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ISS Board of Examiners: Info meeting for 2014-2015 MA students by Prof. Dr. Karin Arts

Information on the responsibilities and tasks of the Board of Examiners for the MA program, including assessment procedures, appeals, and extensions. Learn how to ensure academic integrity and avoid plagiarism.

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ISS Board of Examiners: Info meeting for 2014-2015 MA students by Prof. Dr. Karin Arts

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  1. ISS Board of Examiners: Info meeting for 2014-2015 MA students by Prof. Dr. Karin Arts Chair ISS Board of Examiners 19 September 2014

  2. Composition Board of Examiners Chair: Prof. Dr. Karin Arts Secretary: Lubna Sharwani Members: Dr. Rachel Kurian, Dr. Howard Nicholas, Academic Registrar (Nynke Jo Smit), TLC representative As of 1 November Prof. Arts will step down and Dr. Kurian will become the new Chair

  3. MainTasksBoard of Examiners responsible for the admission and assessment procedures of the MA programme (including study programmes and waivers) monitors whether the MA regulations on assessment are applied correctly, equally and fairly to all MA students grants extensions of submission deadlines handles cases of alleged plagiarism and/or fraud handles appeals Why Perform these Tasks? to guarantee the quality of the ISS MA degree to guarantee equal and fair treatment of all ISS MA students

  4. Assessment Procedures ISS (1) • The course leader grades or organizes the grading of assignments = first marker. • If a student has obtained an overall average grade of 88 or more, or 62 or less by the first marker, a second marker shall independently grades all assignments. • The first and second marks are then averaged. • In case the marks by the first and second marker differ more than 10 points, a third marker will be appointed and the two closest grades will be averaged to generate the final mark for the course.

  5. Assessment Procedures ISS (2) • Multiple choice assignments and assignments that count for 15% or less are not second marked. • Submission deadlines and ‘Turn it In’ (anti-plagiarism software) scores are checked. • All information on the course results is then presented to the Board of Examiners, which checks the results and has the authority to seek clarification or request a course leader to reconsider marks. The latter might e.g. happen when marks are extraordinarily high or low and no convincing justification is provided for this by the course leader. Reason: to ensure equal treatment of, and opportunities for, all ISS MA students.

  6. Assessment Procedures ISS (3) • When appropriate, the Board of Examiners (BoE) applies sanctions for late submissions (see Art. 18(8) MA Regulations), serious cases of sloppy referencing, or plagiarism. • Approved final marks are then communicated by the BoE to the course administrators who inform the students, accompanied by substantive feedback on the student’s assignment. • Research Papers are also graded by 2 persons. In case of differences of more than 10 points between them, normally the External Examiner will come in as a third marker. All distinction marks (90 or higher), near pass (60-62) and fail marks (below 60) need to be endorsed by the External Examiner. • Grading scale 1-100. See Article 19(4) and Annex 1 MA Regulations on details of ISS marking system. Please note that 75 is our average benchmark grade (‘good’ result).

  7. Assessment Procedures ISS (4) • In case you obtained an overall average mark for a course that is below 60 (i.e. a fail grade) you have the right to resubmit the assignments that you failed. The mark for the resit (of an exam)/resubmission (of an essay) is maximally 60. • The maximum number of resits/resubmissions for each failed assignment is two. • Resubmission/resits are compulsory for all grades of 44 and lower. For all grades between 45 and 59 this is optional (provided you have compensation points). • In the end, in order to graduate, you will need to have: • No more than 2 course work marks below 60 (and none below 45); • A final average mark of coursework of at least 60; • A RP mark of at least 60.

  8. Right to Appeal • In case you are of the opinion that your assignment was graded incorrectly, you can appeal with the BoE: • in writing, through the form available in the BoE Moodle page, within 4 weeks after the publication of the mark • provided you argue your case: substantiate your view that the assignment was not marked correctly or fairly. • In case the resulting BoE decision is not satisfactory, a further appeal is possible with the EUR Board of Appeal for non-initial Master Programmes (see article 13 MA Regulations for all info).

  9. Extensions • Only possible in cases of force majeure (i.e. documented serious circumstances beyond a student’s control that make it impossible for the student to meet deadlines set). • Requests for an extension have to be documented. In case extensions are necessitated by medical reasons, evidence through a doctor’s note or otherwise is required. Of course the BoE treats all requests and supporting documentation as confidential. • Extension requests can only be made through the extension form in the BoE Moodle page .

  10. Academic Integrity • Plagiarism and fraud is a major issue nowadays in all academic institutions. Make 100% sure to understand what this is about and how to avoid it. • You are expected to submit original and your individual work, that fully acknowledges the sources used when preparing the work and correctly applies academic referencing conventions. GET INTO THE HABIT AND AVOID ALL PROBLEMS. • No ‘self-plagiarism’ either! • Limits to joint preparation (in relation to drafting texts or e.g. tabulation of data) • All written assignments (except exams) are checked through anti-plagiarism software (Turn it In). • If cases of seriously sloppy referencing, plagiarism or fraud are detected the Board of Examiners will take action and serious penalties will be applied, ranging from requiring the student to resubmit with a cap on the grade (usually of 60), deduction of marks, requiring resubmission after a year (implying delay in graduation) to expulsion from the MA programme altogether.

  11. Information Resources on BoE Matters • This powerpoint (will be posted in BoE Moodle page) • Board of Examiners page in Moodle http://moodle.iss.nl/course/view.php?id=497 • Academic Calendar 2014-2015, Part 4, Students Charter, ‘Regulations on Teaching and Assessments’ • Please send all correspondence for the Board of Examiners through boe@iss.nl and NOT through the email addresses of individual BoE members.

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