Graduate School of Commerce

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Admission and Financial Aid
Academic Information

The McIntire School of Commerce has a national reputation in business education and has been cited as one of the top business schools in the country. The School was founded in 1921 under the guise of the Wilson School of Economics, and its name was changed after a substantial donation was made by Paul G. McIntire. A native of Charlottesville and successful businessman, Mr. McIntire attended the University of Virginia for one term before venturing to Chicago and New York to pursue his fortune in the business world. Mr. McIntire felt that the purpose of the School should be to provide training for business careers, affording young people the vast landscape of business opportunities.

The McIntire School of Commerce has grown remarkably over the years, housing the undergraduate business school and four graduate programs: commerce, accounting, Ernst and Young Your Master Plan (YMP) accounting, and the management of information technology. At the graduate level, these innovative degree programs combine a broad-based managerial perspective with a sharply defined professional and technical focus in a designated functional area. To be successful at McIntire, graduate students must demonstrate an intellectual enthusiasm for their program of choice. They must have the desire not only to master their field, but also to apply that mastery in significant and innovative ways. Our programs are for people who are both drawn to, and envision being leaders in, these fields because of the opportunities they offer to make a difference in the world of business.

The Master of Science programs are demanding and rigorous. Faculty and staff work very hard to prepare students for leadership positions along their chosen career paths. Faculty members keep in close contact with industry leaders and continually scan the business and technological horizon to bring contemporary perspectives to the classroom. Classroom training is supported by world-class facilities, including modern instructional technologies, as well as the School’s extensive computer and research database resources. McIntire offers a specialized business education on the leading edge. Yet, the most distinguishing feature of the graduate programs is the close, lasting relationships between students and faculty. These relationships are in keeping with Thomas Jefferson’s original concept of the University. Mr. Jefferson felt that the immediate exchange of ideas represented the most effective way to transmit knowledge to the rising generation of leaders. Excellence in teaching is the rule at McIntire.

Graduates depart McIntire as professionals with a strong foundation in their chosen field, the ability to add immediate value to an organization, and an appreciation of the role their profession carries in a rapidly changing world.

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Admission and Financial Aid

Admission

Graduate Admissions Office
McIntire School of Commerce
Rouss & Robertson Halls
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400173
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4173
(434) 924-3571 Toll Free (877) 349-2620
www.comm.virginia.edu/admissions

The Graduate School of Commerce seeks well-rounded individuals who bring exceptional intellectual capabilities along with a passion for their chosen field. The admissions process looks for evidence of competitive academic performance, work and life experiences, diversity of perspective, and qualities of character such as motivation, maturity, tenacity, integrity, ability to work with others, self-reliance, and leadership. Candidates who are non-native English speakers must demonstrate sufficient oral and written English language skills to be successful in an intensive and collaborative learning environment.

All applicants are considered without regard to age, color, disability, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Please see individual program descriptions or visit the McIntire website ( www.commerce.virginia.edu) for information on specific admission and program requirements.

Financial Aid

The Graduate School of Commerce assists students in meeting the cost of education through a range of scholarships and work-study opportunities. Additional financial assistance is available through the University, via Student Financial Services.

U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who are seeking any type of financial aid through the University must file (1) a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), (2) a University Graduate Financial Aid Form and (3) a Departmental Scholarship Form. The required FASFA and University Graduate Financial Aid forms can be obtained directly from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, P.O. Box 400204, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4204, (434) 982-6000, or via their website at www.virginia.edu/financialaid. The required Departmental Scholarship Form can be obtained from the Graduate School of Commerce website at www.commerce.virginia.edu.

Availability of departmental funds for international students is limited and varies by program.

Applicants will not be considered for financial assistance until they have been admitted to the Graduate School of Commerce and submitted the required documentation. Admissions decisions are made without regard to an applicant’s financial situation. Please visit www.commerce.virginia.edu and click on the specific degree program in which you are interested to access information on scholarships and departmental financial aid.

Veterans’ Benefits The Office of the University Registrar is the University liaison with the Veterans Administration in matters concerning educational benefits available to veterans and war orphans under the provisions of Chapters 34 and 35 of Title 38 USC (Cold War G.I. Bill). This office provides information and furnishes application forms on request. Please address inquiries regarding educational benefits available through the Veterans Administration to the Office of the University Registrar, Carruthers Hall, (434) 924-4138.

University Education Benefits Program The Graduate School of Commerce does participate in the University of Virginia Education Benefit program for University employees. Interested applicants employed at the University of Virginia should contact the Human Resources office to determine eligibility.

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Academic Information

Transfer of Credit The Graduate School of Commerce requires students to complete at least 30 credits of graduate level work in-residence unless otherwise specified by individual graduate departmental policies. Transfer credit above the residency requirement may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Language Requirements All foreign students, whose first language is not English, are required to take the Virginia English Proficiency Examination unless a waiver has been received from the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. This is not a substitute for the TOEFL or IELTS examination required for admissions. Students whose examination results are lower than deemed necessary for success in graduate studies will be required to develop a plan of remedial study.

Enrollment Requirements Students must carry a minimum of 12 credits in the fall and spring, and 6 credits in the summer, to be considered a full time student at the University of Virginia. Individual graduate program policies may vary as to the minimum semester credit requirements within each program. Enrollment in Commerce courses by students not enrolled in Graduate Commerce programs is generally not permitted. In rare circumstances, a non-Commerce graduate student may be granted special permission to take up to two courses or 6 credits, whichever is attained first. Permission to enroll must be requested in writing to the faculty director of the respective Graduate Commerce program prior to the start of an academic term. Specific Graduate Commerce programs have certain limitations regarding this permission, which takes precedence over this general guidance.

Incomplete Policy An IN is recorded when reasons known to the professor are judged adequate to justify an extension of time to complete course requirements. An IN may not be used to allow a student to attempt to raise a grade at the end of the term. The time to change the IN to a grade is determined between the student and the instructor, but may not extend beyond one semester in which the class was taken. Students must enter into a written agreement specifying the remaining requirements and agreed-upon time line. If the agreed time for completion has passed and the student has not met the agreement, the grade automatically becomes an F unless changed by the instructor.

Program Attendance Given the intensive and cumulative nature of the programs, students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings. In addition, students are expected to clearly communicate program commitments to all relevant parties (i.e., both family and work relationships). In the event that a student cannot be present for any part of the program, or falls behind for any reason, it is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the appropriate faculty to make up the work as approved by the appropriate faculty member. Policies on attendance may vary by individual graduate program or instructor.

Leave of Absence Requests for a leave of absence should be made in writing to the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and cannot exceed one calendar year. Please note that due to the lockstep, cohort nature of McIntire’s graduate programs, permission to take a leave of absence is granted only in rare circumstances. Please see academic program pages for additional details on leaves of absence and time to degree completion.

Student Email Email is the mechanism for official communication within the University of Virginia. The University has the right to expect that such communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. Official email communications are intended only to meet the academic and administrative needs of the campus community. Official University email accounts are available for all enrolled students. The email address for a student is: computingID@virginia.edu. This account must be activated by the student before the University can correspond via the official email account. When students use non Virginia.edu email accounts, it is their responsibility to make sure their UVa mail is forwarded to that account.

Policy on Audio and Video Taping and Distribution of Class Materials The general policy of the McInitire School is to prohibit audio and video recording of classroom lectures and discussions. Audio and video recording are only allowed under special circumstances (e.g., students with documented disabilities) and only with the prior written permission of the instructor. Any audio or video recording or all other class materials handed out in class or posted to websites such as Blackboard or COLLAB may not be exchanged or distributed for commercial purposes, for compensation, or for any other purpose other than study by students enrolled in the class. Public distribution of such materials may constitute copyright infringement. Unauthorized use of class notes or recordings may subject an individual to University Honor, Judicial charges, and/or legal action.

Withdrawals Students may withdraw from any program in the Graduate School of Commerce upon the following conditions:

Requests for withdrawals and the Univeristy’s Official Withdrawal form must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.
The withdrawal becomes effective on the date determined by the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs.
Students who withdraw have no guarantee of readmission.

Refunds

Please refer to the University’s policy on withdrawals, located in the Graduate Record, for information on tuition refunds.

Grade Changes After it has been submitted to the Office of the University Registrar, no grade may be changed without the approval of the dean or their designee. The dean or designee is not authorized by the faculty to change a grade submitted to the Office of the University Registrar except when an instructor certifies that, because of errors in calculation or transcription, an incorrect grade has been submitted.

Grade Appeals McIntire students who wish to appeal a grade must first attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor of the course. The appeal must be in writing and filed within thirty days of a grade being given. Absent a satisfactory outcome, the student should submit a written appeal to the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, who reviews the matter and consults with the Graduate Program Committee. Appeals to the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs must be received within 14 days after the instructor appeal decision is communicated to the student. The final level of appeal is to the Dean of the McIntire School of Commerce and must be submitted in writing 14 days after the appeal decision of the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs has been communicated to the student.

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