F2.7 Qualifying Examination Results
Updated: September 19th, 2011
An exam which results in either a pass, failure, or partial failure is by unanimous consensus of the Qualifying Examination Committee. If there is no unanimity, the result is a “split vote.” These categories are described below.
Pass. The Qualifying Examination committee unanimously votes that the student passed the examination with scholarship that is at least acceptable.
Failure. A total failure occurs if the Qualifying Examination committee votes unanimously that the student failed the entire examination. The committee either: 1) recommends that the student take a second and final examination on all examination topics; or 2) does not recommend reexamination, the consequence of which will be the student’s dismissal from the program.
If a second and final examination is recommended, the following procedures apply: 1) the committee must submit its “Report to the Graduate Division on the Qualifying Examination” with its recommendation; 2) committee membership for the student’s retake must be the same as for the first exam; 3) the student may not retake the exam until 3 months after the first exam unless an exception is approved by the cognizant Dean (in care of the Graduate Services: Degrees Office, 318 Sproul Hall, #5900); and 4) a third examination is not permitted. If the committee wishes to suggest preparation for the second examination through additional course work or special tutoring, this must be communicated to the student in writing with a copy to the Graduate Division.
If the committee does not recommend a reexamination, a written explanation by the committee chair must accompany the completed “Report to the Graduate Division on the Qualifying Examination” and sent to the Graduate Services: Degrees Office (318 Sproul Hall, #5900). If the Graduate Division concurs with the chair’s explanation, the student is sent a letter of dismissal from the program by the Graduate Dean, with a copy to the department.
A partial failure. A partial failure occurs if the Qualifying Examination committee votes unanimously that the student passed some topics but failed others. In this instance, the following apply: 1) a second and final examination is required; 2) the chair of the committee must write a letter to the student, with a copy to the Graduate Division, conveying information about his or her performance (pass, partial fail, or fail) on each of the three subject areas covered during the examination; 3) the committee may choose to examine the student on all topics or only on those failed during the first exam, but must communicate its decision in the letter regarding the student’s performance; and 4) the retake must be scheduled no earlier than three months after the first examination unless an exception is approved by the cognizant Dean (in care of the Graduate Services: Degrees Office, 318 Sproul Hall, #5900). A third attempt to pass the Qualifying Examination is not permitted.
A split vote. If the Qualifying Examination Committee cannot reach a unanimous decision concerning a pass, total failure, or partial failure, the chair should 1) determine the areas of disagreement; and 2) request that each committee member write, as required, a detailed assessment of the student’s performance for submission to the Administrative Committee of the Graduate Council. These assessments should be sent to the Administrative Committee in care of Assistant Dean Diane Hill (and sent to Graduate Services: Degrees Office, 318 Sproul Hall, #5900). The chair’s letter should outline the progress of the examination itself, the efforts made by the committee to reach a unanimous agreement, the remaining areas of disagreement, and the chair’s own assessment of the student’s performance. Such letters may be released to the student under provisions of the 1972 Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), current Department of Health and Human Services regulations, and California public records legislation.
If the exam results in a split vote, the committee should only inform the student that the matter was sent to the Administrative Committee for a final decision. The student has neither passed nor failed the exam until the Administrative Committee decides the results.
How to report the results of a Qualifying Examination. No later than two weeks after the Qualifying Examination, the committee must send a formal report of the results, signed by all committee members, to the Graduate Services: Degrees Office (318 Sproul Hall, #5900). The Report form can be obtained from Graduate Student Affairs Officers or from the Graduate Division website (http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/policies/pdf/qe_report.pdf).
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