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