Semester System In Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan

1. Semester System In Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan HEC Draft Policy Guidelines (May 2008)

2. Background • Deliberated on two systems (Annual and Semester) • Different forms of semester (Bisemester, Trisemester, and term system) in HEI • National Committee on Examination System (NCES) formed by HEC • NECS Recommended some improvements

3. Structure

4. Course Layout for Undergraduate Students • Between 124-136 Credit hours are required for UG Degree • 51-63 Credit hours should be taken in courses prescribed as major • 34 Credit hours must be earned taking courses outside the major but within the same school as major • 30 Credit hours must be earned taking multi-disciplinary courses outside the school of major.

5. Credit Hours • One credit hour for theory= 50 minutes per week • One credit hour for lab/project work = Two hours per week • 3(3-0) means three contact hours • 4(3-1) means six contact hours

6. Degree Program for UG Students • Students who have done 2 years in Annual System (BA, BSc etc) and want to go for Bachelor Honors….. • 2 years in Annual system= 60 Credit hours • 64-76 Credit hours should be completed for Bachelor Honors Program • Student with 2 years bachelor degree in arts many not be eligible for Bachelor Honors in Sciences, But a 2 years bachelor degree in Science may be eligible for BBA • Institute must develop their own criteria for this

7. Degree Program for Graduate Students • Students who have done 2 years in Annual System (BA, BSc etc) and want to go for Masters program • 2 years in Annual system= 60 Credit hours • May be enrolled into Masters directly by offering 94-106 Credit hours. Subject to the following • Complete 64-76 as UG • Complete another 30 for Masters. • Institute is obliged to issue a Bachelor Honors degree after completing the UG requirement and then Masters

8. Semesters • Fall and Spring semesters every year (16-18 weeks) • May offer one or two summer session of 8 weeks with double contact hours

9. Course Load for Fall/Spring • Regular UG student required to take 12 Credit hours, but can take maximum 18 Credit hours if C.GPA > 3.5 • Regular Graduate student is required to take 9 Credit hours but can take maximum 12 if he meets the above condition • HoD may allow a student in last semester to take maximum Credit hours

10. Course Load for Summer • Regular UG student can take 6 Credit hours • Regular Graduate student can take 6 Credit hours

11. Academic Calendar • Semester starting date • Holiday during semester • Semester termination date • Final Exam week • Grade notification date

12. Withdrawal / Change Of Course • A student with the consent of Dean • Allowed to change a course with 7 days of commencement of semester • Allowed to drop a course within 2 week from commencement of semester • Withdrawal is allowed latest by 15th week, under approval from HoD and Dean. Grade for it will be W instead of F

13. Repeating Courses • Students failing with F have to repeat the course when offered • UG students may repeat a course with Grade D • Institution may define a limit to repeat the courses (<=6) • For the same course old grade will be substituted with new grade

14. Repeating Courses • Graduate students may repeat a course with Grade C • Institution may define a limit to repeat the courses (<=3)

15. Attendance • Attendance is mandatory in semester system • Institutes may develop a policy for attendance to obtain a grade (70 %)

16. Examination

17. Examination Policy • For missed quizzes marks are zero while for other missed components make-up tests, assignments, projects can be arranged • No Supplementary/Special exam for students who fail the course, they are required to repeat it

18. Grading Policy • Relative grading is recommended • Screening students according to their performance relative to their peers

19. C.GPA For Degree Completion • Minimum C.GPA of 2.0 for Undergraduate degree • Minimum C.GPA of 2.5 for Graduate degree • During the semester If C.GPA falls below 2.0 or 2.5 • Issue first probation • If no improvement issue Last probation • Still no improvement drop from the institute

20. Transfer of Credits • Every university will develop its own criteria • No credit hours will be transferred if grade is less than C for UG and B for graduate students

21. Award of Degree • 124-130 Credit hours of UG degree, or minimum 60 credit hours in case of transfer of credits from other university • 30 (24+6) Credit hours for graduate degree, 6 Credit hours of research is mandatory for Masters/Mphil levels • Exemption from research can only be allowed for Master/Mphil with the permission for HoD

22. Student Grievances Against Instructor • All HEI should have 3 member committee headed by senior faculty • Student must approach the head of the institute with 5 days of receiving the grade • Committee shall hear both sides (student + instructor) and decide in 5 days • Departmental faculty headed by senior faculty shall check few papers randomly for uniformity

23. Courses on Pass/Fail Basis • Courses on Pass/Fail basis can only be taken in Electives • Grade shall not be counted towards GPA/C.GPA • Maximum 9 Credit hours can be taken on this basis • Failures have to repeat the same course • NO course can be taken on this basis in Masters/Mphil

24. Cancellation Of Admission • If a student fails to attend classes during first four weeks of semester, his/her admission shall stand cancelled automatically without notification

25. Course File • To maintain a course file is compulsory for Instructors • Course contents • Course coding • Weekly teaching schedule • Dates of Midterm exam • Grading policy for quizzes, assignments etc • Copy of each assignment • Copy of each Quiz • Copy of Midterm Exam • Grading sheets of the course • Difficulties/Problems during course delivery

26. Freezing Of Semester • Student can freeze a semester and retake admission in the same semester • No freezing during the semester • Maximum duration of program remains same • HEI may develop criteria for freezing a semester

27. Teacher Evaluation • Evaluation by students preferably done on-line • Must be in the last week of the semester • Shall be shared with the instructor • Evaluations must be completely anonymous

28. More Recommendations • To evolve an effective, reliable, valid, secure and transparent examination system, pertinent training for Controller of Exams to junior clerks in Exam Department should be arranged • Course objectives in terms of learning outcomes should be available to all concerned person including students

29. More Recommendations • Choice of questions, 5 out of 8 should be abolished • Grace marks to pass the candidate should not be allowed after 2007 • Paper setting for final exam should be preferable done by a panel of 2 or more examiners

30. More Recommendations • Questions should assess higher level of cognition • Key should be prepared for the question paper. Solution along with weightage and breakdown • MCQ and SEQ should be encouraged • Project should be conducted by panel of examiners including external and internal

31. More Recommendations • Complete Transparency should be adopted where students can discuss the marks awarded to them with the Instructor • In case student fails, he should at least wait for six months before appearing for second chance • All exams after 2007 will follow the policy of giving no choice at UG level