I. Academic Regulations FOR Graduate Studies

1. CREDIT HOURS

Coursework, grading and graduation requirements are all functions of the credit hour. In general, a credit hour represents a one-hour class period and three hours of individual study each week for one semester.

2. Class Attendance

Class sessions and group meetings are considered not only academic but also professional activities. As such, students are expected to attend group meetings and classes regularly and punctually. The logic of this process is to ensure the active and continued engagement in discussions and a rich learning experience.

If a class must be missed, for whatever reason, the student should notify the instructor and the program director, giving as much advance notice as possible. In all cases, it will be the student's responsibility to make up for work missed. Under no circumstances will job interviews, fieldwork for any course, or personal circumstances that are not absolutely exceptional, be accepted as sufficient grounds for absence. Absences, even when justified, may be taken into account in the grading process at the discretion of the instructors who will keep the program director informed of absences and late arrivals.

If class attendance in any course is less than 80% and with the approval of the instructor, the student will automatically get a maximum grade of C on that course. Exceptions may be given with permission from the professor teaching that course and approval of the program director upon a prior notification.

 Failure to comply with these policies is considered serious misconduct leading to potential dismissal or other action as deemed appropriate by the instructor and the program director.

3. Student Evaluation in Courses

Student evaluation in courses will be based on the following criteria:

• Exams and assignments

• Classroom performance

• Attendance / Participation

• Cases

• Projects / Presentations

• Other criteria that the instructor deems important for the course

 4. Examinations

    Examinations are an integral part of any program and are conducted according to the following standards:

• Students must pass all examinations required for the successful completion of a course.

• Students may not communicate or collaborate with each other in any way during closed-book written examinations and when working on assignments unless these are explicitly stated as group assignments.

• Books or notes may be used when taking an open-book examination with the specific authorization of the professor, and then only within the limits set by the professor.

5. GRADING

Nile University uses the credit hour system for its curriculum and has adopted the following grading system for its graduate studies:

Grades that will show on the student’s transcript but are not included in calculating the GPA are:

Assignment of grades is the responsibility of the instructor. Based on the above grading system, a grade point average is calculated for each student. The grade point average (GPA) per course is calculated by multiplying the grade point value obtained in the course by the course’s credit hours. The GPA during a specific period is determined by dividing the summation of values for all courses completed in that period by the total credit hours earned during that period.

Thesis/ Major Paper

The student receives a grade of “P” when his/her thesis/ Major Paper is completed and successfully defended. Until then, the student semester evaluation on his/her progress towards completing a thesis/ Major Paper is granted a grade of “S” or “U”.

6. Academic Evaluation Process

The program director is responsible for ensuring the consistent application of the program's standards and criteria. He/she will evaluate the individual cases of students who do not meet the minimum academic requirements.

In cases of unsatisfactory academic performance, a GPA lower than 3.0, the program director may ask the student in question to take a general examination at the end of the first year to test his or her proficiency in the subjects covered during the year. The examination date is given at the end of the academic year. Continuation in the program will depend on the student's performance in this test.

7. Residency Requirement

Students pursuing degree for MOT and CIT programs must spend at least two consecutive semesters in full time study at NU. Students pursuing an EMBA degree must spend at least three consecutive semesters in full time study at NU.

8. Masters Graduation Requirements

 To be eligible for graduation, students must complete a minimum of 75% of the credit hours required for graduation at NU and accumulate a GPA of 3.0 or higher in a five year period. At the end of the first academic year, a committee composed of the program director and selected staff evaluates each individual's GPA and will discuss with the student any concerns regarding his/her performance and the course of action required by the student for successful completion of the program. This process will be documented and included in the participant's academic file. Typically, a student whose GPA falls below 3.00 is put on probation and is given one semester to correct this GPA discrepancy. If the student’s GPA continues to be lower than 3.00 at the end of the probationary period, s/he will be subject to dismissal from the program. However, the student may submit a petition explaining the special circumstances that resulted in his/her low GPA. The Student Affairs Committee reviews the case and may allow the student to register for one last semester, during which s/he must eliminate the GPA discrepancy; otherwise s/he gets dismissed from Nile University.

 Upon completing the masters' requirements, students must apply for graduation at the Registrar’s Office and pay graduation fees.

9. TRANSFER OF Credit

With the approval of the program director and the respective dean up to 9 credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution towards the degree requirements for Engineering, Technology and Computer Science programs while up to 12 credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution towards the degree requirements for the EMBA. A grade of “B” or better must be earned in courses considered for transfer. In general, students can not transfer more than 25% of the credit hours required for graduation in any graduate program. Credits that pertain to or have been counted towards another degree cannot be transferred.

10. Incomplete Policy

Students who prove they have strong reasons for not completing a certain course may be allowed to petition for an incomplete grade using appropriate forms which must be approved by the course instructor and program director. In this case, the student is granted a grade of “I”.

Students must arrange with the instructor and the program director to complete the pending work before the end of the following semester/trimester. In case the student fails to complete the required work, s/he will be automatically granted the grade assigned for the work already submitted.

The "Incomplete Form" is available at the Registrar’s office and should incorporate the following information:

1. Reason for requesting to incomplete the course.

2. Pending materials and assignments required for course completion.

3. Tentative grade on the work already submitted.

4. Deadline for submission of incomplete work which must not be later than the end of the following semester/trimester.

11. Voluntary WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSES

Students who wish to voluntarily withdraw from courses during the semester/trimester must get approvals from their instructors and program directors. If a student applies for withdrawal from a course(s) before the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty, which is 15% of the course’s contact hours, s/he gets a grade of “W” in that course(s). If the student applies for withdrawal from a course(s) after the above mentioned deadline s/he gets grades of “WP” or “WF” in each course s/he withdrew from depending on his/her performance in that course.

12. Course Retake Policy

Except in cases of academic dishonesty, this policy allows a student who has received a grade less than “C” in a course to retake the same course or a substitute course. In this case only the grade received when retaking the course will be counted towards the student's GPA. The grade received during the first time the student took the course will show on his/her transcript, but will not count towards the student's GPA. Under this policy, EMBA students could repeat up to a maximum of 8 credit hours of course work while students in other programs are allowed to repeat up to a maximum of 6 credit hours of course work. According to this policy the student is allowed to retake the same course or a substitute course upon the approval of the program director.

13. Voluntary Withdrawal from the Program

Students who wish to voluntarily withdraw from the program during the semester/trimester must get approvals from their instructors and program directors.

If the student applies for withdrawal before the deadline for withdrawal without academic penalty, s/he gets a grade of “W” in all courses during this semester. If the student apply for withdrawal after the above mentioned deadline s/he gets grades of “WP” or “WF” depending on his/her performance in each course.

Students who have withdrawn from a program and wish to apply for re-admission must do so in writing to the program director three months in advance of the semester they intend to resume their studies in. The application must explain their activities since leaving the program and the reasons for wanting to rejoin it. The director will then decide whether or not re-admission is granted based on the information submitted and the students’ performance in the program before withdrawal.

14. Re-admission of Students with Academic Difficulties

Students who were dismissed from the program because of academic difficulties may apply for re-admission if they had completed all the first-year courses with a GPA of 2.50 or higher. Students cannot be readmitted before two years have elapsed since their dismissal, nor after four years since that date. In exceptional circumstances the minimum period may be reduced to one year.

Students who were dismissed from the program because of academic difficulties in the second year may apply to be readmitted in the term following the one in which the difficulties arose.

The application for re-admission to the program must include a description of the professional activities performed since the withdrawal. Students must also make a compelling argument why should they be readmitted to the program. In any case, the student must take a re-admission examination and the program director and selected faculty members will then decide on the re-admission applications.

15. Academic Integrity Policy

Nile University, its faculty, staff and students value and adhere to the concepts of academic integrity and the highest level of academic and professional conduct. In their quest for knowledge, the university community must uphold high levels of integrity and ethical conduct in all its pursuits including teaching, learning, research and service.

Dishonesty in the pursuit of knowledge is not acceptable and includes, but is not limited to:

1. Dishonest submission of documents for grade, examples: Plagiarizing reports/cases; Cheating on exams or assignments; multiple submissions of the same work for grades; Fabrication of data or documents.

2. Obtaining or attempting to obtain an unfair advantage, examples: Gaining access to exams; Stealing or destroying library or research materials; unauthorized collaboration on assignments; unauthorized retention or circulation of previous exams; Interfering with other student’s work.

3. Unauthorized access to records, examples: viewing or interfering with confidential computer records or programs or systems, releasing unauthorized information gathered.

4. Aiding and abetting: providing material, information, or other assistance which violates Standards for Academic Integrity.

5. Threatening, effecting or encouraging bodily, professional, or financial harm to faculty, staff, administrator or student.

The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action against the violating party(s) according to the principles/procedures shown below. An instructor has full authority to deal with an academic dishonesty incident within the context of his/her course. Disciplinary action in this case may cover the range from reprimand to “F” for the course grade. The instructor may also recommend suspension or dismissal from the University.

The instructor's action on incidents of academic dishonesty must be communicated to the student(s) involved; and to: the Dean/Program Director and the Vice Provost for Student Affairs within two weeks of the time the instructor became aware of the incident.  All students involved in academic dishonesty will receive an official letter of warning from the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, a copy of which will remain in the students’ file in the department as well as in the Student Affairs Office and/or the office responsible for monitoring academic integrity.

When a case of academic dishonesty is reported with a recommendation for suspension or dismissal from the Instructor, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs will form an ad-hoc Academic Integrity Committee to investigate the case. The Committee will meet promptly to investigate the case and submit a recommendation to the Vice Provost. The Vice Provost will send his/her recommendation together with the Committee's to the Provost, who makes the final decision on the case.

Once the Academic Integrity Committee has given a hearing to the student and submitted its recommendations, no further appeal may be made unless substantial new evidence is presented to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, who will evaluate the evidence and reopen the case if deemed necessary.

16. Transcripts

Graduating or withdrawing students in good standing are granted one free transcript of their academic records.

II. ADDITIONAL Regulations for Doctoral Programs

This section covers additional academic regulations applicable only to Doctoral Programs. General regulations for graduate studies are covered earlier in section III. 

1. Dissertation

A student must take a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation research except where otherwise stated. Not more than 6 hours of research may be taken in regular semester, nor more than 3 hours in a summer session. Where students have (a) passed their qualifying examination and (b) are engaged as assistants, the maximum allowable credit stated above may still be taken.

2. Research in Residence

Once a student has completed all course and required research credits, he/she may enroll in "Research in Residence" status. If the student chooses not to enroll, he/she will be considered on leave of absence until the semester where the dissertation defense takes place. Students must regularly enroll in the university in the semester(s) when their thesis defense and their graduation take place. Time restrictions on obtaining degrees will be strictly enforced and can be waived only by the Dean of the school. "Research in Residence" students, while not required, may register in any courses or perquisites that are normally available to graduate students.

3. Residency

The student must spend at least two consecutive semesters or equivalent beyond the Masters graduate work, wherever taken, in full-time study at Nile University with departmental approval. Students will find that time is an important factor in their progress, for until the students have reached a satisfactory level of achievement as ascertained by the major department; they normally will not be permitted to carry out full-time research. Residence requirements may be altered only by the Dean of the school.

4. Doctoral Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students pursuing a PhD program at NU must complete, excluding the dissertation, sixty credit hours of course work, beyond the baccalaureate level, or twenty four credit hours beyond a relevant Master degree; and successfully defend a dissertation. 

5. Supervisory Committee

The supervisory committee is usually appointed when a student is formally admitted to a doctoral program. It will consist of not less than three faculty members.

 This committee is nominated by the chairman of the program or department concerned. It is appropriate for the chairman to consult with the student upon the membership of the committee. The Supervisory committee is empowered to plan the course if study for the student; to determine deficiencies, if any; to set prerequisites and other requirements; to request applicable transfer of credit where appropriate and to make up and administer the qualifying examination.

 
6. Qualifying Examination

A written or oral qualifying examination is to be taken by each doctoral degree candidate at the time that the student and the Supervisory Committee deem appropriate. The school or major department may specify that its students must take an oral examination as well. In those cases, normally, the student shall pass the written examination before the oral examination is conducted. Upon completion of the examination process, the Supervisory Committee shall notify the Graduate Office and the instructional school or department that the student has passed or failed the examination. A student who fails the examination will be given one opportunity to retake it, with the permission of the Supervisory Committee.

7. Admission to Candidacy

When the student has met all requirements for the degree, passed the qualifying examinations and received approval on his/her dissertation proposal, admission to candidacy for the degree is approved. No student may receive the degree in the same semester or summer session in which he or she is admitted to candidacy. The student must be admitted to candidacy at least one semester before the defense of the dissertation is scheduled.

8. Dissertation Committee

 When the student passes the qualifying exam, a Dissertation Committee is formed to advise the students on his dissertation research. This may be the Supervisory Committee, but it may also be a committee formed anew to undertake the duties of advising and passing upon the dissertation. The Dissertation Committee is nominated by the department or program concerned, and is approved and appointed by the Dean of the School. It will consist of not less than five members: the chairman and four others. The chairman and at least two of the others should be from the program or department of concentration; at least one member of the Dissertation Committee shall be from outside the program or department of concentration. The chairman and any two of the other four committee members must be regular members of the Faculty. The duties of the Dissertation Committee are:

1. To review and approve the student’s dissertation proposal. 

2. To consult with and to advise students on their research.

3. To meet, at intervals, to review progress and expected results.

4. To read and comment upon the draft dissertation.

5. To meet, when the dissertation is completed, to conduct the final oral examination and to satisfy itself that the dissertation is a contribution to knowledge and that it is written in lucid and correct English and submitted in approved form.

The Dissertation Committee may appoint a Dissertation Advisor from among its members to closely supervisor the student’s progress towards completing the dissertation. The advisor should report to the Committee regularly on the candidate’s progress to date.

The candidate is well advised to have a final acceptable typescript of the dissertation in the hands of each member of his/her committee at a time reasonably in advance of the final defense of the work. 

No credit is given for research until the dissertation is completed and successfully defended and a grade of "P" is given. Until then a grade of "I" is registered. Credit is not granted for research in residence, but a special fee is charged for each enrollment.

Five copies of the dissertation in approved form on proper paper, one copy on a CD and nine copies of an abstract of not over 350 words will be handed in to the Office of the Graduate Studies on or before the date specified in the calendar published each session, accompanied by 2 certificates of approval of doctoral dissertation defense. It is the duty of the student to acquire a copy of the Guidelines for Preparing Dissertations from the Graduate Office and to conform to the requirements therein.

No student gains the right to be recommended for the degree simply by fulfilling requirements. This right is reserved to the student's Committee.

9. Final Examination

A final public oral defense of the dissertation is required. However, none but the members of the dissertation committee may interrogate the candidate. In certain cases there may require by the major department, a final written "integration examination" to test the candidate's ability to integrate program and the dissertation in relation to it. These examinations must be held at least one month prior to commencement. Upon passing the final exam, students must apply for graduation at the Registrar’s Office and pay graduation fees.

 10. Recency of Credit

Degree requirements must be completed within eight years of the time of admission to graduate work, and/or within four years of passing the qualifying examination.

11. Transfer of Credit

Transfer of graduate credit from another institution will not be made until the student has completed a like amount of credit at Nile University, and the transfer has been approved by the Supervisory Committee and the Dean of the School. Credit transferred is subject to the same recency rules as all other credit counted toward the degree, and is also subject to examination by Nile University. An official transcript of work to be transferred must be on file in the Graduate Office. Credits that pertain to or have been counted towards another degree cannot be transferred.

 12. Leave of Absence

Leave of absence assumes that no scholarly work in connection with the degree is being carried on by the student. Leave may be obtained by petition of the chairperson of the major department followed by the approval of the Dean.

III. TUITION POLICY

1. GENERAL

1. All students have to pay their tuition before or on the date* stamped on their acceptance letter.

2. Tuition payments for all programs are for the whole semester depending on the number of courses the student is registered for in that semester.

3. IDs will only be issued to students whose tuition payments have been completed. No students will be admitted to NU without valid IDs.

4. Students who plan to withdraw from the university or from a course must fill in a "Program Withdrawal Request" or a "Course Withdrawal Request", respectively, and get required approvals. These forms are available at the office of the Registrar. Only students who have approved withdrawals will be eligible for tuition refunds according to the policy below. Otherwise, students who do not withdraw officially from the university may get an “F” grade in the courses they have stopped attending and / or get dismissed from the university; and are not eligible for tuition refunds. 

2. Withdrawal from the Program

1.      If a student withdraws from a program before the first day of classes of a semester, 90% of the tuition fee paid this semester will be refunded, and 10% will be deducted as administrative fees.

2.      If a student withdraws from a program anytime after the first day of classes of a semester and before completing more than 15% of the semester contact hours, the student will be refunded 70% of the tuition paid this semester. The remaining 30% will be deducted as fees.

3.      Students who withdraw from a program after attending more than 15% of the semester contact hours are not eligible for any tuition refund for this semester.

3. Withdrawal from one or more courses

1. If a student withdraws from one or more courses in a program before the course(s) first day of classes, the tuition fee for this course(s) will be deferred to the following semester and will be considered partial payment for the courses the student registers for in the following semester.

2. If a student withdraws from one or more courses anytime after the course(s) first day of classes and before completing more than 15% of the course’s contact hours, the deadline for course withdrawal without academic penalty, 70% of the tuition paid for this course(s) will be deferred to the following semester and be considered partial payment for courses the student registers for in the following semester. The remaining 30% will be deducted as fees.

3. Students who withdraw from a course after attending more than 15% of the course’s contact hours are not eligible for any tuition refund.