Learner's Handbook
Assessment of Learning
In scheduled programs, learners must be assessed at regular intervals throughout the duration of a course. As part of the School of Continuing Education’s (SCE) philosophy of education, SCE faculty members are required to provide different assessment mechanisms at regular intervals throughout the duration of a course.
Career Guidance and Counseling
SCE believes that career guidance is an integral part of any educational process. It assists learners of any age and at any point throughout their lives in assessing their career possibilities, identifying training related skills, setting their personal/professional goals and achieving their career objectives.
Code of Conduct
The American University in Cairo's (AUC) Code of Academic and Professional Ethics applies to all employees, including administrators, staff and SCE faculty. Refer to the online text published here.
Communication and Dissemination of Information
It is the right of every learner to be informed and provided with accurate information about the requirements of successful completion of any approved learning course/program including admission and language requirements as well as the number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) pertaining to each course prior to participating in any course/program.
Completion of Learning Programs
At the end of each term of study, learners are notified about their end of term results through automated emails and whether they have successfully passed the courses and earned any CEU’s or if they have not passed and did not complete certificate requirements by logging to the web-based Self Service application or by communicating with the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM).
Continuing Education Unit (CEU)
The Continuing Education Unit is the standard unit of measurement of individual participation in all non-credit continuing education programs offered by the SCE. Each course is assigned a number of CEU's before being added to the course inventory.
Course Exemption
Course exemptions are allowed in some cases such as where learners already possess demonstrable knowledge of material and skills taught in a particular SCE course. The maximum number of courses allowed for exemption is one course per certificate.
End of Term Testing and Receiving, Verifying and Changing End of Term Results
Final exams are administered during the last week of classes. SCE is committed to maintaining the integrity and security of all its end-of-term achievement tests, particularly those prepared by ETAD.
Frequency and Mechanism of Updating Learner Records
This section addresses the frequency and mechanism of updating learner records. The learner’s record is an official cumulative record of the learner and institutional information. The learner record is computer-generated from the Management Information System (MIS).
Grading System
Learners are assessed throughout the term by tests, quizzes, assignments, projects or other means of evaluation. In career development and translation programs, end-of-term achievement tests measure overall performance in the course. The final grade in each course is based on the learner's performance on continual assessment measures, as well as the end-of-term achievement test, if applicable.
Identification Cards
Both paper identification (ID) cards, printed through the Management Information System (MIS) (cf E1), and smart ID cards are issued to all SCE learners.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade (I) for any scheduled course may be given at the discretion of the course faculty only to learners who have attended the course, but cannot sit for the final examination or cannot complete course requirements due to circumstances beyond their control.
Issuing Certification and Attestation Documents
Upon successful completion of study (cf C6), learners are entitled to one original copy of their certificate and one transcript of the educational records, free of charge. Additional copies may be issued upon request with additional service fees.
Issuing Visa letters
The School of Continuing Education Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Office is responsible for issuing enrollment letters for its international learners for visa purposes provided the following conditions are met:
- The international learner is enrolled in a Foundation or Career certificate program and registered in twelve or more Continuing Education Units (CEUs) per term.
- The international learner has registered and paid the entire fee for the following term.
Five working days should be allowed for preparing enrollment letters (cf I1). Service fees are doubled for twenty-four (24) hour delivery.
The AUC Registrar Office, through its Military and Visa Service Office as well as the AUC Business Support Office, completes the process of issuing visa permits. Administrative fees are collected by the University’s Military and Visa Service Office.
Learner Petition and Grievances
A learner/new applicant has the right to appeal to a higher SCE authority on any aspect pertaining to class instruction, learning environment, or administration processes. Examples of such cases include faculty’s grading procedure, a classroom disciplinary action, a change in class schedule, exemption from attendance policy. For classroom issues, learners must first discuss them with the faculty member.
Library Access
SCE learners, whose courses require library research, and SCE faculty members are given access to the AUC Library, whether in Tahrir Square or New Cairo, based upon a recommendation from their Instructional Affairs (IA) Departments.
Photographing and Videotaping
Attendance at or participation in any School of Continuing Education (SCE) event, conference or course constitutes consent to the use and distribution by SCE of the attendee’s image or voice for publicity, promotional or reporting purposes in print or electronic communications media.
Scholarships
SCE offers a limited number of scholarships for Egyptian graduates to study in SCE’s Career Certificate Department programs. These scholarships are offered on a yearly basis. The duration of the scholarship is one year (three 12-week semesters).
Security and Authorization for Release of Learner Records
Learners have the right to inspect and review their education records, to amend or correct their education records if they contain inaccurate information, the right to limit disclosure of their education records and the right to report the institution’s failure to comply with FERPA regulations.
Web-Based Self Services for Learners and Faculty
Online services are provided to the School of Continuing Education (SCE) learners and faculty through the web-based Management Information System (MIS). The Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Office manages the Self Service application in coordination with the University Information Systems office.