Flex Master of Science in Finance (Flex MSF) Policies

Please review the sections below for more information about the Flex Master of Science in Finance program's policies.

Degree Completion

The Flex Master of Science in Finance (FlexMSF) offers in-depth training in the constantly evolving field of corporate finance and banking. The curriculum provides a solid foundation of financial principles and theory. 

Academic Policies

Academic Performance Standards

A student with either a failing grade in a required course or who does not maintain both a cumulative GPA and a program GPA of 3.0 is not considered to be in good academic standing and cannot graduate. To restore good academic standing, a student must repeat required courses in which they received a failing grade. In a student's final semester, required and non-required courses with a grade of C or lower can be repeated to improve the grade and restore good academic standing. (When calculating a student's GPA, the grade in a repeated course replaces the original course grade, even if it is not an improvement, except for cases in which an academic integrity violation contributed to lowering the original course grade. In that latter situation, both the original grade and the new course grade will count toward a student's GPA.)

The Graduate Programs Office evaluates each student's cumulative academic performance at the end of each semester to determine continuation eligibility. All attempted and completed coursework is reviewed. When a student is found not to be in good academic standing, they are placed on academic probation, and their record is brought to the Academic Review Committee for review, which might result in additional academic sanctions, including dismissal.

Academic probation typically imposes student-specific limits and requirements designed to help the student restore good academic standing. Common examples include limits on the number of credits a student can enroll in, requirements to retake a required course, or requirements to meet with an academic advisor. Academic probation also serves as a notice to the student that they are no longer in good academic standing. Moreover, failure to meet the conditions of the academic probation can result in subsequent suspension or, in cases of more severe academic underperformance, dismissal from the program.

At the end of each semester, the Academic Review Committee will review each student who was already on academic probation and who was enrolled during the semester. The Academic Review Committee can do one of the following: 1) remove the student from academic probation if the student has made satisfactory academic progress; 2) recommend continued probation and update student-specific conditions for removal from academic probation; or 3) suspend or dismiss the student from the program. Students returning from suspension are automatically placed on probation.

Academic Review Committee

The Academic Review Committee (ARC) is composed of the Vice Dean of Education, at least three additional full-time faculty members, and a representative from Olin's Graduate Programs Office (typically the Assistant Dean of Academic Advising). This committee convenes twice each academic year (generally one to three weeks after the end of the Fall and Spring semesters) to review the academic standing of Olin's graduate students. Based on academic performance and/or progress toward degree completion, the ARC may remove a student from academic probation, place a student on probation, issue a suspension, or dismiss a student from the program. The Graduate Programs Office will communicate probation, suspension, and dismissal decisions to the affected student's WashU email address.

Students should refer to the Academic Policies of their specific program to understand the requirements to remain in good academic standing.

Appeal Procedures

A student may appeal a suspension or dismissal imposed by the ARC within seven (7) calendar days of the decision being emailed to the student. To initiate an appeal, the student must email both the Graduate Programs Office (GPO) and the Vice Dean of Education a formal appeal letter (the relevant GPO and Vice Dean email addresses will be included in the decision letter emailed to the student). The formal appeal letter must be included as a separate email attachment that contains the following information:

• The name of the student filing the appeal and their student number
• The ARC decision that is being appealed
• The reasons why the original ARC decision should be reconsidered
• All documentation and information to support the appeal

The Vice Dean of Education, who oversees the appeal process, will then forward the appeal letter to the ARC for reconsideration. The ARC will typically issue a recommendation regarding the appeal within 14 days of the request. The Vice Dean of Education will then make a final decision regarding the appeal. The Vice Dean's decisions on appeals are final and communicated to the student via their WashU email address.

Degree Completion Time Limit

Students in the Flex MSF program must complete the degree within seven years of beginning the program.

Disengagement

A student is considered disengaged when they fail to attend class, do not respond to communications from faculty and/or staff, or have not completed the registration process for the next academic term. Advisors will attempt to contact the student by utilizing both the phone and email addresses on record with the school. If the student fails to respond to communication, does not register for their required academic course load, or is not in good financial standing by the add/drop date of the semester, the leave of absence will be initiated by the Graduate Programs Office.

If a student is placed on an administrative leave of absence in the middle of a semester, they remain responsible for the tuition charges according to the refund schedule. If the student fails to respond at the end of the leave term, the leave will be extended for one additional semester (excluding summer terms). At the end of two semesters on a leave of absence, if the student has not developed a plan to complete their curriculum with their academic advisor, the student will be administratively withdrawn from their graduate business program at Washington University. Summer terms are excluded for Full-Time MBA and SMP students but included for Executive MBA, Flex MBA, Flex MSF, and online programs. If the student wishes to return to the program at a future date following their withdrawal, they will follow the application process for the program in the term they wish to start and will be required to meet all admission requirements for the program.

Grade Changes

A nondisciplinary grade may be changed only by the professor in whose course the grade was initially given. A faculty member may change a grade from an N or I to a letter grade provided that the work is made up within 60 days of the completion of the course. Exceptions to the 60-day limit must be discussed with the Assistant Dean and the Director of Graduate Programs Student Affairs.

Students who fail a required course must retake the course. Students may choose to retake failed elective courses but are not required to do so. Students will not earn the course credit required for program completion for failed courses.

Upon passing completion of a retaken course as a result of failure due to a lack of academic proficiency, a student's transcript will show an R next to the grade earned for the initial course, indicating that it has been retaken, and a letter grade for the second attempt of the course. Only the grade earned during the retaken attempt of the course, whether better or worse, will affect the student's cumulative GPA.

Upon passing completion of a retaken course as a result of failure due to an academic integrity violation, a student's transcript will show the grade for each taking of the course. The grades earned during both the initial and the retaken attempts of the course will affect the student's cumulative GPA.

Students are not allowed to retake courses in which they have not earned a failing grade. However, if a student is in their final semester of coursework and has a GPA below a 3.0, they will be granted an exception to retake courses in which they received a grade of C or lower.

A student with a personal or medical emergency may submit a graduate programs petition to their academic advisor.

Grade and Course Policy Disputes

WashU Olin has a formal policy and process regarding Academic Grievances, which involve concerns that students have regarding the academic policies, grading, or procedures in a given course. The policy and process unfolds as follows:

1. The student attempts to resolve the dispute directly with the faculty member. Disagreements often have roots in misunderstandings or communication gaps. Clearly raising concerns with the instructor usually provides a clear path for remedying the issue.
2. The student consults their academic advisor for guidance and perspective. Academic advisors have a wealth of experience and a broad perspective across Olin's courses and faculty members. They are often able to counsel students on whether the academic concern is warranted and/or to suggest steps that the student might take to work with the faculty member to address the issue.
3. The student submits a Formal Academic Grievance. If the issue remains unresolved after the first two steps, the student may then submit a Formal Academic Grievance by completing a form and providing all of the required information. If any information is missing, the grievance will be denied. Moreover, all concerns regarding a particular course must be included in the student's submission. Attempts to submit subsequent additional grievances about the same course by the same student will be denied.
4. The Formal Academic Grievance is reviewed by the Vice Dean for Education. Once the student's full complaint is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Vice Dean. At this point, the Vice Dean will decide whether 1) the grievance merits a full review; or 2) the grievance is fully resolved by Olin's existing policies.
5. The Formal Academic Grievance is reviewed by a member of the Academic Grievance Committee. If the Vice Dean determines that a full review is warranted, a member of Olin's Standing Academic Grievance Committee — which the Vice Dean for Education chairs — will be assigned to investigate and adjudicate the case. This impartial third party will review documentation, interview relevant parties, examine Olin's documented policies, and render a decision regarding the merits of the academic grievance. This decision is final unless the student identifies and documents a breach of the protocol delineated here or factual errors in the decision. Appeals related to a breach of protocol or factual errors should be submitted to the Vice Dean for Education, whose decision on academic grievances is final.

Grading System

Note: Please refer to the instructor or syllabus for each course to determine how letter grades will be assigned.

• The following grades are used in calculating the grade point average:

Grade Scale/Grade Points per Unit

Grade Scale	Grade Points per Unit
A or A+	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
D+	1.3
D	1.0
D-	0.7
F	0.0

• The following grades and notations are ignored in calculating the grade point average:

Grade/Notation/Value

Grade/Notation	Value
P	Pass
F	Fail
I	Coursework incomplete; final grade pending
W	Withdraw
R	Retaken course
L	Successful audit
Z	Unsuccessful audit
N	No grade submitted; final grade pending

• An I (for incomplete work) may be given if extenuating circumstances preclude the satisfactory completion of coursework during the semester in which a particular course is taken. With permission of the instructor, students have up to 60 days after the final exam period to make up for incomplete work. After 60 days, the grade is automatically changed to an F.
• A grade of N indicates that the professor has not yet turned in a grade.
• In most cases, required courses must be taken for a letter grade to count toward the degree requirements. Each program/track may have exceptions. Students should speak with their academic advisors before taking any courses with the Pass/No Pass or audit grading method.

If the student believes a grade was submitted in error, they should first contact the professor for the course. If the professor is unable to explain the unreported grade, the student should contact their academic advisor.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Students who need to take an LOA should discuss the process and implications with their academic advisor and Olin Financial Services.

Voluntary LOA

A student may request an LOA for academic or personal reasons by filling out the form linked on the University Registrar website. Requests for LOAs must be approved by the Assistant Dean for Academic Advising. 

LOA Impact on Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid should be advised that at the end of 60 days or more of LOA, the grace period for loan repayment during an LOA may be exhausted. In such cases, there will be an obligation for the student to start making payments. According to the federal rules under which loans are made, the use of a grace period during an LOA will generally mean that the schedule for loan repayment may be changed. Students who are receiving financial assistance should consult with Olin Financial Services to determine the implications of an LOA for their financial aid.

Reporting Concerns About a Program or Other Non-Academic Matters

Washington University and Olin Business School are dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct, which they see as essential to their mission of promoting learning. To uphold these standards, the university and the business school depend on each community member's ethical behavior, honesty, integrity, and good judgment. Every community member should respect others' rights, and each is accountable for their own actions.

Students with concerns regarding their general program or other nonacademic matters that fall outside of the academic policies, grading, or procedures in a given course (including but not limited to unprofessional behavior, the learning environment, abusive or offensive language and/or behavior, and actions that compromise the ethical and safe environment of the classroom) — whether by faculty, staff, or fellow students — are first encouraged, depending on the severity of the alleged behavior, to share their concerns and seek resolution with the individuals involved. If a student is not comfortable with this approach or if the issue persists after attempting resolution, they should next seek guidance from their advisor, and if necessary, the senior associate dean of their academic program. 

Finally, students with unresolved non-academic grievances may seek assistance from the school’s Faculty-Student Mediator, the Vice Dean of Education. Details for using a faculty-student mediator can be found on the Claims by Undergraduate Students Against Faculty page of the WashU website. Please note that Olin follows this process for all students, notwithstanding the reference to undergraduate students. The mediator will make a brief written record of the student's grievance, including the names of the parties; the nature of the concern and grievance; the responsive explanation of the involved faculty, staff member(s), or student(s); and the resolution of the case. In processing any grievance, the mediator will strive to protect, to the greatest extent possible, the confidentiality of the grievance, but complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in every instance.

If a student's claim involves discrimination or harassment, they may pursue the above procedures and/or file a formal complaint pursuant to the university's policy on Discrimination and Harassment. This process may lead to a formal hearing at which evidence will be considered and witnesses heard.

For incidents of bias, students also have the option of submitting a report through the Bias Report & Support System (BRSS).

Modality Policy

Flex MSF students may complete coursework in an in-person or online format, with select courses offered in a hybrid modality. Course delivery modalities (in-person, hybrid, or online) are indicated in Workday. Availability of modalities varies by course and by term, and not all Flex MSF courses are offered in multiple formats each semester. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor with questions regarding course modality or planning.

Modality Definitions

• Online: All course content is completed remotely. Instruction includes a combination of asynchronous coursework and synchronous sessions conducted via Zoom.
• Hybrid: Instruction includes both remote and in-person components. Students complete asynchronous coursework online, while synchronous sessions take place in person.
• In-Person: All course content is delivered on campus through face-to-face instruction, with little to no asynchronous coursework.
• In-Person With a Remote Option: The course is delivered on campus through in‑person instruction, with an option for students to participate remotely via Zoom. Students who choose the remote option are expected to attend remotely for the entire duration of the course.

Recordings and Remote Attendance Accommodations

• Students requesting absence from class on an ad hoc basis with advance notice (i.e., at least 48 hours before class) may request an absence and receive a recording of the class up to two times during full-semester courses and one time during a mini-course. If the course already has arrangements made to be live-streamed via Zoom, students who have requested an absence should receive access to the live-stream link in addition to the recording. 
• Accommodations for requests made on short notice (i.e., 48 hours before the class session) or other ad hoc remote attendance requests will be at the discretion of the instructor.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal aid recipients' academic progress will be evaluated on an annual basis by WashU Student Financial Services. Failure to meet the necessary criteria can result in the suspension of future aid eligibility, although students will be granted an opportunity to appeal. Graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing in addition to meeting federal standards for cumulative pace and completion of their degree program within a prescribed number of attempted hours (grades of W, I, and NP will place a student in jeopardy of not meeting these standards). Please direct any questions about Satisfactory Academic Progress standards or the appeal process to olinfinancialservices@wustl.edu. 

Transfers Between Olin Graduate Degree Programs

Students are required to complete the specific degree program to which they were originally admitted and in which they are enrolled. Transfers between MBA and SMP programs are not permitted.

Students who wish to pursue a different degree program must submit a new application and be formally admitted to that program. Acceptance is not guaranteed.

Any transfer of previously completed coursework will be evaluated according to the transfer‑credit policies outlined in this bulletin and in accordance with the academic requirements of the new program.

Transfer Credit

As many as 6 units of transfer credit may be accepted toward Washington University Flex MSF degree requirements, provided that the prior coursework meets the following criteria:

• The credits were taken at the graduate level.
• It can be demonstrated (e.g., by course syllabi) that the coursework taken is comparable in content (for required courses) or acceptable in quality (for elective courses) to Washington University courses.
• A grade of B or better was achieved in the coursework for which transfer credit is requested.
• The credits were completed within seven years of the student's anticipated graduation date.

Students seeking the acceptance of transfer credit should follow the instructions to Request Transfer Credit in Workday. Requests are reviewed by Academic Directors and processed by the Graduate Programs Office.

No more than 6 total credits of required Flex MSF courses can be waived and/or transferred.

Professional Code of Conduct/Academic Integrity

Olin Business School is a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests who share certain fundamental goals. Primary among these goals is the creation and maintenance of an atmosphere conducive to the learning and personal growth of everyone in the community.

Becoming a member of the Olin community is a privilege that brings certain responsibilities and expectations. The success of Olin in attaining its goals and maintaining its reputation of academic excellence depends on the willingness of its members, both collectively and individually, to meet their responsibilities. All individuals associated with Olin must conduct themselves with the utmost integrity in all aspects of their lives, both on and off campus.

Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. Where a student has violated the integrity of the academic community, an instructor may recommend that the student be brought before the Academic Review Committee. Please review Integrity Matters (PDF) for more information.

Courses and Registration

Flex MSF students register for their courses in Workday before each semester begins. Registration dates and times will be shared with students by their academic advisors.

Adding a Course

Students may add a course to their registration during specified periods at the beginning of each term; please refer to the Olin Graduate Programs Academic Calendar. A faculty member’s signature is not required to add a course.

Short courses or weekend courses may be added to the student’s registration until 24 hours before the course begins unless otherwise specified by the course instructor.

Auditing a Course

Students wishing to audit a course must first speak with the professor of the course to determine if auditing is an option and, if so, to learn the specific requirements for a successful audit. If approval is granted, the student should send the email approval to their academic advisor, who will work with the Olin Registrar's Office to change the grading option for the course from P to A.

• Audited courses do not apply to the credits required to graduate, but they do apply to the student's semester course enrollment and will incur a charge of the per-credit-unit tuition rate.
• Audited courses are listed on student transcripts. A grade of L is given for a successful audit, and a grade of Z is given for an unsuccessful audit.
• Audited courses do not meet prerequisite requirements. If a student has audited a particular prerequisite for a course, they will need instructor permission to enroll in that course.

Course Waivers

Course waivers are intended to allow students to avoid the redundant study of subjects already mastered. They do not reduce the number of credits required to earn the degree. Waiver request forms can be obtained from the student's academic advisor.

No more than 6 credits of required Flex MSF courses may be waived. This limit includes any courses transferred from another institution to fulfill core requirements.

Students wishing to request a course waiver should complete the Course Waiver Form and return it to their academic advisor. Course waiver requests will then be reviewed for approval by the Flex MSF Academic Director.

Coursework in Other Divisions

Olin Business School recognizes that students may wish to take coursework in other divisions in order to achieve an individualized education. Students who wish to do so should meet with their academic advisors and follow the guidance outlined below:

• For non-Olin graduate courses that are not included in the program curriculum but that will count toward degree credits, approval by the program's Academic Director and the course instructor are required.
• For non-Olin graduate courses that will not count toward degree credits, approval by the course instructor is required.
• Flex MSF students are not eligible to enroll in courses offered by Olin at the 1000 to 4000 level (undergraduate) or the 7000 level (Executive MBA).
• Flex MSF students are generally not permitted to take courses offered by Olin at the 8000 level (doctoral). Exceptions can only be made with approval by the program's Academic Director and the course instructor.
• Students must be in good academic standing.

Dropping or Withdrawing From a Course

Students may drop or withdraw from courses during specified periods during the registration period and term as listed in the Olin Graduate Programs Academic Calendar. A faculty member’s signature or Graduate Programs Office approval is not needed for students who are dropping or withdrawing from a course during the period specified by the academic calendar.

Before the first day of a short course or weekend course, students may drop the course unless the instructor indicates otherwise.

Dropping a course will leave no record of the enrollment on the student's transcript. Withdrawing from a course will keep the enrollment on the transcript with a W grade. The student's GPA will not be impacted.

Independent Study

Independent study under the direction of a faculty member is available on a selective basis. The purpose of independent study is to provide an opportunity for students to pursue subject matter beyond the specific course offerings found in the school. Independent study is not viewed as a vehicle for getting credit for something in which the student may already be involved (e.g., a job, a project in another course). Rather, it is an opportunity for the student to obtain more in-depth exposure to an area of interest under the supervision and direction of a faculty member.

Typically, a student will discuss with a particular faculty member the possibility of receiving supervision on an independent study research project. Projects may receive anywhere from 1.5 to 6 academic credits, but normally no more than 3 credits may be granted in any one semester. Students may apply a maximum of 6 units of independent study credit toward the 48-credit degree requirement.

Once a project is agreed upon between the student and the professor, the student must submit an Independent Study form to the academic advisor for evaluation and approval. The petition should outline the topics to be covered, the texts or other research material to be used, and the research methodology to be employed. Students must be in good academic standing to be approved for independent study.

Semester Credit Cap

Flex MSF students may be enrolled in no more than 7.5 credit units per semester. However, students may exceed 7.5 credit units in a semester — while adhering to the per-credit-unit tuition rate — twice during the duration of their program. Students cannot exceed 7.5 credit units unless their account/academic record is clear of any administrative holds, and the student is in good academic standing. Students will be asked to provide a rationale for increasing their credit load and to detail their plans for maintaining a healthy balance of external and academic responsibilities. Each request will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Tuition and Financial Information

For helpful information about Olin Financial Services, including the Tuition Refund Schedule, please visit the Financial Information page of this Bulletin.

Note: This schedule may not apply if a student is dropping all courses or withdrawing from their program. Questions should be directed to the student's academic advisor.

Withdrawal and Federal Loans

Regulations governing the return of Title IV funds (unsub and Graduate PLUS loans) require the school to determine the earned and unearned portions of disbursed loans as of the date the student ceased attendance. Students who are considering a withdrawal from any or all coursework should contact the Olin Financial Services team to understand the implications for their current student loan amount and the impacts on their grace period.

Other Olin Policies

Group Study Room Policies and Reservations

The primary purpose of Olin Business School group study rooms is to provide a space for Olin students and clients to engage in collaborative and cooperative study in small groups. The following policies exist to ensure that Olin students and clients have priority use of the rooms, the rooms are appropriately maintained, and clear expectations are in place.

• Group study rooms in Bauer Hall and Knight Hall may be reserved only by Olin Business School degree candidates and only via the online reservation system. Students not enrolled in Olin Business School degree programs may not reserve these rooms.
• Group study rooms in Simon Hall may not be reserved. They are subject to the policies below, as applicable.
• Group study rooms in the Kopolow Business Library located in Simon Hall may be reserved by any Washington University student. Students should visit the library’s front desk for information.
• Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center group study rooms (located on the second floor of the Knight Center) are strictly for the use of Olin Executive Education students and clients. Olin undergraduate and non-Executive Education graduate students may not use Knight Executive Education & Conference Center group study rooms under any circumstances. Knight Center group study rooms located on the first floor are available as noted below.
• Rooms are primarily intended for group use. A group is defined as two or more users engaged in collaborative study. Individuals engaged in simultaneous individual study are not considered a group.

Bauer Hall/Knight Hall

• Group rooms may not be reserved for individual student use.
• An individual may use an unoccupied or unreserved room. However, should a group need the room, the individual must vacate it. One group member must reserve the room using the online system at that time and before informing the individual that they must vacate it.
• If no more than one individual representing a group reservation is present 15 minutes or more after the reservation start time, the reservation is considered forfeited, and the room may be used by another group during the time that the forfeited group had reserved it.

Simon Hall and the First Floor of the Knight Center

• An online reservation system is not currently in place for the group study rooms in Simon Hall and on the first floor of Knight Center. An individual may use an unoccupied room. However, should a group wish to use the room, the individual must vacate it.

Reservation Instructions

• Rooms in Bauer Hall, Knight Hall, and Knight Center (first floor only) are reserved through the Graduate Programs Office.
• Reservations for the current day are displayed on the monitor outside each Knight Hall/Bauer Hall group study room. Reservations will also display on the GO WUSTL calendar of the student who has made the reservation on behalf of the group. First-floor Knight Center study rooms are not equipped with a monitor outside of the room, but reservations will appear on the GO WUSTL calendar of the student who made the reservation.
• Reservations may be made up to two weeks in advance. Any reservations made in advance of two weeks will be charged a fee.
• Reservations are limited to a period of two hours in length.

Room Usage Policies

• Room users are responsible for their personal property and should not leave items unattended. Olin Business School is not liable for loss or damage to personal property. Rooms cannot be reserved or held by placing personal belongings in them. Unattended items (e.g., backpacks, coats, laptops, binders) may be removed and taken to lost and found for safekeeping. Lost and found is located in the Undergraduate Office (Simon Hall) or in the Graduate Programs Office (Knight Hall and Bauer Hall).
• Rooms must be left clean and in good condition for the next users. Whiteboards must be erased and trash thrown away. “Do not erase” requests on the whiteboards will not be honored.
• Do not remove items from the group study rooms (e.g., chairs, markers, erasers, remotes).
• Should a room need to be cleaned or should an accident occur (e.g., a spilled beverage), students should email General Services immediately.
• Should audiovisual assistance be required, students should email General Services.
• Violation of these policies may result in suspension from room reservation and usage. Students should report all violation issues to their program office.

Graduation

Apply for Program Completion

Every candidate for a degree must apply for program completion via Workday. Deadlines vary depending on the anticipated graduation date, and students should reach out to their academic advisor if they do not know the deadline.

If the student is completing more than one degree program at Washington University, they must file a separate form for each degree program and provide all of the requested information.

Awards and Honors

Olin Business School awards are given to honor outstanding achievement. Recipients of the awards listed below are selected based on a variety of factors, and the selection process may include one or more of the following criteria: faculty vote, overall academic record, and course performance. Only students who complete the degree program are eligible for graduation awards. 

• The Charles F. Knight Scholar Awards are presented to the top 7.5% of Flex MSF graduates. This distinction is based on cumulative GPA. 
• The top 20% of Flex MSF graduates are invited to join the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. This distinction is based on cumulative GPA. 

In addition, each cohort will select one faculty member to receive the Reid Teaching Award, and the faculty will select one outstanding graduate student for the graduating class. 

Contact Info