Home
Search

Evaluation of Learning

Procedure Number
001
Policy Number
3302
Responsibility
VP Academic
Approved
Program Council
Effective Date
November 17, 2010
Amended
December 03, 2015
Procedure Statement

principles

  1. These procedures are applicable to all courses, and given the diversity of courses and related assessment practices and expectations, recognition of possible variation to these procedures must be acknowledged. Where variation occurs, every effort is to be made to conform to these procedures.  
  2. Evaluations of student learning will be based on the specific learning outcomes for the course, as described in approved course outlines. The number and complexity of the evaluative procedures are determined by the program manager and/or course instructor and subject to these procedures.
  3. Grading schemes are set in policy through Program Council. Program managers and/or instructors determine which grade scheme to utilize with new course development (or revision) and once this has been approved, it is the scheme used. All course outlines will be approved by the responsible School Dean who may delegate approval to the appropriate school curriculum committee.  
  4. A final grade for a course will be based on the evaluation methods of the course, as specified on the course outline. 
  5. Specific course evaluation tools and procedures are established by program managers and/or instructors in their respective program area. Each course shall specify, in the applicable course outline, the criteria by which evaluations will be conducted in that course and the relative weighting of each evaluation in determining the final course achievement.
  6. Course evaluations may include, but are not limited to essays, presentations, field/clinical evaluations, demonstrations, quizzes, projects, mid-term and final exams, and may include class participation/attendance as elements of evaluation.
  7. Where attendance forms part of the evaluation criteria, the attendance requirements will be clearly stipulated on the course outline.
  8. Where retests are permitted in a course, conditions for these will be specified in the course outline.
  9. Programs that involve practice education or field placements may incorporate employer and/or workplace supervisor evaluations. In such cases, to provide fairness and consistency across work sites for such evaluations, there should be a clear written outline provided to the employer/supervisor for what skills/learning are assessed and criteria for the assessment. The final responsibility for grading rests with the program manager and/or course instructor.
  10. In courses where multiple evaluation criteria are used, it is the expectation that any one criteria shall be valued in such a way as to reflect a balanced assessment of the learning outcomes.
  11. Grading and evaluation feedback is to be completed as quickly as possible to enable students to have clear understandings of their standing in the course.
  12. The instructor and/or program manager is responsible for maintaining records of all course evaluation outcomes, the weighting of such evaluations to final course grade, and for retaining such records for at least one year after course/program completion, or transferring them to the appropriate Dean for retention. Where the instructor is on a temporary assignment at the institution, such records will be provided to and retained by the Program Manager.
  13. The instructor or program manager has the authority to determine if there will be an extension to an assignment deadline, an alternate assignment/exam, or if there will be no extension granted for that evaluative component.

Evaluation Procedures

  1. Permission for alternative evaluation procedures may be requested by students based on an accommodation agreement for a documented disability as per the Accommodation of Students with Disabilities Policy and Procedures.

  2. Students are advised that the possession of unauthorized materials or communication devices in an evaluation setting may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the JIBC Academic Integrity Policy.

  3. Students shall be advised of specific learning materials that they may bring into the examination room or evaluation setting.

  4. The course instructor is responsible for the administration of all evaluations.

Evaluation Procedures for Distributed Learning Courses and Off-Site Evaluations

  1. Where possible, students in distributed learning/off-site courses may be required to write mid-term and final exams at a JIBC site, with an appointed invigilator. Where this is not feasible, the course outline would normally provide descriptions of appropriate examination sites and provide guidelines for approval of such examination sites.
  2. Examination/evaluation schedules for off-site courses will be determined by the program Dean or Program Director in consultation with the appropriate instructor.
  3. Students enrolled in distance programs may be required to arrange and pay for their own exam invigilator and/or skill evaluator.
  4. Students will be required to provide personal photo identification at the approved exam site.
  5. Students will be required to sign themselves into off-campus evaluation sites.
  6. Students and invigilators shall be advised of specific learning materials and tools that students may bring into the examination site. Students’ electronic communication devices, unless specifically permitted for evaluation procedures, are prohibited from all examination sites.
  7. Students must be aware that the possession of unauthorized materials or equipment in an examination or evaluation setting may result in disciplinary action. W here unauthorized material or equipment is deemed to have been used, there will be an investigation as outlined in the JIBC Academic Integrity Policy.

Related Policies and Procedures