University Examination Results

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 12

University Examination Results

Canterbury University’s decision to postpone the publication of examination results until December 19—about three weeks later than the usual date for the publication of the first lists—is manifestly unfair to students. It is also bad public relations for the university. The Christchurch Teachers’ College, through the chairman of its committee on the Canterbury Education Board (Mr R. K. Milne), yesterday pointed to the adverse effects of this decision both on graduating teachers and on those who will return next year for further studies. This alone would justify the university reconsidering the matter. But delay in publishing examination results affects all the university student body. Many must have made arrangements to enter employment conditionally on their finishing degrees; and these students and their prospective employers are entitled to know as soon as possible where they stand. A much larger body of students

returning to the university next year want to know how they fared so that they can plan their future courses. After December 19 there will probably be few university staff available to consult on these plans. For those proceeding to higher degrees the delay could be serious, indeed. They usually spend the long vacation on preparatory work and theses and this essential extra work could be prejudiced. Even the. common student practice of accepting vacation employment and arranging board for next year could be upset. It is difficult to believe that the decision to withhold the examination results has the support of all academic staff, especially as it is understood that the three other universities will begin announcing their results next week. It is to be hoped that the university will be persuaded by the evidence of widespread dissatisfaction to revert to the sensible—not to say humane—practice of announcing results just as soon -as it is administratively possible to do so.