Academic

Policies

Academic Calendar and Holidays

The academic calendar of AGSB generally follows the University academic calendar.

The School observes all national holidays, school holidays, and special holidays declared by the government. These holidays are already factored into the academic calendar.

When a special holiday is declared by the government or force majeure requires suspension of classes, it is the policy of the School to make up for the sessions lost on account of these declarations. The Registrar issues guidelines on the schedule of make-up classes for those affected by the declarations.

If a faculty member foresees his/her absence for a particular session, it is his/her responsibility to inform the Cluster Chair so that a faculty member from the same cluster can take over the session, thus avoiding the need for a make-up session.

Trimester and Term Schedules

The MBA Standard and Middle Manager Programs require fifteen (15) weeks of sessions per trimester, with each session lasting three (3) hours.

The MBA-Health requires fourteen (14) weeks of sessions per trimester, with each session lasting three (3) hours.

The Ateneo-Regis program requires eight (8) weeks of sessions per term, with each session lasting four (4) hours.

Course Sequences

MBA STANDARD PROGRAM
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MBA MIDDLE MANAGER PROGRAM
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ATENEO – REGIS MBA PROGRAM
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MBA in HEALTH PROGRAM
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Program Requirements

The curricula of the various MBA programs require the completion of prerequisite courses, foundation courses, core courses, and integrating courses, including electives.

The final requirement for the MBA degree conferment is the completion and defense before a duly constituted faculty panel of the student’s Strategic Management Paper, which he/she completed during the course.

Transfer of Credits
  1. Intra-University

    AGSB grants advanced credit units for courses already taken by the students in any of the University’s graduate programs, subject to the evaluation and approval of the Dean/Program Director.

    The number of units to be credited will vary according to the degree taken and courses completed, the professional experience of the student, and the extent of the correspondence and equivalency of the courses taken with those of the MBA program.

    The procedure for credit transfer is as follows:

    • The student applying for the desired program consults with the Dean.
    • The Dean reviews the application and transcript of records, including the qualifications of the student.
    • The Dean approves the number of units for credit transfer and advises the student on the required subjects to be taken in order to complete the desired program.
  2. Continuing Education Program (CCE)
    • Rationale

      The Ateneo Center for Continuing Education (CCE) supplements and complements the AGSB MBA program offerings through certain courses that can be credited as MBA electives.

    • General Guidelines for CCE Course Credits as MBA Electives:
      • Registered MBA Standard, Middle Managers, Regis, and MBA Health students who would like to have CCE courses credited towards their MBA must write a letter of intent addressed to CCE’s Executive Director subject to CCE’s approval.
      • Ateneo CCE shall submit a list of course offerings (at least one CCE course per term/trimester) to the Registrar’s Office one week prior to enrollment of MBA Standard, Middle Managers, Regis, and MBA Health programs. Selected CCE programs will be uploaded at the appropriate time.
      • Along with the course offerings per term/trimester, CCE shall provide the Registrar’s Office with the list of students per course, which the Registrar in turn shall pre-enlist into the system.
      • Ateneo CCE shall determine the number of elective units based on the training hours of the chosen CCE course for MBA elective credits.
      • MBA students should render the minimum training hours and fulfill the course requirements. Failure to comply with attendance AND course requirements will incur an incomplete (INC) grade. Make-up and deferment policy of CCE shall apply.

      The following CCE courses below will be open for MBA credit:

      1. Certification
        Course Code Course Training Days Number of Units
        SIGMABLACK Six Sigma Black Belt Certification 16 6
        SIGMAGREEN Six Sigma Green Belt Certification 6 3
      2. Diploma
        Course Code Course Training Days Number of Units
        DIPFIN Diploma Program in Corporate Finance 25 6
        DIPMARK Marketing Diploma Program 20 6
        DIPLEADER Leadership & Management Development Program 22 6
        DIPROJMA Diploma in Applied Project Management 20 6
        DIPLOGMA Diploma in Strategic Execution for Logistics Management 20 6

      Grades for the chosen CCE courses will be uploaded in the AGSB website at least one week after the registered term ends. Ateneo CCE will upload the final grade upon completion. Ateneo CCE shall not consider appeal for grade adjustments. Uploaded grade for MBA students are final.

      Full payment to CCE courses is a requirement before release of the grade. No payment means no grade.

  3. Inter-University

    A maximum of twelve (12) course units earned from graduate programs from other universities may be validated towards the AGSB MBA programs, subject to the approval of the Dean/Program Director. The courses should have been taken no more than five (5) years ago, and the student should have obtained at least an above average grade in each of the courses. The Strategic Management class must be taken at the AGSB.

    Students must apply in writing for the credit of subjects taken in another university and present a certified official transcript of records, as well as course descriptions of the subjects sought to be credited.

Subject Loads

The recommended subject loads per trimester/term are:

  1. MBA Standard Program – Three (3) subjects
  2. MBA Middle Manager Program – Two (2) subjects
  3. Ateneo-Regis MBA Program – One (1) subject
  4. MBA in Health Program – Two (2) subjects

Students may take more than the recommended load subject to the approval of the Dean/Program Director.

Change of Courses or Load

Change of courses or load for the MBA Standard, Middle Manager, and MBA-Health programs is allowed only within the first two (2) weeks of classes and is subject to the approval of the Registrar.

Change of courses or load for the MBA Ateneo-Regis Program is allowed only within the first week of classes.

A processing fee is charged for change of subjects or load.

The following procedure for change of courses or load is implemented:

  1. The student fills out the Change Schedule Form obtained from the Office of the Registrar.
  2. The student secures his/her professors’ signed endorsement on the Change Schedule Form before submission to the Office of the Registrar.
  3. The Registrar approves the change if it is found to be in order.
  4. The student pays the processing fee at the Cashier.
  5. The student presents a copy of the form with Cashier’s notation to the Office of the Registrar.
  6. The Office of the Registrar records the change in the student records.
Official Class Lists

Official class lists are issued to the faculty members as records of those officially enrolled in the class. Only students officially enrolled in classes are allowed to participate in, fulfill requirements of, and receive credit for said classes. Students will not earn any credit for attending a class in which he/she is not officially listed, and the student may be subject to disciplinary action.

Students who are officially enrolled in the School are bona fide students, and may not be unilaterally or arbitrarily excluded from the class without due process. Faculty members are not authorized to exclude students from their official lists even if such students are allegedly violating class decorum or administrative or academic policies.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to be present and on time for all their classes including online sessions. They are allowed a maximum of three (3) absences from a class for the Standard, Middle Manager, and MBA-Health programs. Only one (1) absence is allowed for the Ateneo-Regis Program.

Students who exceed the limit of allowed absences will be given a grade of UW (unofficial withdrawal), which is equivalent to a failing mark of 1.0. However, should they have a valid reason for exceeding the maximum number of allowable absences (e.g. prolonged sickness or unforeseen out-of-town or out-of-country work assignments), they may request to receive a grade of W (withdrawal with permission) instead of UW, with the approval of the Cluster Head upon the endorsement of the faculty member.

In such cases, students must write a letter of appeal to the faculty member detailing the situation. If their absences are due to a health issue, a medical certificate must be attached to the letter of appeal. If they are due to a temporary work assignment, a letter from the supervisor attesting to such assignment must be attached to the letter of appeal.

Withdrawal or Change of Status

Students are deemed enrolled for the entire trimester or term and as such are not permitted to withdraw from the course or change to audit status without prior approval of the Registrar.

  1. Policies
    • Withdrawal or change to audit status is permitted up to the seventh week of the trimester for the MBA Standard, Middle Manager, and MBA-Health programs, subject to the approval of the Registrar.
    • Withdrawal or change of status to audit is permitted up to the fourth week for the Ateneo-Regis program.

    If the student files an official intent of withdrawal by completing the required form, he/she will not be given credit for the class, and a mark of “W” (officially withdrawn) will be given and entered into the transcript of records.

    If the student does not file an official withdrawal and drops the subjects without notice and approval, the student shall be given a mark of “UW” (unofficial withdrawal). A UW is equivalent to a failing mark of 1.0 and is entered into the transcript of records.

  2. Procedure

    The following procedure is followed for withdrawal or change of status to audit:

    • The student fills out the Withdrawal and Change Status Form available at the Registrar.
    • The student secures endorsement from his/her professor and submits the form to the Office of the Registrar.
    • The Registrar approves the withdrawals or change of status based on meritorious grounds. Where withdrawals allow refunds or tuition deferments, the Registrar notes it on the form.
    • The student pays the processing fee to the Cashier.
    • The Office of the Registrar then enters the withdrawal or change of status in the student records.
Tuition Refund for Approved Withdrawals
  1. Tuition refunds are allowed for approval withdrawals as follows:
    • MBA Standard, Middle Manager, and MBA-Health Programs:
      • Ninety per cent (90%) of the tuition fee will be refunded if withdrawal is made within the first week of classes.
      • Eighty per cent (80%) of the tuition fee will be refunded if withdrawal is made within the second week of classes.
      • No refund is given for withdrawal after the first two (2) weeks of classes.
    • Ateneo-Regis MBA Program:
      • Eighty per cent (80%) of the tuition fee will be refunded if withdrawal is made within the first week of classes.
      • No refund is given for withdrawals after the first week of classes.
  2. Students entitled to refunds may opt to apply them as partial payment of tuition fees for the immediate succeeding trimester or term. In such cases, the Office of Student Accounts will recognize refunds as advance tuition fees. Should students fail to return for the following trimester or term for no justifiable reason and without informing the Office of the Registrar, the option shall lapse, and the advance tuition fee shall be forfeited.
  3. Students who opt for change to audit status are not entitled to tuition refunds. They have the right, but not the obligation, to attend classes and are not given grades nor credit units.
Tenure of Completion and Leave of Absence

The MBA programs are designed for completion within one and a half (1½) years for the Accelerated MBA Ateneo-Regis Program and two (2) to three (3) years for the MBA Standard, Middle Manager, and MBA-Health Programs.

The MBA programs must be completed within five (5) years from the time the student begins the program.

In case of work exigencies, health concerns, or other unforeseen circumstances, the student may file an official leave of absence from the MBA program. The student may accumulate a maximum of two (2) years of leaves of absence.

The following procedure for taking the official leaves shall be followed:

  1. The student writes to the Registrar of his/her intention to go on official leave citing the reasons and the expected duration of his/her absence.
  2. The Registrar reviews and approves the official leave of absence and puts it on record.

Leaves of absence from the MBA program shall not be counted in reckoning the five (5) year tenure for completing the program.

Returning Students
  1. Policy
    Because of the nature and work responsibilities of the workplace-based student, it is possible that he/she cannot complete the requirements of the programs within five (5) years. To assist the student complete the degree, an assessment and re-accreditation process is carried out by the Registrar within the framework of the curriculum in place upon the student’s return.
  2. Process of Appeal and Re-accreditation
    The returning student submits a letter of appeal to the Dean expressing his/her desire to complete the requirements of the program. He/she must also submit the following documents:

    • An updated professional resume detailing his/her career progress since leaving the MBA program and the training and development seminars that he/she had since attended
    • Any transcript of records of academic achievement from another school he/she may have attended since leaving the AGSB program
  3. Requirements for Completion of a Program by a Returning Student
    • If the appellant has completed all the academic requirements excluding the Strategic Management (STRAMA) course and has been away from the school for no more than six (6) years, he/she must enroll in STRAMA, write the paper, obtain a grade, and successfully defended the paper within one (1) trimester.
    • If the appellant has completed all the academic requirements excluding STRAMA and has been away from the school for more than six (6) years but less than ten (10) years, he/she must again enroll in the functional core courses and STRAMA for a total of at least fifteen (15) units and complete the requirements within three (3) consecutive trimester or terms, at the discretion of the Dean.
    • If the appellant has completed all the academic requirements excluding STRAMA and has been away for more than ten (10) years, he/she must again enroll in the functional core courses, STRAMA, and electives for a total of at least eighteen (18) units and complete the requirements within three (3) consecutive trimester or terms, at the discretion of the Dean.
    • d. All other appeals to complete the MBA program outside of the scope of the aforementioned conditions will be evaluated and decided upon by the Dean.