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Skip Navigation LinksAUB Home > OSB > Olayan School of Business > Student Services > Executive MBA Participants > Program Standards
Program Standards 

A Note from the Program Director to the Executive MBA Participants

Please familiarize yourself with, and adhere to the following Executive MBA guidelines regarding class attendance, class discipline, course requirements and academic integrity.

Class Attendance

Class attendance is obligatory. Participants who do not satisfactorily complete all Executive MBA courses will not graduate with their cohort. The success of the Executive MBA program is highly dependent on the commitment of its participants and on the dynamics of classroom discussions and debates. As such, class attendance is imperative. Due to the compressed nature of the sessions, absence, or partial attendance, can severely hinder a participant’s progress and possibly lead him, or her, to fail the class. In the exceptional case when a participant is obliged to miss a session, or part thereof, it is his/ her, responsibility to notify the instructor and the program director before the session and provide a valid explanation for the absence. If a participant misses up to 1/3 of a course, the instructor may provide additional assignments to help the participant make up for missed time in class. If the instructor does not find this remedy appropriate; or if the participant misses more than one third of the class time, the matter will be referred to the program director who may allow the participant to make up for the missed session(s) by providing proof of subject knowledge (e.g. by testing or special assignments) or by attending the sessions with the next cohort. Until the participant makes up the class he/she will receive an incomplete in that course and will not graduate.

Class Protocol

As professionals and Executive MBA participants I would ask you to observe some common courtesy towards your instructors and your colleagues.

  • Timeliness. Please make sure you are in class and ready to start at the appropriate times so as not to waste class time and/or distract your instructor and colleagues. If you are late, please wait until the next break before rejoining your class.

  • Cell phones. Please switch off cell phones (as we all do when we are in important meetings) as ringing phones, and/or people leaving in the middle of classes to make or answer phone calls, disturbs your instructor and colleagues. If you leave the room, please wait until the next break before rejoining the class. Your friends and colleagues should accept the fact that while you are in session you can not be disturbed. You are given long breaks so that you can connect with the rest of the world.

  • E-Mail. It is not appropriate for participants to create, or respond to emails while they are supposed to be learning in class. This shows disrespect for instructors and is distracting to colleagues. Participants who do so may be asked to leave the class until after the following break.

  • Instructor-led discussion. Please limit your in-class communication to the class-related topic and respond to the instructor-led discussion rather than holding side conversations. Also, please resist the temptation to jump to topics that are not specifically open for discussion.

  • Leaving the class for an "emergency". Please try to limit the "emergencies" but if you have to leave the class, please either wait until the break before rejoining, or reenter the classroom very discretely.

  • Dress code. The dress code for the executives participating in the Executive MBA is “business casual”.

Course Requirements

At the beginning of each course the instructor will outline course requirements and grading. Grades are often based on a mix of class participation, testing and individual and/or group project work.

  • Class preparation.You should come prepared for every class which requires prior readings. The instructor may start the class by asking someone to summarize the readings or answer a short question. With an article you should be able to outline the issues addressed, describe the core points of the article and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the article's central argument. With a case, you should be able to identify the key issues and opportunities, articulate and evaluate various approaches/solutions and describe and justify your recommended course of action.

  • Class participation. Participants should listen carefully to one another and build on or critique prior comments. Make your arguments concise and relevant to the discussion and try to cut to the core of the issue. Don't be afraid to challenge ideas being discussed. You are encouraged to integrate material from other classes, readings or personal experience where appropriate.

  • Assignments. It is imperative for participants to hand in all class assignments on time. Not doing so is unfair to your colleagues and will delay the receipt of grades by all, as instructors will not start to review papers until all papers have been received by them. If the instructor allows you to hand in your paper late, points will be deducted from your grade unless the instructor and program director have given you a special waiver.

  • Minimum grades. In order to graduate, Executive MBA participants need an overall cumulative grade average of 80%, an average of 80% in each of the four Themes, and a minimum passing grade of 70% per course.

School Academic Rules and Regulations state that “The minimum passing grade in a course is 70. A participant who fails a course must retake it. Moreover, an average of at least 80 must be maintained in every Theme. Failure to do so will result in the participant being placed on academic probation, which can be lifted only upon completion of a timed development plan, mutually agreed upon with the Executive MBA Director. The OSB Graduate Studies Committee may discontinue the participant from the Executive MBA program if the participant fails to remove the probation within the time period specified in the plan.”

Academic Integrity

Participants are expected to complete all work with the highest standard of integrity in line with AUB’s Student Code of Conduct and OSB’s Honor Code.

  • Plagiarism (the presentation of work of another as one’s own work). Participants are expected to give appropriate recognition when using others’ ideas and contributions, especially in written documents.

  • Individual project work. You are responsible for doing your own project work. You should not have someone else write all, or part of your assignment. If you have difficulty with the project and need help, please consult with your instructor.

  • Group project work. You should do the project as a group. It is not allowed to allocate a case or report to one person without having the group debate and decide on the content. All students are responsible for the write-up and could be asked to explain it.

Plagiarism, forgery, cheating or any form of academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Any of the above may result in: (1) a participant’s final course grade to be lowered significantly or (2) the participant receiving a failing grade or (3) expulsion from the program, depending on the severity of the offense.

I hope that you will help us maintain our Executive MBA standards.

Riad Dimechkie

Director, Executive MBA Program
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