MBA Program Handbook

2014 – 2015

TRU MBA Program Handbook 2014 – 2015

Table of Contents Important Contacts ............................................................................................................... 1

Academic & Important Dates ................................................................................................. 3

Getting Started ...................................................................................................................... 5

Getting Your Student Card ..................................................................................................... 5

The UPASS ............................................................................................................................. 5

Accessing your account on myTRU.ca .................................................................................... 5

How to log in to myTRU ............................................................................................................................ 5

myTRU E-Mail........................................................................................................................ 6

Wireless and Computer Access .............................................................................................. 7

Setting a New Strong Password for your Network Account ..................................................................... 7

Accessing Course Materials .................................................................................................... 8

Online Courses .......................................................................................................................................... 8

Program Announcements and On Campus Courses ................................................................................. 8

Purchasing Textbooks ............................................................................................................................... 9

Paying Student Fees ............................................................................................................ 10

How to Pay Your Tuition and Fees .......................................................................................................... 10

Payment Deadlines ................................................................................................................................. 10

Reinstatement ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Refunds ................................................................................................................................................... 11

Withdrawal Policies ................................................................................................................................ 12

Fee Deferral Information ........................................................................................................................ 12

Tuition Sponsorship ............................................................................................................. 12

Financial Aid ........................................................................................................................ 13

Appointments ......................................................................................................................................... 13

Aboriginal Students – Ch’Nook Scholars ................................................................................................. 13

Health and Dental Plans ...................................................................................................... 14

Domestic Students .................................................................................................................................. 14

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Opt-In ...................................................................................................................................................... 14

Opt-Out ................................................................................................................................................... 14

International Students ............................................................................................................................ 15

Graduate Registration Policies ............................................................................................. 16

Registration in Undergraduate Courses .................................................................................................. 16

Residency Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 16

Course Changes ....................................................................................................................................... 16

Program Completion Times .................................................................................................................... 16

Absences and Leaves of Absence............................................................................................................ 16

Adding or Dropping a Course ............................................................................................... 16

Withdrawing from a Course ................................................................................................. 17

Withdrawal Policies ................................................................................................................................ 17

Grading Scale ...................................................................................................................... 18

Other Grades ........................................................................................................................................... 18

MBA Program Grading Policy ............................................................................................... 19

Minimum Passing Grade and GPA .......................................................................................................... 19

MBA Foundation Course Failures ........................................................................................................... 19

MBA Course Failures ............................................................................................................................... 19

Student Academic Appeals .................................................................................................. 20

Exams ................................................................................................................................. 20

Conflicts .................................................................................................................................................. 20

"No Scheduled Exam" ............................................................................................................................. 20

Missed Examination ................................................................................................................................ 20

Online Courses ........................................................................................................................................ 20

Attendance ......................................................................................................................... 21

Academic Integrity .............................................................................................................. 22

Forms of Academic Dishonesty ............................................................................................................... 22

Applying to Graduate .......................................................................................................... 24

Applying to Graduate .............................................................................................................................. 24

Ensure Your Information is Correct ........................................................................................................ 24

Checking the Status of Your Application ................................................................................................. 24

Graduation from your program is depending upon a number of items ................................................. 24

Get Involved, Join a Club! .................................................................................................... 25

International Student Activity Program (ISAP) ....................................................................................... 25

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Student Services .................................................................................................................. 26

Aboriginal Services .................................................................................................................................. 26

Athletics and Recreation ......................................................................................................................... 26

Book Store ............................................................................................................................................... 26

Campus Activity Centre ........................................................................................................................... 26

Computer Labs ........................................................................................................................................ 26

Counselling Centre .................................................................................................................................. 26

Daycare ................................................................................................................................................... 26

Disability Services .................................................................................................................................... 26

Food Services .......................................................................................................................................... 27

Gathering Place ....................................................................................................................................... 27

Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 27

Health and Wellness Centre ................................................................................................................... 27

International Student Services ................................................................................................................ 27

IT Services ............................................................................................................................................... 27

Media Services ........................................................................................................................................ 28

Omega ..................................................................................................................................................... 28

Parking .................................................................................................................................................... 28

Security ................................................................................................................................................... 28

Student Resources ............................................................................................................... 28

Graduate Student Lounge ....................................................................................................................... 28

Library ..................................................................................................................................................... 28

Computing Services ................................................................................................................................. 29

Math Help Centre.................................................................................................................................... 29

Writing Centre ......................................................................................................................................... 29

Other Information ............................................................................................................... 30

Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 30

Entertainment ......................................................................................................................................... 30

Career Development Program ............................................................................................. 31

Program Learning Goals ....................................................................................................... 32

Program Options ................................................................................................................. 33

On-Campus MBA ..................................................................................................................................... 33

Online MBA Program .............................................................................................................................. 33

Blended Learning .................................................................................................................................... 33

Part-Time Study ...................................................................................................................................... 33

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MBA Foundation Program Structure .................................................................................... 34

Course Descriptions ................................................................................................................................ 35

Exemption Policy ..................................................................................................................................... 36

MBA Program Structure....................................................................................................... 37

Core Course Descriptions: ....................................................................................................................... 37

Course-Based Option .............................................................................................................................. 39

Graduate Project Option *† .................................................................................................................... 40

Graduate Thesis Option *† ..................................................................................................................... 41

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Important Contacts For all general enquiries regarding the program please contact us at mba@tru.ca. Academic Advising, Course Registration, Career Development: Coordinator, MBA Student Services and Advising Nathan Massey Old Main Building, Room OM4775 E-Mail: nmassey@tru.ca Tel: 1-250-852-7297

Academic inquiries: MBA Program Coordinator Dr. Anne Lavack International Building, Room IB2033 E-mail: alavack@tru.ca Tel: 1-778-471-8391

Student and Judicial Affairs Manager of Student and Judicial Affairs Duane Seibel Old Main Building, Room OM1641 E-Mail: dseibel@tru.ca Tel: 1-250-371-5738

Graduate Admissions Office of the Registrar E-Mail: GradAdmissions@tru.ca Tel: 1-250-828-5402

Campus Cashier Old Main Building, Room 1614 Tel: 1-250-371-5646 Hours: 8:30am – 3:00pm Monday – Friday

Counselling Centre Old Main Building, Room 1631 Tel: 1-250-828-5023

IT Inquiries TRU IT Service Desk Old Main Building, Room 1326 E-Mail: ITServiceDesk@tru.ca Tel: 1-250-852-6800 or,

1-888-852-8533(toll free in Canada) Hours: 8am – 8pm Monday – Thursday 8am – 4pm Friday – Sunday

Records and Transcripts Ordering:http://www.tru.ca/admreg/academicrecords/transcripts.html E-Mail: transcripts@tru.ca Tel: 1-250-828-5036 Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday

Medical Services Old Main Building, Room 1461 Physician on campus Tel: 1-250-828-5126 Hours: 8:30am – 4:00pm Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 3:00pm Friday

Student Union Student’s Union Building (off of the CAC) E-Mail: info@trusu.ca Tel: 1-250-828-5289

International Student Activity Program (ISAP) International Building, First Floor Kiosk http://www.truworld.ca/internationalstudents/currentstudents/activities.html

Graduate Studies Enquiries Clock Tower, Second Floor E-Mail: research@tru.ca http://www.tru.ca/rigs/grad_studies.html

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International Student Assistance International Building, Third Floor (TRU World) welcome@tru.ca

International Student Advisors (ISAs) International Building, Third Floor (TRU World) ISA contact information can be found at: http://www.truworld.ca/internationalstudents/supportservices.html

Financial Aid & Awards (Private loans, government loans, awards, and grants) Old Main Building, Room 1631 Tel: 1-250-828-5024 Or visit: www.tru.ca/finaid Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday Student Aid BC Online Assistance at http://studentaidbc.ca Student Awards Database Online Assistance at http://www.studentawards.com/ Research Grants and Funding SSHRC and the Graduate Studies Office http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/apply-demande/resource_centre-centre_de_ressources-eng.aspx Personal Student Loans: Various financial Institutions: • RBC: http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/personal-loans/student-line-of-credit.html • CIBC: https://www.cibc.com/ca/loans/edu-line-of-credit.html • BMO: https://www.bmo.com/home/personal/banking/mortgages-loans/loans-loc/loc/student-loc

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Academic & Important Dates

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Getting Started The following handbook contains important information about policies and procedures pertaining to Graduate Students in the School of Business and Economics at Thompson Rivers University. It is the responsibility of all students to be aware of their rights and responsibilities so it is essential for you to read this Handbook carefully.

Getting Your Student Card The TRU Student Card is a photo identification card required to access Library services, to obtain the Students' Union U-Pass and is used in a variety of ways on campus for identification. The campus card may also provide various student discounts at merchants throughout the City of Kamloops. Photos are taken at the Bookstore in the Campus Activity Centre. Click here for more information on how to get your Student Card.

The UPASS The TRUSU UPASS is an unlimited transit pass for the City of Kamloops provided to every student enrolled at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. The UPASS allows you to get to and from classes, work, school, and more at a low cost to both your bank account and the environment. The UPASS also provides you with a 50% discount to a monthly membership to the Tournament Capital Centre and free access to the Canada Games Aquatic Centre. For current bus schedules and maps for the Kamloops Transit Area please visit http://www.transitbc.com/regions/kam/. For more information on how to get your UPASS, or to opt-out of the UPASS, please see http://www.tru.ca/services/campus/campuscard.html.

Accessing your account on myTRU.ca Students are provided with a myTRU account upon admission. Once your account has been activated, your myTRU portal acts as a core resource for all information necessary for TRU students. It allows you to register for courses online, pay fees and tuition, use your student email, access campus notifications and much more. Your myTRU account is accessible online, both on and off campus.

Please note that MBA students, regardless of their mode of study, will access the majority of their information through the Student Resources tab in myTRU. The forms, policies and links on the OL Student tab, with the exception of the Assignment Marks link do not apply to students in the MBA Foundation or MBA program.

If you have difficulty logging to myTRU.ca, you can contact the IT Service Desk at itservicesdesk@tru.ca or by calling toll free within Canada at 1.888.852.8533.

How to log in to myTRU You need your TRU ID and password to log in to myTRU. The first time you log in, you must use a default password, which myTRU automatically generates for you.

1. Go to the myTRU login page:

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Type the URL (mytru.ca) in your web browser address field, or Click the myTRU link on top right corner of the TRU public web home page (http://www.tru.ca).

2. Type your TRU ID in the User Name field (See below for TRU ID information).

3. Type your password in the Password field. • The first time you log in to myTRU, use the default password the system has assigned

you. 4. Click Login.

TRU ID Please note that all students with a 7 digit student number (pre-2010) as well as OL students with a 9 digit student number, have been assigned T-ID numbers, effective August 10th. Please go to the Student Resources tab on myTRU to see your new TRU ID number.

myTRU Password myTRU requires a password between 8 and 20 characters long. However, you must use a default password the first time you log in to myTRU. You will be forced to change this password upon your first successful login.

Default password myTRU automatically generates a default password for you when your TRU ID is created. The default is your date of birth - year, month and day - in the format YYMMDD.

• For example, if you were born on November 25, 1982, your default password would be 821125.

Creating your own password To protect yourself and your personal information you will be forced to create your own password during the login process. Keep in mind that your new password must be between 8 and 20 characters long, is case sensitive, must be a combination of letters and numbers , and must not be your date of birth.

Alternate Email for Password Recovery Setup New users to myTRU must provide a valid Alternate Email Address that will be used for Password Recovery. Once the password has been submitted, go to that email address and verify that the email address is correct just in case you need to use the "Forget Password" option for password recovery.

myTRU E-Mail All correspondence from the program and TRU will go to your myTRU e-mail account .This is located within myTRU. You may choose to auto-forward email to a personal email address by going to the Options tab in myTRU email and select auto-forwarding. For more information regarding this e-mail account, please visit http://www.tru.ca/mytru/faqs/students/email.html.

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Wireless and Computer Access Your network access information will give you access to wireless on campus, lab computers and storage on TRU servers. You must know your Network Account to: • login to the network on lab computers on campus – this provides you with your own private data

storage of 1G on the student server – drive F:\ • access the Wireless Network on campus (tru or eduroam) You login name will be the same username for the first part of your myTRU email address before the @ sign. Your login name can be found by clicking on the email icon within myTRU (top right hand corner). Your "initial password" will be your birth date in the following format: dd-Mmm-yy (include the dashes and upper case letter). For example: If your birthday is Sept. 10, 1993 your initial password would be 10-Sep-93

Setting a New Strong Password for your Network Account To protect yourself and your personal information you are required to set a new strong password. Login to a lab computer, CNTL,ALT,&DEL to display options. Click on Change Password. Set your new password using the following rules:

• it must be between 8 and 20 characters long • it must be a combination of letters and numbers • there must be uppercase and lowercase letters • it is case sensitive and cannot be set to your date of birth • may not contain any part of your first or last name

Once your new password is set, it will remain in effect for one year.

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Accessing Course Materials

Online Courses You can access your Online courses by going directly to Blackboard at https://blackboard.tru.ca and logging in. Courses will be available in Blackboard on the start date as indicated on the course schedule. However, if you would like to familiarize yourself with Blackboard, you can find various tutorials on TRUOL’s orientation website (http://www.tru.ca/distance/services/learner/onlinebasics.html).

Please note that students, regardless of their mode of study, will access the majority of their information through the Student Resources tab in myTRU. The forms, policies and links on the OL Student tab, with the exception of the Assignment Marks link do not apply to students in the GCBA or MBA program.

Program Announcements and On Campus Courses All program announcements and on campus course materials will be delivered through Moodle (https://moodle.tru.ca). Please use your student number as your username. Your student number may begin with the letter T. If it does, then you must use a lowercase t when logging in. Example: t12345678. Your initial password is your birthdate in YYMMDD format. You may change your password once you login. If you have difficulty logging in, contact the TRU IT Service Desk.

Once logged in, you can access the courses under the “MY COURSES” toolbar on the far right and select all courses. The MBA courses will be found under the “MBA” category. Your instructor will inform you of the course name and the enrollment key in order for you to register.

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Purchasing Textbooks

On-Campus Courses: Your instructor will inform you of any required textbooks and materials for your courses. You may purchase them through the TRU Bookstore located in the Campus Activity Centre, or online at http://thebookstore.tru.ca/. Often, the textbooks will also come in an e-book version which can be purchased through the bookstore, and often the publisher of the textbook. Other students prefer to order from an off campus vendor, you may be interested in www.amazon.ca. You can also look at http://trusu.cfs-services.ca/book-exchange for what other students are selling through the TRUSU.

Online Courses: Online students are responsible for sourcing and ordering your own books. A textbook list will be provided with a registration package when you are eligible to register. If you have not received the textbook list, please contact the Program Advisor.

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Paying Student Fees For a full breakdown of the student fees please refer to the current academic calendar. http://www.tru.ca/admreg/fees.html

How to Pay Your Tuition and Fees 1. Pay Online through myTRU – login to your account and use the “Make a Payment” option (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) 2. Pay through your Bank – using your bank’s electronic bill payment services. Note: You must use your TRU ID as your reference number. 3. Pay through the Campus Cashier

In person – payments can be made by cash, cheque, money order, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Campus Cashier is located in Old Main, Room 1614.

Telephone – payments can be made over the telephone using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover by calling 250.371.5646 during regular business hours. Please be aware our cashiers are often busy serving students and you may experience delays.

Mail – payments made by cheque or money order can be mailed to the Campus Cashier: Thompson Rivers University

Campus Cashier 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8

Receipts can be printed from your myTRU account once your payment has been processed.

Payment Deadlines

Fall Semester The deadline for payment of the balance of Fall Semester fees is 4:00pm August 29, 2014. For international students, tuition is due before registration.

Winter Semester The deadline for payment of Winter Semester fees is 4:00pm November 28, 2014. For international students, the deadline is October 31, 2014.

Summer Session/Semester Full course fees must be paid by May 1, 2015 for courses in Summer Session, unless a fee deferral is arranged. For international students, tuition is due before registration. Course registrations may be cancelled if payment is not made or deferral is not in place by the fee payment deadline.

If Fees Not Paid by the Deadline Students whose fees have not been paid in full, or who do not have a fee deferral by the payment deadline may have their registration cancelled and their space made available to students in the following order of priority:

a) Wait-listed students b) New registrants from the late applicant group

See Fee Deferral section below for more information.

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Reinstatement Students may be deleted from courses if payment is not received in full by the fee payment deadline. Reinstatement into courses can occur only between the reinstatement dates outlined below upon payment of all outstanding fees and a $162.30 reinstatement fee. The student must then advise the Registrar’s Office of the payment and courses will be reinstated.

Reinstatement Period Fall Semester Fall semester reinstatement begins September 30, 2014. Last day for reinstatement is November 21, 2014. Winter Semester Winter semester reinstatement begins January 31, 2015. Last day for reinstatement is April 3, 2015.

Refunds

International Student Refunds: a. Withdraw prior to the start of instruction will receive a 50% refund of tuition and general fees

invoiced. b. Withdraw in the first or second week of instruction will receive a 25% refund of tuition and

general fees invoiced. c. Withdraw after the second week of instruction will receive no refund of tuition and general fees. d. Withdraw due to a failure to obtain a student permit prior to arrival at TRU will be entitled to a

refund of tuition and general fees invoiced less a $200.00 administration fee. Students must notify TRU in writing and provide documentation prior to the start of the semester (the original letter from the Canadian Embassy stating the reason the visa was denied is required - no photocopies or faxes are accepted). Total non-refundable including application fee is $300.00.

e. Wish to defer the start of their first semester of study to a future semester may do so only twice and up to a maximum of one calendar year (i.e. a student accepted to the fall semester may defer until the next fall semester but not beyond). Once the deferral has expired, students will receive a 50% refund of tuition and general fees invoiced and will need to reapply if they wish to commence studies at a later date. Deferral must be requested in writing and sent to iapply@tru.ca prior to the start of the semester. Once instruction begins policies (b) and (c) above apply.

f. Withdrawal for Medical Reasons - Apart from the policy outlined for international students, there is no provision for a medical refund outside this policy. For students who are required to withdraw for medical reasons, we encourage the student to visit their Academic Advisor and fill in a "Complete Program Withdraw Form". This allows the student to withdraw from a course or program without obtaining a "DNC - Did Not Complete" on their academic record.

Domestic Student Refunds: a. Withdrawal prior to or during the first or second week of instruction will be subject to a 100%

refund of fees less the tuition deposit paid. b. Withdrawal after second week of instruction—no refund.

Note: Refunds must be requested through the Registrar’s Office before a refund is processed.

A fee deferral form may be found at: http://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/SABC_Fee_Deferral_2011-23409.pdf

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Withdrawal Policies Thompson Rivers University (TRU) recognizes that students may withdraw from their courses for a wide variety of reasons. If you are registered in a course or a program which you believe you are not going to complete successfully, depending on the date and the reason, you may be able to formally withdraw to avoid a failing grade. Because of the possible impact on their educational future, students are urged to seek counselling before making a decision to withdraw from a course or program. In the event of a student deciding to withdraw from a course or program, the following deadlines apply:

1. The withdrawal date is the last day of the eighth instructional week for one-semester courses and the last day of the third instructional week in the second semester of two-semester courses;

2. Students in semestered programs may withdraw from their entire program up to the last day of instruction in the semester;

3. Students who miss either of the deadlines listed above will receive a grade of 'F' or 'DNC' unless they can satisfy the Registrar that they have suffered illness or domestic affliction or circumstances beyond their control, which have prevented them from withdrawing from their courses within the relevant deadline. This decision of the Registrar is subject to appeal (see Policy ED 4-0).

4. The last day to change from a semestered section of a course to an independent study section of the same course is eight weeks into the semester.

5. Withdrawal dates for Summer Sessions or intersession courses shall be prorated to the end of the nearest full week based on the one semester withdrawal policy.

Fee Deferral Information The Financial Aid & Awards Office is responsible for the approval of fee deferrals. Students who:

1) Cannot pay the balance of their fees by the deadline dates, 2) Have been approved for full-time student loans through Student Aid BC prior to the start of

classes, and 3) Have a loan amount greater than their total fees owing, will have their fees deferred

automatically. Students who can provide proof of funding from a province other than BC may also be granted a fee deferral. Where fees are deferred for students on semesterized programs, the schedule of payment is as follows:

Semester Full Balance Deadline Fall 2014 Friday, September 19, 2014 Winter 2015 Friday, January 16, 2015

Students who will be applying for Student Loans are strongly encouraged to apply two months in advance of their fee payment/fee deferral deadline.

Tuition Sponsorship A tuition sponsorship is when a company or agency agrees to pay for your tuition, fees and other costs directly related to your studies at TRU. The obligation to ensure that tuition is paid remains with the student even if there is a sponsorship agreement in place. Please visit our website at www.tru.ca/finance/tuition_sponsorship for a detailed description of the sponsorship process at TRU.

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The website explains the sponsorship application process, outlines the responsibilities of both the sponsored student and the sponsor, and details the deadlines for the submission of Tuition Sponsorship Application forms.

Financial Aid TRU offers a comprehensive range of programs to assist students in locating resources to cover basic educational costs and to recognize academic excellence. All of these programs are administered through the Financial Aid & Awards Office. Need-based programs include bursaries, WorkStudy, grants and government student assistance programs. Achievement awards include scholarships, awards, fellowships and prizes. The Financial Aid & Awards Office can advise on application processes for all of these programs and will also assist students in reviewing government student aid decisions. The Financial Aid & Awards office also offers personal financial planning/budgeting assistance to students who require assistance in managing their resources and bills. All financial aid and awards matters are held in strict confidence. For information and processing of loan applications, private loan funds, or for submitting a Request for Appeal of government student assistance you must make an appointment with a Financial Advisor.

Appointments Appointments may be made through Financial Aid & Awards Reception by calling 250-828-5024. Students attending a campus other than Kamloops may arrange a telephone interview through the campus office. Appointments for Student Aid BC Assistance application completion are available only if extraordinary circumstances exist. Financial Aid & Awards (Private loans, government loans, awards, and grants) Old Main Building, Room 1631 Tel: 1-250-828-5024 Or visit: www.tru.ca/finaid Hours: 8:30am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday

Aboriginal Students – Ch’Nook Scholars “Ch’nook develops targeted programming to assist capacity building for Aboriginal Peoples within business and management. The Ch’nook Scholars program was developed to bring together Aboriginal post-secondary business students and to provide them with the tools and connections they will need to succeed in their studies and their careers. Ch’nook Scholars receive the benefits of the knowledge and advice from current industry leaders, and are also able to contribute to the success of the next generation by participating in mentorship events with high school students.

For more information, please visit ch-nook.ubc.ca or call (604) 822-0988.

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Health and Dental Plans

Domestic Students For students enrolled in 9 or more credits of on-campus study, the health and dental plan is automatically included in your annual student fees and is managed through TRUSU. The Thompson Rivers University Students' Union runs an extended health and dental plan for members for one reason - to make health coverage affordable. Because students have fixed incomes and face the astronomical costs of post-secondary education, unexpected medical bills can be devastating. Extended Heath and Dental coverage not only gives you peace of mind, but also helps you maintain a high quality of health and ensures that medical emergencies do not endanger your studies.

Opt-In If you have previously opted-out of the health and dental plan, you are not considered a full-time student, or are an online student and would like to get on to the health and dental plan you must opt-in. In order to opt-in to the TRUSU Health and Dental program you must come to the Members' Services Desk in the Students' Union Building. You will need to complete a Health and Dental Opt-In Form and pay the health and dental fee. The plan fee is $248.00 for the year and can be paid by debit, credit, or cash. Keep in mind that if you opt-in to the TRUSU Health and Dental Plan you are not automatically enrolled every year and you will need to opt-in manually again in the following year to maintain your coverage. If you have a partner or a family member without health and dental coverage you can add them to the TRUSU Health and Dental Plan. You will need to add your family members to the plan for each year that you would like to have health and dental coverage.

Health and Dental Opt-In Form: http://trusu.ca/docs/TRUSU-HealthDental-Optin.pdf

Opt-Out If you already have extended health and dental coverage through another provider, you are able to apply to be opted out of the TRUSU Health and Dental Plan. You must show proof of your coverage by completing an opt-out form online that includes your health and dental provider as well as your policy number. All health and dental opt-outs must be done in registration section on your myTRU account. The opt-out deadline for academic students is within 30 days of the start of classes. The opt-out deadline for vocational students is within 30 days of their course start date. Below you will find the step by step instructions to opt out of health and dental coverage.

To opt-out of the Health and Dental coverage, please contact the student’s union with proof of your current coverage:

Email: info@trusu.ca

Phone: (250) 828 - 5289

Fax: (250) 852 - 6350

Mail: TRU Student Union 900 McGill Road Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8

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International Students It is your responsibility to have updated, non-expired medical insurance. Before registering for courses, all International Students must have medical insurance. BC’s medical services plan (MSP) is the best form of medical coverage to get. It is very economical at approximately $60 per month. To get MSP, you can contact the MSP Program for BC at:

Tel: 1-800-663-7100 Web: www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Pacific Coastal Time

It is important to note that you are only eligible to get MSP after living in BC for 3 months, but until that time, TRU has a private medical provider who can give you coverage for a reasonable fee (approximately $2 per day). There are also reduced family rates for those who need it. Please contact your ISA for assistance in getting medical coverage. MSP does not cover dental, and nor does it cover all medical expenses. Furthermore, outside of BC, it will not cover all of your expenses. Therefore, you may opt to buy optional extended medical and dental coverage through your volition. Your ISA can assist you with finding extended medical. If you do travel outside of BC, it is important to keep any receipts to submit to MSP or extended health providers. For more information regarding this, please contact your ISA and review the International Student Life Guide at http://www.truworld.ca/__shared/assets/tru_studentlife_201220742.pdf.

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Graduate Registration Policies

Registration in Undergraduate Courses It may be beneficial for you to participate in senior-level undergraduate courses as part of your graduate program. No more than 30% of your courses may be at the undergraduate level, and these must be approved as part of your studies. Courses taken at the undergraduate level are billed outside of the MBA Program and at different rates.

Residency Requirements At least 50% of coursework must be completed through TRU for the MBA Foundation in order to graduate with the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.

Course Changes If you need to change your courses (add, drop, or withdraw) please consult your advisor. Fill out the appropriate form and submit this form to the Office of the Registrar.

Program Completion Times There is a five-year maximum time for completing graduate programs at TRU. Programs vary in design and standard completion time

Absences and Leaves of Absence Students are generally expected to be in attendance for all aspects of the graduate program including courses, seminars and other activities as applicable. If you will miss any of these activities for a short period of time, please inform your instructor/s. It is your responsibility to get caught up on any missed material.

Documentation Required for Longer-Term Leaves • A signed leave request form • Compassionate: medical certificate for the person requiring care, or bereavement • Medical: original signed doctor’s note indicating the medical condition and required leave time. • Maternity, Adopting, Parental: for all three the person requesting leave is entitled to one year of

leave. Students requesting leave for adoption or parental responsibilities must provide documentation which gives proof of requirement.

If a longer-term leave is approved you tuition fees and the program completion time will be frozen for the duration of absence.

Employment Leave Students taking employment leave will be considered “continuing students” and charged Continuing Student Fees.

Adding or Dropping a Course Adding or dropping a course can be done before the end of the second week of instruction. Domestic students who choose to drop a course during or before the add/drop deadline will receive a 100% refund.

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International students who drop a course the first or second week of instruction will receive a 25% refund of tuition and general fees invoiced. If you would like to add or drop a course, you can do so through myTRU. Students enrolled in online courses, or those who would like to add an online course after courses have commenced, must contact the MBA Program at mba@tru.ca. Please note that if you drop a course, this will delay graduation for up to a one year period.

Withdrawing from a Course

Withdrawal Policies Thompson Rivers University (TRU) recognizes that students may withdraw from their courses for a wide variety of reasons. If you are registered in a course or a program which you believe you are not going to complete successfully, depending on the date and the reason, you may be able to formally withdraw to avoid a failing grade. Because of the possible impact on their educational future, students are urged to seek counselling before making a decision to withdraw from a course or program. In the event of a student deciding to withdraw from a course or program, the following deadlines apply:

1. The withdrawal date is the last day of the eighth instructional week for one-semester courses and the last day of the third instructional week in the second semester of two-semester courses;

2. Students in semestered programs may withdraw from their entire program up to the last day of instruction in the semester;

3. Students who miss either of the deadlines listed above will receive a grade of 'F' unless they can satisfy the Registrar that they have suffered illness or domestic affliction or circumstances beyond their control, which have prevented them from withdrawing from their courses within the relevant deadline. This decision of the Registrar is subject to appeal (see Policy ED 4-0).

4. Withdrawal dates for Summer Sessions or intersession courses shall be prorated to the end of the nearest full week based on the one semester withdrawal policy.

If you would like to withdraw from a course, you can do so through myTRU. Students enrolled in online courses must contact the MBA Program at mba@tru.ca. Please note that if you withdraw from a course, this will delay graduation for up to a one year period.

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Grading Scale

Graduate Programs - effective January 1, 2012 Letter Grade

Numerical Grade

Grade Points

Letter Grade Definitions

A+ A

95-100 90-94

4.33 4.00

Excellent. First Class Standing.

A- B+

85-89 80-84

3.67 3.33

Very Good. Second Class Standing.

B 75-79 3.00 Satisfactory.

B- 70-74 2.67 Marginal pass. A passing grade indicating marginal performance. Student not likely to succeed in subsequent courses in the subject.

F 0-69 0.00 Unsatisfactory. Fail. Knowledge of principles and facts is fragmentary, or student has failed to complete substantive course requirements.

Minimum pass for students in a graduate program: a student who receives a B- or lower in two or more courses will be required to withdraw regardless of their grade point average unless the program recommends otherwise. Individual programs may require a higher minimum passing grade.

Other Grades The following transcript notations are effective for courses with start dates of May 1, 2009 and onwards.

The notations are used but not included in the calculation of the GPA for TRU-OL courses:

AUD (Audit) No credits granted. CIP (Course in Progress) Indicates regularly scheduled one semester course is still being completed

with final grade to follow. COM (Complete) Assigned when competency-based work component, practica/work placements

or pass/fail courses are completed. CTN (Continuing) Multiple semester course - course continues into the next semester(s). NCG (No Credit Granted) Used in competency-based courses to indicate course or program

standard has not been met. S (Satisfactory) Credit awarded for assessment of learning acquired outside an accredited post-

secondary institution setting (i.e. prior learning assessment). W (Withdrawal) Withdrawn from course according to established policy. No credit granted. XT (Extension) Course completion date extended. AEG (Aegrotat) A pass standing based on satisfactory term marks but student has been unable to

complete all course requirements due to disabling illness or other circumstances. This standing is awarded, only if, the course instructor and the Dean agree that the student has demonstrated the capacity to deal with course.

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MBA Program Grading Policy1 As per the TRU Grading Systems Policy ED 3-5, the “Minimum pass for students in a Graduate Program: A student who receives a B- or lower in two or more courses will be required to withdraw regardless of their grade point average unless the program recommends otherwise. Individual programs may require a higher minimum passing grade.” For consistency and clarity in the program recommendations under this policy, the MBA Committee has passed a program policy which allows the following (effective immediately):

Minimum Passing Grade and GPA The minimum course passing grade for students in the MBA Foundation MBA program will be a grade of B-. Students must maintain an overall program GPA of 3.0 in order to graduate from the MBA Foundation or MBA program.

• Students who fall below the 3.0 GPA level for one semester will be placed on probation. When a student falls below the 3.0 GPA level due to receiving an excessive number of B- grades, the student will be allowed to re-take any or all of the courses in which they received a B-, in order to bring their program GPA up to the 3.0 level.

• Students who fall below the 3.0 GPA level for a second semester will be asked to withdraw from the program.

MBA Foundation Course Failures An MBA Foundation student who receives a grade of F in two or more 5000-level courses will be required to withdraw from the program, regardless of their grade point average.

• When an MBA Foundation student receives a grade of F in one course, the student is required to re-take the course at the earliest opportunity (i.e., in the very next semester that the course is available).

• An MBA Foundation student who fails the same course a second time will be immediately withdrawn from the MBA Foundation program, which will make them ineligible to enter the MBA program.

MBA Course Failures An MBA student who receives a grade of F in three or more 6000-level courses will be required to withdraw from the program, regardless of their grade point average.

• An MBA student who fails one or two courses will be required to re-take the course(s) at the earliest opportunity (i.e., in the very next semester that the course is available).

• An MBA student who fails the same course a second time would be immediately withdrawn from the MBA program

1 Approved for immediate implementation on December 13, 2013.

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Student Academic Appeals In general, a student (the appellant) must complete the following steps to resolve an issue before they may initiate a formal appeal:

1. Attempt to resolve the issue with the person with the instructor; 2. If the issue is not resolved, attempt to resolve the issue with the Department Chair; 3. If still unresolved, attempt to resolve the issue with the Associate Dean of Faculty, Students, and

Research; 4. If the issue remains unresolved, then you may commence a formal appeal in accordance with

the formal appeal procedures set out in this policy. 5. If you are choosing to initiate a formal appeal, you must follow the steps outlined on the

Academic Appeals Form. Only completed forms will be processed.

Exams The exam period is scheduled by the registrar each year and can be found in the current calendar (http://www.tru.ca/calendar/current/). Students must not schedule travel arrangements for any time within the exam period, as that is not recognized as a valid reason for missing an exam.

Conflicts Please check if any changes made to the preliminary schedule have created a conflict. Immediately report any conflicts (three exams scheduled in the same calendar day or two exams scheduled on the same day and time) to the Registrar's Office so that alternate arrangements can be made. "No Scheduled Exam" For courses indicated as "No Scheduled Exam", there is no final examination scheduled by the Registrar's Office. Please see your instructor for details concerning requirements for final evaluation. Missed Examination In general, only illness (written excuse from Doctor required) and domestic affliction will be considered as valid reasons for a missed examination. Should either of these occur and remedy is sought, the Registrar's Office must be notified within two (2) days following the scheduled date of the missed examination. No provision will be made to make up missed examinations caused by misreading of this schedule. In cases where, in the judgment of the Registrar's Office, other circumstances clearly beyond the control of the student, have led to a missed final exam, consideration may also be given.

Online Courses You will be assigned a specific date, time and location during the scheduled exam period to write your final examination. This information will come to your myTRU email from the Open Learning Exams department. The location of the exam will be based on the permanent residence address that you provided to Thompson Rivers University – we will make every effort to procure a location as close as possible to you. Please be aware that you will be expected to attend the sitting as provided to you. In case of an emergency, please contact the Exams Supervisor (exams@tru.ca) and the MBA Office as

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soon as possible. To request an alternate location within Canada, please contact exams@tru.ca before the 4th week of classes.

Attendance Students are expected to attend all classes as outlined in the attendance regulations in the TRU Calendar, Policy ED 3-1. (http://www.tru.ca/policy/allpolicy.html) It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with and abide by these policies. Admission may be refused by the instructor for lateness, class misconduct, or failure to complete assigned work. Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of class time allocated to each course. In the case of deficient attendance students may be excluded from a course or final exam in a course. Students who are absent from class for two consecutive weeks will have been considered to have withdrawn from that course. Permission will then be required from the department chairperson to regain admission to the course.

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Academic Integrity Academic standards and the reputation of students and the university are based on, among other things, academic integrity. Any forms of dishonesty, including cheating on exams, aiding and abetting cheating, and the use of work prepared by others and presented as your own, etc., are unacceptable activities and will result in reporting of incident to the MBA Coordinator and a fail for the course. Severe or repeated incidences could result in disbarment from the University. Students have an obligation and are expected to be familiar with TRU’s Academic Integrity Policy Number ED 5-0. (http://www.tru.ca/policy/allpolicy.html)

Forms of Academic Dishonesty 1. Cheating Cheating is an act of deception by which a student misrepresents that he or she has mastered information on an academic exercise that the student has not mastered. Examples:

a. Copying from another student's test paper or assignment.

b. Allowing another student to copy from a test paper or assignments.

c. Using the course textbook, electronic devices or other material such as a notebook brought to a class meeting but not authorized for use during a test.

d. Collaborating during a test with any other person by receiving information without authority.

e. Using specifically prepared materials during a test (e.g. notes, formula lists, etc.). 2. Academic Misconduct Academic misconduct is the intentional violation of TRU academic policies and procedures by tampering with grades, taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of an un-administered test, or by other means of academic deception not explicitly identified in other sections of this policy. Examples:

a. Stealing, buying, or otherwise obtaining all or part of an un-administered test or document through the internet.

b. Selling or giving away all or part of an un-administered test including answers to an un-administered test.

c. Bribing any other person to obtain an un-administered test or any information about the test.

d. Entering a building or office for the purpose of changing a grade in a grade book, on a test, or on other work for which a grade is given.

e. Changing, altering, or being an accessory to the changing and/or altering of a grade in a grade book, on a test, a "change of grade" form, or other official academic records of TRU which relate to grades.

f. Entering a building or office or otherwise viewing a test for the purpose of obtaining or examining an un-administered test.

3. Fabrication Fabrication is the intentional use of invented information or the falsification of research or other findings with the intent to deceive. Examples:

a. Listing sources in a bibliography not used in the academic exercise.

b. Inventing data or source of information for research or other academic exercise.

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c. Submitting as one's own any academic exercise (e.g. written work, printing, sculpture, etc.) prepared totally or in part by another.

d. Citing information not taken from the source indicated. e. Taking a test for someone, or permitting someone to take a test for the registered student.

4. Plagiarism Plagiarism is the inclusion of someone else's words, ideas or data as one's own work. When a student submits work for credit that includes the words, ideas or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific footnote references, and, if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks or block format. By placing his/her name on work submitted for credit, the student certifies the originality of all work not otherwise identified by appropriate acknowledgements. A student will avoid being charged with plagiarism if there is an acknowledgement of indebtedness:

a. Whenever one quotes another person's actual words;

b. Whenever one uses another person's idea, opinion or theory, even if it is completely paraphrased in one's own words; and

c. Whenever one cites facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials from a published source or a lecture when that material is not considered common knowledge.

d. Citing facts, statistics or other illustrative materials considered to be common knowledge is not considered plagiarism.

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Applying to Graduate Did you know that you have to apply to Graduate from your Program? While the TRU Registrar's Office creates credentials all year round, there are two periods in which students can apply to Graduate online:

• August 1st through until March 31st in preparation for the June Convocation • April 1st through until July 31st in preparation for the October Convocation

Note you don't have to attend Convocation in order to graduate from your program. You can choose to have your credential either made ready for pick-up at the Registrar's Office or mailed to your home address if you are not attending a ceremony or you want your credential early.

Applying to Graduate Students must apply to Graduate. This is done through their myTRU account using the following steps:

1. Log into your account https://mytru.tru.ca 2. Click onto the "Student Resources" tab 3. Scroll down until you see "My Academic Record" (on the left side of page) 4. Select "Apply for Graduation" 5. Follow the directions. Check the box within the online form to RSVP Convocation

Ensure Your Information is Correct VERY IMPORTANT! Ensure that your personal information page on myTRU is correct before you submit your application to graduate.

• For name changes - provide Registrar's Office with official documentation • For address changes - this can be done at your myTRU account • For program changes, including majors and minors - contact your Program Advisor

Checking the Status of Your Application Once you have applied, you may check back later and view the status of your application. Follow the steps above, but look for the "View Application To Graduate" link.

Graduation from your program is depending upon a number of items 1. Application has been made to graduate by the above stated deadline dates 2. All coursework has been completed by the end of the Winter semester (that is the end of April

for June Convocation) or by the end of Summer Session (that is the end of the 1st week in August) for October Convocation

3. All fees owing (finance, library, etc) are paid in full 4. All semester marks are input into the student record system 5. Your Program Advisor, Chairperson or Program Coordinator has approved your program

completion Convocation information is detailed on the Convocation website. PLEASE NOTE: All convocation ceremonies at Thompson Rivers University are webcast live including images of graduates during the ceremony.

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Get Involved, Join a Club! Joining a club is one of the best ways to get involved at TRU with the student body. As a graduate student in the School of Business and Economics, you are a part of the TRUSU Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Club. Please speak to your elected Club Executives to find out how to get involved, or contact the Coordinator, MBA Student Services and Advising for contact information of club representatives. For a full list of other clubs on campus, please refer to Thompson Rivers Student Union Club Directory. http://trusu.ca/section/202

International Student Activity Program (ISAP) Students may specifically be interested in activities hosted by ISAP. Throughout the year, TRU ISAP provides international students with the opportunity to:

• Meet Canadian students and experience our culture • Meet students from other countries • Experience Kamloops and region • Participate in year round events • Help plan & organize activities

Canadian and International students can participate in ISAP events and activities such as: snowboarding, skiing, Halloween parties, hockey games, wine tours, white water rafting and so much more. http://www.truworld.ca/internationalstudents/currentstudents/activities.html

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Student Services

Aboriginal Services TRU has one of the largest aboriginal student populations in B.C. post-secondary institutions. TRU is pleased to offer services in support of all aboriginal students: Status, Non-status, Metis and Inuit. These services are designed to enhance students’ postsecondary experience at TRU culturally, socially and academically. http://www.tru.ca/aero/students.html

Athletics and Recreation TRU has a large athletic program competing in nine varsity sports. Varsity athletics is for the accomplished athlete who wants to compete at a higher level of sport. Team sports at TRU include: Women's and Men's Basketball (CIS), Women's & Men's Volleyball (CIS), Women's and Men's Soccer (BCCAA), Co-ed Badminton (BCCAA), Men's Golf (BCCAA), and a Baseball team affiliated with TRU. There are gym facilities available for recreational purposes, with squash and racquetball courts, and sport equipment rentals. http://www.tru.ca/athletics.html

Book Store The TRU Bookstore is located on the first floor of the Campus Activity Centre (CAC). They carry new and used books and a wide selection of TRU apparel, stationary, calculators, art supplies, phone cards, specialized materials required for some courses, giftware, snack food, grad gown rentals and gift cards. http://thebookstore.tru.ca/

Campus Activity Centre The Campus Activity Centre (CAC) is currently home to the Student Union, TRU Ancillary Services as well as the TRU Bookstore, the Independent Centre and Grand Hall. It's also home to the campus pub, Heroes and the Terrace Room cafeteria. http://www.tru.ca/cac.html

Computer Labs Computer labs are available for student use in various locations around campus. Schedules and locations are posted at the link below. http://www.tru.ca/its/labs/info.html

Counselling Centre TRU counsellors provide free and confidential personal, crisis and career counseling services to TRU students. Some of the issues that you might want to talk to a counselor about include adjustment to TRU life and culture, anxiety and stress management, career exploration and life planning, study skills and test anxiety. http://www.tru.ca/studentservices/counsel.html

Daycare Cariboo Child Care offers programs for children from 8 weeks to 12 years of age, and their hours are 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. http://www.tru.ca/daycare/programs.html

Disability Services Disability Services provides access services to all eligible TRU students: students at the Kamloops and Williams Lake campuses and Open Learning students. The department assists in facilitating equal access to educational opportunities at Thompson Rivers University by reducing the physical, attitudinal and systemic barriers for students. Disability Services facilitates and/or provides a variety of services and accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. These may include: exam accommodation,

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alternate format text material, sign language interpretation, access to adaptive technology, the facilitation of in-class note-taking, etc. http://www.tru.ca/staffairs/disabilities.html

Food Services The campus dining program offers a variety of food options as well as flexible meal plan memberships. http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CA/ThompsonRivers/MealPlans/

Gathering Place The Gathering Place is a resource centre for Aboriginal students, which doubles as space to socialize or study. Elder support and conversation is also available at The Gathering Place. http://www.tru.ca/staffairs/aboriginal/acc.html

Housing See Housing under “Life at TRU and Kamloops.”

Health and Wellness Centre The TRU Wellness Centre aims to provide unique, educational and fun programs that will help provide the skills and tools needed to create a more harmonious and balanced lifestyle. The centre provides individual wellness plans and health and wellness consultations, and campus-wide activities such as yoga and Stress Busters Week. http://www.tru.ca/wellness.html

International Student Services TRU's International Student Advisors (ISAs) provide personal counseling for international students both before your arrival in Canada and during your program. Please feel free to contact one of the ISAs directly. You can write to us in English or in another language you share with one of the ISAs.

TRU students can count on the ISA team for information or assistance with any aspect of student life in Canada. The ISAs also coordinate housing, orientation, and settlement services. http://www.truworld.ca/internationalstudents/supportservices.html

For ISAP see “International Student Activity Program (ISAP)” under “Getting Involved”

IT Services Computer Lab Support staff are available to serve the needs of students by providing computer lab information, assistance, and technical support for computer equipment and software utilized in the labs and classrooms on campus. http://www.tru.ca/its.html

Additional support includes:

• Provide students with information about the Network account which includes a lab computer user login and password for saving files to the TRU student file server and wireless authentication for on-campus internet access.

• Reset forgotten passwords for your Network Account, myTRU portal, Blackboard, or Moodle accounts.

• Provide assistance in using lab computers, printers and software. • Fix lab computer and printer issues. • Monitor the resources available in labs and ensure optimal equipment performance. • Assist students with the recovery of lost or damaged files.

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Media Services Media Services produces audio and visual materials that are used by all departments of TRU. The Production Centre maintains a small staff to provide services such as audiovisual production and editing, graphics design, audio recording and design and media consultation. They can assist with:

• circulation of loaned AV equipment for both students, and instructors and staff • laptops for short term loan out • help desk for AV equipment issues • assisting with equipment setup • service, maintenance and installation of Institute AV equipment • product recommendations, evaluations, and purchase • refresh of installed and circulating AV equipment • other services such as staging of special events

http://www.tru.ca/its/mediaservices.html

Omega The Omega is TRU’s independent newspaper, with both print and online information. http://theomega.ca/

Parking Student parking is available in designated pay parking lots. Parking permits may be purchased on a daily or longer-term basis. http://www.tru.ca/facilities/coreservices/parking/student.html

Security Uniformed Security staff patrol the campus 24 hours a day. Call Security at any time to report anything suspicious or to receive assistance. Phone: 250-828-5033 http://www.tru.ca/hsafety/safetyresources.html

Student Resources

Graduate Student Lounge The Graduate Student Lounge is located in the library and consists of study area, a meeting room, and some kitchen facilities. As a graduate student, you may obtain access to the Lounge through the Office of Research and Graduate Studies located on the 2nd floor of the Clock Tower.

Library The TRU Kamloops Campus Library is open from 8am to midnight Monday to Friday and 9 am to midnight Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the physical location, the library website includes the library catalogue of print materials, multimedia, and e-resources; access to scholarly databases and full-text journals; subject guides produced by the librarians; research support tools and help; plus online forms for services (i.e. reference and research assistance, ILL order forms, renewing library materials). Students also have access to study rooms and meeting rooms through the “Book a Room” function on the library’s website. http://www.tru.ca/library

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Computing Services Computer Lab Support staff are available to serve the needs of students, faculty, and staff by providing computer lab information, assistance, and technical support for computer equipment and software utilized in the labs and classrooms on campus. http://www.tru.ca/its/labs.html

Math Help Centre The Math & Stats Help Centre is a free service for students and is staffed by Mathematics and Statistics faculty and upper level students. Students can work alone or together with other students in a relaxed, informal environment, with help readily available. The Help Centre is located in HL210A in the House of Learning. https://www.tru.ca/science/programs/math/math_help_centre.html

Writing Centre The Writing Centre’s goal is to help you become a more skilled and confident writer. At any time during the semester, you may make an appointment with one of the tutors to receive help with any stage of the writing process, including generating ideas; organizing; managing issues of sentence structure, grammar, punctuation and documentation; revision; and editing. You may also choose to come in for help with a specific writing problem. https://www.tru.ca/studentservices/writingcentre.html

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Other Information

Housing There are various housing options both on and off the TRU campus. TRU Student Residence & Conference Centre The TRU Student Residence & Conference Centre is located on the north side of campus, and has Doubles and Quads available in a 580 bed complex. On-Campus Housing at Thompson Rivers University On-Campus Housing is a privately owned and operated facility on the south side of campus, and offers 300 individual rooms for students. Book now for the upcoming semester. Reduced rates may be available for the summer sessions. Clubs and groups welcome. See On-Campus Housing at TRU. TRU Off-Campus Housing Registry The TRU Off-Campus Housing Registry is a free online accommodation registry for landlords and students seeking housing solutions in the Kamloops area. See http://www.tru.ca/housing/registry.html.

Other Off-Campus housing There are additional housing options with online listings available for the Kamloops area. These include the following:

• Upper College Heights Residence and Apartments. Upper College Heights offers both shared quad dorms for students only and 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for families or students. There are over 200 residence rooms and 88 apartments. See http://www.uppercollege.com/

• Homes 4 Students. Homes4Students is a Canada-wide online registry for student housing listings, and is found at http://www.homes4students.ca/.

• My Ideal Home is an online housing registry found at http://www.myidealhome.com/. • Roommate Wanted is an online listing of apartments, houses, sublets and rooms and is found at

http://www.sublet.com/city_rentals/britishcolumbia_rentals.asp. • The Kelson Group is an online listing of apartments found at http://www.kelsongroup.com/ • Summit Village Residence is a new complex which has been designed to ensure privacy,

security, and a study friendly environment. To reserve your unit, visit their website: www.summitvillagekamloops.ca

Entertainment A full listing of entertainment options can be found at http://www.tourismkamloops.com.

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Career Development Program Business is a complex, global enterprise marked by rapid innovation and intense competition that requires highly skilled managers and decision makers. The TRU MBA is a comprehensive and rigorous program that prepares the leaders of the future for government, major corporations, small business, NGOs and entrepreneurship. TRU offers all MBA Students opportunities for career development during their MBA studies. The Career Development Program provides workshops, events, guest speakers and activities designed to develop career readiness for MBA students. It will also provide additional opportunities to achieve the learning goals and objectives of the program, supplementing the academic learning in the classroom. Sample offerings in the program include:

• Career Transition Workshops covering topics such as networking, resumes, cover letters, and interviewing skills

• CEO Speaker Series • Career Portfolio Development Workshops • Wine & Cheese networking socials with local business leaders • Case Competitions • Career Planning Services

Wherever possible, by utilizing technology such as live video streaming and lecture capture, career development activities are available for online students to access through their student portal. As well, online MBA students are welcome to attend any activities in person that they wish. Through TRU’s partnerships with local and national businesses, industry and NGOs, funding opportunities may be available for select students for applied research internships, job placements, entrepreneur-in-residence positions and similar programs. These opportunities vary annually and are subject to availability and program requirements. Please contact the MBA Program for further information on current opportunities. Students are also recommended to use the career services for students and alumni available through the TRU Career Education department.

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Program Learning Goals Top managers have specific skills that make them leaders. Mastering those skills is essential to the TRU MBA program. Progress related to key program goals and objectives will be measured and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Changes will be made to the program and individual courses as required to ensure that students are effectively prepared for the workplace. Learning Goals Learning Objectives – MBA students will be able to: 1 Communication Skills 1. Prepare professional quality business documents.

2. Deliver a professional quality business presentation. 2 Strategic Decision-

Making Abilities 1. Make effective strategic decisions in an uncertain environment displaying well developed analytical and critical thinking and qualitative and quantitative research skills. 2. Make effective strategic decisions that incorporate a comprehensive knowledge of the corporate and entrepreneurial environment and different business disciplines, theories and practices.

3 Leadership and Interpersonal Skills

1. Demonstrate effective leadership and interpersonal skills in a team environment. 2. Recommend actions that improve organizational effectiveness.

4 Ethical, Sustainable, and Socially Responsible Behaviour

1. Identify and analyze ethical aspects of management problems.

2. Recommend how an organization can operate in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.

5 Global Perspective 1. Conduct an analysis of the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors relevant to strategic decision-making for a global organization. 2. Evaluate and develop recommendations regarding a corporate business strategy for an international market.

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Program Options The TRU MBA is the most flexible program in Canada. Customize your MBA studies to your learning style, your work demands and your personal commitments. Whether you choose to study on-campus, online or through a blended combination, all students study the same curriculum and get the same high caliber instruction and learning experience.

On-Campus MBA TRU’s on-campus MBA runs on a daytime, weekday program schedule, starting in September and January of each year. The full-time program can be completed in as little as 10 months using the course based option. The program makes considerable use of the case approach, business simulations, team projects, company visits and guest speakers to engage students in the learning process. Global perspectives are incorporated throughout the curriculum and the diversity of our students and faculty further enhance the development of intercultural understanding.

Online MBA Program TRU recognizes that many students need to balance work and life responsibilities with their studies. The convenience and flexibility of an online MBA program allows them to advance their careers or change a career path with minimum disruption. In the online MBA, you study the same rigorous curriculum as the on-campus program. TRU’s online MBA courses are paced, meaning you have set start and finish dates and fixed assignment deadlines as you would in the on-campus program. Career development activities such as workshops and guest speakers are extended to online MBA students utilizing tools such as live streaming video and online students have the option to attend any on-campus MBA events that they desire.

Blended Learning Studying on-campus, but can’t make a course schedule fit into your busy life? No problem, pick up one or more of your MBA courses online! Studying primarily online but want to enhance your experience with an on-campus course? Absolutely! This is your MBA and TRU gives you the flexibility to combine on-campus and online MBA courses to fit your lifestyle. Because all TRU MBA students study the same courses and the same curriculum, you can choose to blend online and on-campus courses to customize your MBA experience.

Part-Time Study Part-time study options are available for both the online and on-campus programs. Part-time students must complete the MBA program within 5 years of the start of the program.

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MBA Foundation Program Structure The MBA Foundation consists of six courses in the major foundational subject areas of Business Administration. The course offers a pathway to the 12-month MBA program for students with non-business-related undergraduate degrees and ensures they have the foundational skills and knowledge to be successful in the MBA program. The program can also provide professionals in fields such as medicine and dentistry an opportunity to study a graduate level program that provides a foundation of the business administration skills needed to operate a practice or manage a business. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. The TRU MBA experience consists of 2 parts: the MBA Foundation and the MBA.

MBA Foundation* (4 – 8 months)

* Exemptions for some or all courses may be granted based on previous undergraduate or graduate courses

1. Managerial Statistics 2. Financial Accounting 3. Management Accounting 4. Global Economics 5. Marketing Management 6. Human Resource Management All 6 courses must be completed with a minimum average of a B grade or be exempted in order to proceed to the MBA Program.

The MBA Foundation is designed to ensure students with non-business undergraduate degrees have the necessary skills and foundational knowledge to be successful in the MBA program. Students who successfully complete the program and complete a minimum of 3 MBA Foundation classes at TRU will be awarded a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. Without exemptions, the 6 courses will require 2 semesters to complete. If one or more exemptions are granted, the program can be completed in as little as one semester (4 months).

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Course Descriptions BUSN 5010-3 Managerial Statistics This course provides students with a deep understanding of the statistical methods and tools required for decision making in today's business environment. Topics include descriptive statistics and numerical measures; statistical inferences with two populations; hypothesis tests and nonparametric methods; analysis of variance; simple regression models; multiple regression models; regression and the model building process; regression models with categorical dependent variables; applied models with categorical dependent variables; forecasting in business; and decision analysis. Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration BUSN 5020-3 Financial Accounting This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand financial statements. Students will analyze many accounting policy choices available to companies, and the consequences of these choices on users. Topics include recording basic financial transactions, financial statement preparation, adjusting entries, accounting for receivables and inventories, depreciation and sale of capital assets, bonds and long-term debt, equity transactions, the cash flow statement, revenue and expense recognition, and defined benefit and defined contribution pensions. Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration BUSN 5030-3 Management Accounting This course focuses on the three functions managers must perform within their organizations: planning operations, controlling activities and making decisions. To perform these functions efficiently, managers must collect and interpret appropriate information based on the firm´s long-term strategy and annual objectives. Topics include an introduction to management accounting; costs and cost behavior; job costing; activity-based costing; cost behavior and the contribution margin; budgeting; budget variances and performance evaluation; variable costing, lean production, and segmented reporting; performance measures and the balanced scorecard; short-term decision analysis; and fraud, controls and ethics. Prerequisite: BUSN 5020 - Financial Accounting BUSN 5040-3 Global Economics This course provides students with a coherent theoretical framework within which the performance of an economy can be analyzed. Topics include overview of macroeconomics; measurement of income, prices and unemployment; national income determination; money, banks and central bank; the IS-LM model; financial market and economic instability; government budget, debt, and limitations of fiscal policy; international trade, exchange rate and macroeconomic policy; aggregate demand and aggregate supply; inflation; stabilization policies and the theory of economic growth. Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration BUSN 5050-3 Marketing Management The course covers the key principles and concepts of marketing, and introduces marketing in a variety of contexts including not-for-profit, international, services, and environmental issues. Topics covered include marketing strategy, marketing research, customer relationship management, market

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segmentation, branding, pricing strategies, channels of distribution, integrated marketing communications, and international marketing. Prerequisites: Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration BUSN 5060-3 Human Resource Management This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to effectively design and manage a human resource management system. Human resource management systems that are aligned with strategic objectives and relatively more capable of attracting, deploying, developing and retaining human capital are key contributors to organizational competitiveness and success. Topics include the strategic role of human resource management; the legal environment; designing and analyzing jobs; planning and recruitment; selection; orientation and training; performance appraisal; compensation; employee benefits and services; occupational health and safety; effective employee relations; and labour relations, collective bargaining, and contract administration. Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration

Exemption Policy Students may be exempted from specific Graduate Certificate in Business Administration courses if the MBA Committee determines they have adequate recent undergraduate or graduate course work in the area from an acceptable institution. All students must receive a grade of B (GPA 3.00) or higher in the corresponding undergraduate or graduate courses to be exempted. Graduates of the TRU BBA, TRU Open Learning BComm, or similar programs will generally complete courses equivalent to the MBA Foundation courses as part of their undergraduate degrees. Students in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Sciences, or Bachelor of Computing Science at TRU may complete equivalent courses to the MBA Foundation courses if they take the Minor in Management. All students apply first to the MBA Foundation. The MBA Committee will review all applications and determine which, if any, course exemptions will be granted.

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MBA Program Structure Students who complete the MBA Foundation with a grade of B (GPA of 3.00) or better in each of the six mandatory courses (or receive exemptions) may precede the TRU MBA program. The MBA program consists of 8 core courses plus a choice of one of three completion options: Course-Based Option, Graduate Project Option, or Graduate Thesis Option. With full-time study, the MBA program is designed to be completed in 12 months. (Project and Thesis Options may extend beyond 12 months as needed for completion).

MBA Program (12 months†)

† Project and Thesis Options may extend beyond 12 months as needed for completion

MBA Core

1. Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility 2. Corporate Finance 3. International Business 4. Leadership and Organizational Development 5. Supply Chain Management 6. Strategic Management Information Systems 7. Project Management & Consulting Methods 8. Strategic Management

Completion Options*

* Choose one

General Management Option 1. Advanced Marketing Management 2. Advanced Corporate Finance 3. Decision Analysis & Modelling 4. Innovation & Entrepreneurship or Graduate Project Option 1. Research Methods, Preparation & Presentation 2. Graduate Project or Graduate Thesis Option 1. Research Methods, Preparation & Presentation 2. Graduate Thesis

Core Course Descriptions: BUSN 6010-3 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility In today’s fast changing business environment, there is a great need for effective decision-making and decision makers. Through examining the meaning and role of ethics in the business environment, and the social responsibility of business organizations, this course provides students with the understanding and framework from which to make better decisions. Topics include an introduction to business ethics; framing business ethics – corporate responsibility, stakeholders, and citizenship; evaluating business ethics – normative ethical theories; making decisions in business ethics – descriptive ethical theories;

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managing business ethics – tools and techniques of business ethics management; business ethics and shareholders, employees, consumers, suppliers, and competitors; civil society and business ethics; government, regulation, and business ethics; and the future and business ethics. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6020-3 Corporate Finance This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage a firm’s operating and fixed assets and to fund those assets in an optimal manner using short-term and long-term debt and equity financing. Topics include goals of the firm, corporate governance and executive compensation. time value of money, financial statement analysis, financial reporting quality, maturity matching of assets and liabilities, financial planning, capital budgeting, risk and return and stock valuation, bond valuation and interest rates, cost of capital, capital structure and dividend policy. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6030-3 International Business This course is designed to introduce the basic concepts of international business and competition from a manager's perspective. Topics include country differences in political economy, the cultural environment, ethics in international business, international trade theories, the political economy of international trade, foreign direct investment, regional economic integration, the foreign exchange market, the global monetary system, global strategy, global marketing and R&D, and global human resource management. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6040-3 Leadership and Organization Development Leading organizations through the development process is a fundamental necessity for today’s business managers. This course provides students with a systemic understanding of what is required by leaders to attune and align organizations to the ever-changing global business environment. Topics include the new realities as the force for change; the prime task of leadership – identifying new realties; critical systems thinking; philosophies, theories and styles of leadership; the systematic leadership approach; authority, obedience, and power; authority, power, leadership, and group dynamics; organizational behavior, group dynamics and change; the shadow side of leadership; leadership and ethics; systematic leadership and strategy; and the leader in you. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6050-3 Supply Chain Management This course provides students with the knowledge and basic skills required to effectively manage and design a supply chain. Topics include introduction to supply chain, importance of information technology, supply chain slacks, demand management, supply management, inventory management, production management, transportation management, location analysis, sourcing decisions, supply chain strategy and overview of special types of supply chains such as green and humanitarian aid supply chains. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA

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BUSN 6060-3 Strategic Management Information Systems This course provides students with the knowledge required to effectively manage a firm’s information and technology assets in order to meet the information needs of the organization. Topics include information systems strategies; the development of information system assets; organizational information infrastructure; databases and data management including decision making support; enterprise resource planning systems; ebusiness; social media use by organizations; information security and risk management; innovating with information technology; and leadership & management of information systems. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6070-3 Project Management and Consulting Methods This course will provide students with important concepts and practical techniques to apply consulting methods in their work and to participate in or manage complex projects. The topics include the five stages of the consulting process which include entry and contracting, discovery and dialogue, analysis and the decision to act, engagement and implementation and closing; analysis and presentation techniques; and examination of the five major project process groups which include project initiation, planning, execution, controlling and closing. Prerequisites: BUSN 6040 - Leadership and Organizational Development BUSN 6080-3 Strategic Management This course focuses on the role of senior management in developing and implementing corporate strategy. Participants examine the concepts underpinning the formulation, implementation and evaluation of cross-functional decisions that directly affect the ability of an organization to achieve its stated objectives. They also analyze the firm’s external and internal environment to identify and create competitive advantage in a global context. Topics include an introduction to strategic management, measures of firm performance, analysis of the external environment, analysis of the internal environment, business-level strategy, corporate-level strategy, acquisition and restructuring strategies, international strategies, corporate governance, organizational structures and controls, strategic leadership, and corporate social responsibility and ethics. Prerequisites: Completion of all other MBA Core courses

Course-Based Option The Course-Based Option provides students the opportunity to study 4 additional advanced management courses to complete their MBA program, providing them with a broader knowledge base. The courses consist of:

Course Descriptions: BUSN 6150-3 Advanced Marketing Management The course will enhance students’ knowledge and skills in the area of marketing management, to enable students to develop, implement, and control successful marketing strategies. Topics include breakeven analysis, marketing ethics, marketing strategy, marketing research and business expansion, market segmentation, developing and marketing new products, channels of distribution, online marketing, integrated marketing communications, sales management, marketing for non-profit organizations, and

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cause-related marketing. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6210-3 Advanced Corporate Finance This course is a continuation of BUSN 6020 and further enhances students’ knowledge and skills in the area of corporate finance. Topics include long-term financial planning; sources of long-term financing; working capital management; sources of short-term financing; international corporate finance; risk management; business valuation; mergers and acquisitions; corporate restructuring; bankruptcy, reorganization, and liquidation; and Economic Value Added. Prerequisites: BUSN 6020 - Corporate Finance BUSN 6250-3 Decision Analysis and Modelling This course integrates individual judgment and personal intuition in realistic business situations with the most widely applicable methodologies of decision and risk analysis, probability and statistics, competitive analysis, and management science. Topics include an introduction to decision analysis and modelling; spreadsheet engineering and error reduction; framing decision analysis problems; framework for analyzing risk; data analysis; resource allocation with optimization models; multi-period deterministic models; multi-factor deterministic models; regression modelling; strategic interactive decisions; and interpreting models, data, and decisions. Prerequisites: Admission to the MBA BUSN 6310-3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to manage the development of innovations, to recognize and evaluate potential opportunities to monetize these innovations, to plan specific and detailed methods to exploit these opportunities, and to acquire the resources necessary to implement these plans. Topics include entrepreneurial thinking, innovation management, opportunity spotting and evaluation, industry and market research, business strategy, business models and business plans, financial forecasting and entrepreneurial finance, pitching to resource providers and negotiating deals, and launching new ventures. Prerequisites: BUSN 6020 - Corporate Finance

Graduate Project Option *† The Graduate Project Option provides MBA students the opportunity to address an applied management issue or problem. This option provides situational experience and allows the student to focus in a specific area of management of relevance to their interests, future goals, or organization. Students in the Project Option enroll in the following courses:

Course Descriptions: BUSN 6950-3 Research Methods, Preparation and Presentation This course provides students with an overview of scientific method, research preparation, and the styles of communication used to disseminate research, with a focus on preparation for graduate level research. Topics include the role of business research; theory and the business research process; organization structure and ethical issues; defining a research problem; qualitative research tools; survey

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research; observation methods and experimental research; measurement and scaling concepts; sampling and sample size; working with data; quantitative statistical analysis; and writing a research report. Prerequisites: Approval of the MBA Committee BUSN 6970-9 Graduate Project Students in the Graduate Project Option in the MBA degree program will prepare and defend a report addressing a particular management issue or problem. It is completed under the direction of faculty member and evaluated by a Project Defence Committee. Prerequisites: BUSN 6950

Graduate Thesis Option *† The Graduate Thesis Option provides MBA students the opportunity to prepare and defend a thesis, further developing critical thinking skills as well as academic research skills. Increasingly, doctoral programs in business require applicants to have a strong research background at the Masters level. Students contemplating a doctorate are advised to pursue the Thesis Option. Students in the Thesis Option enroll in the following courses:

Course Descriptions: BUSN 6950-3 Research Methods, Preparation and Presentation This course provides students with an overview of scientific method, research preparation, and the styles of communication used to disseminate research, with a focus on preparation for graduate level research. Topics include the role of business research; theory and the business research process; organization structure and ethical issues; defining a research problem; qualitative research tools; survey research; observation methods and experimental research; measurement and scaling concepts; sampling and sample size; working with data; quantitative statistical analysis; and writing a research report. Prerequisites: Approval of the MBA Committee BUSN 6960-12 Graduate Thesis Students in the Graduate Thesis Option in the MBA degree program will prepare and defend a thesis in accordance with the policies established by the Research, Innovation, and Graduate Studies Office. The thesis is completed under the direction of a faculty member and a Thesis Supervisory Committee and evaluated by a Thesis Defence/Examining Committee. Prerequisites: BUSN 6950 * Graduate Projects and Theses are subject to the policies and practices of the Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies Office †Project and Thesis Options may take longer than 12 months as needed for successful completion

For guidelines for the preparation and defence of the graduate theses: http://www.tru.ca/__shared/assets/Masters_Thesis_Preparation_and_Defense_Guidelines25514.pdf

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