College Catalog

The Master of Business Administration Program is a multi-disciplinary program designed to prepare graduates for managerial responsibilities at various levels of business organizations. This program provides a strong theoretical foundation as well as operational expertise in the areas of finance, management, marketing, human resource management, and operations management.

The Master of Music Education Program is designed to be completed over the course of three summers. Addressing the graduate education needs of K–12 music teachers (the program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music), the curriculum includes experiences in foundations and principles of music education, research methods, music technology, and the psychology of music learning plus several elective choices.

The Master of Science Education Program employs a collaborative learning approach with classes designed to apply to any age range, from K-12. High school teachers work alongside middle school and elementary teachers, with each benefiting from the experience and insight of their colleagues. This learning environment helps MSE students to prepare their own students for success in state and national science assessments.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is a six-year program of study for students who will receive a preliminary baccalaureate degree in health science after four years of course work.

Graduate Program Policies and Procedures

Academic Advising and Registration

Graduate students should contact their academic advisors prior to class registration. The advisor will develop a graduation plan with the student. All course registrations require the advisor’s approval.

Veteran Registration

The College meets all of the criteria of Veterans Education under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code, Section 3675. The graduate programs have been approved for payment assistance. Veterans who are eligible to receive educational benefits must report their enrollment to the Financial Aid Office as soon as they register for each semester or summer session. The Financial Aid office will then submit certification to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans receiving EAP and/or FTA benefits are responsible for applying for these benefits through their unit of assignment prior to the start of each semester or summer session and for submitting all necessary forms to the Financial Aid Office.

Veterans must notify the School Certifying Official, immediately, if they change the number of credits for which they are enrolled, withdraw, or request a leave of absence. Failure to do so may result in a charge to the student from the VA for overpayment of benefits. Veterans receiving education benefits must verify their attendance each month, no earlier than the last day of each month, to the VA on-line via WAVE. Students can access this site by going to www.gibill.va.gov. (Veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation benefits do not need to verify their attendance).

Veterans who are attending Lebanon Valley College and have never used VA education benefits before should go on-line to www.gibill.va.gov and fill out Form 22-1990. Dependents should fill out form 22-5490 (dependents will need the veteran’s file number). This form should be submitted on-line through the GI Bill website and then printed out and either mailed or faxed to the Financial Aid Office at Lebanon Valley College.

Veterans who have used education benefits before and will either be changing their attendance to Lebanon Valley College and/or changing their program of study should submit a signed statement to the Financial Aid Office stating this change. Alternatively, a copy of form 22-1995 or 22-5495 (for dependents) can be filled out and returned to the Financial Aid Office. This form should not be submitted to the VA. It is for the student’s school file.

Students eligible for veterans benefits who remain on academic probation for two consecutive semesters must be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans with questions about the College, or their status with the College, should contact the Financial Aid Office.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 9 credits (a maximum of 6 core credits) may be transferred from another graduate program with the approval of the registrar and program director/coordinator of the MBA, MSE, and MME. No transfer credit shall be accepted if the grade earned at another institution was less than B (a grade of B- or lower will not be accepted). Students wishing to transfer credits may be asked to submit course outline, textbook used, and any reading materials, so proper credit may be given. No graduate transfer credit is accepted in the DPT program.

Concurrent Courses

A student enrolled for a graduate degree may not take courses concurrently at another educational institution without prior consent of the academic advisor and the registrar.

Grading

Student work is graded A, A–, B+, B, B–, C+, C and F. Candidates must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 with a maximum of two C grades in the program.

In addition, the symbols I and W are used. I indicates work that is incomplete but otherwise satisfactory. It is awarded only for substantial reason and work must be completed in the first eight weeks of the following semester, including summer session, or I will be changed to F.

W indicates withdrawal from a course through the designated withdrawal date. Thereafter, the appropriate letter grade will be assigned for the course.

MSE 830, MME 805/806, and some PHT courses (see Doctor of Physical Therapy section) are graded pass/fail.

Review Procedure

Every student’s academic progress shall be reviewed at the end of each academic period by the academic advisor. Any student whose average falls below 3.00 or who earns a C or F in three or more credit hours may be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation may be required to retake courses or correct other academic deficiencies and must achieve a 3.00 cumulative average within two semesters of being placed on probation. A student may repeat a maximum of two graduate courses with any given course being repeated only once. Students who fail to correct deficiencies may be dropped from the program. A student may appeal any decision of the Office of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.

Course Withdrawal and Tuition Refund

Any MBA, MME, or MSE student who withdraws from courses for which he or she is registered must notify the Graduate Studies and Continuing Education Office. The effective date of withdrawal is the date on which the student notifies the office. Failure to give notice of withdrawal will result in a grade of F. Notifying the instructor does not constitute official withdrawal. A refund schedule based on official withdrawal date is available on the GS and CE web pages.

Time Restriction

The maximum time for completion of a graduate program is seven years from the date of the admission letter. Students who have not earned the graduate degree during this period shall have their academic standing reviewed and may be asked to meet additional requirements in order to graduate.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to uphold the principles of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. For the first academic dishonesty offense, failure in the course is mandatory, and the faculty member is required to inform the program director/coordinator in writing. A letter of warning shall be sent to the student by the program director/coordinator explaining the consequences and the right of appeal. For the second offense, failure in the course and expulsion from the graduate program and College are mandatory.

Privacy of Student Records

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 39-380) Lebanon Valley College releases no student education records without written consent and request of the student or as prescribed by the law. Each student has access to his or her education records with exclusions only as specified by the law.

Financial Aid

Students may participate in the Stafford Loan Program. Graduate students should contact the Financial Aid Office at 717-867-6181 to discuss financial aid eligibility.

Employee Tuition Reimbursement

Students are encouraged to inquire about tuition reimbursement programs at their places of employment. Most employers of current students provide education subsidies of 50–100 percent of tuition. Students who participate in an employer reimbursement program may be eligible for the deferred tuition option. Some employers authorize the College to bill them directly. In this case, students must present billing authorization when they register. Information on direct bill and deferred tuition options can be found on the Graduate Studies and Continuing Education web pages.

Withdrawal from Program and College and Readmission

To withdraw from Lebanon Valley College, a graduate student must complete an official withdrawal form obtained from the academic advisor. To apply for readmission, a graduate student must have the written approval of the director of graduate studies and continuing education.