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Reprieves For CCE, Graduate Progs As Senate relaxes stringent requirements
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- Published: 19 May 2021
By Samuel Otikor
In a concerted effort aimed at stemming the progressive decline in the subscription to programmes run in the School of Graduate Studies, Institutes, Centres and College of Continuing Education (CCE), Senate of the University has reviewed stringent requirements in line with the dynamics and current realities in the society. thPr esenting an 11-page report at the 454 Senate Meeting held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, Chairman of the Committee on Revitalisation of School of Graduate Studies, Institutes, Centres and College of Continuing Education Programmes (CORSICCP), Professor Anthony Ibe, disclosed that the Committee was given a seven-point term of reference. The terms of reference included to: investigate the immediate and remote cause(s) of decline in admission into graduate and CCE programmes, examine the financial standing and structure of the School of Graduate Studies in terms of income and expenditure, ascertain the global best practices and their applicability in the structure, management and running of programmes in the graduate school and CCE, learn from competing universities in Rivers State and Nigeria in general and to make recommendations on how to reposition the affected academic programmes. Upon presentation and deliberation of the report, Senate approved far-reaching recommendations. On structure of the programme, Senate has abolished the practice of conducting Comprehensive Examination for Graduate programmes. Senate approved the provision for flexibility where students could run courses in modules. On administration, senate reemphasized the
position of Chairman, Departmental Graduate Committee who should coordinate the administration of graduate programmes at the Department. The august body agreed to reconsider the stopping of surcharge on late payment. On admission, Senate has agreed that on no account should a candidate be denied admission due to observed deficiencies in the O' level which has been used earlier for the Undergraduate programmes. Senate stopped the use of any other unapproved examination as a prerequisite for admission into graduate programme, except oral interview. The apex academic decision-making body decided that the minimum requirement for admission into the Master's degree programme is now Second Class Lower division against the initial arrangement of 3:00 CGPA, while a minimum of 3.5 on a 5-point scale is required for Doctoral programmes irrespective of the courses.
On CCE, Senate decided to maintain the current payment regime. Senate recommended the use of e-learning or blended learning for students on the programmes run in the College of Continuing Education. The august body called on Management to prevail on the Unions to exempt CCE from industrial actions since it is a non-NUC programmes.
On plagiarism, Senate agreed that henceforth, plagiarism check would no longer be punitive but correctional measure. On clearance, Senate decided that students should no longer pay for Clearance form, payments for Success Letter and Statement of Result are reduced by 100% as each payment now goes for N5,000. Senate decided that owning Convocation Gown by Doctor of Philosophy degree holders should be optional with different fees for those who want to keep or return it.
