FACULTY HANDBOOK July 2009 - Morgan State University

PAGE 186 * Morgan State University Faculty HandbookPreamble:ADDENDUM TO GUIDELINES ON PROFICIENCY EXAMSThe following pertains only to undergraduate courses and is designed to serve as an addendumto existing guidelines on proficiency exams in General Education courses. Specifically, theseguidelines are applicable to situations where proficiency in major courses is being considered.Proficiency examinations for courses required in the major and/or those necessary to completegraduation requirements should be done only under extraordinary circumstances. Furthermore, astudent may earn no more than nine (9) credits through proficiency examinations in majorcourses.Purpose:a. To continue the maintenance of MSU’s high academic standards and to ensure qualitativeprogrammatic growth and advancement.b. To ensure examinations have been requested to satisfy graduation requirements in the major.General Guidelines:To be effective, and to ensure objectivity as well as accountability, the following should beimplemented:1. Each department and/or program shall establish a committee on proficiency exams. Theresponsibility for implementation rests with the respective Dean.2. The Committee shall consist of a minimum of 3 Departmental Teaching Faculty(excluding theChair) having diverse expertise/broad knowledge in the area of study to be evaluated. TheCommittee may include faculty at Morgan who teach in closely related academic disciplines.3. The Committee shall report and make specific written recommendations to the Chair regardingexamination standards and content, guidelines and criteria for administering the examination,grading policy and student qualification/readiness.4. The Committee shall determine examination content, structure and pre-requisites, where appropriate.The Committee can have responsibility for writing the exam and/or for approving exams written bypersons other than committee members.5. The Committee shall establish minimum eligibility criteria for students and set limits on the numberof credits each student can gain via the proficiency examination process (a maximum of nine creditsis recommended).6. The Committee shall establish criteria/conditions for grading the exam; including avenues forreview/ appeal, should that become necessary.7. Upon successful completion of the proficiency, the Department Chair and/or Advisor shall ensurethe appropriate major course sequence to be followed by the student, in fulfillment ofdepartment/graduation requirements.