Cross-Registration

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the cross-registration lottery work?

  • The cross-registration lottery is held at the end of the first week of the Elective Curriculum classes after the HBS students' add/drop period is over.
  • Students are eligible to enter the lottery only for those courses for which they have an HBS faculty signature on their cross-registration petition.
  • Cross-registrants are selected at random for available seats in the course up to the limit set by the instructor and/or the classroom occupancy limits.
  • Cross-registrants are notified of the lottery results by e-mail after the conclusion of the lottery.

What is the Materials Fee?

  • The Materials Fee covers the tangible and electronic case materials used in a course that are distributed through MBA Course Distribution and through the HBS Intranet on the MBA Course Platform. Auditors who want access to course materials and the Course Platform must submit a cross-registration petition and pay the Materials Fee and successfully secure a seat in the class through the cross-registration lottery.
  • The Materials Fee for the upcoming Academic Year is $100 per 1.5-credit course and $200 per 3-credit course.
  • Harvard University students will be term billed for the Materials Fee. Students from MIT and Tufts will still need to submit their petition with a check or money order made payable to Harvard University for each course for which they would like to register in the lottery. Due to University policy, we are unable to accept credit cards. Returned checks are subject to a $25.00 fee.
  • In the event that a student does not win the cross-registration lottery, no charge will be posted to his or her term bill. Fletcher and Sloan School students may pick up money orders at MBA Registrar Services during normal business hours. Checks will be voided and destroyed so students need not return to HBS to pick them up.
  • If I fail to pay the Materials Fee...?

What is the X/Y Schedule?

Most HBS courses meet on consecutive days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (X schedule days) or Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Y schedule days). Wednesdays can be either X or Y depending on the week.

X or Y class schedules, course titles, times, and room numbers may be found on the Course Schedule by term. The X and Y scheduled days are shown on the Academic Calendar and are color coded to match the Course Schedule, with green showing the X schedule and blue showing the Y scheduled days.

What is the credit conversion of HBS courses into my home school's system?

Cross-registrants are strongly advised to check with their home registrar's offices about how a particular HBS course counts toward credit at their home schools. Note that some HBS 3.0 credit courses may meet for 20 sessions, 29/30 sessions, or in a weekly seminar format. Credit conversion information may also be found here.

How full are the MBA courses?

The Course Enrollment Information page shows MBA course capacity, which courses are over-subscribed by HBS students, and has notes regarding cross-registrant enrollment eligibility and petitioning requirements (e.g. whether, a resume must be submitted to the instructor).

What is the case method?

Please visit The HBS Experience page for information and a useful video demonstrating the case method used in the MBA classrooms.

For how many courses may I register?

Cross-registrants are limited to the equivalent of six credits per term in any combination of full semester courses (3 credits) or Half-semester courses (1.5 credits). The credit value of courses taken for audit count toward this limit. Credit conversion information for Harvard University graduate schools may be found here.

Disqualification from HBS courses?

  • If you cease to be a student in good standing at your home school at any point during your term of cross-registration at HBS, you will be automatically disqualified from taking the HBS course, dropped from the class roster, will receive no grade or credit for the HBS course, and will receive no refund of the Materials Fee.
  • If, for any reason, your Materials Fee is not completely paid by the last class meeting date of the HBS course, you will be automatically disqualified from taking the HBS course, dropped from the class roster, will receive no grade or credit for the HBS course, and will receive no full or partial refund of the Materials Fee.

What are HBS's exam policies?

  • Exams must be taken as scheduled by HBS, and final projects must be submitted as assigned. HBS exams cannot be rescheduled for conflicts at your school.

When are Final Exams?

  • Final Exams for Winter 2009 are scheduled from April 29 - May 5, 2009, including Saturday, May 2.
    Dates are subject to change. Please check frequently for updates.

How does HBS's grading system work?

At the conclusion of each course, the instructor assigns one of four grades designated as Category I, II, III, and IV.

  • Category I - given to the top 15-25% of students
  • Category II - given to the next 65-75% in a section. The actual number of Category II grades is subject to the number of Category I grades assigned.
  • Category III - given to the lowest-performing 10% of students in an elective curriculum course section.
  • Category IV - seldom assigned; designates failure of achievement and/or commitment and, therefore, failure to meet minimum standards of the course. If Category IV is used in a course, the combined number of students who receive Categories III and IV must equal the lowest 10% of the elective course section.
  • "Incomplete" - If a student does not fulfill all of an instructor's course requirements due to illness or another reason acceptable to the instructor, the instructor has the option of reporting an "Incomplete," which allows students with good cause the opportunity to complete or "make up" the requirements of a course. Incomplete course work must be submitted by the end of the following term to receive credit for the course.
  • "No Credit" ("X") - The designation of "Incomplete" will not be used if a student's failure to satisfy the requirements of a course results from the student's willful and unexcused absence or other unacceptable behavior. Reasons for a "No Credit" ("X") determination by an instructor include:
    • failure to submit a major piece of written work
    • failure to take the final examination
    • repeated absence from class
    • repeated failure to prepare for class
    In such a circumstance, the instructor reports to the Registrar that a student has not performed adequate work and no credit has been earned. An "X" grade will be reported to the student's home school.

How do I drop a cross-registered course?

How do I cross-register for HBS Doctoral Program courses?

  • Cross-registrants interested in taking courses in the Doctoral Program at HBS should visit Doctoral Programs or contact the Doctoral Program Office at 617.495.6101.

I am a Fellow; How do I cross-register?

Fellows are welcome to audit MBA Elective Curriculum courses through the cross-registration lottery. The following are the steps to petition for the lottery:

  • Obtain a letter from the director or administrator of your fellowship program/foundation verifying you as a current Fellow of Harvard University.
  • Obtain a letter from each professor in whose class you would like to cross-register as an auditor. (This signature shows only the professor's willingness to have you in class and does not guarantee you a spot in the course).
  • Bring your foundation letter and faculty permission letters to MBA Registrar Services (Spangler Center, 2nd Floor) by the cross-registration lottery deadline.
  • Complete and sign the Data Sheet to give us permission to bill the Materials Fee to your Harvard University term bill. Otherwise come prepared to pay by check or money order.

See information above regarding the cross-registration lottery.

I am a dual bachelor and graduate degree student; may I cross-register?

Undergraduate students enrolled concurrently in a bachelor and graduate degree program at Harvard University who would like to cross-register for an MBA course may contact Lee Gross for more information on our cross-registration policies and process.

How are course materials distributed in the MBA Program at HBS?

Unlike most schools which require students to purchase textbooks, course packets, etc. from the COOP, the MBA Program distributes its materials in-house through the MBA Course Distribution office and electronically, via the HBS Intranet Course Platform. The Materials Fee paid by cross-registrants covers all course materials required for a classroom course. Please note the following details regarding course materials distribution:

  • After the cross-registration petition is accepted by MBA Registrar Services, the first two weeks of course materials are available in MBA Course Distribution, Spangler Center Room 027.
  • Weeks 3-on materials are distributed by MBA Course Distribution across their service counter, through the course distribution boxes, or via the Intranet. Details on distributions will be in the Course Platform notes by course or on the Announcements section of "myHBS" (on the HBS Intranet homepage).
  • Students should check the Course Platform frequently for updates and special materials distribution notices, as well as for case assignments for class preparation.
  • For details on MBA Course Distribution office hours and contact information, please see the Application Process and Deadlines page.

Whom do I contact regarding arranging for special accommodations for classes or exams?

Cross-registered students needing special accommodations for classroom seating or special time considerations for exams may contact Pat Light in MBA Student Support Services.

What is HBS's class attendance policy?

MBA Class Attendance

Daily class attendance is required of all MBA and cross-registered students. This requirement formalizes the reciprocal responsibilities between students and faculty to be fully prepared for class and to contribute to joint learning. More broadly, it reinforces our belief in education as a shared enterprise. The success of Harvard Business School's learning model depends upon broad, regular class participation by all students. This, in turn, depends crucially upon regular attendance by all students in all classes.

Excused Absences

Students may be absent from a small number of classes for the following specified reasons without adversely affecting their grades or academic standing:

  • personal illness: birth or adoption of a student's child, or the illness or medical needs of a child for whom the student is a primary caretaker
  • death or serious illness in the close and immediate family
  • student's own wedding day, or that of a close and immediate family member
  • required military service
  • court summons or jury duty that cannot be postponed
  • the observance of high religious days
Notice

Students must notify their instructor(s) of any absence in advance by telephone, e-mail, or in person, or, in the case of emergency, as soon as possible afterward. This notice must also be given to Registrar Services, Spangler Center, 2nd Floor (registrar@hbs.edu). Notifying the instructor(s) and Registrar Services does not constitute an excused absence. Even if the absence is excused, students are responsible for satisfying any "make-up" requirements for a missed class. Failure to provide proper notice may lead to adverse consequences with respect to course grades (see below).

May I cross-register into a Required Curriculum course?

Cross-registration into the Required Curriculum, or MBA Program First Year, is not permitted.

Last Updated 7/21/2009

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