Board of Examiners

On 16 November 1970, the Professorial Board recommended that the University's By-Laws Chap VIII be amended to empower the faculties to appoint (at least annually) Boards of Examiners to control the conduct of examinations within each faculty. That amendment to the By-Laws was approved by the Senate on 7 December 1970 and was enacted in 1971.

Prior to that decision, responsibility for students including their studies and examinations had vested in the Professorial Board. Originally, the faculties had reported directly to the Senate on such matters as courses of studies, lectures-, examinations and degrees. With the assumption of that responsibility by the Professorial Board; the faculties’ by-law powers regarding examinations had been reduced to one of “supervision” rather than "direction". During the early 1970's, there was growing dissatisfaction with the roles of the various University bodies and it was decided to give faculties greater autonomy in the direction of students' courses and assessment.

Following the amendment to By-Law Chapter VIII in December 1970, the various Boards of Examiners made the final assessment of student examination results and submitted them to the Examinations Branch of the Registrar’s Office. (In some instances, when decisions were not finalised at meetings of the Boards, the Deans of the faculties were requested to make final decisions on particular students' assessment.)

Following amalgamation in 1990 requirements for Boards of Examiners stayed in place. By Resolution of Senate By-Laws Chap. VIII, 9. states (1) A Faculty or College Board shall appoint annually one or more Boards of Examiners which shall be responsible for the conduct of examinations in the subjects of the Faculty or College in respect of candidates for the degree or degrees of Bachelor in the Faculty or College and which shall determine the specific results of each of the candidates after considering the recommendations of the examiners appointed by the Faculty or College Board. (2) A person who is a candidate for a degree of Bachelor in a Faculty or College shall not be eligible for appointment to any Board of Examiners appointed by that Faculty or College Board. (3) A Board of Examiners shall, in determining the specific results of candidates, give effect to Faculty Resolutions concerning scaling of marks, distribution of grades, methods of examining and other matters that affect the conduct of examinations and the determination of results.

Changes to the By-Laws no longer required a Faculty or College Board to appoint Board of Examiners. [By-laws Chap VIII, 1998 Calendar]