Master of Arts in Leadership
and Organizational Studies

Helpful Information for Current Students

Academic Review Policy

Because of the unique nature of their program, students are monitored under the following policy.

1. Students with less than a 3.0 term GPA will be placed on academic probation. The student must attain a B or better for all courses in the following term.
2. To remain in good standing, students are expected to maintain at least a 67% completion ratio and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
3. Students who miss 50% of one course (unless special arrangements were made beforehand) will be given an F in that course and are expected to retake the course.
4. Students who miss three consecutive class meetings in a two-class period may be dropped at the end of the term and will have to apply for readmission if they wish to complete the program.
5. Students who receive I or F grades for two or more courses will be dropped at the end of the course in which the student is currently enrolled. If such students wish to complete the program, they must first complete any in-progress courses and then apply for readmission to another group.
6. Any course for which a D or F grade was assigned must be repeated and successfully completed. Students must pay for re-enrollment in such a course.
7. If provisional admission has been granted, both of the first courses in the program must be completed with a B or better to allow the student full admission and eligibility to continue the program.

Failure to maintain a GPA of 3.0 may put the student in jeopardy for eligibility for Financial Aid.

Attendance and Deadlines

Attendance at all class meetings is mandatory, since a large portion of the learning is dependent on class activities. Students who miss part or all of a class must make arrangements with the instructor to make up time missed. Students who miss parts of a class will do alternate assignments designated by the instructor. Unless special arrangements are made beforehand, students who miss 50 percent or more of the class sessions in one course will be given an F grade and are expected to retake that course. Students who miss three consecutive class sessions may be dropped at the end of that term and would have to apply for readmission to another group if they wish to complete the program.

It is the student's responsibility to adhere to deadlines. When deadlines are not followed, delays in grading will result, including the possibility of delays in tuition reimbursement or delayed graduation.

After a student has started with one class group, the associate director must approve any transfer to another group for make-up sessions.

Grading

The aim of this graduate curriculum is to provide a performance-based program that identifies knowledge, skills, and outcomes required to demonstrate achievement. Students are given a variety of ways to acquire and demonstrate the required competencies. Students must maintain a B average to stay in the program. Scholarship is ranked as follows: A, superior; B, average; C, marginal; D, insufficient; F, failure; I, incomplete; W, withdrawal. For each credit in which the student is enrolled, points are awarded according to the grade earned as follows:

Incomplete Grades

Incomplete (I) may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor if the student has successfully completed half (50%) or more of the course requirements at a satisfactory level or better. Such a student must also continue to work toward completion through the last official day of the term. An I is not automatically given. Incomplete courses must be completed within 12-weeks after the last class session of a module, or the grade will be automatically changed to an F.

Any course for which a grade of D or F was assigned must be repeated and successfully completed. Students must pay tuition for re-enrollment in such a course.

Process for Disputing Grades

If a student desires to contest a grade, he or she must first contact the professor from which the grade was received. The student who feels that a satisfactory solution has not been reached may next petition the director of the Center for Adult and Professional Studies. The final step in the process or challenging a grade is to file a petition with the provost of the university.

Academic Probation and Disqualification

Satisfactory progress toward the graduate certificate, credential, or degree program is required. A student may be disqualified from further graduate work if a 3.0 grade-point average is not maintained. In the event that the grade-point average drops below the minimum level, the student may be given one enrollment period to raise it to the satisfactory level. Exceptions to this policy may be noted in department brochures.

Petition Process

A petition process exists for students who seek an exception to stated academic policies, procedures, and regulations. Academic General Petition forms are available from the CAPS Office and the Regional Centers, and must be returned to the CAPS Office. All petitions and exceptions granted are considered on a case-by-case basis. Any exception granted by petition does not establish guaranteed subsequent exceptions or appeals.

Normal Progress toward a Degree and Time Limit for Degree

In most APU programs, a student has a maximum of eight years to complete a master’s or doctoral degree, beginning from the date of initial enrollment in the degree program. However, students have a maximum of five years to complete a graduate degree in the School of Business and Management, and students seeking the Master of Divinity have a maximum of 10 years to complete the degree, beginning from the first date of enrollment for course work in the degree program, as determined by ATS accreditation. In rare instances, extensions may be requested by petition. Granting of such a petition may entail additional degree requirements.

International students: Please refer to the International Center website, or call (626) 812-3055 for specific details regarding international admissions requirements, financial information, and other general policies.