M
119
/&&
-
TO:
SENATE
PAPER 3F
FROM:
SENATE COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
July 22, 1966
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION OF ADMISSIONS POLICY
File: 7-A-I
The Committee is empowered by Senate, "to determine the credit to
be given to accepted applicants, for previous academic work." The Committee
has under consideration a request from an:applicant, supported by a Depart-
ment Head at Simon Fraser, for credit based on maturity, experience, publi-
cations, etc. The individual in question is undoubtedly capable and
meritorious, but has not taken any previous academic work for which credit
can be given.
The Committee is quite clear that it can admit mature students to
the University who may have incomplete high school, or in extreme cases, no
high school, but this is the first time the question of advance credit has
been raised in this connection.
There are a number of points that should be raised for the
.
attention of Senate. One is that the University does not extend credit (as
different from standing) to "native speakers" who enrol in language courses.
That is, a native Russian may not receive credit for the elementary Russian
courses even though it is obvious he has far more than a mastery of the
language at that level. He would not be required to take the elementary
courses: he would be allowed to take senior courses, but he must still take
enough courses in total to meet the credit requirements for the given
standing in the elementary accounting course, but he would not be given
credit for it.
The Committee discussed a number of other anomolies of this sort
which are traditional with Universities, such as the creative writer, the
amateur historian, biologist, etc. These people are not eligible for earned
degrees; if they are outstanding they often receive an honorary degree.
If the Senate decides to recognize maturity and performance out-
side the area of academic credit courses, the Committee would appreciate
very detailed advice as to how this recognition is to be decided and who
would do the deciding.
D. P. Robertson
Chairman
.
Senate Committee on
Undergraduate Admissions
SF
MF