Undergraduate Advising - School of Business Administration

The personal attention you receive from the OU business school team of professional academic advisers present a valuable resource in helping you achieve your educational goals. With the guidance of an adviser who has expertise in your major, you can plan your academic career, discover the best ways to get involved on campus, explore experiential learning opportunities and connect with student support services.

Our academic advisers are knowledgeable about Oakland University policies and procedures as well as the requirements for successful matriculation within the business school. Meetings with your academic adviser can:

help you prepare and plan your academic career
provide you with educational and career counseling
empower you with vital information about your degree program opportunities
facilitate your involvement at OU
ease your access to student support services
aid you in reaching your full potential as you pursue your educational and career goals

Drop-In Advising & Appts

Academic Advising

Connect with an advising team dedicated to empowering you throughout your academic journey at the Oakland University School of Business Administration. We look forward to providing you with the tools and resources available here.

Current Students

Due to Covid19, the School of Business Undergraduate Advising Office has moved to virtual advising. If you need an advising appointment, please make the appointment using Advisor Trac. Use your Net ID (the first part of your OU email name, like signing into SAIL) and your OU email password to log on.

Important Dates:

Apr. 21 - 27 Final exams

Summer I 2021
May 3      Classes begin
May 5       Online registration ends
May 13 SBA Commencement at 10:00 a.m.
May 31     Memorial Day – Classes suspended
May 31 Last day for Summer graduates to apply for Fall commencement
Jun 4      Last day to withdraw
Jun 19      Classes end 10 p.m.
Jun 21-23 Final exams

Summer II 2021
Jun 28       Classes begin
Jun 30       Online registration ends
Jul 5          Independence Day recess
Jul 6          Classes resume
Jul 30        Last day to withdraw
Aug 14      Classes end 10 p.m.
Aug 17-20 Final exams

View the Registrar Academic calendar with important dates

Macomb University Center Advising

Current and prospective student advising is available in Macomb County. To make an appointment:

Send an email to OUmacomb@oakland.edu or contact Sarah Barron at sbarron2@oakland.edu or call (586) 263-6242

Prospective Students

Learn if the OU School of Business is right for you on the OU Business School undergraduate page. For general information about admission to Oakland University or to start the free application, visit the OU future students page.

Prospective, unadmitted business students may email sbaug@oakland.edu with questions. Prospective business students may schedule to meet with an academic adviser by calling (248) 370-3285.

Newly Admitted Transfer

Transfer Student Orientation has two components that need to be completed before you can register for classes.

Read through the Transfer Student Golden Grizzly Guide
Schedule Individual Transfer Student Orientation Virtual Appointment with an Academic Adviser

1) Transfer Student Golden Grizzly Guide

Transfer Orientation Golden Grizzly Guide material takes about 30 minutes to review. Here you will learn how to set up your student accounts and how to register.
You can access the Transfer Orientation Grizzly Guide online here.
You must activate your Oakland University NetID and password prior to your Individual Transfer Student Orientation Virtual appointment

2) The Individual Transfer Student Orientation Appointment takes place virtually (using either Google Meet or phone call) with a business academic adviser.

To schedule your Individual Transfer Student Orientation, contact the School of Business Administration Academic Advising Office by emailing sbaug@oakland.edu or calling (248) 370-3285. You will be connected with a business academic adviser who will conduct a virtual orientation with you.
Watch the business Transfer Student Orientation Videos before the virtual advising appointment.
- Here you will:
  - Learn about the different business majors
  - Find out how to earn major standing and full admission into the business program
  - Get details about how to register using SAIL
  - Learn about the campus resources available to business student
  - Work with an adviser to analyze your transfer credits
  - Determine how many and what classes you need to complete your degree
  - Register for courses under the guidance of academic advisers

Advising Team

Professional Advisers

Meet with our knowledgeable professional advising staff to get answers to questions about classes, transfer courses, major selection, OU involvement and more.

Debbie Lengyel
Director of Advising Services
lengyel@oakland.edu

Sarah Barron
Academic Adviser
sbarron2@oakland.edu

Meaghan Cole
Experiential Programs Manager
mcwalter@oakland.edu

Destin Eddington
Academic Adviser
destineddington@oakland.edu

Denica Holzworth
Academic Adviser and Events Coordinator
brooks@oakland.edu

Jaclyn Keith
Academic Adviser
jaclynkeith@oakland.edu

Tiffany LeDonne Smith
Academic Adviser
tledonne@oakland.edu

Female blonde smiling at camera, professional head shot.

Lauren Leve
Academic Adviser
lacreed@oakland.edu

Adam McChesney
Academic Adviser
admcches@oakland.edu

Veronica Davis
Office Assistant
veronicadavis@oakland.edu

Diane Shaw
Office Assistant
p2willia@oakland.edu

Faculty Advisers

Roz Nowosielski
Accounting Major and minor adviser
rnowosielski@oakland.edu

Ellen Zhu
Finance Major adviser
zhu2@oakland.edu

Liz Barclay
Human Resource Management Major adviser
barclay@oakland.edu

John Kim
Marketing
kim@oakland.edu

Ron Tracy
Actuarial Science
tracy@oakland.edu

Ron Tracy
Economics Major adviser
tracy@oakland.edu

Cynthia Miree-Coppin
General Management Major adviser
miree@oakland.edu

Vijay Sugumaran
Management Information Systems major and minor & QMM minor adviser
sugumara@oakland.edu

T.J. Wharton
Operations Management major and minor
wharton@oakland.edu

FAQ

Does the School of Business Administration provide PC/laptop purchase guidelines?

See SBA PC/laptop guidelines for the minimum and recommended computer specifications.

Do I need permission to take a course at another school?

Pre-business students may complete lower level courses at other institutions while attending OU. New OU students should familiarize themselves with SBA transfer policies by meeting with an academic adviser and/or carefully reading the appropriate section of the Undergraduate Catalog before taking courses at another school. Do not make scheduling decisions based upon assumptions. Transfer guides for Michigan community colleges are posted on the Registrar’s website. However, once admitted to the SBA, business majors must complete all remaining core, major and business minor course requirements for their degree at OU.

Students can fill out a Michigan Uniform Undergraduate Guest Application Form for another school if wishing to take courses for just one semester.

What is Major Standing and how do I apply?

In order to become eligible to earn a degree in the SBA a student must apply and be approved for admission to one of the currently offered business majors. Once admitted to any SBA major, a student has “major standing” status in the School.

Requirements for admission to “major standing” are:

Successful completion of the writing requirement, WRT 1060, the ACHIEVE courses, SBC 1990, SBC 2990, and the business pre-core courses (a minimum grade of 2.0 in each course and its prerequisite if any)
A cumulative OU grade point average of 2.6 or higher for six credits or more
Submission of the “Application for Major Standing” Form to the Undergraduate Business Programs Advising Office, 232 Elliott Hall. Students should apply for admission to a business major prior to the last day of finals for the term in which all requirements will be completed. An application submitted in a subsequent semester will be accepted and processed for the term in which it was received.

Use the Degree Program Checklist to aid in knowing when you will be eligible to apply for a major.

My class is “closed” on SAIL, what should I do now?

Please submit a request to the School of Business Closed Class Waitlist, and you will be added to a waitlist for that class. If a spot opens up, you will receive an email and may be able to register for the class.

How can I tell if I am on track to graduate?

Look at the SBA Degree Checklists and select the checklist that applies to the year you entered the SBA program. You can also run a degree evaluation through SAIL.

What is an Independent Study? How do I apply for one?

An independent study is not a physical course, but rather allows highly motivated students the opportunity to construct a unique educational experience that goes beyond the courses contained in the existing course catalog. They usually involve in-depth research on some issue, are supervised by a SBA faculty member and are listed in the schedule of classes as a 4996 (ACC 4996, for example).

Do I have to take math for a business degree?

Yes. Math is a required part of the business program at OU. All business administration majors must take MTH 1221 "Linear Programming" (or MTH 1441) and MTH 1222 "Calculus for the Social Sciences" (or 1554); MTH 0661 and/or MTH 0662 may also be required, depending on a student's individual placement. Business students must also take QMM 2400 “Statistical Methods for Business I” and QMM 2410 “Statistical Methods for Business II”.

How do I know my math placement?

Placement is done in a few different ways. If you are an incoming freshman and have taken the ACT, placement is determined by your ACT Math sub score. If you are a transfer student who has taken math recently, you are placed based on your prior math courses. If neither of these applies to you, or if you are unsure of the placement you received, you should take a math placement test given by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Why is my major listed as "Pre-Business" or "Undecided Business" when I know what business major I want?

All students who seek admission as a business major begin the program with the major “pre-business” or “undecided business” (dependent upon certain course and grade point status) until they have met the requirements and have been admitted to major standing.

Should I get my Gen Ed courses out of the way first?

No. Freshmen who plan a business major should begin the business pre-core courses right away. General education courses can be taken until graduation and are not required for admission to a major.

Are there any classes I can test out of?

Students can take CLEP tests for ECN 2000 and 2010 and some General Education courses; please contact the Office of Academic Records about procedures and restrictions regarding CLEP tests.

Will OU accept all my transfer courses?

I have academic credit earned from a Michigan Community College – Oakland University’s baccalaureate programs are designed to accommodate students from Michigan community colleges. For most local community colleges, the University has prepared a course equivalency guide which indicates courses that fulfill specific Oakland University requirements. Whether or not you have earned an Associate’s Degree from a Michigan college, OU will evaluate your transfer courses individually. Credit for most courses will be accepted if you earned at least a C- grade in the course. A maximum of 64 credits will be accepted in transfer from a two- year school; however, a “best fit” policy will be applied. This means that the transfer courses which will best satisfy OU program requirements will be applied toward completion of your baccalaureate program. OU participates in the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officer (M.A.C.R.A.O.) Articulation Agreement. Students who have satisfied M.A.C.R.A.O. should meet with an academic adviser their first semester at the University to discuss the effect of this status on their program requirements and course schedule plan.

I have academic credit earned from a four year institution – OU will accept an unlimited number of transfer credits from regionally accredited four-year institutions. Some exceptions to this policy include certain physical education courses and religion courses offered by religiously affiliated post-secondary institutions. Your transfer transcript will be evaluated on a course by course basis for equivalent credit for any OU and/or SBA program requirement/s. Credit for specific SBA courses is authorized for courses of similar content taken prior to attending Oakland University at other institutions. Once admitted to the business program, students must complete all remaining core, major and business minor coursework for the degree at OU. Students may be required to submit course descriptions or course syllabi to aid in course evaluation.

Why would I need a syllabus for a course I took at another school? When a student with prior college experience is admitted to OU, each transferred course will be evaluated for possible equivalent credit to an OU/SBA course requirement by a faculty evaluator. If the school was not AACSB accredited students may be asked to provide a course syllabus to aid in the determination of equivalent content.

What is an "I" grade?

A grade of "I" in a course indicates "Incomplete" status. This grade is temporary and may be given only by student request and faculty consent. It is used in cases of hardship beyond the control of the student that prevents completion of course requirements. Work to remove an "I" grade must be completed during the first eight weeks of the next fall or winter semester. Students who wish to receive an Incomplete must present a Student Request for Incomplete Grade form to the instructor by the day of the final exam. These are available in departmental offices.

Students can request an extension of "I" grades. This extension must be student-initiated and requires approval by the instructor and the dean of the school or college or other appropriate administrator. If course requirements are not completed within one year and no semester has been registered for, the "I" grade will be changed to "0.0."

What is a Petition of Exception?

A Petition of Exception is a request for a waiver or deviation from University or School policy. Students must fill out a form, attach a rationale, and submit it to the Undergraduate Advising Office who will submit it to SBA's Committee on Instruction when they are seeking an exception to any of the SBA's rules or policies. Regarding some issues, the petition is submitted to either the General Education Committee or the University Committee on Instruction. Students seeking an exception to a policy should meet with an adviser to get information on the appeal procedure and proper submission.

Can I take as many courses as I want in a semester?

No. Students are limited to a maximum of 18 credits per semester. However, students who have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher are allowed by adviser permission to take additional credits. The “Permission to Exceed Maximum Credits” form is available upon request in the advising center. Approved permission forms must accompany any request to the Registrar for 19 or more credits per semester.

Will I be required to meet with an academic adviser?

No. After orientation, students are not required to meet with an academic adviser. However, students who have questions about schedule planning, degree requirements, admission to the SBA, major standing, transfer credit, petitions of exception or graduation audits should meet with one of the School’s professional advisers. Also, faculty members are available to provide advising, mentoring, support, curricular guidance and career information.

Senior Recognition Event

In honor of their graduation from the Oakland University School of Business Administration, undergraduate business students and their guests are invited to the School of Business Administration’s Virtual Senior Recognition event.

The virtual event celebrates OU Business students who graduated August 2020, December 2020 and April 2021.

The event will be held via Zoom.
Please RSVP by April 5.
Those who RSVP will receive Zoom link prior to the event.
Business attire is requested.

Share A Memory
As part of the celebration, the Business School is inviting its seniors to share a memory or photo (or both) of their time at the Oakland University School of Business. We hope to share these memories and photos as part of the virtual celebration. Please share memories and photos through this online form.

For information about the University’s Drive-In Commencement visit oakland.edu/commencement.