2008 Woodie Awards
University makes exit exam optional
Cristina Zapata
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Other News
To increase effectiveness, the core curriculum assessment test is no longer mandatory for graduating seniors, according to Director of Core Curriculum Assessment Nguyen Griggs. In the past, all seniors were required to take the exam to graduate. Now, only a small number of students will be tested.
"The testing group will consist of about 120 people," Griggs said. "We will also test a small sample group of non-seniors."
The core assessment is a four-year project and is now in its third year. The project was implemented to satisfy an accreditation requirement for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In its first two years, the exam was required of seniors who wanted to receive their diploma. A hold would be placed on the senior's account and removed once the senior had taken the exam.
"We want to take the exam in a different direction," Nguyen said. "We want to test the hearts of our students, to see if they really want to help their University through taking the exam. Their results will affect future decisions on the core curriculum. If the results show us there are any problems, we will tweak the curriculum in order to fix them."
The exam will now only be given to students who have attended UST for all four years and not to transfer students.
This news comes as a relief to some students. Senior international studies major Wendy Carabali said the exam was not a legitimate assessment of her education.
"During your last semester, when you are taking your hardest classes and trying to end your education on a positive note, the exam is just an added stress point," Carabali said. "You are also preparing yourself mentally, physically and emotionally for graduation and what is to come after. I always thought the administration should reconsider the exam."
"The testing group will consist of about 120 people," Griggs said. "We will also test a small sample group of non-seniors."
The core assessment is a four-year project and is now in its third year. The project was implemented to satisfy an accreditation requirement for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In its first two years, the exam was required of seniors who wanted to receive their diploma. A hold would be placed on the senior's account and removed once the senior had taken the exam.
"We want to take the exam in a different direction," Nguyen said. "We want to test the hearts of our students, to see if they really want to help their University through taking the exam. Their results will affect future decisions on the core curriculum. If the results show us there are any problems, we will tweak the curriculum in order to fix them."
The exam will now only be given to students who have attended UST for all four years and not to transfer students.
This news comes as a relief to some students. Senior international studies major Wendy Carabali said the exam was not a legitimate assessment of her education.
"During your last semester, when you are taking your hardest classes and trying to end your education on a positive note, the exam is just an added stress point," Carabali said. "You are also preparing yourself mentally, physically and emotionally for graduation and what is to come after. I always thought the administration should reconsider the exam."