Academic Regulation for the School of Computing and Information Technology (ARSCIT) 1.0 Introduction, Objectives, Vision and Mission The School of Computing and IT focuses on effective design, development and implementation of Computing and IT curricula to train highly qualified personnel and carry out research to ensure information systems, applications and resource viability in various industry sectors like business, education, media and entertainment, healthcare, government, and service. The School was established in 2013 with two departments namely: 1. Department of Computer Science 2. Department of Information Technology Objectives The objectives of the School are to: train highly skilled personnel in fields of Computing and IT. carry out research in the fields of Computing and IT offer Computing and IT solutions to the society expand Computing and IT programs to meet the emerging market demands foster linkages between school of Computing and IT with industry and other institutions. Vision To be a School of excellence in Computing and IT training, research and innovation for technological advancement. Mission To produce globally competitive leaders and professionals in Computing and ICT 2.0 Course Attendance and Assessment 2.1 Student Class Attendance A student is required to attend at least two thirds of the Lectures, undertake a practical attachment and pass all the units. 2.2 Student Assessment Criteria Students are assessed continuously during the semester. The main modes of assessment used are: Continuous Assessment, End of Semester Examinations, Field attachment Supervision reports and Project reports and Presentations. Page 1 of 7
2.3.1 Continuous Assessment Students will be required to sit for at least two continuous assessment tests and at least one assignment which constitutes 30% of the total marks and is carried out throughout the semester except for Project and Attachment. 2.3.2 Semester Examinations End of semester examination constitutes 70% of the total marks and is done at the end of each semester. 2.3.3 Field attachment and Research Project Field attachment supervision reports and Research Projects reports and presentations are assessed and awarded marks. 3.0 Grading System Each unit shall be graded out of 100% and the pass mark shall be 40%. The marks shall be translated into letter grades as follows:- 70% mark 100% - A 60% mark < 70% - B 50% mark < 60% - C 40% mark < 50% - D Mark < 40% (Fail) - E Attachment will be graded as Pass or Fail 4.0 Examination Regulations 4.1 Ordinary Examinations a) Examinations shall be moderated, approved and supervised by the University. All units shall be examined during the semester in which they are taken. Such examinations shall be named ordinary examinations. Examinations shall consist of continuous assessments and University Examinations. Continuous assessments shall normally comprise practicals, tests and assignments. b) Continuous assessments shall contribute 30% and written University Examinations shall contribute 70% of the marks; except that where a unit consists solely of practical work, it shall be assessed out of 100% by continuous assessment. c) A student who has not attended two thirds of the lectures for any unit shall not be allowed to sit examinations. Such a student shall be required to repeat the unit(s). Page 2 of 7
d) The University Examinations shall consist of written papers covering each unit completed. The time allowed shall be 2 hours per unit. e) A student who absents himself/herself from a University Examination for any unit shall be deemed to have failed in the unit, with a total mark of zero. f) Industrial attachment shall be assessed and graded on PASS or FAIL basis. 4.2 Supplementary Examinations a) A candidate who fails up to half less two units in a year of study shall be required to sit for supplementary examination(s) in the failed Unit(s). b) A candidate who fails in the Project may be allowed to repeat the project not more than once and submit it as a supplementary within a period not exceeding three months from the date of release of results. The maximum marks for a resubmitted project will be 40%. Any candidate who fails to submit be project within this period will be considered to have deserted the degree and will be deregistered. c) The maximum marks in supplementary examinations shall be 40% and shall not include continuous assessment marks. d) A candidate who fails in a repeating unit shall be required to sit for supplementary in the failed units. e) A student who absents himself/herself from any/all supplementary examinations he/she was required to sit shall be assumed to have deserted the course and shall be de-registered forthwith. 4.3 Special Examinations If a student is unable to undertake end of semester examinations or essential parts of the work for continuous assessment due to Financial, Compassionate or Medical grounds, he/she may, on the recommendation of the School of Computing and Information Technology, and with the approval of the Senate, be permitted to take special examinations, or undertake extra work for continuous assessment. Special examinations shall normally be scored out of 100% and shall include continuous assessment. 4.4 Repeating a) A candidate who fails in exactly half less one units in any year of study at the ordinary examinations shall be required to repeat the year of study. Page 3 of 7
b) A candidate who fails supplementary examinations shall be required to repeat the failed unit(s) externally. He/she shall be required to retake the examination(s) in the failed unit(s) during the next time the unit(s) is (are) offered at the ordinary examination. Such a candidate shall be required to register for the examination in every failed unit during the first three weeks of the semester. c) No externally repeated examination will be taken more than twice. d) No candidate shall be allowed to repeat any year of study more than once. e) No candidate shall be allowed to repeat more than twice during the course of study. 4.5 Staying Out a) Subject to the approval of the University Senate a newly admitted student who for some good cause is unable to register in the first year of study may be allowed to defer his/her admission for one or two complete academic years, and to be admitted to the first year of study at the start of the following academic year or of the academic year immediately thereafter. Such a student shall not be deemed to have repeated. b) Subject to the approval of the University Senate a continuing student who for some good cause is unable to register in any year of study may be allowed to stay out of the University for a period of one or two complete academic years, and to resume study at the start of the following year or of the year immediately thereafter. Such a student shall not be treated as a repeating student for the year in question unless he/she had already been required to repeat that year. c) Subject to the approval of the University Senate a student who has registered and who for some good cause is unable to complete the course work for any year of study may be permitted to register for the same year as a readmitted student at the start of the following year of study or of the year of study immediately thereafter. Such a student shall not be treated as a repeating student for the year in question unless he/she had already been required to repeat that year of study. 4.6 Discontinuation a) A candidate who fails in half of the units or more in any year of study shall be discontinued. b) A repeating candidate who fails in a resubmitted Project shall be discontinued. c) A candidate who fails in any supplementary examinations after repeating shall be discontinued. Page 4 of 7
4.7 Appeal for Reassessment A student who is not satisfied with the grade which he/she has been awarded in any unit may appeal to the Registrar (Academic Affairs) for a re-marking of the written examination paper in that unit upon payment of the appropriate fee which the University Senate shall determine from time to time. The grade and mark recommended by the examiner(s) shall be the final grade and mark awarded to the student for the unit. No appeal for re-marking of any unit shall be entertained in cases where the appeal has been submitted later than one month after the student has been notified of the result. 4.8 Deregistration a) A student who has qualified to register for any year of study but who has failed to register by the end of week four of the first semester shall be assumed to have deserted from the degree course and shall be deregistered forthwith. b) A student who has registered for a particular semester but who has failed to complete at least two thirds of the coursework in all the units in which he/she has registered shall be assumed to have deserted from the degree course and shall be de-registered forthwith. c) A student who absents himself/herself from a supplementary examinations that he/she was required to sit for in any semester shall be assumed to have deserted from the degree course, and shall be deregistered forthwith. 4.9 Examination Irregularities a) A candidate who has been involved in an examination irregularity will have his/her examination results withheld until a verdict is arrived at by the university disciplinary Committee. Such a student shall not be allowed to proceed with his/her studies until a verdict is reached by the university disciplinary committee. b) A student who is found to be guilty of any irregularities during any continuous assessment or University examination shall be subject to the appropriate penalties as detailed in the University document on examination irregularities as per the University Examination Regulations and shall not proceed until the case is dispensed. 4.10 Academic Leave A student wishing to temporarily suspend his/her studies must apply for academic leave. The leave becomes official only after endorsement by the University Senate. Academic leave can only be taken at the start of the semester. The leave cannot extend beyond two Page 5 of 7
(2) continuous semesters and the leave duration will be part of the programme duration. A candidate on leave must renew his/her registration at the beginning of every semester. 5.0 Moderation of Examinations The School Board of Examiners in the University and external examiners shall moderate the end of semester examination. The internal examiners shall participate in the moderation of drafts of examinations. External examiners shall moderate examinations papers and also evaluate the marked examination scripts. 6.0 Graduation Requirement a) To be considered for the award of Degree, Diploma or Certificate, a candidate must have taken and passed all the units as specified in each curriculum. b) A candidate who qualifies for the award of the Degree shall be placed in one of the four classes as follows:- (i) First Class Honours (ii) Second Class Honours (Upper Division) (iii) Second Class Honours (Lower Division) (iv) Pass c) No candidate with the overall average mark of less than 40% shall be awarded a Degree. 7.0 Classification of Degrees Awarded degree shall be classified in accordance with the mean score of the aggregated marks of the unit obtained for the degree course. Accordingly, degree programmes shall be classified as follows; Mean Aggregate Marks Class of the Degree 70% Average 100% First Class Honours 60% Average < 70% Second Class Honours Upper Division 50% Average < 60% Second Class Honours Lower Division 40% Average < 50% Pass CONTACT: OFFICE: Twin lab 1st Floor SCHOOL S EMAIL ADDRESS: scit@mruc.ac.ke, it@mruc.ac.ke Page 6 of 7
CHAIRMAN OF IT DEPARTMENT: gmariga@mruc.ac.ke Page 7 of 7