The Honor Committee discussed and updated committee members on the status of its flexible exam initiative during last night's meeting and also planned a continuation of its annual faculty update newsletter.
According to College Rep. Catherine Anne Daley, the Committee has worked with the University's Department of Information Technology and Communication to make sure the new UVACollab course informational system -- scheduled to replace Toolkit fully by 2009 -- will have avenues for professors to provide "flexible" exams and quizzes if desired. Flexible exams, Daley said, can be administered online or given as take-home exams with time limits determined by the respective professor.
"We want to make [flexible exams] logistically possible," she said. "We first thought of Toolkit, and we learned it was [being] phased [out], so we went with Collab."
Currently, UVaCollab is in its beta period and is being tested by about 50 professors, according to James Hilton, ITC vice president and chief information officer.
Professors already using UVaCollab have not used the flexible exam option because the semester has just begun, Daley said, but students have taken several quizzes administered via the system.
"We have had good feedback about the system," she explained, noting that there have been no reports of problems arising when students took quizzes.
According to Josh Hess, vice chair for community relations, flexible exams are an example of the current Committee's vision of outwardly and visibly demonstrating the benefits of the community of trust.
Daley agreed with Hess' sentiment regarding the Committee's greater plan, and emphasized the goal is not to implement a particular method of examination; rather, the Committee seeks to provide options that professors can use outside the typical classroom setting.
The Committee strives to "give options [to professors], and because we have a community of trust, you can also do it this way," she said.
The Committee also discussed another project related to working with professors at last night's meeting: the release of an annual update to University faculty. The previous Committee published a similar newsletter last year, and the current committee said it will continue the initiative.
"I think it is important to improve the degree of how to communicate with faculty," Hess said, adding that the update should be released in the coming months.
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | 7 hours agoThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 3 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 3 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
