Academic Rules and Regulations

ELI students are expected to adhere to the AUC Code of Academic Ethics. 

More information on the types of violations can be found here. 

Academic integrity and Plagiarism 

At AUC, we take plagiarism, cheating, and other violations of academic integrity very seriously. Students are expected to commit to the principles of academic integrity.

Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception. Such acts of dishonesty include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another person’s work as one's own, using the Internet or other sources without citation, fabricating field data or citations, stealing examinations, tampering with the academic work of another student, and facilitating other students' acts of academic dishonesty. 

Plagiarism for assignments and/or reports may result in a zero grade for the assignment and/or the report in question. Cheating during an examination may result in a zero grade for this examination. Further action, according to university regulations, would also be implemented.

The University's statement on academic integrity, from which the above statement is drawn, is available on the Academic Integrity page.

Students should be aware that most written work will be submitted to “Turnitin.com”, the detection prevention software. By submitting your work to Turnitin, you are affirming that you have followed AUC’s Code of Academic Ethics and that the work submitted is your own, thereby acknowledging that you have understood that any plagiarism detected will have to be reported.

The Department of English Language Instruction (ELI) is committed to fostering academic integrity and the development of students’ language and critical thinking skills. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can support learning in certain contexts, students are expected to produce and submit work that reflects their own language abilities, ideas, analysis and effort. Submitting AI-generated work as one’s own is considered plagiarism and a violation of academic integrity standards. 

Because ELI courses are designed to develop students’ language proficiency, and communication skills, students are expected to demonstrate their own speaking and writing skills without unauthorized assistance.

Unless explicitly permitted by the instructor, AI tools may not be used to generate assignments, essays, written responses, presentations, discussion posts, or other assessed work.

The use of AI tools during exams, quizzes, timed assessments, tests, and other in-class or take-home assessments is strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized by the instructor. Students must ensure that any submitted work remains primarily their own and demonstrates their individual understanding, language ability, and critical thinking. Whenever AI use is permitted and contributes to an assignment, students must properly acknowledge and cite the AI tool according to the instructor’s requirements. Students are responsible for:

• Understanding and following course-specific AI policies
• Critically evaluating AI-generated content for accuracy, bias, and reliability
• Ensuring that submitted work reflects their own learning and achievement
• Seeking clarification from their instructor whenever AI-use expectations are unclear

The ELI encourages responsible and ethical use of AI tools while maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, and language development. Failure to comply with this may result in academic penalties and referral through the University’s academic integrity procedures. 

Check AUC's statement on the use of artificial intelligence tools. 

ELI students are expected to read and abide by the AUC Code of Student Conduct. 

Actions or speech that violate this code, including harming others or preventing others from learning, are not acceptable and may result in disciplinary action.

ELI students are expected to take responsibility for their learning by:

1. Participating actively and thoughtfully in-class activities.
2. Completing both in-class and homework assignments.
3. Attending sessions regularly.
4. Developing effective study habits and learning strategies.
5. Coming to class prepared and ready to engage in learning activities.
6. Seeking clarification and support when needed.
7. Respecting instructors, classmates and the learning environment.
8. Managing their time effectively to meet course requirements and deadlines.

Active participation in class activities is an essential component of student learning and a significant factor in the assessment of student progress and performance. Therefore, regular attendance and punctuality are required. Excessive absences or repeated tardiness, regardless of the reason—including documented medical absences or University—may adversely affect a student's ability to meet course learning outcomes and successfully complete the course.

The maximum number of permitted absences for each course is listed below:

If a student exceeds the allowed number of absences for legitimate, justifiable reasons and has still been able to keep up with class assignments and not fall behind the rest of the class, the following procedure will be implemented:

1. Within three working days, the student must submit a written petition to the ELI attendance appeal committee at eliattendanceappeal@aucegypt.edu explaining the reasons for excessive absences and enclosing any supporting documents.
2. The student must continue attending class and set it a priority not to miss any more classes.

If, in the judgment of the committee, the student's case has merit, the committee will meet as soon as possible to review the petition submitted by the student, along with the supporting documents, and agree to accept the appeal or not. 

The ELI attendance appeal committee may decide:

1. In unsubstantiated cases, to deny the appeal.
2. In well-substantiated cases or in exceptional cases, to 

The ELI student grievance process is as follows:

1. If you have a classroom or course-related concern, you should first discuss it with the instructor of that course.
2. If you are unable to resolve the issue with your instructor, you may submit a formal written complaint to the chair of the Department of English Language Instruction by emailing ELIchair@aucegypt.edu. 
3. In case of a formal, written complaint, the instructor of the course in question can submit a written response within five working days to the ELI department chair.
4. The ELI department chair will take appropriate steps to resolve the problem and will respond to you and the instructor in writing. 
5.  The chair may, at his or her discretion, dismiss a complaint that, in his or her judgment, is lacking in merit.
6. A record of your complaint, the instructor’s response and the resolution will be kept in the department’s files.

For more information, see the AUC Grievance and Appeal Process for Student Concerns

Students who wish to request a review of a grade received on a secure assessment task must follow the process outlined below:

1. Instructor Review (First Level of Appeal)
   • The student must first discuss the grade with the instructor and request a review of the assessment.
   • The instructor will re-examine the assessment and provide the student with a written or verbal explanation of the grade, including any revisions made as a result of the review.
   • If an error is identified, the instructor will correct the grade in accordance with departmental procedures.
2. Chair Review (Second Level of Appeal)
   • If the student remains dissatisfied after the instructor's review, the student may submit a written appeal to the chair of the Department of English Language Instruction at ELIchair@aucegypt.edu.
   • The appeal should clearly state the basis for the request and include any relevant supporting documentation.
   • The chair will review the assessment, the instructor's rationale and the student's appeal, and may consult with the instructor as needed. 
   • The chair will communicate the final decision to the student in writing. The chair's decision is final within the Department.

Students should note that a grade review may result in the grade remaining unchanged, increasing, or decreasing. If a student remains dissatisfied with the chair’s final decision, they may refer to the AUC Grievance and Appeal Process for Student Concerns.