Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for International Students and Institutions
Preamble
In response to a growing need for policy guidance on issues related to the delivery of programs and services to international students, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), with guidance from members of the international education community, has developed this Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for International Students and Institutions (Bill of Rights). As signatories to the Bill of Rights, we reserve the right to display the official logo signifying our support of the principles and practices articulated herein.
Definitions
An international student is defined as any person engaging in learning outside of his or her country of citizenship.
An institution is defined as any institution or entity providing information, facilitating the enrollment of or providing learning opportunities to international students or scholars.
The international community is defined as a complex system of educational entities, government agencies, private organizations, regulatory bodies and individuals delivering education programs and services.
ARTICLE I: INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS of the International Student
Section
1
International students have the right to know who the provider of
educational services is and all of the provider’s affiliations.
Section 2
International students have the right to a clear explanation from
the institution to which they are applying of the admissions process
and documentation necessary to complete their admissions dossiers.
Section 3
International students have the right to a clear and complete explanation
and description of the academic course offerings and the approximate
time normally required to complete an intended program from the
institution to which they are applying.
Section 4
International students have the right to receive a clear and accurate
account of all costs for the academic year or a reasonable estimation
of the full cost of their educational program. This should be explained
in application material sent to them by the institutions to which
they are applying. International students also have the right to
a clear and detailed explanation of costs for services provided
by placement agencies or other third parties assisting them in the
admissions process. Such service costs should be readily distinguishable
from the standard costs associated with a course of study at the
students’ intended institutions.
Section 5
International students have the right to know what personal information
is collected about them, why it is being collected and how they
may review their files and correct any errors. International students
should have assurance that personal information about them may be
used only by those persons with a legitimate right to know.
Section 6
International students have the right to have their applications
for admission and their prior learning experiences evaluated by
admissions officers or credential evaluators trained to evaluate
international applications and learning.
Section 7
International students have the right to a clear explanation from
their home institution of whether, or the extent to which, course
work at their host institution may be transferable to their program
of study at their home institution.
Section 8
International students have the right to services and information
that support their unique needs as international students, such
as counseling on immigration regulations, cultural adjustment, orientation
to the host institution, and information on insurance and taxes.
Section 9
International students have the right to have their language abilities
assessed to determine if their skills are sufficient to enable them
to benefit from the host institution’s academic course offerings.
Section 10
International students have a right to a clear and complete explanation
of all legal requirements governing their enrollment, including
how to maintain their student status.
Section 11
International students have ownership rights over their intellectual
works unless the works are subject to specific published institutional
policies to the contrary or ownership rights are relinquished by
the students.
ARTICLE II: INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES of the International Student
Section 1
International students shall be honest in their representations
to institutions, government entities and others in the international
education community. International students shall abide by the host
institutions’ honor systems. Fraud or misrepresentation of
achievements are valid reason for expulsion from the institution.
Section 2
International students shall recognize, honor and properly attribute
the intellectual property of others.
Section 3
International students shall adhere to the laws, rules and regulations
of the host nation and institution.
ARTICLE III: RIGHTS of Educational Institutions
Section 1
Educational institutions have the right to establish appropriate
admissions criteria and deadlines consistent with their educational
programs.
Section 2
Educational institutions have the right to establish appropriate
and realistic deadlines for completion of the international student’s
program.
Section 3
Educational institutions have the right to deny admission or continuing
enrollment if evidence proves fraud or lack of achievement by the
international student.
Section 4
Educational institutions have the right to be informed if an international
student is being assisted in admission by a placement agency or
other third party.
ARTICLE IV: RESPONSIBILITIES of the Educational Institution
Section 1
Educational institutions claiming an affiliation with another institution
shall explain to students the nature of their affiliation, particularly
as it might relate to the recognition of academic credentials. Similarly,
the institution’s official recognition or accreditation shall
be disclosed to students.
Section 2
Educational institutions shall provide students with a clear explanation
of their admissions process and what documentation is necessary
to complete the students’ admissions dossiers.
Section 3
Educational institutions shall provide students with a clear and
complete explanation and description of the academic course offerings
and the approximate time normally required to complete the intended
program.
Section 4
Educational institutions shall provide students and their financial
sponsors with accurate information about all reasonable costs for
the academic year or an estimation of the full cost of their educational
program. This information should appear in literature provided to
prospective students with application materials. Placement agencies
or other third parties assisting students in the admissions process
shall provide students with a clear and detailed explanation of
the costs associated with these services. These service costs should
be readily distinguishable from the standard costs associated with
a course of study at the intended institution.
Section 5
Educational institutions, upon request of the student, shall let
the student know what personal information is collected about him
or her, why it is being collected and how the student may review
the file and correct any errors. Institutions shall treat all files
on students as confidential, examining or disclosing the contents
only when authorized by the owner of the information, approved by
the appropriate institutional official on a need-to-know basis,
or as required by law. Institutions shall develop, implement, and
maintain security procedures to insure the integrity of their files.
Section 6
Educational institutions shall ensure that students’ applications
for admission and their prior learning experiences are evaluated
by admissions officers and/or credential evaluators trained to evaluate
international applications and learning.
Section 7
Educational institutions considered home institutions shall provide
clear explanations as to whether, or the extent to which, students’
course work may be transferable to their programs of study in their
home countries.
Section 8
Educational institutions shall provide services and information
that support the unique needs of international students, such as
immigration regulations, cultural adjustment advising, orientation,
insurance, and tax information.
Section 9
Educational institutions shall assess whether international applicants
possess sufficient command of the language of the host country to
ensure that students will benefit from the academic course offerings.
If the institution lacks proficiency programs to remedy an applicant’s
language deficiency, it shall not admit the applicant until he or
she shows evidence of facility in the host language.
Section 10
Educational institutions shall inform international students and
their financial sponsors of all legal requirements governing the
students’ enrollment.
December 1996
Permission: Permission is hereby given to make and distribute copies of the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for International Students and Institutions for non-profit purposes on condition that the Bill of Rights or any publication in which it appears is attributed to the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Please forward a copy of the publication in which the Bill of Rights appears to AACRAO, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520 Washington, DC 20036-1135.
Information: Questions or comments regarding the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for International Students and Institutions should be addressed to AACRAO at the above address or voice: (202) 293-9161 or Fax: (202) 872-8857.