ILL AT EXAMINATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 17

ILL AT EXAMINATIONS.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

SENATE TO GRANT DEGREES

CHANGE AFTER FORTY YEARS

The New Zealand University Senate decided to-day to grant degrees in arts and science, under 'certain safeguards, to candidates prevented by illness from sitting for one or more papers. This decision will take effect at the annual examinations next November.

Before the Senate made its decision there was a debate of almost two hours on the recommendation of a commitee to which the question of an "aegrotat pass" had been' referred.

The change, which has been rejected by the Senate in numerous debates in the last 40 years, was finally made on a majority vote. There were eleven in favour and seven against.

The amended recommendations were carried as follows: —

"That in all university examinations for the subjects of the 8.A., B.Sc, B.H.Sc, M.A., M.Sc, and M.H.Sc, a candidate who has been prevented by illness from sitting for one or more of the papers, may, with the approval of tho Chancellor, be granted an aegrotat pass, subject to the following conditions: (a) That the candidate's responsible teachers in the subject or subjects of the papers missed certify that his work therein during the session was well above the minimum pass standard, and that had he been able to sit he would, in their opinion, undoubtedly have secured a pas's on those papers; (b) that the award of an aegrotat pass be recommended by the chairman of the professorial board of the candidate's college; (c) that the quality of any work actually completed in the examination shall bo taken into account; (d) that the fact of his inability to sit through illness be established by a certificate of a medical man approved by the University and other testimony to the satis- | faction of the Chancellor; and (e) that

such illness shall be reported to the chief supervisor or other responsible official at the earliest possible opportunity."

Professor Hight's Appeal.

On the amendment of Professor James Hight, the Senate deleted from the recommendation of the committee a clause limiting the aegrotat pass to can. didates who hiid sat for a substantial portion of their examinations. He said the principlo had already been tried for two or three years in the pass stages, and had not been abused. In the third stage the probability of breakdowns was greater, particularly with girls. "Adopt the general principle of the aegrotat pass, rather than tinker with it any longer," urged Professor Hight. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, pro-Chancellor, eaicl the proposal was not sufficiently safeguarded and the concession could be abueed in the obtaining of medical certificates. It was possible that candidates would collapse when they found a paper exceptionally difficult. "I am afraid it is the difficulties of a paper that generally lead to colla.pse," said Professor J. Macmillan Brown, Chancellor. He added that the proposal before the Senate had been discussed every year during the 40 years he had been a member.

Some method of dealing with cases of illness was absolutely necessary, said Dr. W. P. Evans, but it should be applied to the honours degrees only, and not to pass degrees.

Strong opposition to Prof. Hight's amendment was expressed by Dr. Newlande, a member of the committee, and by Mr. F. A. de la Mare and Mr. L. J. Wild.

Supplementary Tests. The amendment was carried, but a further amendment by Mr. A. E. Flower, that the recommendation .of the committee be referred to the executive committee to consider the practicability of holding a supplementary examination in cases of illness, was lost.

Professor T. A. Hunter, vice-chancellor, said he thought the University should conduct supplementary examinations without cost to candidates if the Senate adopted Mr. Flower's proposal.

Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, said during the debate that supplementary examinations would bind the Senate still closer to the principle of the external examinations when it was time that it got away from that principle.