-----Original Message-----
From: Admin-student [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Andy Robinson
Sent: 30 May 2002 15:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: academic isolation


Juliet

At Queen Mary we take account of religious holidays by allowing
students to inform us of any days on which they cannot do
examinations for strict religious reasons (we check this information
against a religious calendar issued by the University of London) in
advance of timetabling.  We then have a little trick in our timetabling
system which allows us not to timetable any examinations for those
particular students on the days they have indicated.  Once the final
timetable is set we do not move examinations except in
emergencies.

A candidate applied for religious consideration this year after the
deadline (in fact after the start of the examination period).  Ultimately
he sat the examination a day early, signed an early declaration (an
undertaking not to release any information on the paper), was
collected after the examination by his father and effectively
quarantined by him overnight until the main examination was over.

Clashes are caused mainly by intercollegiate examinations (QM
students can sit courses at other Colleges in the University of
London) and students registering incorrectly (very common).
Academic departments are very helpful at quarantining students who
have clashes; we send letters to the students concerned informing
them that they will sit exam X in the morning, be collected and
quarantined over the lunch period by the department and will then sit
exam Y in the afternoon.  The exam which has been moved is taken
either in the department or in our special arrangements rooms if we
have space.

We generally know about students with chronic medical conditions
and seat them separately from the main examination but at the same
time.  Because of their medical conditions and their special
arrangement certain students need to start their examinations earlier
than the main examination; in these cases they are not permitted to
leave the examination until candidates are permitted to leave the
main examination (30 minutes after the start).

Generally if a first or second year student for certificated reasons
cannot sit an examination at the same time as other candidates they
will be permitted a first sit in our late summer resit period in August.
This does not apply to final year students.

Regards

Andy

> I would be interested to hear about colleagues' experiences of dealing
with students who, for
> various reasons, cannot take an examination on the day on which it is
scheduled. In particular I
> would be very grateful for answers to the following questions:
> How frequently does the situation described above arise in your
institution?
> What are the major causes (e.g. chronic medical conditions such as
arthritis, acute medical
> conditions, religious observance, timetable clashes)?
> What solution(s) do you use to deal with the situation (e.g. overnight
supervision provided by a
> Department/Health Centre/University Hall; asking a Department to provide
an alternative paper;
> asking a student to abide by a code of honour)?
> Thank you for your help,
> Juliet James
>
> Administrative Officer
> Examinations Office
> University of Reading
> tel. 0118 931 6751
> fax. 0118 931 6247


Dr Andy Robinson
Administrative Officer (Records and Examinations)
Student Administration Office
Queen Mary, University of London
Phone: 020-7882 5549
Fax: 020-7882 5588
E-mail: [log in to unmask]