of Management’s student computer lab in 210 Jacobs.
While ownership is not strictly required, you will likely find it essential for success in your academic pursuits. If
you already own a computer or are looking into purchase a new computer, refer to the university’s
recommended computing standards, in addition to the School of Management’s requirements
.
To ensure all traffic through UB’s wireless networks is secure and encrypted, you should use the wireless
network eduroam as for any wireless activity. For information on how to connect, visit the Wi-Fi at UB page
.
Counseling Services
UB Counseling Services
promotes the personal well-being and academic success of students by providing
brief mental health services, educational programs, crisis intervention and campus community consultation. If
you would like to speak with a counselor, call 716-645-2720.
Do not use email in an emergency: In the event of a mental health emergency, contact the office at 716-645-
2720, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. After hours, call 716-645-2720 and press option 2 to speak with a
counselor, or contact Crisis Services of Erie County, a 24-hour hotline, at 716-834-3131.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
ensures UB’s compliance with policies covering discrimination,
harassment, accommodations, equal opportunity and child protection.
School of Management Alumni Association
With nearly 45,000 School of Management alumni and more than 260,000 UB alumni throughout the world,
you have countless opportunities to network and engage. When you graduate from the UB School of
Management, you automatically become a member of the School of Management Alumni Association
(SOMAA). Meanwhile, as a student, SOMAA provides you with access to a powerful global network of
resources. For more information, visit the Office of Alumni Engagement and External Relations
.
Student Organizations and Association
Student organizations and clubs
provide you a vital link to other students, faculty, professionals and alumni
with similar interests. Getting involved will allow you to:
• Enhance your knowledge and gain experience in your chosen field
• Make a difference in your community and profession
• Meet and network with a wide array of industry professionals
• Connect socially to smaller groups at our large university
• Become involved in community service projects
• Broaden your career search network
• Build your skills and enhance your résumé
For general student club information, contact Christopher Salem at mgt-studentclubs@buffalo.edu
.
