Academic Year:
The academic year consists of two regular semesters (Fall - Spring) and a summer semester (optional). The duration of the regular semester is 15 weeks which are followed by two weeks for the final exams. The summer semester lasts for 5 weeks, followed by one week for the final exams.
Academic Calendar:
The academic calendar is issued by the Academy President before the beginning of the academic year. It includes the starting and ending dates of each academic year and the official holidays at the Academy.
Starting Date of the Semester:
The Academy President determines the starting dates in accordance with official holidays.
Education System:
The Academy follows the credit hour system in all its colleges and institutes.
Educational Program:
This consists of obligatory courses for the completion of the academic degree according to the status report for each educational program. An educational program may include a number of educational tracks.
Academic Load:
The academic load is the total number of weekly credit hours registered by a student per semester.
Course:
A course is a subject which is taught throughout a semester and is allocated a certain number of credit hours according to the educational program. A special code is assigned for each course indicating the educational department to which it belongs and the level of the course in the years of study.
Credit Hour Achieved:
This refers to the credit hours of any registered course which are successfully completed by a student and which are calculated as part of his/her educational achievement.
Points:
The points achieved by a student in any subject are calculated by multiplying the student’s score in the course with the number of the credit hours of the course.
Grade Point Average (GPA):
This is calculated by dividing the points achieved by a student (according to the achieved grades) by the total number of registered hours. The GPA ranges between 0.0 and 4.0.
Transcript:
It is a record showing a student’s academic path at the Academy and the courses he/she has studied in each semester, along with their codes, numbers, credit hours and grades. It also includes other transferred courses finished by the student in another university or another college at the Academy, together with the semester average and GPA.
Pre-requisite:
This is a course which must be completed before registering other courses according to the educational program.
Probation:
The student is placed under probation if he/she scores a GPA below 2.0 in any regular semester, and this requires the reduction of his/her educational load.
Underachievement:
The student is placed under probation due to “underachievement” when his/her completion of the acquired credit course is below 50% of the total hours he/she is supposed to accomplish in the semesters he/she spent since his/her admission to the Academy.
Forced Withdrawal:
A student receives a forced withdrawal if he/she exceeds the absence percentage allowed in a given course according to the regulations.
Academic Advisor:
The academic advisor is a staff member or a teaching assistant who is assigned the supervision of a group of students in addition to guiding and helping them in choosing what is appropriate to their abilities and interests. In addition, the academic advisor clarifies the plans, courses and tracks in the Academy for students so that they are able to take decisions to plan for their studies and achieve their aspired academic goals. A student should refer to the academic advisor to consult him/her as regards any educational issues.
Orientation Program for New Students:
The Academy organizes a program for new students at the beginning of each semester which aims at familiarizing them with the education system and plans, course registration procedures, grading system, accommodation facilities, as well as their rights and responsibilities. This program also aims at familiarizing students with the various work opportunities available for the majors they choose to join.
Academic Integrity:
The student abides by the codes of ethics and integrity in acquiring and presenting knowledge and documenting its original sources. Accurate data must be provided for previously published research and projects.
Student Affairs Committee:
The Academy President forms the Student Affairs committees at the beginning of each academic year. Their task is to look into the results of investigations conducted by the legal affairs regarding offenses committed by the students inside or outside the Academy. These committees conclude by issuing a justified recommendation to be presented to the Academy President for approval.
