This Calendar is effective September 1, 2002 - August 31, 2003
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Introduction
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Appendices

9.3. Graduate Diploma in Management



Introduction

The Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) program is offered online by Athabasca University's Centre for Innovative Management (CIM), a strategic business unit that also delivers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Business Administration (Information Technology Management) (MBA[ITM]), Master of Business Administration in Project Management (MBAPM), Advanced Graduate Diploma in Information Technology Management (AGD[ITM]), and Advanced Graduate Diploma in Project Management (AGD[PM]) programs from its offices in St. Albert, Alberta.

The GDM program is for managers who do not wish to pursue an MBA or those who do not meet the educational requirements for direct admission to the MBA. The program instils effective analytical skills and raises awareness of the critical nature of the role managers have in organizations.


Program Information

A total of 18 credits is required to complete the GDM program composed of six, three-credit courses. The program comprises Phase 1 of the MBA programs—six courses and one comprehensive exam. Students who successfully complete the GDM program are eligible for admission to Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the MBA programs. (GDM students wishing to transfer into the MBA(PM) will be required to include with their transfer request evidence confirming the program admission requirements.) A GDM graduate who ceases studies and subsequently applies to an MBA program will be required to pay any fee increases that occur between the time of last enrolment and re-application. Credit for courses previously completed will be re-evaluated and applied to the program requirements, where appropriate.

Students will normally complete the GDM program in one and a half years. The diploma must be completed within three years.

Admission to the GDM program occurs three times each year, usually in the months of January, May, and September. Students complete the required individual courses in a predetermined order. Students may not take two courses concurrently without permission from the Director of CIM.

Athabasca University may modify the list of available courses at any time.

A minimum grade of 60 percent is required for both the assignments and participation components in each course. The comprehensive exam is graded on a pass/fail basis, and an overall grade of 70 percent is required to be awarded a "pass." Upon successful completion of the comprehensive exam and submission of the Application for Graduation Form, students may be awarded the GDM.


Program Requirements

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the program must hold a first degree from a recognized university or college or an acceptable professional designation such as Chartered Accountant (C.A.), Certified General Accountant (C.G.A.), Certified Management Accountant (C.M.A.), Purchasing Management Association of Canada (P.M.A.C.) designation, Certified Human Resources Professional (C.H.R.P.) designation, Canadian Information Processing Society Information Systems (C.I.P.S.) professional designation, or Certified Financial Analyst (C.F.A.).

Other Requirements

Students holding a recognized first degree must have at least three years of acceptable managerial experience that may include supervisory and professional experience with management-level responsibilities. Students holding a professional designation must have at least five years of acceptable managerial experience that may include supervisory and professional experience with management-level responsibilities.

Applicants must complete all application requirements as outlined in the current CIM application package. Applicants must also pay the non-refundable application fee and confirm access to a computer system that meets the program's requirements. Upon acceptance to the program, all students must pay the required admission fee.

Exceptions

Students who do not meet the above educational requirements but who can demonstrate to the CIM Admissions Committee that they have substantive managerial experience and relevant education or training will be considered for admission to the GDM program on an exception basis. These applicants should discuss prior learning assessment in graduate studies programs with a staff member at CIM.

Other Requirements

Students applying to the GDM program may be required to demonstrate competency and proficiency in the English language.

Advanced Standing

There will be no direct transfer of core course credits into the GDM program from credit courses completed previously at other accredited degree-granting institutions. At the time of admission, however, graduate students may, at the discretion of the CIM Admissions Committee, be awarded advanced standing in the specific courses in light of the students' combined education and experience. Requests for advanced standing must be made to the CIM Admissions Committee at the time of application to the program. Exemptions to the above must be approved by the Director of CIM.

Students awarded advanced standing in a course are

  1. provided with full course materials
  2. remain responsible for full program tuition and
  3. remain responsible to know and understand all components of the course and demonstrate this knowledge in the comprehensive exam.
Those with C.A., C.G.A., and C.M.A. designations are normally not required to take FACT 504.


Course Offerings (18 credits)

Athabasca University may modify the list of required courses at any time.

Refer to Section 9.4.1 for complete descriptions of the following. The GDM program is composed of the following six, three-credit courses and a comprehensive exam:

Phase 1 - MBA Program

STMT 500 Strategic Management (3)
ANTS 501 Analytical Tools (3)
HRMT 502 Human Resource Management (3)
FACT 504 Financial Accounting (3)
MKMT 504 Marketing Management (3)
OPMT 505 Operations Management (3)
CMPG 506 Graduate Diploma Comprehensive Exam (0)


Fees (effective Aug. 1, 2002)

All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change.

Application fee: $165
Comprehensive examination fee (repeats): $250
Course reregistration fee: $2,030
(course tuition less $170 course materials and handling fee [if applicable])
Deferral fee: $150
Admission fee: $590
Letter of Certification fee: $5
Program extension fee: $500
Program fee: $12,180
Transcript fee: $10
Transfer credit fee: $250
Program discontinuation fee: $500

A 20 percent surcharge will be charged on all fees (with the exception of the $165 application fee) for programs delivered outside of Canada. Fees are subject to change. The University reserves the right to suspend a student if his or her program fees are overdue. Refer to Delinquent Accounts.


Academic Schedule

Program start dates are subject to change.

2002
May 20 Victoria Day, Centre closed
May 20 May program starts
June 14 Last day for receipt of application materials for September 2002 start dates
July 1 Canada Day, Centre closed
Aug. 5 Civic Holiday, Centre closed
Sept. 2 Labour Day, Centre closed
Sept. 23 September program starts
Oct. 14 Thanksgiving Day, Centre closed
Oct. 15 Last day for receipt of application materials for January 2003 start dates
Nov. 11 Remembrance Day, Centre closed
Dec. 24/02-
Jan. 2/2003
The University will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002 and will reopen 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003.
 
2003
Jan. 6 January program starts
Feb. 15 Last day for receipt of application materials for May 2003 start dates
Feb. 17 Family Day, Centre closed
Apr. 18-21 (inclusive) Easter break, Centre closed
May 19 Victoria Day, Centre closed
May 20 May program starts
July 1 Canada Day, Centre closed


Course-Related Procedures

Registration

Courses will be offered by the grouped-study method, meaning there are specified start and completion dates. Subject to the approval of the Director of CIM, students may be permitted to take more than one course at a time. Upon admission to a program of study, students will receive a timetable outlining course start and completion dates for the cohort group to which they belong.

Subject to approval, students may be permitted to take courses within the same phase in any order except for STMT 500 Strategic Management, which must be successfully completed before students can progress to any other course.

Deferrals

Students who have commenced their studies and find themselves with changed circumstances in either their business or personal lives may defer their studies with payment of the applicable fee. The following rules govern deferral status.

  • Deferral must occur within 21 calendar days of the start of a course in which a student is registered, otherwise the student will be considered registered.
  • Payment of the applicable fee is required.
  • Deferral will not occur by default. Deferral requests must be submitted by a student to the appropriate areas before the 21-day expiry period.

Incomplete Status

Students who are unable to complete a course in which they are registered, within the allowable time frame, may

  • request a deferral (refer to Deferrals above)
  • request an incomplete status, or
  • withdraw (see Withdrawal and Re-enrolment below) from the program.

Under extraordinary circumstances, students may receive permission for an incomplete status for a course. These students must submit their request to the academic coach before the end date of the course. The academic coach will seek approval from the course manager to grant incomplete status. If approved, students will have up to 30 calendar days to complete the outstanding individual written assignments (as approved). Group assignments and participation components of the course are not included under this policy.

Reregistrations and Repeats

Students who fail a course in the GDM program, may repeat that course only once. Full tuition for the particular course failed will be required for each course repeated. In all cases, the higher of the original or repeat grade will be counted. Students who fail the same course twice will be expelled from their program of study with no opportunity for re-enrolment. The applicable program discontinuation fee will be withheld before any refund will be made.

Students who fail the comprehensive exam may repeat the exam only once. An appropriate fee will be charged for repetition of the exam and the student must wait until the next scheduled offering of the exam to re-write it. Students who fail the second writing of the comprehensive exam will be expelled from their program of study with no opportunity for re-enrolment.

Active Status and Continuation

To maintain active status, students must complete and achieve a successful passing grade in at least one course in their program within a 12-month period (if a student has been inactive for six months, he or she has only six more months to remain active). The comprehensive exam is part of the requirement for maintaining active status. Students who do not maintain active status will be deemed to have withdrawn from the program.

Withdrawal from the Program

Students may withdraw from the GDM program by notifying the University in writing. Students who choose to withdraw from the GDM without record of registration, must do so within 30 calendar days of commencement of the program. A withdrawal occurring during this time will not be recorded on the student's transcript; however, the student will be required to pay a program discontinuation fee. Students who withdraw from a program after the 30 calendar-day period from the start of the program will

  • have the withdrawal recorded on their transcript.
  • be required to pay a program discontinuation fee.
  • pay the tuition portion for courses completed and in which they are currently registered.

Re-enrolment in the Program

Re-enrolment in a program can occur, subject to re-application, review, and approval by the Graduate Management Program Council, and payment of all applicable fees. Students will be required to pay any fee increases that occur between the time of the last enrolment and re-enrolment. Credit for courses previously completed will be re-evaluated and applied to the program requirements where appropriate.

Refunds

Tuition paid is refunded after the applicable program discontinuation fee and the tuition portion for the courses completed, and currently registered in, are processed.

Computer System Requirements

Access to a microcomputer is mandatory for the completion of assignments and contact with other students, faculty, and CIM. Students must be computer literate and possess, or have access to, computer equipment that will run the software used in the program. Contact CIM to obtain a listing of the acceptable computer equipment.

Exams

Students must undertake a comprehensive exam upon completion of the GDM program. This exam will be scheduled at least twice each year, as determined by the Graduate Management Program Council. The comprehensive exam is graded on a pass/fail basis, with a grade of 70 percent required for a pass. Review Reregistrations and Repeats above, for exam re-write information.

Grading System

Each assignment and participation component that is to be counted towards the final grade for a course will be given a percentage grade. The following scale is used for conversion. The comprehensive exam is graded on a pass/fail basis, and an overall grade of 70 percent is required to pass.

A+ 90 - 100%
85 - 89%
A- 80 - 84%
B+ 77 - 79%
74 - 76%
B- 70 - 73%
C+ 67 - 69%
64 - 66%
C- 60 - 63%
0 - 59%
INC Incomplete status
W Withdrawn in good standing

Completion Time Limits

Students must complete their GDM program within three years of their initial enrolment. Extensions of up to one year will be considered by the Director of CIM in exceptional circumstances and will require the payment of a fee.

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded the GDM, a graduate student must

  • successfully complete the program course structure set out at the time of admission into the program,
  • successfully complete the comprehensive exam,
  • complete an Application for Graduation Form, and
  • meet all other regulations.
In addition, students must have paid all necessary fees owed to the University and have returned all library resources.


Additional Services

Library Services

Athabasca University Library also serves the needs of graduate students. Refer to Section 10.

Tuition and Education Tax Credit Receipts Information

Application and tuition fees can be used to reduce income tax. Only fees paid and expended during the calendar year can be reflected in the tax receipt. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency regulations permit the University to issue an education tax credit receipt only for amounts greater than $100. In February, T2202 tax forms for the educational tax deduction, along with the tuition tax receipts, are mailed to the address on record. Full-time students may be eligible for the education tax credit for each month of full-time registration.

International Transcripts

Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside Canada or the US, documentation that attests to its equivalence to a Canadian baccalaureate degree, is required. Such documentation may be obtained from

International Qualifications Assessment Services
Department of Learning, Government of Alberta
4th Floor, Sterling Place
9940-106 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2
780.427.2655
iqas@gov.ab.ca

Regulations and Appeals
Athabasca University policies and regulations governing academic conduct and appeals apply to all students. Refer to Section 12 Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal.

Athabasca University's plicies, regulations, and procedures governing the release of transcripts and confidential information apply also to graduate students. Refer to Section 5 Admission, Transfer Credit, and Assessments.


Contact Information

Centre for Innovative Management
Athabasca University
301 Grandin Park Plaza
22 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue
St. Albert, AB T8N 1B4
800.561.4650 Canada/US
780.459.1144 Other
Fax: 800.561.4660 or 780.459.2093
cimoffice@athabascau.ca

Office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)


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