PhD Handbook
Bentley’s Phd Handbook provides comprehensive, detailed information about the accountancy and business degree programs and the policies and procedures you are required to follow as a student. The answers to many of your questions are contained in this document, along with a formal delineation of specific program offerings, and the process to be followed in obtaining your doctorate.
Governance
The PhD program is governed by the PhD Council which comprises four committees: the PhD Admission Committee, a PhD Academic Performance Standards Committee, a PhD Curriculum Committee, and a PhD Assessment Committee. The PhD Council will include two student representatives: one from the Accountancy program and one from the Business program. These two PhD students are selected by the PhD students themselves during each academic year. Students may serve for a term of up to three years and are nonvoting participants.
The following policies and procedures apply to the PhD program:
Degree Requirements Conferral and Graduation
PhD Student Travel and Conference Policy
Research Rights and Responsibilities Statement
Dissertation Committee and External Member/Examiner Policy
Registration
Students register using BannerWEB, the college’s registration software interface, which provides online, real-time access for adding courses, changing registration, and checking room assignments. It is critical to follow all registration instructions carefully and “confirm” all registration selections. A review of one’s schedule after completing the registration process is recommended to be sure that all intended transactions are recorded properly.
Registration materials are sent to students according to the following schedule:
Semester: Fall
Approximate Mailing Date: August
Semester: Spring
Approximate Mailing Date: December
Registration books may also be printed from the Registrar’s web site. Course and seat availability can also be checked here throughout the registration period.
Failure to attend a class or classes for which one registers does not constitute a withdrawal. It is recommended that all students carefully read the withdrawal procedures outlined in the registration book.
If a course is closed at the time of registration, a wait list option is offered. If a student wishes to be added to the waitlist, the waitlist option must be chosen from the drop-down box , then the "Submit Changes” button should be clicked before leaving the form. Each time a student chooses the waitlist option, a number is assigned. The number simply indicates the size of the list, not a priority on the list. Priority on a waitlist is determined by one’s graduation status or degree or concentration need.
If a cancellation is received for a closed course, a staff member will contact students on the waitlist via their Bentley e-mail to see if the student still wishes to enroll in the course. There is no guarantee that students on a waitlist will be placed in the class; thus, it is recommended that alternate selections be made at the time of initial registration in the event a seat in the first-choice course does not become available.
After the initial registration period, students may make changes to their schedule using BannerWEB. It is important to “confirm” all changes made and to review one’s schedule to be sure that all transactions are recorded properly. Changes may be made to one’s schedule through the first week of the semester without incurring any financial penalty. Please note, however, if joining a class after the first class has met, students should be aware that faculty may have given assignments and formed groups within the first class. Students are expected to review the course’s Blackboard site or contact faculty prior to the second class to obtain a syllabus and find out about any missed assignments.
Beginning the second week of a semester, no courses may be added and students who need to withdraw from a class must do so via BannerWEB. Withdrawals occurring beginning the second week of class are subject to a withdrawal penalty as outlined in the Registration Book. In addition, each semester has a "last date" by which a student may withdraw from a course. All withdrawal questions should be addressed to the Registrar’s Office.
Grading Policy
Once grades have been received and processed, students may learn their grades by accessing BannerWEB for Students. The Registrar’s Office also mails grades to students once all grades have been received and processed.
Passing grades for the PhD program range from a high of 4.0 to a low of 2.7. Grades are assigned on the following scale:
|
Grade |
Alphabetical Equivalent |
Numerical Equivalent |
|
4.0 |
A |
95-100 |
|
3.7 |
A- |
90-94 |
|
3.3 |
B+ |
87-89 |
|
3.0 |
B |
83-86 |
|
2.7 |
B- |
80-82 |
|
2.3 |
F |
77-79 |
| P = Pass-Equivalent to 2.7 or better |
| IG = Incomplete |
| W = Assigned to indicate a withdrawal during the period starting at the third week of class and continuing through two thirds of the semester |
| NS = Assigned by the Registrar's to indicate that a grade has not been submitted by the instructor |
During a course, each instructor may use discretion in the method and frequency of grading and reporting grades to the student, but will, at the beginning of the course, inform the class of grading plans and academic requirements.
Degree Requirements Conferral and Graduation
Bentley confers degrees three times per year consistent with the meetings of the Board of Trustees. Students completing degree requirements at the conclusion of the spring term will be considered May graduates. Students completing degree requirements at the conclusion of the summer term will be considered October/November graduates. Students completing degree requirements at the conclusion of the fall term will be considered February/March graduates.
Students are required to file a petition to graduate through BannerWEB. Specific dates of each conferral are listed in the academic calendar. Late petitions will be subject to late fees of $25 or $100.
All candidates for degree conferral must have completed all course requirements and have attained a cumulative grade point average of 2.7. Students not meeting the course or grade requirements will not be eligible for degree conferral.
All students must otherwise be in good standing at Bentley. Each student must meet all financial requirements to Bentley and have completed loan exit interviews when required.
Incomplete Policy
IG (Incomplete) is a temporary designation given by the instructor when course requirements, which may still be made up, have not been completed. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor to clear the deficiency. An IG is not counted in computing averages. An IG will become an F unless it is converted to a passing grade within 60 days of the succeeding semester. Spring term incompletes must be complete within 60 days of the start of the succeeding fall term unless the Registrar’s Office has received written notification from the faculty member explaining exactly what arrangements have been made with the student, including the final date that the grade will be submitted. With faculty member approval, after the 60-day period and within the next year, the F may be changed to a grade.
Grade Changes
College policy requires all grade changes to be submitted within one year of the grade’s original submission. The acceptance of grade changes beyond the one-year period may be requested of the PhD Council and will only be considered in cases where extreme circumstances have prevented the student from completing the requirements within the one-year allowable time period.
Requests to have a grade changed beyond the one-year allowable time period must be submitted in writing to the PhD Council. The petition must include: a) the reason why the course could not be completed within the one-year time frame, b) a plan to complete the course that has been agreed upon by the student and faculty member. This plan must include the date by which the work will be complete and the date that the final grade will be submitted.
Course Withdrawal
PhD Students are allowed to withdraw/drop from one course on the PhD Program. Students may petition the one withdrawal limit in extraordinary circumstances; petitions should be submitted to the PhD director. A required course which has been withdrawn from should be taken at the next available offering.
Once registration has occurred, a student who needs to withdraw from a course may do so during the first two-thirds of the semester. Students should withdraw from a course via MyBentley within the deadlines published in each semester’s registration book and on the Registrar’s web site. The effective date of the course withdrawal is the date that the transaction was processed in MyBentley or when official notification is received by the Registrar’s Office.
Simply notifying the instructor of one’s plans to withdraw from a course for which one has registered, or ceasing to attend a course, does not constitute an official withdrawal from the course. A student who fails to attend classes for a course for which he or she has registered, and does not initiate the proper withdrawal action within the published deadlines, receives a grade of F for the course and is liable for any tuition charge applicable to the course. Course withdrawals beginning with the third week of class and continuing through two-thirds of the semester are recorded as W on a student’s transcript. The W grade has no impact on the grade point average.
Course Waivers
In some cases, the core subject-based courses may be substituted where a student already has specialized knowledge in the area; in these cases the student may still have to compete the comprehensive examination which will include material from the core courses. However, the student will not get credit for this prior work, but will be required to take an alternative, specialized elective course so that they do not have to repeat work. It is the responsibility of the student to put forward a case for core course substitution. They will make this submission in writing to the Curriculum Committee of the PhD Council, which will make a recommendation to the PhD Council as to whether the student can substitute a core course.
Repeat Policy
A student must repeat a required course in which an F has been earned. A failed course may be repeated only once and no more than one such repeat is normally permitted in total. Only the second grade enters into the Grade Point Average, but the failure remains on the transcript.
When a student receives an F grade in a specialized subject-based course (elective), they have two options to remove the failed course from computation in the cumulative average. The student must either successfully repeat the course or substitute another elective in its place. It is recommended that students confer with their Primary Supervisor as to whether the failed course should be repeated or if an alternate selection is advised. Then, if it is decided that an alternate is a reasonable option, discuss appropriate choices with the Primary Supervisor before making final selections. If an alternate is elected, the PhD Director or the Primary Supervisor should notify the Registrar’s Office, in writing, so that the student’s record can be updated appropriately upon completion of the substitute course.
A student who fails their proposal the first time round has no more than 3 months to resubmit the proposal. Failure to do this within the time limit will lead to termination of the student
PhD Student Travel and Conference Policy
Preparation
Bentley doctoral students may apply for a travel award to present a paper at a research conference, symposium or doctoral consortium. The conference, symposium or consortium should be chosen based on its competitive selection of papers and have a national reputation for quality.
Each student will be encouraged to submit an academic paper to a conference or apply for a position in a doctoral consortium, normally following the completion of their second year of study.
Each student will need to have their advisor’s approval for the submission to the chosen conference. Preferably, they will be accompanied by a Bentley faculty member, with the purpose of introducing them to colleagues.
Students whose paper is accepted or attend consortia/conferences may be reimbursed in whole or in part by the PhD Programs Office depending on the cost of the conference and available funds. Students are encouraged to submit grant proposals for additional funding.
Approval
Students must submit a travel authorization form (available on-line) to the PhD Program Director, for approval, prior to making travel arrangements in accordance with the PhD Handbook.
Once the travel is approved, the student will be given a travel card from which to pay for the travel arrangements. When the travel is concluded, each student must fill out an expense form and reconcile any difference between the authorization form and the actual costs. Students must return the expense form, and the travel card, to the PhD Programs Office and give a copy of the form to the Financial Operations department.
Termination Policy
Termination normally occurs under the following circumstances:
- A student who has failed the same course twice.
- A student who has failed two different courses.
- The student fails the comprehensive exam twice.
- The student fails the dissertation proposal defense twice. *
- The student fails the final dissertation defense twice.
- The student has failed to complete their final dissertation defense by May 31 of their seventh year in the program.
- A Student who has violated the withdrawal policy without the necessary permission from the PhD Director.
Students can petition the PhD Council to reconsider termination decisions. Petitions should include:
- A statement indicating the unusual circumstances.
- A realistic plan to complete the program.
- Letters from three research-active faculty, indicating a willingness to support the student.
- At least one recommendation from a PhD Council member.
*A student who fails their proposal the first time around has no more than 3 months to resubmit the proposal. Failure to do this within the time limit will lead to termination of the student.
Research Rights and Responsibilities Statement
The following policies and procedures are adopted by Bentley University for oversight of research by the College’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). They have been formulated in response to consideration of 45 CFR 690, the federal requirements known as the “Common Rule” that may be examined in its entirety at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm
Because the regulations of individual federal agencies may deviate from the Common Rule, the college’s policies and procedures will be amended accordingly whenever a federal agency (or, if more than one, all federal agencies) from which the college is seeking funds requires the change(s). In other words, it may be necessary for Bentley’s policies and procedures to be amended in accordance to the government’s response to application the college may make for an assurance, through which the government would be bound to accept the results of the IRB’s review of a particular proposal for research.
The definitions of research and of human subject used at Bentley University are: Research means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
Human subject means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains
- Data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or
- Identifiable private information.
Activities that meet the definition of research constitute research for purposes of this policy whether or not they will be conducted or supported under a program which is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities.
Federal regulations that govern the participation of human subjects in research draw on standards published in an earlier document entitled “Ethical Principles — Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research.” Implications of three ethical principles are discussed in the Belmont Report. Briefly: Applying respect for persons means that, to the degree they are capable, subjects will be given the opportunity to choose what will or will not happen to them, through the researcher’s use of adequate standards for obtaining informed consent. Applying beneficence requires that research will be justified on the basis of a favorable risk/benefit assessment, in which “risk” is considered as the possibility that harm may occur and “benefit” is used to refer to something of positive value related to health or welfare. The risks and benefits affecting the immediate research subjects will normally carry special weight in the consideration of the IRB, although on some occasions interests other than those of the immediate subjects may be considered sufficient to justify the risks to which those subjects will be exposed. The application of justice, the third principle, requires researchers to exhibit fairness in determining which individuals will be selected to take part in potentially beneficial research and which will take part in risky research.
The extent to which, and the manner in which, IRB oversight of a particular project is required by federal law depends on an assessment of risks to the immediate human subjects. Assessment is the responsibility of the appropriate IRB(s). If a project falls into one of a number of exemptible categories (listed in the Common Rule), an appropriate member of the IRB will determine that the project will be exempted from further IRB oversight during a defined period of time. If the initial assessment is that the project involves only minimum risk to subjects, and only certain types of activities (listed in the Common Rule) will take place, for which expedited review is permissible, then the review of the project may be performed by the IRB chair, or one or more experienced reviewers designated by the chair, acting alone to exercise all the authorities of the IRB except for disapproval. Expedited review also is permitted when the chair or an experienced reviewer determines that changes planned in previously approved research, during the period for which approval was authorized, will be minor.
For other projects (including all of those involving more than minimum risk to subjects) federal regulations specify that the project will be reviewed by the full board. Explanations of the criteria that must be satisfied during the review are presented in the Common Rule. Briefly, these focus on whether risks will be appropriately minimized; on determining that the extent of anticipated risks versus the extent of anticipated benefits will be in acceptable measure; on whether subjects will be selected in an equitable fashion; and on determining that subjects will be appropriately informed about the research, will be capable of giving informed consent, and that this will be documented. As appropriate, the IRB also may determine that the data will be monitored in order to ensure the safety of subjects and/or to protect their privacy and confidentiality in the way the data is used.
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