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Academic and Program Policies / FUBiS Student Code of Conduct
The mission of FUBiS is to provide international students with a premier summer and winter abroad program delivering the highest academic quality as well as enhancing the development of intercultural competency skills. FUBiS is the official summer and winter program of the Freie Universität Berlin, a fully accredited German research university.
In order that students who attend the FUBiS program may earn credit toward their degrees through their home institutions, the Academic Board of FUBiS has reviewed and approved all academic program offerings. The Academic Board consists of at least 5 tenured professors of the Freie Universität Berlin. The 1st Vice President of the Freie Universität serves as the Academic Board’s President.
The Academic Board has established the following rules and regulation for academic programs of study offered by FUBiS.
I. FUBiS Program and Academic Policies
A. Student Responsibility
Students participating in a FUBiS program are expected to take full responsibility for their own actions or failure to act. Therefore, FUBiS staff and faculty will hold students accountable.
FUBIS students are adults and guests abroad. They are expected to abide by the FUBiS academic and program policies and the customs and laws that govern their host country, Germany.
As an academic institution, FUBiS staff and faculty are expected to respect the rights and dignity of students, staff, and faculty.
These policies exist to enhance the educational process and to ensure a safe, fair and successful learning experience for students enrolled in a FUBiS program. FUBIS holds the students responsible for knowing these policies. Ignorance of the policies is not an acceptable excuse for policy violation.
FUBiS students who are participating in FUBIS through a study abroad program of their home university are subject to both the rules of conduct, academic procedures, academic honor codes, and student disciplinary procedures of the respective universities and to the FUBiS academic and program policies.
B. Academic Standing And Responsibility
All students entering FUBIS programs must be in and maintain good academic standing throughout the duration of the program. A student may be dismissed from the program at any time for unsatisfactory class preparation, attendance or performance.
It is the responsibility of each student to insure that written work is submitted and received when due.
C. Examinations
A mid-term evaluation and normally a written final examination are required in each course. The results of the mid-term evaluation should be communicated to the students in a timely manner.
Detailed information on assignments and examinations and their grading can be found in the course descriptions and/or syllabi for each class. These are published on the official program website www.fubis.org.
D. Course Requirements
FUBIS students are expected to carry the number of credits stipulated in the catalogue published on the official FUBIS program website www.fubis.org.
Students must complete all components and/or assignments of the required work for each course according to the deadlines established for each component and/or assignment. Failure to complete a component and/or assignment of the course requirements as scheduled or when due may result in a fail grade for the course.
Course requirements for each class are published on the official program website www.fubis.org and/or are listed in the syllabi the students receive from the instructor.
E. Program Start, Arrival, and Departure
Students are expected to make their travel arrangements as to arrive and depart on the designated arrival and departure dates. Students who miss the orientation, the placement interviews, or the first day of instruction will not be admitted to the program.
Move in and move out dates for accommodation that was arranged through FUBiS are the designated arrival and departure dates. Students who arrive earlier will need to arrange for their own accommodation for the time being.
F. Class Attendance
Regular class attendance including field and study trips is mandatory. Instructors record class attendance and forward their records to the Program Coordinator upon completion of the program. Unexcused absences will negatively impact student course grades. In case unexcused absences exceed two days of class or 6 class sessions, the student’s grade may be impacted negatively including a fail grade.
Absences are excused in case of sickness. However, longer absences due to sickness have to be proven by a medical certificate. Excused absences may impact the grades if the student does not fulfill all the course requirements. In such a case, an agreeable solution will be found in close consultation with the Program Coordinator.
G. Changes of Class
As FUBiS is an intensive short term study abroad program, there is NO drop/add period. However, a class change is possible under the following narrow circumstances:
- The deadline for changing a class is the first Wednesday of a 4 week program (FUBiS I, FUBiS III), or the first Friday of 6 week program (FUBiS II). No class change is possible after this deadline.
- The maximum enrolment of the other class is not met
- The instructors of both classes need to approve of the change of class
- The student has to contact the program coordinator to seek written approval
- The student is advised to contact his home institution regarding credit transfer
Should a student decide to drop a class, the rules and regulations for cancellation apply.
The course change fee for changes made after program start is of 75 €.
The above mentioned regulations do not apply to changes between German language course levels. The course change fee applies, however, if a student changes from intensive German course to a semi-intensive German language course.
H. Withdrawal
The deadline for withdrawing from a course is the end of the second week of the program. When a student withdraws from a course after the Withdrawal deadline, the title of the course will appear on the transcript with the appropriate number of credits and a fail grade
The student has to contact the program coordinator to seek written approval.
I. Incomplete
Students must complete all course and program requirements before leaving the program site.
Students may petition for extension for the final assignment for one week maximum after the program ended. The petition must be addressed to instructor and Program Coordinator who will closely consult with the instructor on the petition.
The time limit for completing the course or a course assignment shall in no case extend beyond one week after the program ended. Thereafter, the grade becomes F.
J.Pass/Fail Grading and Audits
FUBiS is a short-term intensive and academic university program. Therefore, FUBiS does neither offer a Pass/Fail nor an Audit option.
K. General Grading Policy
The common Freie Universität Berlin grading policy applies to all FUBIS programs and is communicated to students at the beginning of the program. It also published on the official FUBiS Program website www.fubis.org.
|
FUB Grade |
ECTS Grade |
Recommended US Grade |
|
1,0 |
A |
A+ |
|
1,3 |
A |
|
|
1,7 |
B |
A- |
|
2,0 |
B+ |
|
|
2,3 |
C |
B |
|
2,7 |
B- |
|
|
3,0 |
C+ |
|
|
3,3 |
D |
C |
|
3,7 |
E |
C- |
|
4,0 |
D |
|
|
failed (> 4,0) |
F |
F |
L. Grade Appeal Process
Students who wish formally to appeal a grade received must submit a petition for grade appeal to the FUBiS office within 15 days of the mailing of proof copy of the transcripts. The office will forward the appeal to the Program Coordinator, who will give a copy of the appeal to the instructor involved and discuss with him/her the particulars of the case.
The course instructor is the primary authority in matters of grading. The Program Coordinator, however, retains certain discretionary power which should be exercised only in the most extraordinary circumstances.
M. Transcripts and Credit Transfer
Every student receives a Freie Universität Berlin/FUBiS one transcript. The academic transcript lists all courses, the number of contact hours, the ECTS credits earned, and the final grade.
The transcript will be sent to the student’s home address. Upon request, FUBiS sends the transcript to the student’s home institution. It is the student’s responsibility to provide FUBiS with a correct mail address.
Should a student fail a class, he/she can submit a petition that a confirmation of attendance be issued instead of a transcript. This confirmation of attendance will indicate no credits and no grade.
The Freie Universität Berlin/FUBiS will include no record of academic work not arranged and supervised by FUBiS.
FUBIS issues the transcripts 4 weeks following the completion of the program. Please take into account, that mail delivery may take 2 weeks or longer in some instances.
It should be noted that each institution has its own policy regarding credit transfer from other institutions. We strongly recommend that students consult with his/her Academic Advisor and/or Professor to receive credit transfer approval prior to enrolling in a FUBiS program. On the FUBiS webpage students will find the following course information as downloads:
- course description
- course syllabus
- course requirements
- grading scale
- student profile
- CV of the Professor
The student who would like to receive transfer credits at the home university should print out all documents and contact the Professor and/or Study Abroad Advisor and ask for prior credit and grade approval. In case there are further questions please contact FUBiS at: fubis@fubis.org.
N. Credit Calculation
FUBIS awards ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits measure the workload of a fulltime student during one academic year. The student workload of a full-time study program in Europe amounts in most cases to around 1 500 to 1 800 hours per year and in those cases one credit represents around 25 to 30 hours of work.
Please also see M. for information on credit transfer.
O. Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, And Cheating
Students also agree not to engage in academic dishonesty, plagiarism, cheating, use of unauthorized materials, or engaging in accessing or distributing confidential academic materials.
The accused student will be notified, usually within two working days, that there has been an academic dishonesty charge filed against him/ her. He/she will also be notified that the review of the charge of dishonesty will be held at a particular time and place.
The Program Coordinator and one faculty member who is not involved in the specific case will conduct the review. At the review hearing, the student will be presented with all details of the charge filed against him/her. The student will be asked to present his/her case. The student can present other pertinent information.
If the student admits to the charge, the circumstances of the violation will be discussed and an appropriate sanction will be determined.
If the student denies any wrongdoing, the review committee will consider all existing information, gather more data if necessary, and make a decision. The student will be notified within two working days of the final decision.
Sanctions for academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following: warning, grade penalty, notification of the home school, suspension, dismissal from the program, or any combination of the above.
P. Information Technology
Computers in the computer lab are maintained to support the program of teaching and learning. Using Freie Universität Berlin owned facilities establishes a contract to use them legally, ethically, in accordance with their educational purposes. Freie Universität Berlin owned computer facilities (including the campus network and internet connection) whether accessed remotely or locally, should not be used for commercial purposes or in any way that infringes on state/federal/international laws with regard to libel or copyright. The illegal download and storage of music and movies on Freie Universität Berlin servers and computers as well as the use of files haring tools to access peer-to-peer networks is strictly prohibited.
Q. Learning Difficulties
A student with identified learning difficulties shall inform the program coordinator in writing prior to program start. Official documentation/certification must be included. Only if the program coordinator has been informed of a student’s identified learning difficulty, FUBiS can take the appropriate measures and accommodate the student’s special needs.
II. Student Code of Conduct
Students violating this code will be subject to appropriate review and sanctions, up to and including removal from the program. Information regarding students who violate FUBiS policies will be provided to the students’ home schools and may be provided to their parents.
The following code of student conduct is in effect in addition to any other university jurisdiction that may be applicable.
The following behavior and/or actions are illegal in Germany will be prosecuted under German law:
- Theft and robbery
- Violence against others
- Vandalizing
- Sexual harassment
- Stalking
- Abuse of illegal drugs
- Possession of illegal substances and explosive material
- Possession of weapons without proper permission
Please note that this represents only a partial list.
In addition, actions detrimental to the safety of students, instructors, and staff as well as disrespectful, disruptive, harmful, lewd, or otherwise irresponsible behavior are prohibited.
Please note that this represents only a partial list.
- Verbal abuse of faculty, staff, students, or FUBiS representatives
- Behavior that is disturbing or distressing to students, staff, or faculty
- Sexual harassment, disorderly, lewd, indecent or obscene conduct, gestures, or actions
- Harassment of any person
- Stalking of any person
- Obstruction of classes and/o obstruction of other FUBiS activities
- Damage to FUB property, residence halls, hosts or host families, apartments.
- Violations of residential guidelines and/or rules, including, but not limited to, unauthorized overnight guests, excessive noise, rowdy conduct, and drunkenness
- Permanent or temporary diversion of academic materials needed by other students, including unauthorized removal of library materials, audio-visual materials, or technological materials
- Self-endangerment, including involvement in activities or behavior that could result in personal harm
- Excessive alcohol abuse
- The possession and use of illegal substances by FUBiS students are strictly prohibited.
The accused student will be notified that there has been a charge filed against him/ her. He/she will also be notified that the review of the charge will be held at a particular time and place.
The Program Coordinator, one additional FUBiS Staff member, and one FUBiS faculty member will conduct the review. At the review hearing, the student will be presented with all details of the charge filed against him/her. The student will be asked to present his/her case. The student can present other pertinent information, including written statements from witnesses.
If the student admits to the charge, the circumstances of the violation will be discussed and an appropriate sanction will be determined.
If the student denies any wrongdoing, the review committee will consider all existing information, gather more data if necessary, and make a decision. The student will be notified within two working days of the final decision.
Sanctions for academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following: warning, grade penalty, notification of the home school, suspension, dismissal from the program, or any combination of the above.
