Orientation for New Students 2011/2012

MA in Communication

MSocSci in Media Management

A very warm welcome to all of you to the taught postgraduate programmes of the School of Communication!

You are the new member of a growing family and an ever expanding network of the HKBU communication brand name. By the latest calculation, the two programmes alone have graduated some 1,300 students who are building prominent and promising careers in almost all sectors of society in the Greater China Area and beyond.

The Class of 2011 is the 15th intake for MA in Communication and the 8th for MSocSci in Media Management.

In the pages that follow, you will find useful information about the programme management, communication channels, and academic regulations. Please go through them carefully and let us know if you any further questions.

Once again, welcome on board and have fun!

Programme Management Team Prof. Steve GUO

Programme DirectorMA in Communication

MSocSci in Media Management

Dr. Alice LEEAssociate Programme Director

MA in Communication

Prof. Gerald PrendergastAssociate Programme DirectorMSocSci in Media Management

Other faculty of School of Communication and Business SchoolMembers of the two Programme Management Committees

Communication Channels

Internal Communication System (ICS) i.e. BUMail

BU eLearning Platform (Moodle) University Information System (UIS)

How to access BUMail, BUMoodle, UIS

Current Students

ICS, Moodle eLearning Platform, UIS - from Useful Links

UIS

BUMail Students should use their BUMail address

and check emails regularly for news, announcements, and updates.

To prevent the mailbox from exceeding the allowed quota, students are advised to clear their mailbox regularly or forward incoming emails to another account (e.g., gmail) with a bigger capacity.

BUMail (Internal Communication System)

Login: Student No. & Password

BU Moodle

When you have successfully registered for a course, you will have access to it on BU Moodle where course information, class materials, readings and notes will be posted.

Course instructors may also ask you to submit coursework via Moodle.

BU Moodle

Login BU Moodle

University Information System - UIS

A place where you can get access to Programme Information, such as course information, graduation requirement, study schedules; Examination Information, such examination regulations and examination timetable.

http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/ > Current Students > UIS

Login UIS Login: Student No. & Password

Academic Regulations

Here we only highlighted a few stipulations that deserve special attention.

Students should read the academic regulations to be found in the Calendar / Bulletin available at the Academic Registry website at http://buar2.hkbu.edu.hk/

Current Students > Calendar/Bulletin

Academic Regulations

AdministrativeUnits > > AcademicRegistry

Academic Regulations:Calendar Bulletin

Calendar / Bulletin

General Regulations for Taught Postgraduate Degree

Attendance

A student who is absent for more than one-third of the scheduled teaching periods (or classes) of a course shall receive an “F” grade for the course.

Assessment Grading System

A student’s overall performance in a course follows the grading scheme below:

Grade A (i.e. A and A-) indicates Grade A (i.e. A and A-) indicates that the student has an outstanding that the student has an outstanding performance and a thorough performance and a thorough mastery of the course matter.mastery of the course matter.

Grade B (i.e. B+, B and B-) Grade B (i.e. B+, B and B-) indicates that the student is indicates that the student is competent in knowledge of the competent in knowledge of the subject matter.subject matter.

Course with grade “F” must be Course with grade “F” must be repeated. The number of such repeated. The number of such repeated courses should be limited repeated courses should be limited to to TWOTWO and each course can only and each course can only be repeated once.be repeated once.

Letter GradeAcademicPerformance

Grade point Per Unit

A

Excellent

4

A- 3.7

B+

Good

3.3

B 3

B-

Satisfactory

2.7

C+ 2.3

C 2

C- Marginal Pass 1.7

F Fail 0

GPA

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is an important indicator of the academic standing of a student. It is obtained by adding all the grade points gained and then dividing the sum by the total number of units attempted.

Academic Problem:Academic Warning : Term GPA 2.20-2.49Academic Probation: Term GPA below 2.20Academic Dismissal: As required by the Senate when the student’s term GPA is below 2.20 for two consecutive terms; or on other academic grounds.

Graduation Requirement

The postgraduate degree is awarded on the basis of fulfillment of the following graduation requirements and the approval of the Senate:completed an approved programme of study; andsubmitted all coursework required; andpresented a written dissertation/project approved by the Department/Programme; and/orsatisfied the examiners in the written examination; andobtained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5

Award classification Distinction: may be awarded to a student

who has attained an overall cumGPA of 3.7 or above, with no course grade below B- and no repeated courses

Merit: may be awarded to a student who has attained an overall cumGPA of 3.40-3.69

Pass

Plagiarism

The University views plagiarism and copying of copyright materials, without the licence of the copyright owner, as a serious disciplinary offence. Students should comply with the University’s policy on plagiarism in continuous assessment, bibliographic referencing and photocopying of copyright materials.

Plagiarism

A student who is found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty such as plagiarism, submission of material(s) for assessment which is not the student’s own work, the use of fabricated or copied data for assessment, shall receive an “F” grade for the course.

Plagiarism Students may refer to the Academic

Guidelines (Avoiding Plagiarism) at the Academic Registry’s web page for detailed explanations on plagiarism and bibliographic referencing.

Current Students > Avoiding Plagiarism

Avoiding Plagiarism

Respect Intellectual Property

Other Matters Regarding Your Study

Academic calendar Course registration Examination schedules Arrangement during bad weather (for

classes & examinations)

Academic Calendar 2011-2012

Academic Calendar 2011/2012

Downloadable at http://buar2.hkbu.edu.hk/ Current Students and Alumni > Academic Calendar

Semester 1 1 September 2011 – 10 January 2012

(Teaching period: 2-Sep to 1-Dec) Semester 2 11 January – 15 June 2012

(Teaching period: 11-Jan to 25-Apr)

Course Registration At University Information System (UIS):

→ Course registration

All students enrolled in the University are required to register for courses in accordance with the study schedule of the Programme in every semester.

Students should complete the appropriate procedures according to the official dates announced.

Course Registration

Students should register the required number of core and elective courses in the UIS.

You should also check your own student enrolment record to make sure that you have successfully enrolled in the course(s).

→ Add/drop period for Semester 1: 2 September to 16 September 2011

Examination schedules

Term or year examination: scheduled by the AR as a two- or three-hour written examination

Only students whose names are on the course enrolment record and whose attendance is satisfactory in accordance with the regulations are permitted to sit for the term examination of the course.

Examination schedules

Students should check the exam schedule of individual courses at UIS

The exam period of 2011-2012: Semester 1: 7 – 21 December 2011 Semester 2: 3 – 17 May 2012

Arrangement during bad weather

This is important to know Please take note of the “Arrangement

During Bad Weather” (for classes and examinations) which can be found on the Academic Registry web page http://buar2.hkbu.edu.hk/ Current Students > Bad Weather Arrangements

Arrangement of Classes and Examination during bad weather

Contact points

The contact of the Programme Director and the Programme Office are listed in the Student Handbook

Location of the Programme Office: CVA802 (8/F, Communication and Visual Arts Building)

Student Handbook

Contains other matters that students should take note of and commonly ask during their course of study.

Thank you for your attention and see you on campus!