Academic Policies
All students receive and sign a copy of our Academic Policies and Attendance Policy upon commitment to a CET program. The Academic Policies document outlines expectations related to course loads, academic integrity, research ethics, and grading, among other topics. The Attendance Policy outlines expectations related to course attendance and participation.
CET maintains two types of syllabi—syllabi of record (SORs) and term syllabi—to meet the needs of students, US academic departments, and study abroad offices:
Syllabi of Record
SOR outline content and learning goals, as well as readings, course requirements, and grading criteria. SOR are available to download on the CET website year-round.
Term Syllabi
Once on site, students receive a term syllabus for each course in which they are enrolled. These are specific to each term and detail due dates, required readings, assignments, and field-based course components.
An official transcript is automatically sent to each student’s home institution about six to eight weeks after their CET program ends, provided that the student’s account is paid in full. (Students can order additional official transcripts for a fee.) Students can also view a copy of their transcript in their online accounts.
For students enrolled in programs with a direct-enroll component, we do our best to adhere to the same timeline. On occasion, transcripts with direct-enroll courses may take longer due to differing deadlines at our host institutions abroad.
Technically speaking, CET does not award credit. We recommend credits based on the level of course rigor and the number of course contact hours. Students’ home institutions award credit based on our recommendations and its own requirements.
We recommend one credit for each weekly contact hour, provided one to two hours of outside preparation are required for every hour spent in class. Short-term (summer or Janterm) courses and courses that require less outside work are recommended at lower rates. We developed this system in consultation with our US partners to ensure academic rigor in all courses, and fair credit allocation across programs. We require each student to take a full course load on-site regardless of program or credit needs.
Grade Appeals
Students enrolled in CET courses have the right to appeal grades for the following reasons:
- The instructor violated the terms of the syllabus.
- The instructor made a mathematical or clerical error in calculating or recording a grade.
- The instructor violated an academic policy involving assignments, exams, or grading.
- The instructor applied an inconsistent grading standard across students.
- The instructor discriminated on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, handicapped status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
Students who wish to appeal a grade must contact their Student Services Coordinator to discuss the formal process and receive the required forms.
Students in direct-enroll courses are subject to the grade appeal policies and procedures of the host institution. Students should contact CET with any questions about direct-enroll courses.
All grade appeals, whether for CET or direct-enroll courses, must be initiated within 30 days of receipt of the CET unofficial transcript.
Faculty Advisory Committees
Faculty Advisory Committees (FACs) have long been an intrinsic part of curriculum development at CET. Our faculty advisors help us to build new courses that reflect current scholarship and areas of interest in relevant disciplines, review and refresh existing syllabi, expand our in-country and subject-area faculty networks, and reach target student populations.