1. The National Graduate School of Quality Management NGS
Orientation for Incoming Students
All materials presented within the “Orientation for Incoming Students” is also contained within the Student Handbook. The following set of slides highlight some key points that every new student should know. Refer to the Student Handbook for additional clarification and official policy statements.

2. Overview

3. Topics to be Addressed NGS Accreditation Academic Tenets & Assessment
Student Responsibilities
General NGS Policies and Procedures
Financial Aid
Additional Resources and Information
The Doctor of Business Administration Program

4. Regionally Accredited Nationally Recognized
By the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEAS&C)
through its
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
209 Burlington Road
Bedford, MA

5. Academic Tenets & Assessment

6. Tenets of the NGS Learning Community
The institution achieves its academic goals through the commitment and performance of its faculty and students
NGS promotes a learning environment that encourages
a cooperative spirit and teamwork
respect for diversity and inclusiveness of people and their ideas
intellectual curiosity and inquiry
tangible and quantifiable outcomes for the customer
concern for the customer’s goals, needs, and expectations
continual learning and measurable improvements
a balance between theory and practice
sharing real-life experiences while adhering to the highest standards of confidentiality and ethical behavior
As an academic institution, we promote a learning environment that encourages:
A cooperative spirit and teamwork: Each student is expected to make a conscious effort to balance the objectives of the class and the team with his or her individual objectives Synergy is the outcome
Respect for diversity and inclusiveness of people and their ideas: It is easy to dismiss differing viewpoints, expertise, interests, and backgrounds because these differences may make us feel uncomfortable But it is exactly these diverse backgrounds that set the stage for new learning opportunities and intellectual breakthroughs
Intellectual curiosity and inquiry: Our program is designed to allow all members to share their professional knowledge and to seek ways to apply QSM to their respective fields Specific questions about how to apply QSM to a particular organization or field are encouraged and are by no means seen as a distraction or deviation from the course objectives Students should also contact faculty for such advice at any point during the program
Tangible and quantifiable outcomes for the customer: Completing the course work successfully with an average of 3 0 is an important requirement of the program but insufficient to attain the degree Knowledge must be translated into action and action into positive results Student teams working on their Master’s Business Projects are expected to add value to the sponsoring organization and are required to show objective data to demonstrate their contributions
Concern for the customer’s goals, needs, and expectations: Our program enables students to understand how QSM concepts and methods are applied to a real-life organization Therefore, it is imperative that our efforts are in continual alignment with the customer’s goals, needs, and expectations NGS recognizes the customer as an important partner in the overall learning experience that we create for our students
Continual learning and measurable improvements: All students are required to demonstrate academic progress and to participate in various measurement exercises to assess their performance, the performance of the team, their review of each course, and the overall perception of the program These activities are not optional and are an integral part of fostering a culture of continual learning, adaptation, and improvement
A balance between theory and practice: There is an old saying that goes: “To know and not to do is not to know yet ”
Sharing real-life experiences : The information shared by our students about their projects or their workplace experiences is considered proprietary and sensitive The rules of the NGS nondisclosure agreement are in effect during class discussion Additional information about the nondisclosure agreement will be offered during the MBP courses

7. Assessment Instruments
Assessment of educational outcomes is conducted at the course level, the semester level, and by the overall effectiveness of the DBA Curriculum
Faculty assess individual and team outcomes against educational objectives in each course
The Dissertation Project Supervisor and the faculty conduct Juried Reviews and assess student application of theory learned, semester-by-semester, for each doctoral dissertation project
Overall program effectiveness is evaluated by analysis of the student Dissertation Project, wherein results are validated by sponsors
The NGS administration assesses the results of the Program by monitoring cost savings achieved at sponsoring organizations; student promotions or advancements directly attributed to the attainment of the degree; and via surveys

8. Student Responsibilities

9. Student Responsibilities
Honor all NGS academic tenets
Read the NGS Student Handbook
Download all course materials from Blackboard
Purchase required books and supplemental instructional aids as described in each course syllabus
Complete all assignments in a timely and professional manner
Report anticipated absences to NGS faculty

10. Student Responsibilities
Confer with faculty on manner in which to make-up any missed course work or class-time as a result of deployment
Seek academic counseling from faculty at the first sign of a problem that will affect individual performance
Follow-up with faculty to remediate incomplete grades within the required time frame
Meet all program requirements

11. Advance Absence Notification
Due to temporary duty, deployment, long-term illness, disability or extraordinary hardship
you must take the following Proactive steps:
Send written notification to faculty and
making appropriate coordination for course completion
Coordinate make-up work and a timeline for submission
Submit assignments within the timeframe established by the Professor or course syllabus
Request an academic plan to meet course requirements and the specific terms outlined in the academic plan
for more than one course, contact
While absent, maintain communication with your Professor, Dissertation Project Supervisor and team members
continue to contribute to team presentations by providing input
keep documentation and logs of all progress input
Upon return, provide proper notification and reconnect with your team

12. Classroom Etiquette
Follow all rules of military installations and civilian facilities
Be punctual
Do not use tape recorders without permission from faculty and consensus from class members
Adjust communications equipment to “vibrate” mode
Avoid disruptive class behaviors
Do not perform other work while class is in session
Return classroom to previous condition
Disruptive behaviors are defined as:
Arriving late or leaving early
Returning late from breaks
Talking incessantly with another classmate
Rudeness
Being defensive or offensive
Not completing assigned work
Speaking disparagingly about the value of course material Share any such views with your MBP Supervisor and in your evaluations

13. General Policies & Procedures

14. Admissions Requirements
Stated in the Student Handbook (Section 5)
NGS must receive by the end of Course One:
Official Master’s Degree transcript
Contact your college
Have your transcript sent directly to NGS
If your undergraduate degree is from outside of USA, you must submit a transcript request to The Center for Educational Documentation
Log into your Application account for the address & downloadable form
Two letters of recommendation
Reference letter forms are available
Log into your Application account for the downloadable Form
Have both sent to:
Keeper of Records
The National Graduate School
186 Jones Road
Falmouth, MA 02540
Bachelor degree must be from a school who’s Accreditation is recognized by the US Secretary of Education and the council for higher ed accreditation assoc
Schools outside the US are evaluated against US criteria and transcripts from schools outside the USA must be sent to Center for Educational Documentation
LAC: Recommend adding “Failure to submit all application items by end of course 1 will result in removal from the program ”
LAC: The statement at the bottom “If not submitted, not admitted” is inconsistent with the statement “NGS must receive by the end of course 1”

15. Student Council Representative
Every Cohort Group will select a class representative:
Chosen before or during course one
Primary liaison between the class and NGS
Assists in program administration and logistics
Acts as classroom facility manager (including equipment)
Assists with special events (such as graduation planning)

16. Class Cancellation Policy
NGS will notify students in a timely fashion if class is cancelled or rescheduled for any reason
Notices are sent via , phone and any other appropriate means to reach the student – by Faculty or other NGS employees only
Students may call the Inclement Weather and Special Notification
NGS makes every attempt to maintain established schedules and reserves the right to make changes to the schedule when necessary

17. We appreciate your feedback!
Course Assessments
Completed at the end of each course
Completed anonymously via on-line survey
Helps NGS identify opportunities for improvement in
courses
faculty
class logistics and facilities
Helps instructors improve learning outcomes
NGS is committed to continuous improvement!
We appreciate your feedback!

18. Financial Assistance

19. Student Accounts Bursar’s Office 1-800-838-2580, Extension #509
Tuition Assistance (TA) Form submission
Corporate Voucher submission
Handles all payments and account questions
Access your Student Account information online
to check tuition account balance

20. Student Responsibilities
Know your benefits & local Education Services Officer (ESO) policies
TA Forms
See ESO for approval procedure and send approved
form to NGS Bursar
VA – obtain your Certificate of Eligibility
NGS will provide instructions regarding your site code and NGS certifying official
Visit
Corporate vouchers – Submit to Bursar

21. NGS can help you with Financial Aid! We Will:
Tell you what’s available and how to combine resources
Provide detailed guidelines to determine your cost of attendance ( )
Offer support for “intelligent borrowing”
Explain the process for securing loans
Talk to a Financial Aid Counselor
or , Ext #509

22. Stafford Loans and Bank of America Private Loans
Visit:
Or call: , Ext. 509
for more information
Can be used for tuition, fees, books, computers,
and other school expenses!
Remember, loans must be repaid!

23. Additional Resources and Information

24. The NGS Student Handbook
Outlines all policies
Can be accessed on-line
Log into the NGS site at
Go to Students/Current Students/Catalog and Current Student Handbook
The Student Handbook is also accessible from a link on the Orientation Course Module
It is the only source for NGS regulations concerning Students Services issues
All important policies are in this handbook including grading and attendance policies and graduation requirements

25. Student ID Cards Student ID’s may get you discounts on books,
computers, etc.
Visit
Digital photo will be taken by NGS staff person at an orientation event held prior to the first class
If you miss this event, then an uploaded picture (head shot of yourself) to:
Your NGS student ID will be mailed to you or delivered to your class!

26. Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Program

27. The DBA Degree Emphasis on “applied research” versus “pure research”
What is the difference?
Applied Research: Designed to solve specific “practical problems”
Pure Research: Designed to acquire broad “basic” knowledge

28. The DBA Degree ~ continued ~
Prepares graduates to:
Lead & Manage organizational efforts related to the various disciplines {Quality Systems Management; Homeland Security Policy & Quality Management; Environmental Quality Policy & Quality Management}
Advance the body of knowledge and best practices
Demonstrate measurable improvements in their sponsor organizations

29. Graduation Requirements
Complete 20, 3-credit doctoral courses
Maintain a 3.0 grade-point-average
Complete a senior-level Dissertation Project with enterprise-wide results
Demonstrate understanding through supervised teaching at the graduate level
Publish an article or text related to the dissertation project in a recognized and refereed medium
Orally present the results of your work during a Doctoral Dissertation Defense

30. Curricula Overview
Divided into four Semesters {“academic gates”} of approximately six months each
Formal summative assessment required at end of each “gate” to assure achievement of designated learning
DBA Specialization Selection accomplished during First Semester because:
Dissertation Project has been designated & proposed
Champions and Guiding Coalition have been selected
Performance Measurement Agreement has been defined

31. DBA Program Delivery Format
Accelerated, low-residence
Courses & Dissertation Project completed simultaneously
Approximately half of courses completed
“in residence”
Remaining courses completed “virtually”
(Substantive Internet access required)
NGS “cluster sites” located nationally and internationally

32. Dissertation Project Requirements
Completed on an Individual Basis, each must include and/or address:
Organizational sponsorship
A Senior-level Champion, pre-approved by the NGS Faculty
Explicit links to organizational value stream, priorities and/or enterprise-wide objectives

33. Dissertation Project Requirements Continued
Performance measures jointly pre-approved by the organizational Champion and NGS Faculty
A schedule for in-progress reviews by the Candidate, Champion and Faculty
Significant impact
Measurable Financial benefits to the sponsor

34. Electronic Coursework Submission
DBA students will submit assignments and Dissertation Project information into the student learning portal “BlackBoard.” Considered one of the best used in American doctoral programs today, “BlackBoard” allows students to:
Electronically enter assignments into the BlackBoard ‘Digital Drop Box’
Receive assignments directly from Professors
Receive messages
Chat with peers

35. Additional “BlackBoard” Resources
BlackBoard provides:
Access to course materials (syllabi, slides, etc…)
Announcements to students
The “General Information Course” (training) for All Students
Class schedule - date, time, and location of classes
Book list (Buy books early. New courses begin every 5 weeks! Recommend you buy books a semester at a time)
Additional Links to
Financial Aid
Student accounts
Student Handbook

36. Sensitive & Proprietary Information
It is understandable that some Dissertation Projects will be sensitive in nature. For that reason, NGS has made available a “secure” site in which project information is limited only to the Professors who require access to evaluate student progress toward the completion of degree requirements.

37. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA’s)
During the 16-year history of The National Graduate School, the institution has mentored students in the implementation of many highly-sensitive projects. As a result, it is very familiar with NDA’s and will, therefore, require any member of the Administration, Faculty or Staff to provide a signed copy whenever necessary to protect the confidentiality of proprietary information associated with any Doctoral Dissertation project

38. Student Support Teams
Dissertation Projects implemented in most accredited doctoral programs across the nation are completed individually, therefore the same will occur at NGS.
Students will, however, be assigned to “Support Teams” in which they will benefit from personal and professional collegiality, academic support, as well as opportunities to apply and test the principles of “team dynamics” in relation to the myriad dissertations projects proposed by their peers.

39. Faculty Teams
NGS also employs the “team approach” in its assignment of faculty. As a result, students receive instruction from a vast range of professionals who possess expertise in an array of appropriate, related fields.
All courses and dissertations will be taught and examined by:
Faculty Content Teams that include subject-matter-experts qualified to teach specific courses
Juried Review Teams who review DBA Projects

40. The Doctoral Dissertation Process
~ Intensified “Quick Start” Approach ~
In Course 1 - begin to “conceptualize” your prospective dissertation topic
No later than Course 3 - finalize selection of a topic and prepare a “Dissertation Problem Statement” as well as “Research Questions”
By end of First Semester (Course 4) - prepare and submit a DRAFT of the first three Chapters of your Dissertation

41. The Dissertation Process - continued -
Conduct research while completing coursework
Present a “trial” version of your Dissertation Defense to the Doctoral Dissertation Committee during your “Initial Colloquium.”
Taking advantage of recommendations from your Dissertation Committee, make any necessary revisions to your document & presentation
Present your dissertation during the “Final Colloquium” commonly known as the “Doctoral Dissertation Defense.”

42. The Colloquium {ko-loke-kwe-um}
- A traditional requirement of nearly every accredited doctoral program nationwide.
- Two-part process that requires both “Initial” and “Final” presentations of your Doctoral Dissertation.
- Both “colloquium” and “colloquia” (plural) are common terms, however the former is applied at NGS.
- Includes a detailed description of findings specified in your Five Chapter Dissertation DRAFT.
- Presented during Course 19, it serves as a valuable opportunity to receive feedback from the Dissertation Committee as you prepare for the “Final Colloquium” commonly known as the “Doctoral Dissertation Defense.”

43. Doctoral Dissertations – In General
Technically, a “manuscript”
Several common formats used in the US
American Psychological Association Style (APA)
Modern Language Association of America (MLA)
Chicago Style
Turabian (variation of Chicago Style specifically used for student theses and dissertations)
American Chemical Society Style (ACS Format)

44. The NGS Dissertation
Written in the Five-Chapter format of the APA Style (Seven-Chapter format written for some Social & Behavioral Science dissertations at other institutions)
The Chapters are entitled:
- Introduction
- Review of Related Literature
- Methodology
- Results
- Conclusions and Summary

45. Doctoral Candidacy A significant academic milestone!
“Doctoral Candidate” and “Doctoral Student” are often interchangeably used, however,
Doctoral Candidacy is “Official” ONLY following:
Approval of Dissertation Project by sponsoring organization and Dissertation Project Supervisor
Submission of a Signed Dissertation Project Charter
Oral presentation of the Dissertation Project during the “Initial Doctoral Dissertation Colloquium”
Maintenance of a 3.0 gpa with no outstanding “I” grades

46. Dissertation Preparation Resources
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Fifth Edition)
Includes format guidelines and instructions related to dissertation preparation, in general
NGS Doctoral Dissertation Guide
Provides instructions specific to NGS dissertations
NGS Doctor of Business Administration Programs Reference Manual
Your resource for nearly every other DBA Program issue

47. Dissertation Project Support
You will be granted access and a training package during the first Dissertation Project class

48. Research Databases
NGS offers the following to assist doctoral-level researchers acquire the information necessary to complete their dissertations:
FirstSearch Online Database
ProQuest Doctoral Dissertation Databases, Volumes A & B
Web-of-Science (Michigan Library Consortium)
Naval Postgraduate School Homeland Security Digital Library

49. Research Databases - continued -
ERIC
MEDLINE
ArticleFirst
GPO (WorldCat Dissertations & Theses)
Clase and Periodica
Electronic Collections Online
ProceedingsFirst
PapersFirst
The World Almanac
OALster
CAMIO
CONTENTdm
ArchieveGrid
And more

50. EXAMPLE FirstSearch Online Database
Interactive Online Information system
It includes:
Books
Journal Articles
Films
Computer Software
Other Materials

51. FirstSearch Online Database
1 Access FirstSearch from Blackboard
00 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS
Student Services
2 Click on “FirstSearch Link Database”

52. FirstSearch Online Database Getting Started
This is the FirstSearch Home Page. Enter the Authorization # and Password which is located on your Library Guide and listed below:
Login = Pending
Password = Pending

53. FirstSearch Online Database
You can ask FirstSearch to list all the databases that are available for your research.
Or, you can search by topic, or check the recommended databases.

54. FirstSearch Online Database
FirstSearch will list the databases so you can choose the one that best fits your criteria.
If you experience any difficulties, please

55. DBA-Specific Grading Criteria
DBA Program students must complete 20 courses to graduate
In keeping with NGS grading requirements, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 throughout enrollment in the Program
A grade of “F” in any course will preclude the award of credit for that course.
All “I” grades must be remediated before a student can graduate
Only two “C’s” are permitted to remain as “final grades”

56. Grading Criteria - Continued
While the Doctoral Dissertation Project will be individually completed, DBA students will occasionally work in Teams during classroom sessions. The following distinct, yet consistent areas are evaluated for grading in each course.
Individual and “assigned support team” preparation for class
Readings, completion of assignments
Individual and team analysis of data
Technical accuracy and relevance of analysis
Individual and team contribution
Advancing knowledge, adding value to customers
Individual and team presentations
Effective delivery of content, accurate display of visual information
Overall class participation
Collaboration with classmates, contribution to class discussion, performance in assignments, assimilation and implementation of key concepts

57. Grading Criteria Matrix
4 00 C+
2 30 A-
3 70 C
2 00 B+
3 30 F B
3 00 I
Incomplete B-
2 70 W
Withdrawn
NGS uses the letter grade system (A,B,C,F,I,W)
Courses in which grades of “I”, “F” , and “W” are earned cannot be credited toward DBA degree requirements

58. The NGS Staff is here to help you!
(800) 838 – 2580, Ext. 123
Student Services
Financial Aid
VA assistance
Admission Status
Student Academic Records
Grades, Transcripts, etc
Technology Assistance
Web, Blackboard, passwords, etc
Bursar

59. Wishing You Success Welcome to “The Team”!
Make the most of it. It’s a tremendous program!
The more you put into it, the more you get back.
You will find yourself applying what you learn long after graduation.
You will make friends for life
Have fun!!!
Join the NGS Alumni Association after graduation