Johnson School
Cornell University

Faculty By-Laws

Chapter Six - Admission, Financial Aid and Registration

I. Admission Standards and Conditions

Candidates are considered for admission only for the year for which they apply; admission is limited to that year only and does not extend automatically to a year later. Any individual who withdraws after having been admitted, and subsequently wishes to enter another year, must reapply or apply for a formal deferral.

Because of the integrated and sequential nature of the core curriculum, most students admitted as degree candidates may commence their work only in September.

In the admissions' selection process, the following criteria are evaluated: Prior academic performance, especially in coursework similar to that at the School; scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT); prior experience in employment or extracurricular settings; and career direction, values and interpersonal skills as demonstrated in application essays, letters of reference and evaluative interviews.

In addition, international applicants must provide evidence of being able to read, write, speak and understand English adequately.

Certain minority groups in the United States (African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans) are dramatically under-represented in both Management careers and in Graduate Management education relative to their proportion of the total population. This is a situation with serious social and economic implications. It is the policy of this School to actively recruit minority students for the academic programs it offers.

II. Financial Aid

The Admissions and Career Services Committee is responsible for financial aid decisions. Scholarship decisions are normally based on merit. Student loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. The School makes special financial aid resources available for students from under-represented minority groups.

III. Student Course Overloads

IV. Course Add/Drop Procedure

The normal add/drop period for the School's courses is one (1) week after the start of the course. Adds and drops in the first week of the course only require notification of the Registrar by submitting an add/drop form or through whatever computer interface is available for this purpose. Students whose petitions for late drops or adds are approved by the ASC will be assessed a $100 late course change fee.

V. Class Sizes

Unless otherwise agreed upon by the instructor(s) and the administration, the class size will be limited to the lesser of classroom seating or a maximum of sixty (60). The procedure allows up to sixty-five (65) students to be initially enrolled in sixty (60) size classes during pre-registration. No additional students are assigned to the class from the wait list until enrollment drops reduce the total below sixty (60).

When there is additional demand for an elective, beyond the approved number for the course (or approved sections), the administration will consider whether this demand will be satisfied by the addition of a section. Any additional teaching would be at the option of the instructor and approved by the Dean for some combination of pay, release time or other value. Consideration would also be given to future program needs, the availability of facilities and the likely enrollment in the added section.

VI. Directed Readings and Research Courses

Directed reading courses may be arranged between a faculty member who has at least a half-time appointment and a student.  A directed reading course must have a strong educational purpose where the student is learning something new relating to business and/or how to integrate and apply business school content. 

• Students may not take more than 3 credits/semester of directed reading work and a total of six credits during the MBA program. 
• The directed reading normally should not focus on content offered as a course.
• Credit hours are determined by the faculty member and reflect the scope of the project and the estimated work involved.  In general, each credit hour requires approximately 50 hours of student work (including studying, doing research, analyzing, writing, etc.).
• These courses are normally given on an S/U basis, but a faculty member may elect to use a letter grade. If a directed reading course is to be assigned a letter grade, the faculty member should use the same standards as they would for a regular elective course, trying to achieve a long-run GPA of 3.5.
• There must be a deliverable that reflects the credit hours given, and the deliverable must represent passing graduate school work.

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VII. Student Leave of Absence

With the exception of students who have been dismissed from the School, any student may apply to the ASC for a Leave of Absence. The maximum Leave of Absence the ASC has authority to approve is two (2) semesters. The ASC may subsequently grant a second leave of up to an additional two (2) semesters.

If the student fails to register with the School after two (2) years on leave, he or she is dropped from the rolls of the School and must reapply to the School through the Admissions Office. In such cases, the student will be competing against that year's applicant pool and must follow the guidelines as stated for Advanced Standing.

VII. Student Leave of Absence

With the exception of students who have been dismissed from the School, any student may apply to the ASC for a Leave of Absence. The maximum Leave of Absence the ASC has authority to approve is two (2) semesters. The ASC may subsequently grant a second leave of up to an additional two (2) semesters.

If the student fails to register with the School after two (2) years on leave, he or she is dropped from the rolls of the School and must reapply to the School through the Admissions Office. In such cases, the student will be competing against that year's applicant pool and must follow the guidelines as stated for Advanced Standing.

VIII. Students From Other Colleges in the School's Courses

Undergraduates: Except for those students formally admitted to a Joint Degree Program of the School, undergraduates shall not be permitted to enroll in any course offered by the School, except authorized courses to which qualified undergraduates can be admitted. A faculty member wishing a course to be authorized should indicate that preference in writing to the Registrar, with approval of the Dean. The Registrar will make available a list of authorized courses. Under no circumstances will undergraduates, other than Joint Degree participants, be admitted to core courses.

Extramural Students: With approval of the instructor, extramural students may register in elective courses after the total section size has been determined.

Non-School Graduate Students: Students enrolled in other graduate programs may enroll in any School core and elective course with the consent of the instructor. The faculty member responsible for each course should define the maximum enrollment, subject to approval by the Dean. The actual registration of non-School graduate students in the School's courses will be administered by the Registrar consistent with the limits set by the faculty member in charge of the course. Signatures of faculty members are required unless the faculty member delegates this requirement.

Note: Special core sections for non-Johnson School students are offered.

Last Modified: April 23, 2007