Policies and Procedures

In the Nolan School of Hotel Administration .

Transfer Credit Policy

1. Transfer students are required to complete all degree requirements with a minimum of 60 credits from Cornell University. Thus, a maximum of 60 hours in transfer credit for courses with a grade of ‘C’ or above, may be allowed from other accredited colleges or universities (including credits from advanced placement (AP) and study abroad programs):

• Transfer credit is not awarded toward HADM Specialization Electives.
• A maximum of 18 credits may transfer toward HADM Core required courses.
• A maximum of 15 credits may transfer toward Non-JCB Distribution Electives.
• A maximum of 21 credits may transfer toward Distribution Electives, and up to 3 credits may transfer toward First-Year Writing (FWS).
• A maximum of 3 credits may transfer toward the Ethics Course requirement.
• A maximum of 3 credits may transfer toward the Diversity & Inclusion course requirement.
• A maximum of 8 credits may transfer toward Free Electives.

2. Cornell University does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges but taught in the physical high school to high school students, even if the college provides a transcript of such work.
3. Students who are currently accepted and enrolled at the Nolan School may only transfer in credit from accredited colleges or universities toward Distribution or Free Elective requirements. College pre-approval is required.
4. Test credit (i.e. AP/IB) is generally accepted toward Distribution Elective requirements, maximum 15 total credits.

Transfer Credit Process

The registrar of the school manages the transfer credit process in coordination with the faculty.

1. For 1000- and 2000-level core and elective courses:
   1. Syllabus must cover, at minimum, 80 percent of the material covered in the Cornell/HADM course.
   2. Syllabus uses a standard textbook equivalent to that used in the Cornell/HADM course.
   3. Syllabus includes examinations, writing, projects, or other submitted work, produced individually or collectively, that is roughly as extensive as that required in the equivalent Cornell/HADM course.
   4. Syllabus indicates roughly equivalent meeting hours as are required in the equivalent Cornell/HADM course.
2. The First-Year Writing Seminar (FWS) is waived for transfer students with two or more prior semesters at another school or university.  For those transfer students with one prior semester, previous writing coursework must be reviewed by the Knight Institute.
3. 3000 and 4000 (upper) level HADM courses are not typically accepted.

Special Studies and Research

Students may arrange a special studies project or research project in any academic area of the school under the direction of a resident Nolan School faculty member. Credit is arranged on an individual basis. To enroll in a special studies project, students must obtain written permission from the school before the semester add deadline. See HADM 4980 , HADM 4990 , HADM 6980 , or HADM 6990  for more details.

Practice Credit Requirement

As part of the degree requirements, undergraduates enrolled in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration must fulfill the practice credit requirement and submit verification thereof. The purpose of practice credit is to expose students to a variety of practical work experiences in industries they have a career interest in. This experience enhances the overall business education students receive at the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration. Students are urged to seek a variety of practical experiences during their time at Cornell. The objective of the practice credit requirement is to ensure that each student’s education has the essential balance between theory and practice.

Fulfilling the Practice Credit Requirement:

To graduate from the Nolan School Bachelor of Science program, students must work a minimum of 800 hours (two units), paid or unpaid, in one or more industries that interest them.

• Students must work a minimum of two separate employment periods, holding a minimum of two significantly different positions. No single position may qualify for more than 400 hours (one unit).
• Students must be a matriculated student in college at the time they work for the position to qualify for practice credit.
• To receive two units of practice credit from the same organization, the nature of each job must be significantly different.
• Entering freshmen may not receive practice credit for positions held prior to matriculation in the Nolan School. Work experience while in high school or the summer(s) between a student’s high school senior year and first year at Cornell, will not be considered for practice credit.

Our expectation is that students will fulfill the practice credit requirement and submit verification prior to the start of their final semester. Students will not be allowed to graduate unless they:

• submit Employment Verification forms for appropriate work experiences to the Office of Student Services;
• receive an e-mail notification that the Practice Credit Employment Verification form has been processed.

Calculating Practice Credit:

• The smallest fraction of a practice credit unit that students may earn is one–tenth (0.1) for a period of 40 hours worked.
• Units are rounded down to the tenth unit (e.g. 387 hours = 0.967 unit; this is rounded down to 0.9 unit of practice credit).
• Working in a position for more than 400 hours earns only one unit of practice credit (e.g. 492 hours = 1 unit).

Further details are set forth in the Student Handbook for Undergraduates in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration and on the Practice Credit Requirements and Guidelines web page. 

Part-Time Study

Generally, part-time study is not allowed. Exceptions may be made for employee degree candidates, students enrolled in a part-time professional degree program, students who have medical reasons for a reduced schedule, or in other very extenuating circumstances. In no event shall a student be allowed to enroll on a part-time basis during the last semester of study. Further details on part-time study may be found in the school’s student handbook.

Incomplete Grade Policy

While it is the student’s responsibility to initiate a request for a grade of incomplete, reasons for requesting one must be acceptable to the instructor, who establishes specific make-up requirements and deadlines.

If the work is completed within the designated time period agreed upon by the instructor and student, the incomplete will be changed to the earned grade on the student’s official transcript. If the work is not completed within the designated time period, the grade of incomplete will automatically be converted to an F or U/X depending on the grade structure of the course. The maximum time period allowed is one year from when the course was attempted (i.e., if course was attempted in Fall 2024, the student has at maximum until the last day of exams Fall 2025). If a deadline is not entered, this will serve as the default deadline.

Note: A student may not graduate with an INC or NGR on the transcript.

Academic Standing

Undergraduate Students:

Each semester, a student will be considered in good standing if they:

• fulfill University registration requirements
• are enrolled in and complete 12 or more credit hours (not including Phys Ed)
• achieve a semester GPA of at least 2.0
• maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0

Academic Review and Actions:

At the conclusion of each semester, the Nolan School Academic Review Committee reviews records of all students and takes appropriate action for students who do not meet the above Good Standing criteria. These actions may include, but are not limited to:

• Warning: issued when a student’s semester and/or cumulative GPA fall below 2.0 or did not complete 12 credits. The student is warned that a 2.0 must be attained in the following and subsequent semesters or he/she faces further action, such as a required leave or withdrawal.
• Required Leave: generally issued after a student has been warned but may be issued at any time a student’s semester and/or cumulative GPA fall below 2.0. The student is advised that he/she must leave the university for a period of one or two semesters.
• Required Withdrawal: issued when a student’s academic record is such that the faculty deems that the student should leave the university on a permanent  basis.

Professional Students (MMH, EMMH, M² Programs):

Each semester, a student will be considered in good standing if they:

• fulfill University registration requirements
• achieve a semester GPA of at least 2.67
• maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

Academic Review and Actions:

At the conclusion of each semester, the Nolan School Graduate Academic Review Committee reviews records of all students and takes appropriate action for students who do not meet the above Good Standing criteria. If a student has a cumulative GPA below 3.0 or a semester GPA below 2.67, the student will be dismissed from the program. This dismissal is subject to appeal to the Graduate Committee as delegated by the graduate faculty.