Student Handbook & University Policies

OUR SUPPORT

The faculty and staff want you to succeed in your academic journey at AOU and in your professional life. We are here to guide you and assist you in any way possible for you to achieve your ambitious goals in your studies and after graduation.

YOUR COMMITMENT

By joining AOU, you are making a commitment to yourself, your families, to the University and to your future.

CODE OF CONDUCT

• Students are expected to abide by the highest standards of honesty and originality in their academic work, both written and orally.
• All submitted academic work by a student is expected to be the student’s own work. In the preparation of their work, it is the responsibility of the student to distinguish their own ideas and knowledge from information derived from all other sources.
• Students will behave in a mature & responsible manner and conduct themselves with the highest level of respect & dignity with their Instructors, University staff & Departments.

COURSE PARTICIPATION

• If you are registered in a course for undergraduate or graduate credit, you must adhere strictly to your Instructor’s lesson plans & communicate through our online site, phone, email, Skype, Whatsapp, FaceTime, etc…as a distance student. You must take all exams & complete all coursework on time as well as follow the semester dates; unless your Instructor accepts a reasonable explanation for failure to meet course & semester deadlines.
• When a student signs into a course the student has entered into a binding contract therefore the student must be in constant communication with their Instructor during their office hours and/or the time their Instructor has assigned them for their study sessions.

CHEATING

Any student cheating, copying and/or using someone else’s work as their own, using unauthorized material, internet, books, papers during oral exams and by not completing adhering to the strict guidelines & policies for the comprehensive exams will result in disciplinary actions and/or being expelled.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

To receive your degree, candidates must successfully complete curricular requirements, pay all fees, all required final exams and be recommended for graduation by the faculty of the University.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

• After a semester officially begins, students have up to 2 weeks to enroll before they are considered late and they will then have to wait until the next semester for registration & enrollment.
• Enrollment for a semester begins 3 weeks before the official semester begins and closes 2 weeks after the official semester begins.
• No withdrawal or refunds from courses after 2 weeks of enrolling will be accepted-no exceptions.
• No refunds for Admissions fee, Equalization fee AND No refunds for Application fees. No refunds for any comprehensive exams or any final exams or any money paid toward their Thesis.
• Any student who is applying for any Graduate Program at AOU and DOES NOT hold a degree in the same field of study and does not come from an accredited University MUST take a qualifying entry exam & pay the exam fee for each required exam.
• Any student who fails to complete a course within 2 consecutive semesters, then a reentry fee of $100.00 must be paid as this causes disruption to the Instructor’s time and teaching schedule. If more than a year passes then the student must repay the initial tuition cost of that course.
• All students are to pay all fees & tuition through PayPal or if paying by Zelle then notify eba@aou.edu after you paid.
• All students must pay in full at the time of enrollment unless a payment plan has been pre-approved by the University for that semester, but all balances must be completely paid by the end of the semester. NO EXECPTIONS!
• A student’s failure to read this information is not acceptable grounds for seeking exemption from these policies & procedures.

Student Log in guidelines 

For new AOU applicants

If you are a hopeful student applying to AOU please click “APPLY” on the menu bar and kindly follow the instructions and submit all required material. Once we have received and reviewed your application we will, in sha Allah, send you your notification of acceptance status within two days.

AOU students Log-in Instructions

1. 1. Go to www.aou.edu
   2. Go to the very top of page and click on “log in.”
   3. Enter your username & password that you received from the Academic & Student Affairs Department to gain access to your Student Account and program.
   4. You will, in sha Allah, now see the programs on the menu bar; click on the program you were admitted into to see the program details and to enroll into courses. 
   5. Select course/s you wish to enroll in by clicking on the course name and then pay the tuition.
   6. You will now be automatically enrolled and now can review all course material, instructor information, syllabus etc.

1. IMMEDIATELY contact your instructor to introduce yourself and to set up your study sessions with your instructor based on a mutual agreeable schedule-Study sessions are mandatory!
2. As a helpful reminder to your instructors, make sure you are in constant contact with your instructors throughout your courses! Please immediately contact your instructions when you have submitted your written exams, term papers and when you are ready to schedule your oral exams.
3. View your grades under your “Profile” which is visible when you click on the picture icon by your name.