Course Catalog 2005-2007.pdf - The American University of Paris

Catalog 2005-07
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
is a federal law of the United States of America designed
to protect the privacy of a student's educational records.
The law applies to all schools that receive funds under
an applicable program of the U. S. Department of Education.
Although The American University of Paris is subject to
French law by reason of its location, and a large percentage
of the student body are citizens or residents of other
countries, the University is incorporated in the United States
under the laws of the State of Delaware. Therefore, the
University complies, insofar as is permitted by French law,
with the American statute.
FERPA states that students have the right to inspect and
review all of a student's education records maintained by the
school. Schools are not required to provide copies of
materials in education records unless, for reasons such as
great distance, it is impossible for students to inspect the
records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
Students have the right to request that a school correct
records believed to be inaccurate or misleading. If the
school decides not to amend the record, the student then
has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the
school still decides not to amend the record, the student has
the right to place a statement with the record commenting on
the contested information in the record.
Generally, schools must have written permission from the
student before releasing any information from a student's
record. However, the law allows schools to disclose records,
without consent, to the following parties:
■ school employees who have a need to know
■ other schools to which a student is transferring
■ certain government officials in order to carry out lawful
functions
■ appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to
a student
■ organizations conducting certain studies for the school
■ accrediting organizations
■ individuals who have obtained court orders or subpoenas
■ persons who need to know in cases of health and safety
emergencies
Schools may also disclose, without consent, “directory” type
information such as a student's name, address, telephone
number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and
dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents
and eligible students about directory information and allow
parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time
to request that the school not disclose directory information
about them. Under FERPA, a student's grades are
confidential, and may not be released even to his/her
parents without her/his written consent, which AUP requests
during the Fall and Spring course registration periods.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Dean's List
The Dean's List, which is published at the end of each
semester, includes the names of students who have achieved
a distinguished level of academic performance. Students are
eligible for Dean's List honors after they have completed
15 graded credits at The American University of Paris.
A student who has completed at least 12 credits in a given
semester, has not received an “Incomplete” in a course, has
not elected to take a course on a “Credit/No credit” basis,
and who has earned a minimum semester grade point average
of “B+” (3.3) with no grade below “C+” (2.3), will be named
on that semester's list. Students taking a course with an
obligatory “Credit/No credit” grading policy (internship,
external language course) are not excluded from Dean's List.
Academic Honors
Academic Honors are a tradition in the curriculum of AUP.
Some degree programs offer an honors track to exceptionally
motivated students who wish to be challenged beyond the
scope of regular degree requirements (see degree
requirements for the departments concerned).
Graduation Honors
Graduation Honors are awarded to candidates for the
bachelor's degree who have completed a minimum of sixty
credits in residence and whose cumulative grade point
average is as follows: 3.70 or above for summa cum laude;
3.50-3.69 for magna cum laude; and 3.30-3.49 for cum
laude.
Honor Societies
Chapters of the following academic honor societies exist at
The American University of Paris:
■ PI DELTA PHI (National French Honor Society)
■ PHI SIGMA IOTA (International Foreign Language Honor
Society)
■ SIGMA TAU DELTA (National English Honor Society)
■ OMICRON DELTA EPSILON (International Economics Honor
Society)
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