Articles

To: All Staff and Registered Students, UCU Easter Semester

Re: TAKE HOME EXAM POLICY GUIDELINES

I greet you in the precious Name of our suffering LORD and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

As you are all aware, we are faced with unprecedented challenges that call for prayer, maximum cooperation and continued staff commitment to both our University and students. Following the presidential declaration of 18th March 2020 and the subsequent closure of all academic institutions due to the Covid-19 global outbreak, the University resolved to administer Easter Semester Exams in the form of “Take-Home Exams”. We appointed a Task Force to oversee this exercise.

Following the work done by the Task Force,  policy guidelines for this exercise have been agreed upon. Therefore, I am writing this Memo to share these with you. I call upon all Deans, Heads of Departments and staff to show the commitment they have shown before and work on ensuring that these guidelines are strictly followed. Together, we will be able to deliver an examination process that is a precursor for similar interventions in the future, and which will set an example for other universities and for this nation. I count on your support.

Please find below the approved guidelines that I ask all to adhere to:

1. All final examinations for this Easter Semester 2020 shall be in form of ‘Take Home Exams’.
   
   
2. All Take Home Exams shall be availed to registered students through: the e-Learning platform, emails, WhatsApp and other means that shall be approved by the University from time to time.
   
   
3. The examination process shall be administered centrally through the Central Academic Office. Lecturers are required to send their examination papers to the Central Academic Office through their respective faculty email addresses, as listed below: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
   
   
4.      All Deans shall ensure that exam papers are promptly submitted to the Central Academics Office by March 26^th 2020.
   
   
5.      The examinations shall commence on April 6^th 2020 and end on April 24^th 2020 (a period of 18 days). Please note that students shall self-regulate WITHIN that period to allot time for sitting the exams. Examination answers shall not be accepted AFTER April 24^th 2020.
   
   
6.      Students shall submit their exam answers to the University through EITHER the e-learning platform OR through the respective faculty email addresses listed below: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. They must not send them to their individual Lecturer.
   
   
7.      Only Easter Semester registered students shall be eligible for the Take Home Exams and ONLY fully registered (paid up) students shall receive internet data (bundle) support from the University to enable them access the examination and carry out meaningful research and the writing of their exams. Students are encouraged to do all possible to confirm submission of their answers with the University. The University will not be liable where a student fails due to his/her own negligence.
   
   
8.      Student registration shall continue remotely throughout the exam period. NO additional Fees shall be levied for sitting the said exams; these exams are merely completing the Easter Semester for which a registered student has already paid. All students who happen to pay during this period should promptly email a copy of their deposit slip to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send the same via WhatsApp number +256-795-771-411. However, we strongly encourage payments ahead of the exams to avoid last minute glitches and/or failure to effect payment and registration.
   
   
9.      Data support shall be given to all academic staff so that they can employ all efforts possible to engage students on student preferred media and support their completion of the semester. These may include, though not limited to, email, eLearning, and WhatsApp, which remain the preferred means.
   
   
10.      UCU Regional Constituent Colleges and Campus are likewise bound by these guidelines and they shall extend the same services as enumerated here to their College and Campus students.

I wish you all the hope that Jesus’ suffering and resurrection bring.

A glorious Easter to you all.

Blessings in Christ.

Rev. Canon Dr. John Senyonyi

Vice Chancellor