The following section presents the academic regulations applied to Bachelor degree programs. These regulations are meant to assist students, academic advisors, administrators and staff in taking appropriate decisions. The President, Vice Presidents, Deans, and the Registrar’s Office shall be responsible for their implementation. The University Academic Board is authorized to rule on cases that are not covered in these regulations and to mitigate problems arising from their application.

Pleading ignorance of these regulations or of related publications and announcements posted on catalog boards in various campus buildings shall not exonerate students from the consequences of their violation.

Student petitions to circumvent academic rules must be verified by the academic advisor for the authenticity of the information before it is forwarded to the responsible entity for further action.

Duration of Study

Minimum period

To earn a Bachelor degree, a student has to study a minimum period as a matriculated student at the RHU as indicated in the table below.

A transfer student shall be treated as a new student regarding probation and dismissal rules. For transfer purposes, a regular semester is equivalent to a minimum of 12 earned credits. To earn a bachelor degree, a transfer student must study at least three regular semesters at RHU (taking a minimum of 36 credits) for a three years program or four regular semesters (taking a minimum of 48 credits) for a four years program and acquire the Co-op work experience.

Maximum period

The maximum study period to earn a Bachelor degree, excluding semesters of approved deferment of study, is 10 regular semesters for the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees and 12 regular semesters for the Bachelor of Engineering degree.

If, for compelling reasons, a student cannot complete the Bachelor degree within the apportioned period, a request for extension may be submitted through the college council for approval by the University Academic Board.

Student Class Level

The student class level is defined in accordance with the following criteria:

First year:              00-29 credit hours

Second year:        30-65 credit hours          

Third year:            66-99 credit hours

Fourth year:          100 and above credit hours

Course Load

Minimum Load

The minimum semester load shall be 12 credits unless the student needs less than that to graduate. In certain cases, the College Dean may approve a 9 credits minimum upon the recommendation of the Academic Advisor. 

Maximum load

The maximum load in a regular semester shall be 18 credits, which may be increased to 19 upon the Dean’s approval. A student may be allowed to take a maximum of 21 credit hours if he/she: (1) has a CGPA of no less than 85 or (2) needs 21 credits to graduate and has a GPA of 73 or above.

The maximum load in a summer term shall not exceed 9 credits. A 10 credits load may be allowed if the student: (1) has a CGPA no less than 85 or (2) needs 10 credits to graduate and has a CGPA of 73 or above, or (3) the schedule includes a one credit lab course.

The maximum load for a freshman student is 15 credits in the fall or spring semesters and 9 credits in a summer term.

Intensive English Program (IEP) Students

In addition to the English courses, students in the IEP may take courses required by the intended program of study as listed below.

Schedule Modification

The student may modify course schedule after registration by adding and/or dropping courses during the official drop and add period noted in the academic calendar. The student completes the Schedule Modifications Form, attains the approval of the academic advisor and the department chairperson and settles consequential financial obligations immediately after completing the transaction on the RHUSIS. If the course modification results in a load less than 12 credits or more than 18 credits, approval of the Dean is also required.

Dropping Courses

Students who do not plan to continue in a course must drop it during the drop/add period otherwise the student remains financially accountable for the course. A course dropped during the official drop and add period will be deleted from the student's schedule and the student will be relieved from the financial liability associated with the deleted course. If a refund is due, the provisions of the refund policy will apply.

Adding Courses

A student may add one or more course to his/her schedule during the drop/add period. The student must settle the financial obligations due to the course(s) addition by the prescribed deadlines.

Late Registration

Students who could not register during the normal registration period may register during the drop/add period and pay a late registration fee. The fee may be waived for new students or for students who could not register earlier due to urgent circumstances.

Repeating Courses

The student must repeat all failed courses when first offered. The student may also repeat a course in which he/she passed with a grade of “70” or lower only once to improve the CGPA. While all repeats shall remain on the student’s record the credits of a repeated course shall count only once and the highest grade is used in computing GPA. A course may not be repeated more than two times, including withdrawals.

Substituting Courses

A student may be allowed upon the approval of the college Dean to take a substitute for a required major course in the following cases:

• The required course is not offered or it conflicts with another required course in the semester a student is expected to graduate.
• The student had failed the course three times provided that the student is not on probation. The grades of the required and the substituted courses shall appear on the student’s transcripts and used in calculating the student’s CGPA.

The substitute and required course shall meet the following criteria: the number of credits and level of the substitute course must be the same or higher; the course is from the same or closely related field; and the course contents and expected competencies are equivalent.

Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses

An undergraduate student may be allowed to register for a maximum of 6 graduate credits under the following conditions:

• The student is in his last year of studies to complete the requirements for an undergraduate degree and has less than full load of registered courses in a semester and has a CGPA of at least 80.
• Substituting for a required undergraduate course which is not offered in the semester to graduate, provided that the student’s CGPA is not less than 75.

In all cases student must obtain the approval of the college dean.

Course Syllabus

The student is entitled to receive a detailed course syllabus at the beginning of the first class meeting. The syllabus is a way to inform the students of the course’s salient features and rules and help them plan accordingly. The syllabus should in the least include the following components: Information about the instructor – Name, contact information, office location and hours, and the manner and medium of communicating with the students; information about the course - title, brief  description, prerequisites, topics covered, learning outcomes; course resources - textbook, web links, references, technology tools and instructional materials; course activities and related deadlines - homework, quizzes, projects, research papers, presentations, group work; etc.; assessment criteria and grade distribution; statement to inspire engagement, communication, motivation, and self-expression; and class policy on attendance, exam make-up, etc. It is expected that course instructors make full utilization of Moodle resources in managing the learning process.

Attendance

The Instructor must state the attendance policy in the course syllabus. The student is required to attend all class meetings and course-related activities and is ultimately responsible for truancy consequences. Instructors must take attendance regularly and advise truant students of the ramifications of missing classes. If the number of absences reaches the 15 percent mark, the student must voluntarily withdraw from the course by following proper withdrawal procedure and receive a W grade (see the Withdrawal section on Page 46). If after accruing the 15% absences the student does not withdraw willingly, the instructor completes forced withdrawal form and submits it to the dean for approval, by the end of the tenth week of classes, the latest. The Dean’s Office forwards the form to the Registrar’s Office for action. Students who represent the country or the University in official activities shall be allowed up to 20% absences. If the absence is due to ill health or other exigent circumstances, the student must provide evidence and plan with the course instructor on how to attend to course requirements by completing the attendance exemption form. All absences, excused or otherwise shall be counted and the student is ultimately accountable for the missed work.

If the course instructor does not require attendance of all class sessions, the applicable attendance policy for that course must be approved by the college dean and clearly stated in the course syllabus.

Assessment and Examinations

The College Council shall establish and continuously review and update course evaluation and examination policies and procedures applied in the courses offered by the college. A brief outline of the current policies and procedures is given below.

Performance Assessment

The student has the right to have his/her work assessed and to receive continuous and constructive feedback in accordance with the University guidelines. Assessment of student performance shall be based on the level of attainment of the course outcomes stated in the course syllabus. Assessment instruments include, but not limited to student’s participation, blogs, wikis, homework, exams, drop quizzes, research papers, projects, practical work, etc. The instructor must complete a midterm performance assessment and report the results before the withdrawal deadline to give unsatisfactorily performing students a chance to withdraw and to help faculty advisors better advice students during the registration period.

Examinations

The course syllabus must state the number and dates of exams to be given during the semester. At least one major exam should be given before the withdrawal deadline to give the student a chance to make an educated decision on whether to continue or withdraw the course.

The instructor is responsible to prepare clearly written and properly weighted exam questions in line with the course content, language of instruction, learning outcomes, and allotted exam time period stipulated in the course syllabus. Appropriate answer’s booklet should be given to the students with clear instructions on exam rules. The instructor shall correct the exam booklets and return them to the students within a week after the exam, and report the grades in letter form and percentage to the Department Chair a week later.

The final examinations are given during the period approved by the University and noted in the academic calendar. Instructors may need to make individual arrangements with students who have more than two final examinations scheduled on one day. A student shall not be allowed to sit in for the final examinations without having settled all his/her financial obligations to the University.

Absence from the Final Exam

If a student fails to attend a final examination without a valid excuse, the student shall receive a zero on the exam. If missing the exam is due to exigent circumstances beyond the student’s control, the student may submit a petition to the Dean of the concerned college and if the Dean concludes that the stated reasons are justifiable, he/she informs the Registrar’s Office to record an incomplete “I” grade to the course. The student in coordination with the concerned department and course instructor prepares to take a make-up exam to replace the “I” before the end of the drop/add period of the following semester. If the exigent circumstances persist, the Dean may recommend that the “I” grade be changed to “WE”. For more details refer to the ‘Incomplete Work’ section in this catalog.

Make-up examination

The course syllabus shall indicate the missed examinations and quizzes policy so that students are fully aware of the policy and its consequences. Normally, a student shall receive a grade of zero for the exam or quiz he/she misses. If the absence is due to a legitimate excuse for which a verifiable evidence is presented, the course instructor may then give the student a make-up exam or shift the weight of the missed exam (except the final exam) to other course assessment items. 

Course Grades

Course Grade Distribution

The course components, topics, associated assessment criteria and course grade distribution must be clearly stated in the course syllabus. The course grade is distributed such that appropriate weights are given to exams, quizzes, homework, projects, research papers, and student participation. In all cases the final exam grade should not exceed 35%.

Submission of Final Grades

The instructor shall enter the grades into the RHUSIS, prepare the final course grade report according to the established format, and submit the report to the Department Chair within two working days of the final exam scheduled time. Within 24 hours afterward, the department chair verifies course grade reports, secures the dean’s approval and forwards them to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office audits the grades reports, roll them into records. Students shall be able to access their grades via the RHUSIS no later than three working days after the conclusion of the final examinations period.

Appeal of Course Grade

If a student feels that the grade he/she has attained on a course was unfair, s/he should discuss the matter with the instructor of the course within five days of posting the grade by the Registrar’s Office. If the student and the instructor are unable to resolve the issue, the student may submit a “Course Grade Review Petition Form” to the Chairperson of the concerned department within two weeks after the grade is posted. If the student’s concern is legitimate, the Dean shall form a committee consisting of the department chair, course instructor and one other faculty member from the same department to investigate the request and adjust the grade in accordance with standard procedures.

Incomplete Coursework

Incomplete coursework is subject to the following rules: 

• A student who has completed most of the coursework satisfactorily but, for a verifiable compelling reason, is unable to complete all course requirements within the normal period may request, before the beginning of the final exam period, an extension to complete the unfinished work by submitting a “Request for Time Extension Form”. If approved, a grade of “I” is temporarily assigned to the course. The instructor computes the course grade, with a zero assigned to the incomplete work, which shall be assigned to the course if the unfinished course work is not completed by the stated deadline.
• The incomplete grade must be removed before the end of the drop/add period of the following semester. After the unfinished work is completed and evaluated, the course instructor completes a change of grade form and submits it to the dean for approval before it is sent to the Registrar’s Office for final action. The final semester GPA will be calculated as soon as the final grades of the incomplete courses are turned in.
• Credit for an incomplete course will be assigned to the semester in which the course was taken.
• Graduation requirements shall be considered complete and the student is cleared for graduation when all Incompletes are resolved.
• If the circumstances for receiving an “I” grade persist then a grade of “WE” will be assigned to the course upon the recommendation of the Dean of the concerned College.

Change of Grade

A course grade cannot be changed after it has been submitted. If extreme circumstances warrant a grade change, the course instructor explains the reasons on a “Change of Grade Form” and submits it through the department chairperson to the dean for approval before it is sent to the Registrar’s Office for final action within one week of grades posting. Grade cannot be changed after the Bachelor Degree is awarded.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal from Courses

A student may, upon approval of the academic advisor, drop one or more courses during the drop/add period posted in the academic calendar – normally during the first week of classes of a regular semester or three days after the commencement of the summer term. No record of the dropped course(s) shall appear on the student’s record.

A student, upon approval of the academic advisor, may withdraw from one or more courses between the second and the tenth week of classes of a regular semester, or during the second and fourth weeks of a summer term, provided that the student’s load (excluding summer) does not fall below 12 credits.  A grade of “W” shall be recorded on the student’s transcripts for each withdrawn course and the course shall be counted as a course attempt in applying course repeat policy. Approval of the College Dean is required If the withdrawal results in a load less than 12 credits.

Students who withdraw from classes after the drop period are responsible for all related tuition and applicable fees.

Withdrawal from a Semester

Formal Withdrawal. A student may, for verifiably exigent circumstances, petition to withdraw from all semester’s courses at any time after the drop/add period and before the final exams begin. The College Dean may, after consulting with the concerned department chairperson, the student’s academic advisor and courses’ instructors, approve the petition if the reasons for the withdrawal are deemed legitimate. A grade of “WE” shall appear on the transcripts for each withdrawn course and shall not be counted as a course attempt in applying the course repeat policy. A student returning in the following semester may register by following the normal registration procedures.

Informal Withdrawal. If a student withdraws from the semester without following proper withdrawal procedures as described above, a grade of “F” shall be recorded on the student’s transcripts for each registered course and that the course shall be counted as a course attempt in applying the course repeat policy.

If a student withdraws informally and decides to return at a later time, approval of the University Student’s Affairs Committee (SAC) is required. The SAC may approve the petition if a convincing evidence is presented that the reasons for the withdrawal were beyond the student’s control. In case the SAC approves the request, the “F” grades recorded on the transcripts shall be replaced with a “WE”. A “WE” grade is not considered in calculating the student’s GPA and the affected courses shall not be counted as course attempts in applying the course repeat policy.

A withdrawn student may not transfer credits for courses he/she has studied at another institutions during that period unless prior approval of the concerned college was obtained.

Withdrawal from the University

Students wish to withdraw from the University are required to complete established clearance procedures. Clearance form is available at www.rhu.edu.lb

Leave of Absence

A student may, during the first week of a semester, petition for a leave of absence (LOA) for one or two consecutive semesters by submitting the Continuous Enrollment Registration Form for the Dean’s approval and paying the LOA fee of 75000 L.L. for each semester on leave.  

A student may not accrue more than three LOA semesters during his/her study toward a degree. The LOA semesters shall count in decisions related to the maximum number of semesters of allowed study deferment. A student returning immediately after the end of the approved LOA period may register by following the normal registration procedures.

If exigent circumstances prevent a student from returning immediately after the end of an approved LOA period, and decides to reenroll in the University at a later time the student must seek approval for reinstatement from the University Student Affairs Committee (SAC). Re-enrolled students must follow the study plan and the catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment.

A student on approved LOA may not transfer credits for courses he/she studies at other institutions unless prior approval to study those courses is attained from the concerned college.

Special Enrollment

The Special Enrollment (SE) status applies to students who have completed courses requirements but need to remain active RHU students to complete an academic activity such as a project or a thesis or to prepare for exams. Students who do not register as special enrollment student for one or more regular semesters should apply for readmission to their programs. Refer to Informal Withdrawal policy in this catalog.

To register under the SE status, the student should:

• Complete the Continuous Enrollment Registration Form stating the pertinent reasons and submitting it to the Registrar’s Office before the end of the Drop and Add Period. The form must be approved by the academic advisor, the department chairperson and the college dean.
• Pay a Continuous Enrollment Fee of 75000 L.L. at the RHU Finance Office for each semester under this status. A penalty of 25000 L.L. shall be added if the fees are not paid during a regular payment period.

Non-Degree Students

A student who is not on track to earn a specific degree from RHU but wishes to register for courses to which he/she is eligible to take may do so as a non-degree student.

Further Studies

RHU offers students the opportunity to extend their knowledge by studying more than one major or earning more than one degree. Available options are:

• Study double major concurrently;
• Earn two degrees simultaneously;
• Return to the University after graduation for a second degree

Double Major

Students may concurrently study two majors offered by the same college and have similar degree structures. A student may apply for permission to study a second major if s/he is in good academic standing and after completing at least 24 credits of course work in the first major. Permission is granted if the student meets the admission requirements to the second major. Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of core courses in the second major above and beyond the requirements of the first major, including all mandatory core courses of the second major. Upon graduation, one diploma specifying both majors is granted provided all the requirements of the respective majors are completed. Credits of common courses are granted to both majors.

Dual Degrees

Students may simultaneously pursue two different degrees from two different programs offered by different colleges and/or have different degree structures. A student may apply for permission to study a second degree if she/he is in good academic standing after completing at least 24 credits of course work in the first degree major. Application is approved if the student meets the admission requirements to the second degree major. Upon graduation, a diploma is granted for each degree major provided that all the requirements of the respective degrees are completed including the co-op experience and a minimum of 30 additional credits above the requirements of the first degree. Credits of common courses are granted to both degrees and the higher tuition rates of the two degrees shall be applied.

Second Degree

Students who had earned a degree and opt to return to the University at a later date to pursue a second degree may do so under the following conditions: (1) the admission requirements of the new degree are met; (2) applicant may be required to repeat courses if they were taken more than 3 years ago or if the acquired grade is low as recommended by the department of the second degree.

Minors

A student can pursue a minor in an area different from his/her major under the following conditions:

• Obtain a Minor Cumulative Grade Point Average (MCGPA) of no less than 70%
• Overlapped courses between student major requirements and minor requirements are counted to fulfill minor requirements
• A student may pursue up to two minors
• A maximum of nine credits can be counted towards requirements of two minors
• Students pursuing a minor in Mathematics must take at least a three credits Mathematics course beyond what is required by his/her major

For further details please refer to the specific college section.

Allowable Study Deferment Period

The permissible period of study deferment for a bachelor student, intentional or otherwise, shall not exceed six semesters (summer excluded). In the event the six semesters limit is surpassed, the student shall be dismissed from the University. If the student decides to return at a later date he/she needs to apply for reinstatement subject to the approval of the SAC. Re-instated students must follow the study plan and the catalog in effect at the time of re-instatement.

Change of Major

A student who has completed at least one semester of course work in a major may request a change of major at any time before the thirteenth week of a regular semester (fall or spring). The dean of the college (if in case of college change) in consultation with the department chairperson of the aspired program decides on the request before the start of the following semester based on the following conditions: the request meets college admission requirements; a seat in the desired major is available; the student has not changed major before; the number of earned credits in the old major is less than 64 credits unless the student was forced out of the major for academic reasons. If the student so wishes, all earned credits which are required in the new major shall be transferred and used to calculate the CGPA.

Normally, all earned credits which are required in the new major will be transferred and used to calculate the CGPA. However, if the student so wishes six credits may be deleted from CGPA if transfer is within the same college or twelve credits maximum if transfer is to a new college.

Intensive English Program students in Level 3 or 4 may request a reassignment of major before they complete 15 credit hours. Reassignment of major shall not be considered a transfer or a change of major.

Academic Complications

RHU is committed to providing students every opportunity to thrive because their future success is all that matters. To leverage those opportunities students are urged to communicate with their instructors inside the classroom, via email, phone, social media, or the Learning Management System (Moodle) – and to regularly visit the Learning Support Centers to seek help from their peers to overcome difficulties they face in doing a homework, working on a project, writing a report or preparing for a test.

While RHU shall spare no effort to help students achieve academic success, it is inevitable that many students for one reason or the other experience academic complications that threaten their future prospects. Students must manage their time effectively and tap the resources available as they undertake their academic responsibilities to avoid academic complications, otherwise they risk the consequences outlined below.

Academic Probation

A bachelor student receives an academic probation if his/her CGPA falls below 70 after attempting at least 24 credits by the second or any subsequent matriculated semester, excluding summer sessions. Students with two consecutive probations may choose to:

• Continue in the same major with the approval of the College Council but risks academic critical standing if by the end of the following semester the student accumulates three consecutive probations.
• Change major: if accepted in the new major, the transferred courses and CGPA will be determined according to the requirements of the new major. If the CGPA of the transferred courses is 70 or higher, the probation status is removed, and if not it shall remain in effect.

The Registrar’s Office shall generate a report of students on probation at the end of every semester and send it to the colleges who will inform the student and the concerned department of the probation status.

A student may remove probation in a summer term but the results of the summer term shall not cause probation.

Course Load. Normally the maximum study load for a student on probation is 12 credits (6 in a summer term). The load may be increased to 13 credits (7 in a summer term) if one of the courses is a 4-credit course or a 1 credit required lab course. The load may also be increased to 15 credit hours (9 in a summer term) if the student is expected to graduate at the end of the semester subject to the approval of the concerned dean. A student on probation shall be denied access to on-line registration and must register through the academic advisor. A student on probation should be encouraged to repeat the courses with a grade of 70 or lower and must repeat failed courses when first offered.

Critical Academic Standing

A student shall be placed in Critical Academic Standing if he/she:

• Accrues three consecutive probations or four probations throughout the entire period of study, or
• Attains a CGPA less than 60 more than once as a matriculated student.

A student placed on Critical Academic Standing by the end of a regular semester shall be allowed to register in the following semester up to 15 credits (at least 9 credits of repeated courses). Based on the student’s performance at the end of the semester, the student shall:

• Resume studies in Good Standing if he/she attains a CGPA of 70 or higher;
• Continue at RHU on CAS if s/he Attains a semester GPA of 75 or above.
• Dismissed from RHU. The department shall inform the student and the concerned of the dismissal decision.

A student on critical academic standing shall be denied access to on-line egistration and must register through the academic advisor.

Forced Change of Major

A student whose CGPA falls below 60 at the end of any semester after the first semester as a matriculated student must transfer to another program and shall not be allowed to return to the old program in the future.

Academic Conduct

RHU embraces the values of academic honesty and integrity and expects all to uphold strict ethical and professional standards. The University forbids any unauthorized use of the work of others. Acts of plagiarism or cheating on exams or other types of work submitted for assessment as part of a course grade shall risk possible disciplinary action. Please refer to the Conduct Policy section in this catalog.

RHU Student Taking Courses Elsewhere

Students formally enrolled at RHU may take up to 15 credits hours of courses at a recognized university within Lebanon accredited by the MoHE or at a university outside Lebanon accredited by the country’s higher education authority subject to the following conditions:

• The student is registered at RHU
• The student has completed at least 30 credit hours at RHU
• The courses to be taken elsewhere are equivalent to courses required by the student’s major
• The student receives prior approval of the courses to be taken from the student’s department chairperson and college dean by filling the Course Authorization Form
• A course is transferred to RHU credit if the grade attained is equivalent to 75 or better. The transfer credits do not count in calculating the CGPA.
• The student must submit certified transcripts to receive credits for transferred courses.

Normally students are not allowed to take courses elsewhere during the last two semesters prior to graduation. However, a student may be allowed to take up to 7 credits in the last semester of studies if the courses are not offered at RHU at the time. Students cannot transfer credits for courses taken elsewhere while on a leave of absence or during formal or informal withdrawal periods.

Student Records and Transcripts

The University is committed to protect the rights of its students to privacy and confidentiality of their personal and academic records that are kept at the Registrar’s Office. Only authorized personnel are entitled to access secured Students’ records. Professors are required to post exam results by student ID numbers and not by student names. Faculty advisors and academic administrators may access student’s records for advising or academic decisions. Official transcripts may be issued to a third party only if a signed authorization from the student is presented or in compliance with a judicial order. Official transcripts are signed by the Registrar. Students may request an unofficial copy of the transcript or a record of their grades any time they are in need of it. Students can access their records and see their grades any time through CampusVue.

Student Petitions

In case a student needs to submit a petition, it must be initiated with the help of his/her advisor. The appropriate form must be typed and completed using proper language. The advisor must verify the accuracy of the information before he/she signs the petition and forwards it to the department chairperson for approval. Student’s transcripts should be attached to the petition if the decision is hinged on student’s record.

Commencement Exercises

Commencement exercises are held after the conclusion of the spring semester in May. Students who complete graduation requirements in summer or previous fall may attend the May commencement exercises.

Graduates who opt not to participate in the graduation ceremony may receive their diplomas at the Registrar’s Office after the commencement date.

Names on Diplomas and Degrees

Names on diplomas and degrees are spelled exactly as they appear on passports as required by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE). If after admission the name on the passport changes the student must update his/her records by submitting a certified evidence of the change to the Registrar’s Office before graduation, otherwise the old name will appear on the diploma which cannot be changed thereafter.