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Advisor & Faculty FAQs

• Academic Advising Information
• AU Abroad Web Administrator Website

Academic Advising Information

What are the general application requirements for AU Abroad?
To participate in an AU Abroad, students must be at least a second-semester sophomore, have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and the approval of their academic advisor. Certain programs require a higher GPA, as indicated on the "Academics" page in their description. Individual Program descriptions also indicate whether certain language and course prerequisites are required for admission. All Enclave programs require at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA) if not higher.

Does AU Abroad have General Education Course requirements?
No, AU Abroad does not have official requirements regarding the completion of Gen Ed's prior to going abroad. We recommend that students have as many Gen Ed's completed as possible prior to taking a semester or year abroad, simply to ease the academic burden upon return to AU. Academic Advisors should ensure students have completed the required general education requirements for their school prior to approving any study abroad program.

What is the difference between the Advisor Authorization Form and the Course Approval Form?
Applications to AU Abroad Enclaves require students to submit an Advisor Authorization Form to ensure their Academic Advisor approves of the proposed study abroad program. All courses offered as part of Enclave programs are automatically approved for AU credit (not major or minor credit). AU Abroad encourages Advisor comments in the open space provided on this form.

A more detailed Course Approval Form is required for applications to AU Abroad Partners and Providers in order for students to outline potential courses abroad with the guidance of their Academic Advisor. A student can not receive AU credit for a course taken abroad unless it is included on a course approval form. (In special cases courses can be approved retroactively after the program has been completed).

My advisee has just brought me the AU Abroad Partner and Provider Course Approval Form. What fields should I complete?
Applicants to AU Abroad Partners and Providers must choose their potential courses with their academic advisor(s). As you sit with your advisee with course titles and descriptions from Partner and Provider institutions, you should work to find equivalent courses in the AU system, and ascertain which of these courses may replace those required for a major or minor and how many credit hours each course should be worth. AU Abroad recommends students choose roughly 10 potential courses for each semester, so that they may then select from those pre-approved classes when making their final schedule on-site. Please remember to sign and date the form after you have finished discussing.

Where does a student submit the Judicial Affairs Disciplinary Clearance Form for their application?
T he Judicial Affairs and Mediation Services office is located in the Butler Pavillion, Room 408. When a student submits their form to JAMS, that office will return it to AU Abroad directly. Non-AU students should inquire about their home university's disciplinary affairs office. In some universities, academic advisors will have the ability to complete the Disciplinary Clearance Form.

Is there a specific format for the letter(s) of recommendation needed for the application?
The professor, academic advisor or employer who writes a student'sletter of recommendation should do so on university or company letterhead, but does not need to conform to any content-based format.

One of my students has approached me about obtaining AU credit for a non-AU Abroad program. Where should I direct them?
Students must have an excellent and academic reason for choosing to study abroad on a non-AU program. To petition to receive credit for a non-AU program abroad, a student must complete a Permit to Study Abroad, which can ONLY be obtained from the AU Abroad office. If a non-AU Abroad program is deemed academically acceptable according to AU standards (a decision made by Academic Advisors, each school and AU Abroad staff), then an AU Abroad Advisor will give the student a Permit to Study Abroad, and sign the document as the first of five signatures to be obtained. Following the AU Abroad Advisor's approval, the ensuing signatures must be obtained in the following order:

1. Student
2. Academic Advisor
3. Dean
4. Director, AU Abroad

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AU Abroad Web Administrator Website

What is the AU Abroad Web Administrator website and is it for me?

The AUA Web Administrator site is only utilized by AU Abroad staff in Washington, DC and on-site in our various international locations. We use the information herein to collect and review student applications and pre-departure information. This password-protected site is the key to effective communication between students, faculty and staff in DC and abroad.

• Login to the AUA Web Administrator site.

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