STUDENT HANDBOOK AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program at Al-Akhawayn University Ifrane, Morocco Spring 2020 Contact Information AMIDEAST/Morocco AMIDEAST Headquarters Program Staff: Program Staff: Colleen Daley Dr. Elena D. Corbett Program Manager Director of Education Abroad [email protected] [email protected] Doha AitAhmed Katie Johnson Program Officer, Student Services Coordinator Telephone: 06-64-48-93-91 (From within [email protected] Morocco)/011-212-6-64-48-93-91 (From outside the US; from elsewhere +212-6-64-48- Hazel Unger 93-91) [email protected] Program Officer [email protected] Outman Maghnaoui Telephone: 202-776-9629 Senior Program Coordinator [email protected] Sarah Sloan Program Assistant Kaoutar Bouroummana [email protected] Homestay Coordinator Telephone: 202-776-9642 [email protected] Address: Malika Moudden AMIDEAST Headquarters Program Assistant 2025 M Street, NW, Suite 600 [email protected] Washington, DC 20036 Web: www.amideast.org/abroad AMIDEAST Center Street Address: 35, Zanqat Oukaimden, Agdal, Rabat EMERGENCY LINE: 202-412-8564 Tel: +212-53-767-5081/5082 Please note that this number is for your family Fax: +212-53-767-5074 and friends to use in case of an emergency and E-mail: [email protected] will connect them to our headquarters in DC 24 hours a day. Emergencies in Morocco should be Al Akhawayn University Contact: reported to the emergency line in Morocco, Ms. Amy L. Fishburn which will be programmed in your Moroccan Director, Office of International Programs cell phones. [email protected] [email protected] AMIDEAST Center Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8:00 am–8:30 pm Sunday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm Student Handbook- Rabat, Morocco Spring 2018 2 Ahlan wa sahlan! Congratulations on your admission to the AMIDEAST Semester at Al-Akhawayn University! We look forward to welcoming you to Morocco this spring. This handbook contains lots of useful information to help prepare you to have a successful term in Morocco. Please read it cover to cover so you have clear expectations of this experience. You will be grateful you did! TABLE OF CONTENTS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Section I: Arrival Information ................................................................. 6 AMIDEAST / AUI SEMESTER OVERVIEW: .......................................................................................................................... 6 Program Calendar: .................................................................................. 6 MOROCCAN ARABIC AND CULTURE PRE-SESSION PROGRAM OVERVIEW: .................................................................................. 6 FLIGHT INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 VISA INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 ARRIVAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................. 10 WHAT TO WEAR IN MOROCCO ....................................................................................................................................... 10 MOROCCAN DRESS NORMS ............................................................................................................................................ 11 PACKING LIST ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 DEPARTURE CHECKLIST .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Section II: Academics and Academic Policies ........................................ 16 AL-AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY ............................................................................................................................................ 16 ACADEMIC CULTURE (AUI AND PRE-SESSION) ................................................................................................................... 16 PRE-SESSION PROGRAM ACADEMICS: ............................................................................................................................... 16 ARAB 112: Moroccan Arabic and Culture (1 credit) ............................................................................................ 17 AL-AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY’S ACADEMIC POLICIES ............................................................................................................. 17 PASS/FAIL ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Who Will Be in Your Classes?............................................................................................................................... 17 Who Will Be Teaching? ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Course Work during the Pre-Session ................................................................................................................... 17 Attendance during the Pre-Session ..................................................................................................................... 17 Incompletes ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Appeals ................................................................................................................................................................ 18 ACADEMIC POLICIES ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 AMIDEAST’S INSTITUTION OF RECORD ............................................................................................................................ 19 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY .................................................................................................................................................... 19 Section III: While you are in Morocco ................................................... 21 RULES AND REGULATIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 21 GUIDEBOOKS ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 PERSONAL EXPENSES ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 MONEY/EXCHANGE RATE .............................................................................................................................................. 22 GENERAL BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS ........................................................................................................................ 22 TIPPING ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 MOROCCAN ARABIC AND CULTURE PRE-SESSION HOST FAMILY ACCOMMODATIONS ................................................................. 22 Other Living Considerations ................................................................................................................................ 24 NOTES ABOUT LIVING AT AL-AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY .......................................................................................................... 24 TELEPHONE ACCESS ...................................................................................................................................................... 24 Cell Phones .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 International Calls ................................................................................................................................................ 25 Payphones ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 INTERNET ACCESS ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 Receiving Mail in Morocco ................................................................... 25 TIME .......................................................................................................................................................................... 26 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26 ELECTRICITY ................................................................................................................................................................. 26 HEALTH AND TRAVEL ADVISORIES ...................................................................................................................................