teach in spain - UW Study Abroad

56 academic information
The student is responsible for ensuring that his/her home university accepts all course changes.
If you make changes to your pre-registration form once on-site, we highly recommend that you
have these changes approved in writing by your home campus advisor. You should keep copies
of all approval forms for when you return to your home school.
Add-Drop Period
All students must register for a minimum of 15 credits per semester. You may take as many as
18 semester credit hours. You may make changes to your schedule and finalize your semester
registration during the first week of the regular university session. This is known as the “Add-Drop
period.” If no changes are made during this first week, then the original registration form, signed
by you, will be sent to the CIEE office in Portland and to your home university. Students taking
regular university classes will have an extra week to finalize regular university classes. See the
ALA section for more details.
academic information
Grades
In general, grading is different here than in the United States. A passing grade, “C,” is acceptable,
normal, and welcomed by many brilliant Spanish students. There is no grade inflation in Spanish
universities.
However, this does not mean that every grade will be a “C.” What it does mean is that students will
have to work much harder to receive a “B” or an “A.” How? Complete extra readings from the course
bibliography, write an excellent paper, show you know the material by referring to out of class readings
in midterms or finals, attend class regularly, and participate actively in class discussions. If a professor
mentions a work during lecture, read it. Include references to such works in your essays and
papers. Students who do so stand out from the average student and usually receive better grades.
Most CIEE students perform very well in class. Some students have earned a 10 (A) and others have
failed, but the range in between is great and varied. We make every effort for students to have a
challenging academic experience, without frustration.
CIEE uses the following scale to translate final numerical grades to the U.S. letter system:
10.00 – 9.00 A 6.99 – 6.00 C+
8.99 – 8.75 A- 5.99 – 5.00 C
8.74 – 8.25 B+ 4.99 – 4.00 D
8.24 – 7.50 B 3.99 – 0.00 F
7.49 – 7.00 B- NP F
If you fail to appear to take the final exam, you will receive a No presentado (NP) from the professor.
For CIEE, an “NP” is translated into an “F.”
CIEE does not allow students to take any classes “Pass/Fail.” If you are interested in this option,
you need to work with your study abroad advisor. If approved, your grade will be converted from
a letter to a pass or fail at your home school.
Incompletes
If, due to extenuating circumstances, you are unable to complete the requirements of a class
and would like to request an incomplete, please speak to your Resident Director. The Resident
Director will determine whether or not your request will be granted. If approved, an incomplete
grade will be placed on your CIEE academic record.
Please note that you must have an agreement, in writing, with the professor that outlines both
the assignments that must be completed and the deadlines for completion. When the professor
hands in a revised grade, CIEE will send the revised grade to your home university. If after six
months, the outstanding work has not been done, the incomplete grade will automatically turn
into an “F” and notification will be sent to your home school.
NOTE: Incompletes will not be given to students who want to leave the program site early
without justifiable reasons.