Common use of An Independent Clause in Contracts

An Independent. Study Contract initiated by the student and approved by the sponsoring faculty member must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Business Programs, who will process the registration. Additional Rules for Undergraduates: 1. The faculty member may waive the 3.0 GPA requirement, but not major standing. GPA waivers must be noted on the contract. 2. The student must have a contract signed by all relevant parties and a note from an SBA adviser to register for an Undergraduate Independent Study. 3. No student may use more than eight cumulative credits of Independent Study to meet degree requirements. Informal Faculty Guidelines: 1. Consider a student's preparation (skills, courses taken, grades, motivation) before agreeing to supervise an Independent Study. You need not agree if the evidence suggests that the proposed work will be beyond the student's capability, without inordinate assistance on your part. Recommend ways that the student can acquire the needed skills, or suggest a postponement if it would be appropriate to try again later. 2. Consider a student's motives for wanting an Independent Study. These credits carry a disproportionately high cost to SBA, as well as to you, because of the absence of economies of scale. The least persuasive reasons for wanting to take an Independent Study in lieu of other courses are "it's not offered this semester" or "the course I want conflicts with my work schedule." You should not feel pressured by these arguments. Send cases of genuine hardship to an undergraduate advisor or the Office of Graduate Business Programs. 3. The student must file a written contract with the SBA office approximately one week before registration. Enrollment will not be approved unless the contract is on file, or a signed original is submitted to the appropriate Advising Office. The contract should clearly spell out the goals, deadlines, extent and timing of interim progress reports, and basis for grading. If a question of interpretation should arise, the department chairperson will act as an arbitrator.