1- Workload disclaimer
AUC's Freshman Brochure states: "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 requires six hours of study outside of class."
While the CORE seminar and RHET courses you are taking this semester are tandemized to allow you to maximally benefit from the development of a learning community in this crucial semester, it is important that you understand that these are 2 courses with 2 separate workloads. That means that while some consideration of your schedule is taken in planning the courses, your readings, assignments and deadlines are those of two full courses. If you are having trouble managing your schedule, or if you are having a hard time coping with university work for any reason, the Student Mentoring Unit (Office of Student Well-being) at P001 Campus Center is a valuable resource available to you at AUC.
2- Classroom Principles
The overriding principles that guide this policy are that we avoid any activity that detracts from the learning process for anyone in the class and that we show respect for the institution in which we meet. All members of the AUC community are entrusted with the responsibility to uphold and promote five fundamental values: Honesty, Trust, Respect, Fairness, and Responsibility. These core elements foster an atmosphere, inside and outside of the classroom, which serves as a foundation and guides the AUC community’s academic, professional, and personal growth.
3- Assignment Submissions
4- The Writing Center
A valuable resource located at the RHET department available to you that provides one-on-one tutoring on all aspects of the writing process. To find out the variety of services this resource offers, visit their website during the first week of class: http://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/resources/writecen/Pages/default.aspx.
5- Office Hours
Another valuable resource. I encourage you to use these positively, and early in the semester rather than for remedial and late confessional purposes. Always take an appointment just in case another student is coming to see me at that very time slot. I will ask you to come in once, early in the semester, so that we can be introduced and you find your way to my office. Come prepared with questions, concerns, ideas, pen and paper for taking notes.
6- Profile of an ‘A’ student
Every student who works at the A-level consistently (based on the course outcomes) should expect to receive an A in the course, keeping in mind that A-students complete all work on time and at an exceptional level throughout the semester; they come to class every day during the semester; they do not ask for extended deadlines more than once; they don't make excuses for poor or late performance; they are exceptional peer-responders to their class colleagues; they take a leadership role in the class, consistently going beyond the "minimum" requirements for assignments; and they seek the one-to-one help they need (from instructors, peers, or the Writing Center) throughout the semester rather than procrastinating and expecting someone else (teacher, peer, writing consultant) to solve their problems for them.
Departmental Policies
Grades
For additional information about grading and to get answers to questions like
● How will I know at what level (or grade) I am performing during the semester?
● I’m having trouble completing all the work by the end of the semester. What options do I have?
● Can I appeal a specific assignment grade?
● Can I appeal the final course grade given to me by the faculty?
Visit this link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Grading.aspx
Attendance, Absences, and Tardiness
Students are highly encouraged to attend all classes, as regular class attendance can significantly help a student do better in the class. A student is not allowed to miss more than six classes without severe consequences, up to and including, failing the course. Also, missing more than 10 minutes of a class counts as half of an absence and missing more than 30 minutes of a class counts as a full absence.
There are many important additional guidelines related to this area. To read complete details and to get answers to questions like
● Who is responsible for keeping attendance?
● What happens if I miss a class? What happens if I exceed six absences?
● What is the policy on tardiness or missing part, but not all, of a class session?
● What happens if I have a medical excuse, family crisis, or extracurricular activity?
Visit this link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Attendance.aspx/FAQ
Academic Integrity
In accordance with the AUC’s efforts to promote a culture of academic integrity on campus, the Rhetoric and Composition Department strictly enforces the academic integrity principles found in AUC’s Code of Academic Integrity. Instructors are trained to ensure students are doing their own work; additionally, students must also use Turnitin.com for all drafts of major assignments. Violations of academic integrity can lead to serious consequences, including failing the course and having notes about violations added to your permanent transcript.
For further details about academic integrity and to get answers to questions such as
● How do I know what is legitimate borrowing from a source and what is plagiarism?
● How will the instructor know if I have copied my paper from the Internet, had the paper written by a professional writing service, or tried some other tricky thing?
● What are the consequences of violations of academic integrity?
● What is Turnitin.com and how do I use it?
Visit this link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Academic_Integrity.aspx
Timely Completion of Required Freshman Classes in the Core Curriculum
AUC has a “Timely Completion Policy” that governs a number of Freshman Program and CORE courses, including RHET 1010, CORE 1010, and RHET 1020. According to this policy, students should complete their RHET 1010, CORE 1010, and RHET 1020 courses during their first two semesters at AUC. Students are not allowed to postpone these courses; they also have a limited number of attempts to pass them.
For further details about timely completion and to get answers to questions such as
● What is “Timely Completion?” How does that affect me taking RHET courses?
● What happens if I fail or drop a my RHET course? Will I be in violation of the completion policy?
● Can I postpone a RHET course?
Visit this link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Timely_Completion.aspx
Dropping, Failing and Repeating Courses
AUC’s Timely Completion policies say that a student should complete RHET 1010, CORE 1010, and RHET 1020 during their Freshman year. That is the preferred and best process for incoming Freshman students, however, disruptions do happen, and students, at times, drop or fail RHET courses. There are a number of important policies that affect these situations. Importantly, there are restrictions on students being allowed to drop, limits to the number of times a student can fail, and limitations on when and how courses can be repeated.
For further details about dropping, failing, and repeating and to get answers to questions such as
● I’m thinking about dropping my course. What should I do?
● What happens if I miss the drop deadline?
● Can I drop either RHET 1010 or CORE 1010 and still continue in the other tandemized course?
● What happens if I fail RHET 1010 or CORE 1010?
Visit this link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Dropping.aspx
Special Needs, Concerns, or Additional Support
The Department of Rhetoric and Composition provides practical support to all students in a fair and equitable manner. Students who have special needs or concerns about the class should talk to their instructors the first week of classes or as soon as possible. Students requesting accommodations from their instructors must first provide documentation from the AUC Office of Student Well-being; reasonable accommodations for students are made starting from the date the instructor receives the official documentation (accommodations are not applied retroactively). AUC complies with the American Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
For further details about special needs, concerns or additional support and to get answers to questions such as:
● I have a documented special need. What should I do?
● I feel that I will need some additional support. What should I do?
● I have a concern about the instructor or the course. What should I do?
● What does the writing center offer? How can the writing center help me?
Visit this link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Special_Needs.aspx
Research in this Course
Research is highly valued at AUC, and students are encouraged to participate in research during their time at AUC. However, research, both on-campus and off-campus, MUST comply with a number of important policies and regulations for security, legal, and ethical reasons. Students who plan to do ANY on-campus research involving people (surveys, interviews, etc) or ANY off-campus research of any nature MUST receive approval PRIOR to starting their research. To begin this process a student should discuss their plans with their instructor as as well as be familiar with the policies found at the link below.
For important information about the research process, ethical research, extracurricular research opportunities, and to get answers to questions like
● When I conduct a survey or an interview, can I collect data from subjects off-campus?
● Do I need any approvals if I collect data from subjects on-campus?
● What is the IRB and what is CAPMAS?
● What presentation or publication opportunities do I have?
Visit the following link:
http://schools.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhet/FAQ/Pages/Research.aspx
Contingency Plans
Any student who continues in the course is expected to understand and abide by all policies, guidelines and schedules. However, in the event of the suspension of normal university classes, the initial plan is to continue with the course as long as there is internet accessibility in Egypt, but this may require adjustment to policies, guidelines, and schedules. Thus, in the case of the suspension of classes, please check your email and course website for details about how the course will continue.