GUIDES TO THE UNIVERSITY

Class activities
One credit point corresponds to 8 hours of lessons; a maximum of 2 additional hours of complementary learning activities can be added; these complementary learning activities include practical exercises and other class activities that do not add new topics to the course content.

Attendance
Attendance at lessons is not compulsory however it is strongly recommended since it meets the proposed educational model designed to favor gradual learning, active participation of students in class and the creation of a dialog between students and teachers.
For some courses the assessment methods may be different for attending and non attending students.

Educational activities are organized into class groups for compulsory courses, for the 2007-2008 a.y. each class group is made up of around 150 students.

For the 2007-2008 a.y. 19 class groups have been scheduled for third-year students as follows:

Each class group is assigned a specific classroom. All students belonging to the same class group follow the lessons in their assigned classroom and have the same teachers.
To facilitate educational activities planning (class group numbers and classroom capacity) students cannot change their assigned class group.
The class groups remain the same for the entire academic year.
For third-year students the class groups for compulsory courses are assigned when they enrol in the new academic year at Punto Blu terminals (from 1 August to 10 September 2007). For undergraduate programs with multiple class groups the composition of the class group changes in order to provide students with the opportunity of working with as many students as possible from the degree program.

Third-year elective class groups are assigned before lessons begin except when students cannot be allocated either the first or second choice electives (see paragraph 7.1.5 dedicated to choice of electives).

The educational offer for the 2007-2008 academic year includes an e-learning class group for some elective courses already taught in the same semester with traditional methods.

Traditional educational activities in the e-learning class groups are replaced by the participation in specific on-line activities, both asynchronous (i.e. students' individual activities) and synchronous (i.e. videoconference).

On-line activities are set and scheduled by the Course Director. They may include, for instance:

• on-line consultation of specific material (slides, documents etc.);
• participation in on-line forums;
• drafting of electronic documents, both individually and with other students, which may be based on material available on-line;
• participation in synchronous activities with teachers and other students. Such activities may consist in debates or question and answer periods regarding course subjects, on-line real-time exercises/on-line lessons etc.

Recipients 

Since e-learning is the only opportunity which allows students to participate virtually in the course, this method provides new services and options compatible with the mobility required to study abroad and/or to take part in  internships in Italy and/or abroad.

Such learning methods are offered only to students unable to attend lessons regularly; however, the traditional methods have preference and are recommended by the University since they are the most effective.

 Choice of Method

 For method of choice see chapter 7.1.5

Course profiles and exam assessment methods 

Traditional and e-learning course profiles are identical. However due to different teaching approaches, teachers can diversify supplementary exercises and/or other related activities by offering e-learning students alternate activities.

The exams are held at the university, following traditional methods (see chapter 5); the exam calendar is the same for the two class groups. Distance exams are not offered by the university.

Students enrolled in  e-learning class groups can take partial exams, if available.

Some courses may have repeat class groups for students who are behind normal academic progress, that is, students who have not yet passed their exams of previous year. These students must attend lessons in the class group dedicated to them.
For the course profile and information concerning the teaching methodology applied in repeat class groups, students are recommended to follow the instructions given by teachers. In addition, each Institute has a secretary's office where students can obtain information about the details of these courses (for example, course profile, assessment methods, student office hours).
Students who intend to take these courses must choose the class group they want to join as long as there are still places available.

The list of such classes together with any sign-up methods (extra activity code, sign-up deadlines and number of places available) will be posted on the "General Notices" bulletin board, which is located on the ground floor of the University building at via Sarfatti 25, and will also be published on the Internet site http://www.unibocconi.it/classtimetable.                 

If registration is required, students may consult the yoU@B student diary for a list of activities.
Those students who have been admitted to these classes will receive a personalized message in their yoU@B student diary.

When no repeat class groups are scheduled, students who are behind normal academic progress may, with prior approval of teachers, attend the lessons and sit the partial exams for the regular class groups. In these cases you should contact the secretary's office of the Institute responsible for the course for more information.

The timetable for all degree programs is structured in the same way and assigns specific time slots to the following educational activities:

• compulsory courses;
• elective courses;
• foreign languages.

This arrangement ensures that compulsory lessons, elective lessons and language lessons do not clash with each other.

In addition, there may also be some complementary lessons scheduled which aim to review some of the concepts dealt with during the normal teaching sessions. In general, they are held at different times from lessons (in the evening from 6pm to 7:30pm).

No educational activities are scheduled from 1pm-2:30pm on Fridays, both in the first and in the second semester timetable, this period being reserved for student group activities.

The general class timetable is published on the University's Internet site http://www.unibocconi.it/classtimetable.

The class timetable and any changes are posted on the bulletin boards, which are located on the ground floor of the University buildings at piazza Sraffa 13 and via Sarfatti 25. In via Sarfatti 25 students can also find the bulletin board for foreign languages.

After students have enrolled in the academic year, they can view and print the personalized class timetable from both Punto Blu terminals and yoU@B.
At Punto Blu terminals students can see the personalized class timetable for current semester only.

The teaching activities for the 2007-2008 a.y. will follow the schedule below:

• I semester: from 13 September 2007 to Friday 21 December 2007;  
• II semester: 18 February 2008 to Friday 6 June 2008.

Please note that language and elective course lessons begin on 17 September 2007 in the first semester and on 18 February 2008 in the second semester, as for all other courses.

In addition, the yoU@B student diary allows students to integrate their personalized class timetable with other educational activities that interest them and to view and print all the other information recorded in their diary for the desired period (daily, weekly, monthly,etc).

On graduation days (Undergraduate, MSc and four-year degrees), listed below, lessons for all courses and all programs (Bachelor Programs, Undergraduate, MSc, combined Bachelor and MSc in Giurisprudenza [Law]) are suspended:

• Friday 5 October 2007;
• Saturday 6 October 2007;
• Friday 14 December 2007;
• Saturday 15 December 2007;
• Thursday 27 March 2008;
• Friday 28 March 2008;
• Friday 30 May 2008.

During the partial exam periods, listed below, lessons in all courses are suspended:
 

• I semester: from Thursday 25 October 2007 to Saturday 10 November 2007;
• II semester: from Monday 14 April 2008 to Thursday 24 April 2008.

In addition, lessons are suspended on:

• Thursday 1 November and Friday 2 November 2007;
• Friday 7 December 2007; 
• From Friday 21 March to Wednesday 26 March 2008;
• Friday 25 April 2008;
• Thursday 1 May and Friday 2 May 2008;
• Monday 2 June 2008.

During office hours students have the opportunity to consult teachers. This gives students the chance to seek further explanations or clarifications of the topics that were not fully understood during lessons.
The office hours timetable is displayed on the Institute bulletin boards and can also be found on the Internet site at http://www.unibocconi.it/studentconsultationhours or in the yoU@B student diary, which provides a direct link to the page.

• course level assistance - this type of tutoring includes correction of exercises assigned as homework, case studies, completion of projects and management of the online community; in addition, it could also involve lectures that require the use of software;
• interdisciplinary level assistance - it provides students with guidance and support to ensure that they can be actively involved in the studying process during the whole degree program.

For information about courses and tutor activities (names of tutors, office hours and rooms) see the "Tutors" bulletin board located on the ground floor of the University building at via Sarfatti 25.

• Tutors 2007-2008 a. y.

Bocconi uses a detailed evaluation system designed to check the teaching quality which involves the student's direct active input. Main activities include:

• checks carried out through "class group representatives", appointed to represent the entire class group by liaising with the teacher, acting as their spokesperson in presenting their observations and suggestions and outlining any difficulties that may arise during the lessons.
  The role of class group representatives is to create an environment which favors more interaction between teachers and students. In fact, the Course Director is invited to periodically meet with these students, and at the end of the semester, discuss with them the general outcome of the course and if needed, the results of the evaluation;
  
  
• evaluation of the university experience through questionnaires is arranged at specific points during the degree program, including:
  
  - mid-semester evaluation (so called "mid-term evaluation") is carried out voluntarily by students at the teacher's request, aimed at gathering information on the teaching quality and course progress and shedding light on any problems in a timely fashion which allows corrective action to be implemented before the end of the course;
  - end-semester evaluation is carried out close to end of lessons; it involves all teachers and courses in the program structure including foreign language and computer skills;
  - evaluation of assessment methods is carried out every two years to gather information on students' impressions regarding the efficiency and fairness of the procedures used to test the students' preparation; this is carried out by completing an online questionnaire, available during the academic year on the yoU@B diary;
  - evaluation of the overall university experience questionnaire, is a systematic assessment concerning students about to complete their studies, aimed at gathering information on the quality and effectiveness of the course study, on the study experience and on the main support services (Career Service, ISU Student Assistance and Financial Aid, International Relations Service). Also in this case the questionnaire is completed online via the yoU@B diary and it is made available to graduating students around one month before the deadline for making the graduation reservation.