Changes to the 100% Online MBA

Please read on for answers to some frequently asked questions:

• How can I determine what UTC considers to be my residency status?

To view the residency status under which UTC has classified you, follow these steps:

1. Log into MyMocsNet (upper right corner at utc.edu)
2. Select the “Services” tab at the top of the screen
3. Then locate the “Personal Information” box and click on “Update Addresses and Phones”
4. At the top of the screen, below the “Update Addresses and Phones – Select Address” large header, there will appear a breadcrumb “Home > Personal Information > Update Addresses and Phones”
5. Click on the words “Personal Information” in that breadcrumb
6. Across the top, click on the box labeled “Student”
7. Select the box labeled “Student Records”
8. Select “Student Profile” from the list
9. In the middle of the screen, under the section labeled General Information, look for the field labeled Residency. If you are categorized as in-state, “Instate” will display for this field.
10. If you feel you are incorrectly classified, you may appeal this classification by submitting a petition and supporting evidence to the Graduate Admissions Office on or before the last day to register for class for each respective semester. The Tennessee Residency Appeal form can be found under the “Forms for Assistantships, residency appeals…” here. Questions should be directed to the Graduate School at 423-425-4667.

• I am classified as a non-resident or out-of-state, but I live in Tennessee.  How can I request to have this updated?

Graduate students classified as non-residents may appeal this classification by submitting a petition and supporting evidence to the Graduate Admissions Office on or before the last day to register for class for each respective semester. The Tennessee Residency Appeal form can be found under the “Forms for Assistantships, residency appeals…” here. Questions should be directed to the Graduate School at 423-425-4667.

• I live outside of Tennessee, but work within the Chattanooga, Tennessee, metropolitan area.  How can I request to receive resident rates?

Graduate students classified as non-residents may appeal this classification based employment by submitting a petition and supporting evidence to the Graduate Admissions Office on or before the last day to register for class for each respective semester.  The Tennessee Residency Appeal form can be found under the “Forms for Assistantships, residency appeals…” here. Questions should be directed to the Graduate School at 423-425-4667.

•  What is the Regional Tuition Differential and do I qualify?

The Regional Tuition Differential is granted to students who reside in Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murray, Walker, or Whitfield counties in Georgia or Jackson County in Alabama. The Regional Tuition Differential form must be submitted to the Graduate School each semester of enrollment on or before the last day to register for class for each respective semester in order to maintain regional tuition differential rate. The Regional Tuition Differential form can be found under the “Forms for Assistantships, residency appeals…” here. Questions should be directed to the Graduate School at 423-425-4667.

• How are revenues from the Rollins College of Business Graduate Program Fees used within the college?

The Gary W. Rollins College of Business Graduate Program Fees will help provide additional support for you, our graduate students, in the following areas:

• Tutoring support for what can be more challenging courses such as statistics and quantitative methods decision analysis
• Expanded Career Development Services to address areas of particular concern for graduate students such as how to change companies or how to advance within your current company
• Networking opportunities with alumni and members of the business community
• Mentoring networks with alumni and members of the business community
• Scholarship opportunities for business graduate students

We’ll be reaching out to learn what other career development and academic support services are most important to you.

• Will I continue to be emailed specific course registration instructions each semester?

Yes. Each student will continue to receive a personalized “registration” email prior to each term and explaining exactly which courses should be taken for the upcoming semester.  Students should wait for this email prior to registering. Courses will continue to be offered on a rotational basis. As a consequence, it is to the student’s advantage to follow the instructions sent to them since the instructions will assist the student in completing the Online MBA using the most efficient schedule possible taking into account prerequisites and course availability. The Online MBA degree remains set up to be completed in 24 months as a part time student if two courses per semester are taken.

• Should I email my advisor about my schedule?

Emailing the advisor to request a detailed schedule is not necessary. Students will be sent registration details well in advance of each registration period. Remember, courses will continue to be offered on a rotational basis and prerequisites must be met. These are the reasons that students do not map out their own schedule. As long as Online MBA students follow the emailed instructions, they will be guaranteed a spot in the course(s) designated in the registration email. Following the schedule set for them by the MBA Office also ensures a more efficient path to completion. If you worked out a special schedule due to work or personal commitments, your advisor will be in touch to confirm that this schedule will still work for you. If you did not work out a special schedule to sit out specific terms, you should continue to follow the registration email instructions you are sent prior to each semester.

The Online MBA degree remains set up to be completed in 24 months as a part time student if two courses per semester are taken without taking off any semesters. However, students do have the option of taking up to six years to complete the degree and can take as little as one course per semester if they so choose.

• I worked out a special schedule with my advisor.  Will it change?

In most cases, a student’s special schedule will not change. Students will take the same courses during the same semester, but instead of completing them back-to-back, students will take them side-by-side across the full semester. NOTE: Each student will continue to receive a personalized “registration” email prior to each term and explaining exactly which courses should be taken for the upcoming semester. Students should wait for this email prior to registering.

• Will I be able to get into the classes I need?

As long as Online MBA students follow the registration instructions emailed prior to each registration period by their advisor, they will be guaranteed a spot in the course(s) designated in the registration email. The Online MBA degree remains set up to be completed in 24 months as a part time student if two courses per semester are taken.

• How do I know what classes are required as part of the Online MBA?

Once admitted, each student signs a Program of Study which lists each course to be taken.  The order in which the courses are listed is not the order in which the courses will be taken.  However, students may use this as a checklist to mark the courses completed. Additionally, each student should monitor their final official grades for each course in MyMocsDegree (available as a link in MyMocsNet under the Academics tab).  MyMocsDegree displays the courses required for the degree, the semester each was taken, and the final grade assigned.

• What are the calendar dates for future semesters?  I need to plan for vacation and work commitments.

The UTC Academic Calendar will provide important semester dates including semester start and end dates, breaks and payment deadlines.  Visit https://www.utc.edu/records/calendars-and-schedules/index.php and select the appropriate academic year. Once there, select the full semester (not Parts of Term) for either Fall or Spring.  Select “Parts of Term" for Summer Term only. Reminder: Fall and Spring will operate on full semesters. Summer will operate on Parts of Term.

• How will the class schedule be different for a full semester versus the old parts of term?  Will fall and spring break be observed?

For the Online MBA, classes will begin on the first day of the semester and classes will end on the last day of classes for the semester. Exams will be administered during the last week of classes and NOT during exam week. Additionally, breaks throughout the semester will be observed.  Those include fall break, holiday breaks and spring break.  If there is any doubt about what is expected, Online MBA students should refer to the course syllabus for the specific course deadlines. Please refer to the UTC Academic Calendar for the semester start and end dates and breaks. Visit https://www.utc.edu/records/calendars-and-schedules/index.php and select the appropriate academic year.  Once there, select the full semester (not Parts of Term) for either Fall or Spring. Select “Parts of Term" for Summer Term only. Reminder: Fall and Spring will operate on full semesters. Summer will operate on Parts of Term.

• Now that the courses will be delivered across a full semester rather than condensed into 7 week mini-terms during Fall and Spring semesters, may I take more than two courses per semester?

One or two courses per semester is considered part-time and appropriate for anyone working a full time job. Three courses is considered full time and not recommended for anyone working full time. For each course taken, expect to devote 7-12 hours per week on the course. A schedule of two courses would require a combined time commitment of 14-24+ hours per week; a three-course-load per semester schedule requires a combined total commitment of 21-40+ hours per week for course related work on top of any professional or personal time commitments a student may have. The Online MBA degree remains set up to be completed in 24 months as a part time student as long as two courses per semester are taken. The time requirement per course will vary per student and the above numbers are averages.

• How will the changes from part of term delivery to full semester delivery affect my payment schedule and/or financial aid?

For students using student loans, nothing will change. Students using federal student loans will still be required to take 5+ credit hours per semester to qualify for a loan (in addition to other qualifications). That credit hour requirement means that MBA students must take at least two graduate courses per semester to qualify. Acceptance of the loan will still occur prior to the start of each semester.  Students must still complete the FAFSA for each academic year. The academic year still runs from each fall semester through the follow summer semester.

For students paying out of pocket, you will be required to pay fees by the posted fee due date for that semester.  Fee due dates are posted on the Academic Calendar at https://www.utc.edu/records/calendars-and-schedules/index.php and select the appropriate academic year. Once there, select the full semester (not Parts of Term) for either Fall or Spring. UTC has a Tuition Installment Plan available to students as well.  Explanation of that can be found here.

For more information about students loans and payments, please contact the Mocs One Center at 423-425-5880 or visit www.utc.edu/mocs-one-center/.