Mandatory ABA Disclosures with respect to the Pepperdine-Augsburg Exchange Program

Nature of the Exchange Program

In 2003, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law and the University of Augsburg School of Law agreed to Exchange Program where up to four University of Augsburg students a year can study at Pepperdine Caruso Law School, and up to four Pepperdine law students a year can study at the University of Augsburg. It is expected and assumed the Augsburg students will study at Pepperdine during the fall semester, and it is expected and assumed that the Pepperdine students will study at the University of Augsburg during their Summer Program. Limited exceptions can be made to these expectations and assumptions, with special permission from the appropriate administrators of the exchange program at both schools, consistent with ABA rules and regulations. The Pepperdine students who study at the University of Augsburg during the Summer Program pay Pepperdine tuition to Pepperdine Caruso Law School and receive credit for the classes they take in the University of Augsburg's Summer Program.

Recent Participation in the Program

In 2017, Pepperdine sent four students to the University of Augsburg to participate in their Summer Program.

Academic Policy

Pepperdine students who are selected and who participate in the exchange program must be in good academic standing at Pepperdine, and to receive credit for the classes the student takes in Augsburg the student must meet the academic expectations of the professors who teach in the Augsburg program. As is customary in law schools, grading is based largely on the final examination in each course except for the seminar course
which requires a substantial research and writing project and an oral presentation of the paper. Per ABA rules and regulations, the grades earned by the Pepperdine students in their classes at the University of Augsburg do not transfer back, only the credits transfer back. Accordingly, the Pepperdine students in the Augsburg Summer Program are graded on a pass-fail basis. Exams in the Augsburg Summer Program can be either oral exams (as is the European tradition for smaller classes) or written exams. In either event, all classes and exams during the Summer Program are in English. Professors 
have discretion to make a small adjustment to the final grade based on factors 
which include, but are not limited to, quality of preparation and recitation, 
attendance, and willingness to participate in discussion. Classes in the Summer Program run for either 6 weeks or 3 weeks. Attendance is mandatory and is taken. More than one absence can result in a student not being permitted to take the final exam, in which case no credit would be awarded for the course. The expectation and assumption is students will take no more than 4 credits during the Summer Program. Students who wish to take more must get administrative approval beforehand from the Pepperdine Director of the Exchange Program. In addition, students who wish to take the Joint Seminar on Capital Markets Law and Legal Methodology must get administrative approval beforehand from the Pepperdine Director of the Exchange Program.

Augsburg Contact Information

The contact person at the University of Augsburg is:

Professor Dr. Thomas M.J. Möllers
Lehrstuhl für Bürgerliches Recht, Wirtschaftsrecht, Europarecht,
Internationales Privatrecht und Rechtsvergleichung
Jean-Monnet-Chair for Corporate, Capital Market & Competition Law
Managing Director of the
Center for European Legal Studies (CELOS)

Universität Augsburg
Universitätsstraße 24
D-86159 Augsburg

Telefon: +49 (0)821 598 4658
Fax: +49 (0)821 598 4517
Internet: www.uni-augsburg.de/de/fakultaet/jura/lehrende/moellers/

It is recommended that any contact with the University of Augsburg start with the administrative assistant with day-to-day responsibility for the Program. Professor Möllers' current administrative assistant with day-to-day responsibilities for the Pepperdine-Augsburg Exchange Program is Andreas Harrer. His e-mail address is: andreas.harrer@jura.uni-augsburg.de. Andreas is in the process of completing his studies at the University of Augsburg, and his replacement will be Daniela Pfau. Her e-mail address is: daniela.pfau@student.uni-augsburg.de You should e-mail them both of you have questions.

Program Access for Students with Disabilities

The University of Augsburg law school is accessible to individuals with disabilities. The building is a newer building, and it has an elevator so there is easy access to all floors, offices, and classrooms. The law school is accessible from the city by a tram that is wheelchair friendly. The older part of the city has older cobblestones that are a bit rough to traverse, but the city is in the process of replacing the older cobblestones with newer, smoother cobblestones that will butt up tightly to each other, making getting around the city more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Germany has adopted a 'barrier free travel' policy to help facilitate access to the country for travelers with disabilities. Lufthansa has adopted policies facilitating access to the country as well. Learn more about Germany's barrier free travel program.

Cancellation Policy and Travel Warnings

The Pepperdine-Augsburg Exchange Program Agreement has a five year term that automatically renews absent proper notice to terminate. The notice to terminate must be given at least one year in advance of the end of the term. Students can assume that if the program has not been cancelled by the start of a school year in the fall, that the program will be available during the following summer. Students should make no assumptions about the following year's summer. If the program were canceled during the school year, students would be entitled to any deposit and application fees they had made, and the school would do what it could to help place students in another foreign study program if that were the student's desire. There have been no prior cancellations of the Summer Program or Exchange Agreement. The latest information and warnings about overseas travel can be found on the US State Department web site.

Student Housing

The University of Augsburg has no student housing, so Pepperdine students must make their own housing arrangements. The University of Augsburg does its best to help visiting foreign students. The University of Augsburg will assign an Augsburg student to help the visiting student find housing, and the University of Augsburg has contacts and relationships with a number of landlords in the city so that securing housing has not been an issue to date. Students typically either rent a room in a private house or apartment, or students are placed in Kolpinghaus (Kolping House) Augsburg. It is a dormitory/youth hostel style building with affordable rents. There are two Kolpinghaus buildings in Augsburg, one located very close to the University (which is about 10 minutes south of the city), and the other located in the old part of the city. The City of Augsburg is located in the Bavarian region of Germany, the fastest growing region in Germany. Short-term summer housing has become more difficult to arrange than it was when the program first started. Students are recommended to follow up on housing as early as possible to maximize the chances that they find acceptable housing arrangements.

During the summer of 2014, one Pepperdine student found short term housing from May 29th to July 14th for 458 euros. The housing consisted of a large room with its own fridge and sink, but it had a shared bathroom and shower down the hall, shared with others who lived on the same floor. A second student found a small studio apartment in Goggingen (a suburb of Augsburg easily reached by the tram) with a private bathroom, a kitchenette, sofa, and cable television for 460 euros a month.

Financial Matters and Refund Policy

Pepperdine students who participate in the Pepperdine-Augsburg Exchange Program make any and all payments (application fees, deposits, and/or tuitions payments) to Pepperdine University. Pepperdine students make no payments to the University of Augsburg. There is an application fee. In addition, once a student is accepted, the student will be required to make a deposit to hold his or her place in the program. The application fee and deposit are refundable if the student withdraws before April 15th. If the student withdraws after April 15th, the assumption is the application fee and deposit is non-refundable, but the student can petition to the Pepperdine Director of the Exchange Program and to the Director of Global Programs. Absent extraordinary circumstances the assumption is that any such appeal will be denied. If a student has to withdraw after having paid tuition, whether the student is entitled to a refund of the tuition is governed by the law school's regular refund policy for summer school at Pepperdine.