The American University in Dubai complies with all laws and regulations of the territorial jurisdiction in which its campus is located.

Furthermore, as an American-accredited institution, AUD complies with the spirit of relevant United States legislation in so far as is possible/advisable given the cultural, historical, architectural, and legal contexts within which the university operates in the United Arab Emirates.

AUD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or handicap among qualified persons in the recruitment and admission of students, the operation of any of its educational programs and activities, and the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff. The university provides a means to ensure a prompt resolution of all complaints regarding violations of the above policies and a means to ensure due process to all employees and students who believe that the university’s policy of non-discrimination is being violated or that they have been victims of sexual harassment.

As a matter of rigorous policy, AUD prohibits the manufacture and unlawful possession, use, sale or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on its property and at any university activity. Further information on the university’s policies can be found in the AUD Student Handbook. Any violation of these policies will result in appropriate disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal in the case of students and termination in the case of employees, even for a first offense. Violations of the law will also be referred to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Students or employees may also be referred to abuse help centers. Information on the school’s drug-free awareness program and drug and alcohol abuse prevention program may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Student Services.

AUD is committed to the policy that all members of the university community, including its faculty, students, and staff, have the right to be free from unlawful discrimination in the form of sexual harassment by any other member of the university community. Should a student or staff member feel that he/she has been unlawfully harassed, they should immediately inform the Dean of Student Services (students) or supervisor (staff)*. Unlawful harassment refers to behavior that is not welcome, which is personally offensive or undesirable to the recipient. All students and employees must be allowed to work and study in an environment free from unsolicited and unwelcome sexual overtures and advances.

Unlawful harassment undermines the employee/student/university relationship, and it will not be tolerated.

* of accused

AUD practices the standard of developing and implementing effective management systems that ensure integrity, confidentiality, security and accurate interpretation of institutional records. As such, AUD has implemented policies and procedures to protect the security of the student records in our electronic database (CampusVue), created adequate backup procedures, and updated procedures for approving grade changes.

The integrity and confidentiality of student record information continues to be one of the highest priorities of the university. *

* AUD upholds the commitment to respect and protect the privacy of student information according to AUD policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.

The university has established a policy for the release of records containing information on students.

• Each student attending AUD shall have the right to inspect and review the contents of his/her education records, including grades, records of attendance and other information. Parents are not entitled to inspect and review financial records of their students. Parental access to a student’s records will be allowed without prior consent if the student is a dependent as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (USA).
• A student’s education records are defined as files, materials, or documents including those in electronic format that contain information directly related to the student and are maintained by the institution. Access to a student’s education records is afforded to school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records, such as for purposes of recording grades, attendance, and advising, and determining financial aid eligibility.
• Students may request a review of their education records by submitting a written request to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer. The review will be allowed during regular school hours under appropriate supervision. Students may also obtain copies of their education records for a nominal charge.
• Students may request that the institution amend any of their education records, if they believe the record contains information that is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of their privacy rights. The request for change must be made in writing and delivered to the Registrar with the reason for the requested change stated fully. Grades and course evaluations can be challenged only on the grounds that they are improperly recorded. The instructor or staff member involved will review the request, if necessary meet with the student, and then determine whether to retain, change, or delete the disputed data. If a student requests a further review, the Provost/Chief Academic Officer will conduct a hearing, giving the student a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the disputed issues. The student will be notified of the Provost/Chief Academic Officer’s decision. Copies of student challenges and any written explanations regarding the contents of the student’s record will be retained as part of the student’s permanent record.
• Directory information is information on a student that the university may release to third parties without the consent of the student. AUD has defined directory information as the student’s name, address(es), telephone number(s), email address, birth date and place, program undertaken, dates of attendance, credential awarded. If a student does not want some or all of his or her directory information to be released to third parties without his/her consent, the student must present such a request in writing to the Registrar within the term of the student’s initial enrollment.
• The written consent of the student is required before personally identifiable information from education records on that student may be released to a third party, except for those disclosures referenced above, disclosures to accrediting commissions and government agencies, and other disclosures permitted by law. All students are requested to complete the Release Form as part of the admission process.
• A student who believes that AUD has violated his or her rights concerning the release of or access to his or her records may file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-4605.

AUD prides itself in offering quality health services. To maintain our standards and fully address the health and medical needs of our students, the AUD Health Center requires that all AUD students submit the Student Health History Form to the Health Center. This Form must be endorsed by a physician. All health information is confidential. Only the following staff members have access (as needed): President, Executive Vice President, Dean of Student Services, and Housing Manager (for dorm students). All students medical records are kept under a locked filing system, and they are not released to others without the written consent (Authorization of Health Information Release) of the student or his/her parents.

Non-Discrimination Statement
AUD does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of physical or mental disability and is fully committed to providing reasonable accommodations, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services, to qualified individuals with a disability, unless providing such accommodations would result in an undue burden or fundamentally alter the nature of the relevant program, benefit, or service provided by AUD.

Special Needs
AUD is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and equal access to university programs and activities for students with documented disabilities/special needs.

A reasonable accommodation is one that is consistent with academic standards of the university and does not require substantial course or program alteration.

The Office of Student Support welcomes and encourages students with disabilities to identify themselves and to seek access to needed accommodations.

It is the responsibility of all special needs students to contact the Assistant Dean of Student Services for an interview and needs assessment prior to their first term of enrollment.

To ensure that accommodations are provided in a timely fashion, the university strongly encourages students to submit accommodation requests well in advance of the start of any coursework for which the accommodation is requested. The Assistant Dean maintains a file on each special needs student including specifics on needed accommodations and adaptations.

This information will be kept confidential except that relevant faculty and staff may be informed if they are expected to provide accommodations or if emergency treatment may be required.

For more information, students should contact Student Support within the Student Services Department.

AUD is concerned about the safety and welfare of its students and employees. Therefore, AUD has implemented a security policy for the protection of students, staff and faculty. This policy is in compliance with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act. AUD maintains a log of all crimes committed and reported on its campus. Information is updated annually.

Updated information for the prior calendar year is made available, upon request, to all continuing students, faculty and staff each year. For emergency situations, students are asked to call the university hotline at 555. A security guard will get in touch with the appropriate authority or university staff member for appropriate action.

Students are encouraged to share personal experiences while participating in classes at AUD. However, students must be aware that should they disclose to any AUD faculty member or staff information that may cause harm to themselves or others, faculty members and staff are required to report such information to the Deans or Chairs, Provost/Chief Academic Officer, or President.

AUD believes strongly in promoting the development of personal and social responsibility and also believes in a humanistic approach to discipline conducive to academic pursuits; however, AUD recognizes that its responsibility for the protection of personal and institutional rights and property is a primary focus of the disciplinary process.

The administration reserves the right to develop any policy or take any action(s) deemed appropriate to maintain the safety and well-being of any or all students. Policies and procedures on offenses related to persons, property, campus operations and welfare, health or safety can be found in the AUD Student Handbook.

AUD is an academic community committed to the educational and personal growth of its students. Behavior that infringes upon rights, safety or privileges or that impedes the educational process is unacceptable and may lead to sanctions up to and including dismissal from the university. An explanation of violations of university regulations can be found in the AUD Student Handbook.

The Conduct Council, a committee of academics, administrative staff and students, serves to investigate alleged breaches of the AUD Code of Student Conduct, determine culpability and prescribe penalty. The Council operates on an ad hoc basis under the chairmanship of the Dean of Student Services. Its composition and mode of operation mirror that of the Honor Council (see AUD Student Handbook), except that an administrative staff member replaces the Dean or Chair of the unit alleging disintegrity.

Information technology resources include all university-owned computers, peripherals, and related equipment and software; voice and data communications infrastructure, all other associated tools, instruments, and facilities; and the services that make use of any of these technology resources. Users are encouraged to use the university computing systems in an effective, efficient, ethical, and lawful manner.

AUD invests in technology resources in order to accomplish more effectively university specific tasks, goals, and learning objectives.

As expected in a contemporary environment, the presence of technology on campus is pervasive. University operating processes and procedures are nearly always computer supported, and course syllabi more frequently than not reflect the imparting of technological learning outcomes and the use of technology in pedagogy.

Computer users at AUD are required to use proper social and professional etiquette when using the AUD systems. Use of the network implies consent for monitoring of traffic that is necessary for smooth administration of the resource. University computing resources shall not be used for purposes that could reasonably be expected to cause directly, or indirectly, excessive strain on computing systems or unwarranted and unsolicited interference with use of email or email systems.

AUD does not condone the use of inappropriate language and visuals when storing, replicating or transmitting messages by/to instructors, staff or students. The AUD computing facilities and network infrastructure is a distributed and shared environment. Improper behavior that could disrupt the computing resources may be ground for termination of access or other penalties deemed appropriate. Anyone accessing or utilizing university computer systems, related data files, and information shares the responsibility for the security, integrity, and confidentiality of information.

Grievance Officer
The Grievance Officer facilitates the resolution of grievances within the AUD community through the Grievance Process as outlined below. The Grievance Officer offers confidential, informal, independent, and neutral dispute resolution services by providing mediation, information, advice and referrals as appropriate.

Contact the Grievance Officer by clicking here.

Grievance Procedure
To resolve an issue,

• Grievants should directly communicate with the person with whom they have a complaint. It is the grievant’s responsibility to do this before any further action is pursued;
• If grievants wish to formalize the process; they are required to seek the counsel of the Grievance Officer within ten working days of the incident leading to the complaint;
• If the grievant wishes to pursue the matter further, he/she should submit a written complaint to the Grievance Officer with the following information:
  • his or her description of the incident(s);
  • the name of the person with whom he/ she has a concern/complaint;
  • a suggested remedy.
• The Grievance Officer will then contact the respective Dean, Chair or Program Director (academic issues), Department Director (non-academic issues), or Supervisor (as appropriate) and provide them with the information regarding the complaint;
• The Dean, Chair or Program Director (academic issues), Department Director (nonacademic issues) or Supervisor will then begin the investigation of the complaint;
• The Dean, Chair or Program Director (academic issues), Department Director (non-academic issues) or Supervisor will provide a report reflecting the findings and giving recommendations within ten working days of the filing of the written complaint;
• If a written report is not received within this timeframe, the Grievance Officer will forward the grievance to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer (academic issues), Dean of Student Services (non-academic issues) or respective Senior Supervisor;
• The Grievance Officer in consultation with the Provost/Chief Academic Officer (academic issues), Dean of Student Services (non-academic issues) or Senior Supervisor, will summarize the decision and rationale in writing within ten working days to the grievant, the respondent, and the Dean, Chair or Program Director (academic issues), Department Director (nonacademic issues) or Supervisor.
  • Appropriate action will be taken by the Dean, Chair or Program Director (academic issues), Department Director (non-academic issues) or Supervisor within five working days after receiving the summary of the decision/rationale.
  • Confirmation in writing that action has been taken will be provided to the Grievance Officer within five working days.

If at any time during this process, input is not provided within the stated timeframe, the Grievance Officer will collaborate with the appropriate parties to move the process forward. It is the responsibility of the Grievance Officer to keep the university Complaint Log. In the event that a grievance filed in Summer I or Summer II cannot be processed within the prescribed timeframe because one or more of the parties to the grievance are not available, the grievance will then be processed within the ten-day period immediately following the start of the Fall semester.

Grievance Appeal Process
In the event that the above procedure does not yield a satisfactory resolution, the grievant may appeal to the President in writing. The grievant may seek the counsel of the Grievance Officer in preparing the appeal.

• This appeal must be received in the Office of the President within five working days after the grievant, the respondent, and the Dean, Chair or Program Director, Department Director or Supervisor have received written notification of the action
• The decision previously made can only be overturned by the President if additional extremely compelling information is deemed relevant to the case outcome.

No Council member shall sit in review of any decision he or she previously rendered which comes before the Council for review. This imperative applies to situations where the Council’s decision is actually being challenged and applies in situations where there may be an appearance of impropriety for a Council member to review a decision based on either direct or indirect contact with the matter in question.

When a student interrupts progress towards completion of his/her degree for one calendar year or more, he/she must re-apply to the university in order to resume their studies. The application for re-admission will entail a review of the student’s record by the Admissions Office which, in consultation with the Office of Academic Affairs, may require the student to fulfill (in all or in part) the degree requirements in effect at the time readmission is requested. These requirements may differ from those in effect at the time the student was first admitted to the university.

AUD neither implies nor guarantees that credits completed will be accepted by other institutions. Each institution has policies that govern the acceptance of credit from other institutions. Transfer of credit is a privilege granted by the institution to which a student may seek admission. Students seeking to transfer credits earned at AUD to other postsecondary institutions should contact the college or university to which they seek admission to inquire as to that institution’s policies on credit transfer and acceptance.