Undergraduate Academic Requirements & Regulations

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Undergraduate Academic Requirements
Undergraduate Academic Regulations

Academic requirements and regulations govern the relationship between the university and its students. Students must complete the general academic requirements described below as well as those listed under an individual degree program in order to obtain an academic degree.

The academic regulations described in this section are effective at the time of publication. The university reserves the right to modify them, in which case changes will be announced when necessary. The student is responsible for being aware of all academic requirements and regulations. These can only be waived by action of the university, as appropriate. Current university regulations apply regardless of the regulations in effect at the time a student entered the university, except where current regulations specifically state the contrary.

Student Responsibility

Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the information presented in this catalog and for observing all policies and procedures related to their participation in the university community. In addition, AUC has adopted a set of policies and procedures concerning the statutes and regulations on the campus. Copies of these policies and procedures may be obtained at the Office of the Registrar.

Regulations will not be waived nor exceptions granted based on a student’s lack of awareness of the policies and procedures of the American University in Cairo. Although a number of university personnel (e.g. advisors, faculty members, registrar, departmental staff, and student affairs staff members) assist students, the student is personally responsible for following all policies and meeting deadlines and requirements. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, academic requirements and the rules listed under the appropriate information sections of this catalog.

Privacy Rights of Student Records

Students have the right to access their own official records. The written consent of the student must be received before personally identifiable data is released from the student’s records to any party other than the exceptions specified below.

While the university is authorized under the United States Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to release “directory information” about students, AUC does not publish a student directory. Student information is subject to release by the university unless the university has received prior written objection from the student specifying information that the student requests not to be released. Such written objection should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.

AUC is authorized to provide access to student records to campus officials and employees who have legitimate educational interests in such access. These persons are those who have responsibilities in connection with the academic, administrative, or service functions of the university and who have reason for using student records connected with their academic or other university responsibilities. Disclosure may also be made to other persons or organizations under certain conditions (e.g. as part of an accreditation or program evaluation; in response to a court order or subpoena; in connection with financial aid; or to US institutions to which the student is transferring).

The general academic requirements apply to all students working toward a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. These requirements reflect the university’s effort to bridge two cultures. Thus the university requires a high concentration of courses in its undergraduate majors, a characteristic of Egyptian education, while at the same time requiring a core of general education, the approach taken by institutions in the United States. The main components of AUC’s undergraduate programs are:

1. A Core Curriculum: foundation of general education in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
2. Arabic language requirements.
3. Concentrations: subjects in which students concentrate their studies and receive degrees.
4. Collaterals: subjects in supporting disciplines specified by the department of major.
5. Minors: subjects which students may, if they wish, study beyond the introductory level.
6. Electives: courses chosen by students in consultation with their advisers.

Residence

To obtain a bachelor’s degree a student must take at least 45 credit hours of courses in residence at the American University in Cairo. At least 30 of the 45 hours must be in courses at the 3000 and 4000 levels; with a stipulation that no more than 15 transfer credits in 3000-4000 level courses, will satisfy concentration requirement of any program. The maximum credit to be considered for each program is as follows:

1. A maximum of 15 transfer credit hours in the 3000-4000 level courses in programs offered by the School of Business.
2. A maximum of 15 transfer credit hours in the 3000-4000 level courses in programs offered by the School of Sciences and Engineering.
3. A maximum of 15 transfer credit hours in the 3000-4000 level courses in programs offered by the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy except for Middle East Studies program; a maximum of 12 transfer credit hours.
4. A maximum of 12 transfer credit hours in the 3000-4000 level courses in programs offered by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

AUC students who join a year abroad exchange program administered by the university are exempted from the residence requirement part of maximum transfer credits in 3000-4000 level courses towards concentration requirements.

Graduation

To be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours (127 in Business Administration and in Accounting also 133 in Management of Information and Communication Technology) in courses in which the grades are “D” or better, and must earn a grade-point average of “C” or better, both overall and in the field of concentration. These requirements must be completed within seven years of the date of first registration as a freshman.

To be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree students must complete between 130 and 162 credit hours, depending on the major, in courses with grades of “D” or better and earn a grade-point average of “C” or better, both overall and in the field of concentration. These requirements must be completed within eight years of the date of first registration as a freshman.

Any period of withdrawal from the university is counted as part of the seven- or eight-year limit mentioned above.

Majors

The university offers courses of study leading to bachelor’s degrees in various academic fields in the arts and sciences and in professional fields. Undergraduates must select a major and fulfill the requirements of the department offering the degree. The fields of major and the departmental requirements are described in the “Fields of Study” section. Academic regulations concerning the declaration of major and change of major are described in the “Academic Regulations” section.

Double Majors

Students may earn two majors in related or unrelated fields and receive one bachelor’s degree. While it is acknowledged that some students will not be able to manage the heavy workload that a double major entails, the American University in Cairo enthusiastically endorses the principle that any undergraduate student should be permitted to pursue a double major, subject to the following rules:

1. Acceptance into a second major must occur before the last semester of the senior year. Acceptance into a second major will be on the same basis as if it were the first major.
2. No student will be accepted into a second major without the formal approval of the chair of the department offering the student’s first choice of major as well as the chair of the department offering the student’s second choice of major.
3. Any student considering a second major should review carefully the catalog descriptions of both her/his first major and his/her intended second major, paying special attention to any specific rules established by the relevant departments with regard to double majors. For example, departments may restrict the ability of one of their own majors to declare a second major by limiting the range of majors eligible as “second majors.”
4. Students who are pursuing a double-major must complete all of the requirements for both majors. In the rare circumstance where one course is eligible to meet both the concentration, collateral or elective requirements of one major and also the concentration, collateral or elective requirements of a second major, this course may be counted for both majors - unless the catalog description of either major explicitly states otherwise.
5. Students must have a faculty adviser in each major. The student must meet with each of his/her advisors and plan the student’s academic program. Both advisers must sign the student’s registration forms.
6. One degree will be awarded upon successful completion of both majors. If one major qualifies for the bachelor of arts degree and the other for the bachelor of science degree, the student in consultation with his/her advisers will decide which degree to receive.
7. In considering whether to major in two subjects, students should be aware that it may take more than four years to complete all requirements, that scheduling of prerequisites and required courses in two majors may be difficult, and that some AUC departments, particularly those which limit enrollment, may not allow students to take a second major in their programs.

Minors

In addition to major subjects leading to a degree, students may select one or two minor academic disciplines. The minor program is available to students who would like to study a particular subject beyond the introductory courses but not to the level of expertise required for a major. An undergraduate minor introduces the student to the scope and methodology of the minor field and is often an important auxiliary to his/her major field. The American University in Cairo enthusiastically endorses the principle that undergraduate students should be permitted and even encouraged to pursue a minor discipline that will broaden their experience at AUC and enhance the interdisciplinary character of the undergraduate programs.

Minors may be within a given discipline, or interdisciplinary. Students wishing to minor in a given discipline may do so if they satisfy the requirements of the department or unit offering the minor, using the requirements for the AUC catalog year in which they declare the related minor. Students should be aware that in some cases the minimum credit hours required for graduation may have to be exceeded. At least 15 hours of courses as specified under each field are required for a minor.

In the circumstance where one course is eligible to meet both the concentration, collateral or elective requirements of a major and also any of the requirements of a minor, this course may be counted for both the major and the minor - unless the catalog description of either the major or the minor explicitly states otherwise.

The requirements for individual minors appear under the relevant field of study. Each interdisciplinary minor is administered by a steering committee which is itself interdisciplinary. Steering committee membership is open either to all teachers in the program or to representation from each department in the program in any given year.

Students who are pursuing a minor must have a faculty adviser in for the minor. This adviser will meet with the student to review the academic requirements for the minor and the student’s plans to complete these requirements.

Dual Undergraduate/Graduate Programs

A dual undergraduate/graduate degree program is an approved program in which a student pursues a graduate degree with an undergraduate degree in a related field. The total time for the two degrees could be decreased through the acceptance of up to 12 credit hours of required courses in both degrees. A student enrolled in a such a program must complete all requirements for the two degrees and is awarded both degrees at the end of the program. In this regard, this student is admitted to the graduate program before he/she have earned a bachelor’s degree. The student is typically able to take both undergraduate and graduate courses for the program during his/her senior year.

A student who decides to withdraw from this dual degree program, will receive his/her appropriate undergraduate degree contingent on having completed all requirements for this undergraduate degree.

Registration

Students must register during the official registration period at the times announced in the university calendar. They should plan their courses with their advisers prior to registration and follow the instructions in the Registrar’s web page: www.aucegypt.edu/students/registrar/Pages/default.aspx. Students must attend the section of the course for which they are registered. No instructor has the authority to permit a student to shift from one section of the course to another without following official drop/add procedures. Students are responsible for registering on time and for the correct courses. You may not attend classes without being properly registered for them, you cannot receive credit for courses in which you are not registered and students may not register or add courses retroactively.

Change of Courses

With careful attention to the degree requirements and course offerings there should be minimal need for course changes after registration has been completed. Any student who desires a course change must follow the instructions in the Registrar’s web page: www.aucegypt.edu/students/registrar/Pages/default.aspx

• Another course may not be substituted for a required course unless university action requires that the change be made.
• Students may not drop 1000-level Rhetoric and Composition (RHET) courses without permission from the Department of Rhetoric and Composition.
• Students may drop and/or add courses without penalty during the formal “Late Registration and Course Changes Period” specified in the instructions in the Registrar’s web page: www.aucegypt.edu/students/registrar/Pages/default.aspx
• A course may not be added to the student’s schedule after the end of the period of Late Registration and Course Changes.
• Students may drop a course and receive a “W” grade during the seven weeks following the conclusion of any period of Late Registration and Course Changes associated with a fall or spring semester.
• Students are not permitted to drop classes after the seventh week of the closing date of Late Registration and Drop/Add operations.
• Students will receive a grade of “F” if they stop attending classes without officially dropping the course.
• Students may petition their Deans - or, in the case of non-declared students, the Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Director of the Core Curriculum - for permission to drop a class and receive a “W” grade after the seventh week of the closing date of Late Registration and Drop/Add operations. However, such petitions will be approved only in special cases, which in most extraordinary circumstances will mean documented health or family crises. Petitions will be neither accepted nor approved for the purpose of avoiding a low or failing grade.
• Fulltime international transfer students and fulltime non-declared international students may petition for permission to drop a class and receive a “W” grade after the seventh week of the closing date of Late Registration and Drop/Add operations by seeking the approval of the Faculty Advisor in the International Programs Office and then submitting the petition for approval to the responsible department chair and dean. In general, such petitions will be approved only in special cases, which in most circumstances will mean documented health or family crises.

Credit Hours

Coursework is counted in credit hours. In general, a credit hour represents a one-hour class period that requires at least two hours of individual study each week for one semester. Thus a course of three credit hours would meet for three hours a week and the student would be expected to study for six hours outside of class. Laboratory courses involve less outside work, so usually one hour of credit is granted for a three-hour session.

Class Standing

Class standing is determined by the number of credit hours completed. Students become sophomores on completing 30 credit hours, juniors on completing 60 credit hours, and seniors on completing 90 credit hours.

Declaration of Major

Declaring intended Program:

Students are required to indicate their preferred “Intended Program” during admission. Only students intending Engineering majors may be accepted into their “Intended Program” at the same time as they are offered admission into the University. All other students are admitted as “Undeclared students”.

Any student in good standing (i.e., who has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above) may seek admission to any major offered by any AUC academic program. AUC is proud of the quality and rigor of all of its undergraduate programs, and the University undertakes to insure that every student admitted to the University will have several major disciplines from which to choose. However, AUC does not undertake to insure that every student will be admitted to the specific major program(s) that the student may prefer. Admission to a student’s preferred major is not guaranteed and is subject to the following factors:

1. Departments that offer majors that are in such high demand that the number of students applying for a major exceeds the department’s capacity may limit the number of majors whom they admit in accordance with the number of full-time faculty and the availability of appropriate facilities. These departments will announce the number of new places available in the major each semester as well as the criteria and associated rationale according to which the programs determine the number of places of available.
2. A department that has limited capacity relative to the numbers of students seeking to major in that department’s discipline(s), must employ a variety of criteria in identifying those students who will be admitted into the major(s). These criteria include, but must not be limited to, a measure of academic performance in all courses taken at AUC joined with a measure of academic performance in specific courses taken at AUC essential to the academic discipline in question. All criteria must be appropriately weighted in admission decisions when employed. These criteria may include (among other things):

• Secondary school performance. (This criterion is especially important in the case of Engineering, which selects many of the students who will be permitted to pursue Engineering majors during Admission).
• Interviews.
• Assigned essays.
• Aptitude tests.
• Portfolios.

   3.  Admission into some majors may also be dependent on meeting standards of aptitude or skill (e.g. musical training, mathematics or linguistics skills).

Students may choose to declare their major at any time between the end of their second semester and the beginning of the fifth semester - that is, after they have completed from 26 to 30 credits, as determined by each department for its major(s), and before they have completed 60 credits. Once a student has achieved junior standing (that is, has completed 60 credit hours), he or she must have declared a major. No student who has achieved junior standing will be permitted to register in courses unless he or she has declared a major, and no student will be considered a “declared major” unless and until the student has received a formal statement, signed by the chair of the department or the person most directly responsible for offering the major in question, confirming that the student has been admitted to this major.

Students follow the degree requirements stated in the catalog of the year in which they make their declaration. However, if a student withdraws from the university and is later readmitted s/he will be required to follow the catalog requirements of the year in which readmission occurs.

Change of Major

A student who has achieved junior standing is expected to complete the requirements of and graduate with the major in which he or she is declared. However, students may change their field of study or be required to change it by university action at any time up to the end of their junior year. A change requires approval from the department of the new major. Students follow the degree requirements stated in the catalog of the year in which they make the change.

Students may not change their major after the start of their senior year. That is, once a student has completed 90 credit hours and achieved senior standing, he or she will only be permitted to complete and graduate with the undergraduate major in which he or she is declared at that time.

Academic Load

Full time undergraduate students normally take an academic load of twelve to sixteen hours, with the exception of science, engineering and computer science students who may take up to eighteen hours. In the summer session, students may take up to seven credit hours. In the Winter session, summer A session and summer B session, students may take up to four credit hours.

Permission to exceed the above maximums, up to twenty one credit hours in fall and spring semesters and nine credit hours in the summer, is based on the student’s previous academic record in addition to the recommendation of the department chair and the University Registrar. Freshman and Sophomore students are not permitted to exceed the maximum load, and courses taken for no credit are included within that load.

Students taking less than twelve credit hours are part-time students unless they are seniors who need to complete their degree requirements, or are prevented from taking normal load as a result of university restrictions. Students may not change their status from full time to part time during the semester without the approval of the University Registrar.

The university encourages students to carry a full load and to devote all their effort to university work and activities to obtain full benefit from their undergraduate education. Those who cannot devote full time to their undergraduate program, whether because of needed employment or other obligations, may carry a lighter course load of six to nine hours. The university cannot reschedule classes because they conflict with outside obligations.

Full-time students are entitled to university certification concerning deferment from military service and are eligible for student aid and employment. Part-time students are not entitled to certification concerning military deferment and are not eligible for student aid or employment.

Foreign students carrying a full academic load are entitled to university certification for use in obtaining their student visa. In case of withdrawal, the university reports the Egyptian authorities to cancel the student residence visa that was received through the university. Part-time students are not entitled to university certification for obtaining a student visa.

Grades/Examinations

Student work in each course is evaluated throughout the semester. Examinations, quizzes, reports, discussions or other means of evaluation help students know how they stand in a course.

Final examinations review the entire semester’s work but are not heavily emphasized. Each examination lasts no longer than two hours and counts for no more than one-third of the final course grade. Except in 400-level courses and higher where extensive writing assignments and projects pertain, no other element in the final course grade will count for more than one-third. Final examinations are held during the official examination period, which is listed in the academic calendar of the university.

At the close of the semester students receive a final grade in each course. The grade is the professor’s official estimate of the student’s achievement as reflected in examinations, assignments, and class participation. The final grades are recorded on the student’s permanent record at the Office of the Registrar. The grade may not be changed on the student record.

The following grading system is used at the American University in Cairo:

Grade		Points		Description
A		4.0		Excellent
A-		3.7
B+		3.3		Very good
B		3.0
B-		2.7		Good
C+		2.3
C		2.0		Passing
C-		1.7
D+		1.3		Conditionally passing
D		1.0
F		0.0		Failing

Grades not included in the Grade Point Average:
P		Pass*
F		Fail
I		Incomplete
S		Satisfactory
U		Unsatisfactory
W		Withdrew
AU		Audit
IP		Incremental /In Progress**

*Pass indicates a quality of performance at the minimum level of ” C.” “Pass/Fail” grades are assigned only to certain courses as defined in their course description.

** For Pass/Fail, an ‘IP’ grade may be assigned to students that are attending and progressing but not achieving an acceptable level of proficiency in meeting the course outcomes. It is not to be used as an alternative to an ‘I’ or ‘F’. An ‘IP’ will appear and remain on the student’s transcript with no credits awarded. The course with an ‘IP’ grade must be retaken at the same level in the following semester.

The grade point average is calculated by multiplying the grade value by the number of credit hours the course represents; the result is the column listed as quality points. The total quality points is then divided by the total credit hours, excluding the credit hours for “P/F” courses, as illustrated below.

An example for calculating the grade point average:

Course ID		Grade		Credit Hrs		QualityPoints
RHET 1010		C		3		6
CHEM 1005		D		3		3
CHEM 1015		C+		1		2.3
MACT 1121		F		3		0
PHYS 1011		A-		3		11.1
PHYS 1012		B+		1		3.3
Current AHRS		EHRS		QHRS		QPTS	GPA
14		11		14		25.7	1.83

AHRS: Attempted Hours are the credit hours that the student is registering for.

EHRS: Earned Hours are hours of courses in which the student achieved a passing grade, including courses with “pass/fail” grades. The earned hours (not attempted) are counted to determine the student’s class and graduation.

QHRS: Quality Hours are hours of courses which are graded, excluding pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory courses.

QPTS: Quality Points are points allotted to each course, which are the result of multiplying the credit hours of the course by the points assigned to each grade mentioned above.

GPA: Grade Point Average is the quotient obtained by dividing the total quality points by the total quality hours i.e. 25.7/14 = 1.83.

A “C” average (2.00) is required to graduate from the American University in Cairo. Likewise, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 is required in majors and minors.

Grades of  “pass/fail”, “I”, “S”, “U”, “W”, “AU” and “IP” are not assigned grade point values and are not used in the computation of the grade point average. Decimals beyond 2 places are truncated, not rounded up, in computing the grade point average.

Incomplete Work

In very rare cases, undergraduate students who are unable to complete a course may be permitted to continue work in that course beyond the examination period. Any professor submitting an incomplete grade must supplement this submission with a form to the Office of the Registrar (copies to the instructor, and the student) giving the following information:

1. Reason for the incomplete.
2. The material which is lacking.
3. Action necessary for removal of the incomplete.

In such a case, a grade of “I”, for “incomplete,” is assigned. The students must make arrangements with the professor to complete the course within one month after the beginning of the new academic session, whether they are in school or not. Failure to complete the course within one month after the beginning of the new academic session causes the grade in that course to be recorded as “IF”, signifying failure.

If students have one incomplete grade, their academic load limit the following semester will not be affected. If they have more than one incomplete grade, the credit hours of the incomplete will be included in their academic load for the following semester.

Students who receive an incomplete grade(s) while on warning due to a deficiency in their overall grade point average will not be allowed to register the following semester. If, however, they complete their incomplete work before the end of the late registration period, and are academically eligible, they will be allowed to proceed with registration.

Class Attendance

Attendance and participation in class and laboratory sessions are essential to achieving learning outcomes in all AUC courses. Students benefit from lectures and discussions with their instructors and fellow students, and if they fail to attend class, they fail to take advantage of an educational opportunity that may be vital to their academic progress. For this reason, students are expected to attend class regularly in accordance with the general university policy described below and the specific policy detailed in each course syllabus.

The Policy

1. Regular attendance is expected of each student. Students are expected to maintain awareness of their records of attendance and avoid excessive absences, thereby avoiding circumstances in which it may become difficult or impossible for an instructor to evaluate and assess a student properly.
2. The attendance policy at AUC allows a maximum of the equivalent to three weeks of absences. However, students’ grades may suffer if their absences from any class session cause them to miss any direct assessment activities, unless otherwise approved by the instructor.
3. On the first day of classes, each instructor will provide his or her students with a syllabus in which the rules and procedures governing the attendance in the course are specified and detailed, and are applied equally and without bias to all members of the course in question.
4. Students are personally responsible for making up any academic tasks, assignments or assessments due to any absence, in accordance with the attendance policy described in the syllabus for each course.
5. Although attendance is required in all courses, it is not a learning outcome; therefore attendance will not be graded as such.
6. A student who misses more than the three-week equivalent of class sessions may be assigned a reduced grade for the course including the grade of “F” solely on the basis of inadequate attendance as outlined in the syllabus of the course, or announced and published by academic programs.
7. Individual academic programs may establish an alternative attendance policy for specific courses, such as courses that rely heavily on in class or outside of class learning activities. Any such policy should be authorized and approved by the dean of the school offering the course(s) in question. Any faculty member who teaches such a course is also expected to observe the course wide attendance policy.
8. As AUC recognizes the value of all extra-curricular activities,faculty will accept excuses for absences that are the consequence of participation in formal AUC activities or formally representing Egypt in national or international sporting and/or cultural and academic activities and events. It is also recognized that medical and family emergencies may cause absences. Students will not be penalized and the instructor will provide the opportunity to make up the missed assessments for such absences subject to the following conditions:

a. extra-curricular activity excuses are only valid if signed by a university officer designated by the Dean of Students and if the student has informed the instructor in advance of the absences in question.

b. medical and family emergency excuses are only valid if documented and approved by an authorized medical officer and certified by an AUC officer designated by the AUC clinic director and if the student has informed the instructor within a period of seven working days.

9.Students who miss more than the maximum three-week equivalent of absences due to any of the excuses stated in item (8) above,

a.may petition to drop their course after the formal deadline to drop courses and before the deadline for withdrawal from the university. The dean of the school under which is the course is administrated will determine the merit of any such petitions based on the documented absences from the instructor, department chair, or

b.may petition to continue the course. The instructor of the course will determine the merit and have the final decision.

Repeating Courses Under the Course Repeat Policy

All Undergraduate students may repeat a course once for the purpose of improving a grade. The Repeat Policy is subject to the following limitations:

1. Students may repeat a maximum of 5 courses during the entire undergraduate career.
2. The rule applies to courses taken at AUC within two consecutive Academic Years (Four Successive Semesters).
3. All course repeats must be taken in residency at AUC.
4. Students must repeat the same course that was previously taken. In case that the same course is no longer offered within the permissible two years, the department offering the course is authorized to substitute it by another course with the approval of the department of major.
5. Students cannot make use of the Repeat policy if the grade is related to Academic Integrity.
6. After a course is repeated, the credit hours of the first attempt will not be matriculated in the total earned hours of the student record. Also the grade received in the first attempt will not be deleted from the student’s record but will no more be calculated in the grade point average; instead the second grade is the one that will be calculated in the grade point average.
7. The Online Course Repeat form is available on the Registrar Web Page: student.aucegypt.edu . The Online form must be submitted by maximum the eighth week of the semester in which the course is being repeated.

Retaking Courses Outside of the Course Repeat Policy

Students who have consumed all privileges of the Course Repeat Policy such as Academic Integrity, Exceeding the Five Repeats, Repeating the same course more than once and earned grades of “D”, “D+”, or “F” will follow a different calculation path which entails that grades of the first and second attempt are kept on the student record and the average of both are matriculated, but only the credit hours of one attempt will be included in the earned hours of the student record

The Online Course Repeat form is available on the Registrar Web Page: student.aucegypt.edu

The Online form must be submitted by maximum the eighth week of the semester in which the course is being repeated.

Honors

The university awards honors to students who do superior work. Full-time students who earn a grade point average of 3.50 or above for the previous semester are placed on the dean’s honor roll. This distinction is noted on the student’s academic record.

Graduation honors are awarded to students who have maintained a superior grade point average throughout their college careers:

1. Students who enter the university as freshmen or sophomores earn honors (Cum Laude) if they graduate with a cumulative average of 3.4, high honors (Magna Cum Laude) with 3.6 and highest honors (Summa Cum Laude) with 3.8.
2. Students who graduate from the university with transfer credits of 45 hours or more receive graduation honors if they earn a cumulative average of 3.5, high honors if they earn a grade point average of 3.7 and highest honors if they earn a grade point average of 3.9.

Probation/Warning

Students who fail to meet the academic standards established by the university will be placed on probation. The probation period provides the student with an opportunity to correct the deficiency, but that period may last for no more than two regular semesters. Failure to achieve the required standard by the end of the probation period disqualifies the student from further attendance at the university.

Students who fail to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better at the end of a semester will be placed on probation. Students who fail ENGL 0210  will be placed on warning.

In the above cases, an email is sent to the student, which includes a statement of what is required to avoid dismissal from the university. To be allowed to continue on probation the following semester students in this category must show satisfactory improvement during the first semester of their probation period (i.e. achieve at least a 2.0 semester GPA).

Students placed on probation for a deficiency in their cumulative GPA must limit their academic load during their probation period to four courses with a maximum of 13 credit hours per semester. The permissible load for students taking ENGL 0210  is a maximum of 7 credit hours per semester. It is the responsibility of the adviser to follow up on the student’s performance and academic load.

Students who fail to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 in their major at the end of any semester following their declaration of major, will be placed on major probation. An email is sent to the student, with a copy to the department of major.

Students will have two semesters to clear the deficiency in their major. If by the end of the two semesters the deficiency is not corrected, they will be discontinued unless accepted in another major.

Students on probation/warning for any of the above deficiencies are not allowed to participate actively, or represent the university, in co-curricular activities, such as teams, clubs, plays, and university competitions. They may not be nominated for the Student Union.

Dismissal

To avoid dismissal, students on overall probation must achieve a semester grade point average of 2.0 following the first semester of their probation period, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 at the end of the second semester of their probation period.

A student who fails ENGL 0210  twice in two regular semesters and a third time in a Summer session will be dismissed from the University and must wait one full semester before applying for readmission. The student must score high enough on the TOEFL for direct admission to the Department of Rhetoric and Composition courses (RHET) since s/he will not be allowed to take ENGL 0210  for a third time during a regular semester.

Planned Educational Leave of Absence

Students at The American University in Cairo may apply for a Planned Educational Leave of Absence. A Planned Educational Leave of Absence is defined as a planned interruption or pause in a student’s regular education during which the student temporarily ceases his or her formal studies at AUC while pursuing other activities that may assist in clarifying the student’s educational goals. The intent of the policy is to make it possible for a student to suspend his or her academic work, leave the campus without jeopardizing his or her rights and privileges, and later resume his or her studies with a minimum of procedural difficulty. A student who is approved for a planned leave will be considered as maintaining his or her status as a continuing student.

Planned educational leaves may be granted for a variety of reasons or projects, but certain characteristics must be contained in any request for a leave:

1. The leave must have a definite purpose relevant to the student’s overall educational objectives and goals.
2. The request must be for a specific period of time which should not exceed 3 regular semesters for students pursuing an undergraduate program.
3. The student must plan to return to AUC at the conclusion of his or her leave.

The following regulations apply to the planned educational leave:

1. An application for a Planned Educational Leave of Absence and additional information can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or on the Registrar web page http://student.aucegypt.edu
2. The student must obtain the approval of his or her faculty advisor, the department chair of his or her major (or, in the case of an undeclared student, the Freshman Advisor) and the University Registrar.
3. The student should be in academic good standing at the time of the leave request. The leave application must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the start of the final examination period of the semester immediately preceding the requested leave. The Office of the Registrar will notify the leave applicant of the status of the request after all of his or her final grades have been submitted.
4. The student may cancel a leave of absence as late as the first day of classes of the term for which the leave has been requested.
5. A degree student who discontinues active enrollment in degree studies without being granted a leave of absence, or a student granted a leave who does not return to active study at the close of the period of approved absence, will be considered to have withdrawn from the University and must apply for readmission and be subject to the regulations and requirements then in force.
6. The right to use university facilities is suspended while the leave is in effect, with the exception of library privileges subject of the approval of the department of major.
7. A Planned Educational Leave of Absence is counted as part of the time limitations specified under the heading “Graduation” in this section. A student returning from an approved leave remains under the requirements of the catalog that s/he was following upon the declaration of major.
8. Any academic credit during a Planned Educational Leave of Absence is accredited by AUC only if permission is granted in advance by the University Registrar.

Withdrawal from the University

Students who drop all their courses during a semester are requested to pass by the Office of the Registrar to activate their registration screens before the advising/registration period for the consecutive semester.

Students who wish to withdraw from the University for one semester or more due to illness or other emergency circumstances are requested to fill in a “Withdrawal Form” and submit it to the Office of the Registrar - forms are available at the Office of the Registrar and on the Registrar web page http://student.aucegypt.edu

Withdrawal grades “W” will be recorded for each course. No academic credit is given for courses from which students withdraw.

Students who wish to return after an absence of one or more semesters may apply for readmission. Readmission is not granted automatically. (See the “Admissions” section of the catalog.)

Transcripts

Students who have graduated or who withdrew from the University can apply for official or student transcripts of their academic record. There will be a charge for this service. No transcript of academic record will be issued during the examination, registration, or graduation periods. Academic transcripts will not be issued when unsatisfied financial obligations to the university exist.

Non-degree Academic Regulations

Since non-degree students are usually seeking credit for transfer to other institutions, not all of the academic regulations in the previous section are applicable to them. They will be primarily concerned about the academic regulations of their home institutions to ensure that they receive maximum possible credit for their AUC work.

Non-degree students should note the sections pertaining to registration, change of courses, academic load, grades, probation, incomplete work, class attendance, and transcripts in the undergraduate section as appropriate.

Non-degree students who wish to transfer their ALIN (Arabic Language Intensive Program) credits towards a degree in a regular AUC program should get the approval of their department of major. Those wishing to transfer credits to their home universities should check these universities’ policies before coming to Cairo.

Academic Integrity Policy

Preamble: Valuing the concepts of academic integrity and independent effort, the American University in Cairo expects from its students the highest standards of scholarly conduct. The University community asserts that the reputation of the institution depends on the integrity of both faculty and students in their academic pursuits and that it is their joint responsibility to promote an atmosphere conducive to such standards.

1. Academic dishonesty is not acceptable in an institution dedicated to learning or in any society. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
   1. Cheating: using unauthorized notes, aids, or information on an examination; altering a graded work prior to its return to a faculty member; allowing another person to do one’s own work and submitting it for grading.
   2. Plagiarism: submitting material that in part or whole is not one’s own work; submitting one’s own work without properly attributing the correct sources of its content.
   3. Fabrication: inventing or falsifying information, data, or citation; presenting data gathered outside of acceptable professorial guidelines; failing to provide an accurate account of how information, data or citations were gathered; altering documents affecting academic records; forging signatures or authorizing false information on an official academic document, grade, letter, form, ID card, or any other university document; submitting false excuses for absence, delay or illness.
   4. Multiple Submissions: submitting identical papers or course work for credit in more than one course without prior permission of the instructor.
   5. Obtaining or Attempting to Obtain Unfair Advantage:
      1. gaining or providing access to examination materials prior to the time authorized by an instructor;
      2. stealing, defacing, or destroying library or research materials which can deprive others of their use;
      3. unauthorized collaboration on an academic assignment;
      4. retaining, possessing, or circulating previously used examination materials without the instructor’s permission;
      5. obstructing or interfering with another student’s academic work;
      6. engaging in any activity designed to obtain an unfair advantage over another student in the same course;
      7. offering bribes to staff or any university employee to effect a grade change, or gain unfair advantage over other students.
   6. Unauthorized Access: viewing or altering in any way computer records, modifying computer programs or systems, releasing or distributing information gathered via unauthorized access, or in any way interfering with the use or availability of computer systems/information.
   7. Aiding and Abetting: providing material, information, or other assistance which violates the above Standards for Academic Integrity; providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.
   8. Impersonation: impersonating or allowing to be impersonated by another individual during classes, examination or other university activities.
   9. Threatening harm: threatening, effecting, or encouraging bodily, professional or financial harm to any faculty, staff, administrator or student who has witnessed or reported a violation of the Code of Ethics.
   10. Misconduct: behaving in a manner that violates or adversely affects the rights of other members of the AUC community (disrupting meetings or activities, unruly behavior, etc).
   11. Copyright infringement: using copyrighted materials (print, electronic, or multimedia) in a manner that violates international copyright laws.

   The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action as severe as dismissal according to procedures delineated in section II.

2. An instructor has full authority to deal with an academic dishonesty incident within the context of his/her course. Disciplinary action may cover the range from reprimand to “F” for the course grade. The instructor may also recommend suspension or dismissal from the University.
   
   The instructor’s action on incidents of academic dishonesty must be communicated to the student(s) involved as well as to the Student Affairs Office and the office responsible for monitoring academic integrity by her/him within two weeks of the time the instructor became aware of the incident.
   
   All cases of academic dishonesty are to be immediately reported to the chair of the Academic Integrity Committee and to the Chair of the instructor’s department. In the case of a recommendation for suspension or dismissal, the Academic Integrity Committee will meet promptly to investigate and submit a recommendation to the Provost, who is the final authority.
   
   All students involved in academic dishonesty will receive an official letter of warning from the University administration, a copy of which will remain in the students’ file in the department as well as in the Student Affairs Office and the office responsible for monitoring academic integrity.

3. Once the Academic Integrity Committee has given a hearing to the student and submitted its recommendation to the Provost, no further appeal may be made unless substantial new evidence is presented to the Chair of the Academic Integrity Committee, who will evaluate the evidence and reopen the case if deemed necessary.