Student Progress Evaluation

Every first-year student of the Bachelor's programmes Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Creative Technology and Electrical Engineering is faced with a Student Progress Evaluation (BSA). This means that a student will not be allowed continue the programme if his or her performance is unsatisfactory at the end of the first year.

BSA Standards

The minimum standard students have to meet is the same for all EEMCS programmes. The result is determined on the basis of the ECs obtained in the first academic year, where 1 EC equals a study load of 28 hours. Each academic year comprises a total study load of 60 ECs, or 1680 hours. At the end of the first year, at least 45 ECs have to be obtained.

Student Guidance

At the start of the academic year, each student will be assigned a contact person. This is the study adviser, and an adviser/tutor may be assigned as well. Students receive regular feedback on their study progress by means of personal interviews and/or a temporary evaluation. In the event of special circumstances which (might) lead to a delay in the progress of studies, the contact with the study adviser is of vital importance (see Chapter 4).

The study adviser takes notes of every conversation with a student. These notes are filed in Osiris and may be looked into by the student at all times. That way, the student can also read back what the topics of conversation were. When special circumstances occur, this will be filed in Osiris in the same way. The conversation notes may be looked into exclusively by the student and the study adviser. Interviews with advisers/tutors will not be filed in Osiris.

Consequences of the BSA

If the student has received a negative student progress evaluation, he or she is not allowed to re-enrol for the same programme at the University of Twente for a period of three years from 1 September of the next academic year.

Termination of Studies

No student progress evaluation will be issued to students who submitted a de-enrolment request through Studielink before 1 February, and who therefore are deregistered from the educational programme by 1 February. They can re-enrol as of 1 September, which enrolment will be regarded as the student's first enrolment. A negative student progress evaluation will be issued to students who de-enrol after 1 February and have not met the standard. When a transfer is made to a new programme outside the UT, an alternative procedure is available to avoid double payment of tuition fees. Please refer to Student Services in the Vrijhof building for further information.

A primary principle in the vision of the University of Twente is that the student is involved as a partner in the organisation and implementation of education. Education is a product of the cooperation between the university and its students; a product which can only be brought about by responsibility sharing and making an effort for its quality.

The UT offers its students challenging education. However, they can only experience it that way if they are in the right place. Effective student guidance, good matching, and cooperation with the surrounding higher professional education should ensure this. The challenge the UT faces is to offer well-organised educational programmes. Students should be expected to show dedication and ambition. Previous experience of the participating educational programmes shows that there is only a slight chance that students who obtain fewer than 45 ECs during the first year will successfully complete their studies. For some of the educational programmes it also turned out that failing or postponing certain courses has a negative effect on students' academic success. Students who find themselves in this situation, turn out to be in the wrong place to get the most out of themselves in the educational programme concerned.

The main objective of the BSA is to get students 'in the right place' faster. Besides, the BSA is intended to challenge students to attain high academic achievement as from the start of their studies. Students must be given the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, for example to be part of a committee, or to co-organise a study tour.

When a student obtains sufficient ECs and passes certain critical courses during the first year, this student should be able to complete his or her studies on time. When the student falls behind in his or her studies, in spite of sufficient dedication, a serious look has to be taken at what is going on. To conclude, the BSA also leads to obligations in the educational programme.

Meeting the standard must be considered the absolute minimum. The aim should be to successfully complete the foundation year. Educational and examination programmes are designed so as to incite students to pursuit this, and so that students should be able to obtain 60 ECs in their first year when they put in enough effort. Each educational programme has its own Education and Examination Regulation (OER), which regulates the students' obligations with regard to education and examinations. The OER also contains information about whether a BSA is included in the educational programme. The implementation of the BSA by the educational programme has to comply with the Guidelines on the Student Progress Evaluation. This document 'How the Student Progress Evaluation works' is based on all the articles of these guidelines which are relevant for the students. In the guidelines it is also laid down that educational programmes may include supplementary requirements in the programme-specific section of the OER. For the academic year 2012-2013, this is not the case for any of the EEMCS programmes.

Student guidance is not bound by specific points in time during the year. Whenever needed, the student can contact the adviser and/or the study adviser. During the first year, some phases can be pointed out that are important for educational programmes with a BSA.

Phase 1

Before 1 September the student will receive a letter containing information about the BSA. It states that the educational programme applies a BSA, and it contains the relevant final standards as well as the BSA procedure. During the introductory interview, this will be brought to the student's attention once again. This individual conversation will take place before the end of October, and is held by the study adviser or the adviser. A personal study plan may be used whenever there are personal circumstances which cause delay. This possibility will be considered during the introductory interview, should the need arise.

Phase 2

The first student progress evaluation will be issued to the student not later than 25 January, so that the student still can decide to terminate the programme before 1 February. This evaluation is based on the examination results which are then known to be obtained in period 1A. In actual practice, this evaluation is already issued to the student in December, because the results of period 1A are made known earlier. This evaluation is accompanied by a call to an interview with the study adviser for students who are not on course to meet the standard.

When students are not on course to meet the standard after the second exam period (period 1B), they will be called to an interview (once again).

Phase 3

Before the students receive a so-called final evaluation, a second evaluation is issued. This evaluation is issued after the examination results of period 2A have been made known (May/June). Again, students will be called to an interview if they are not on course to meet the standard.

Phase 4

A positive evaluation will be issued to a student if he or she has met the standard at the end of the academic year. This means that the student can move on to the second year of the Bachelor's programme and complete any uncompleted first-year courses during the rest of his or her studies. Not later than 31 August, a negative BSA will be issued to students who have not met the standard.

This will be issued by the Examination Board on the basis of the results obtained up to and including the re-examination period of period 2B (period 3). After the Examination Board has given its decision, the student will be informed by the educational programme as soon as possible. If the student progress evaluation is negative, the student's studies will be terminated immediately and he or she will not be allowed to re-enrol for the same programme at the University of Twente for a period of three years from 1 September of the next academic year. In the event of personal circumstances, this standard may not apply, or another standard may be applicable. The student must inform the study adviser as soon as possible if any personal circumstances are involved. Please refer to Chapter 4 for more information.

The table below shows when a negative evaluation is issued to a student and he or she is called for an interview with the study adviser in the course of the academic year.

*during the interviews, the study adviser will duly consider the 'partial marks'

Due to personal circumstances, a student may have been unable or barely able to study (for some period). Personal circumstances are understood to mean: illness, disability, exceptional family circumstances, pregnancy, and board membership. When the standard may not be met because of this, it is important to take proper and timely action. In that case it might be possible to deviate from the standard. The procedure, as well as the roles of the BSA Committee, the student counsellor, and the Examination Board will be considered below.

3.1 The Basic Procedure

1. The student reports to the study adviser that his or her studies are being or going to be hindered by personal circumstances.

The student sees to it that as many official statements as possible concerning his or her situation (of experts, such as the general practitioner or the psychologist) are available. Regarding this, please also refer to the University of Twente Guidelines on the Student Progress Evaluation.

2. The study adviser and the student together draw up a study plan that is appropriate for the circumstances. The study plan will be included in the student's BSA file.

3. When the student cannot meet the BSA standard, he or she has to make an appointment with the student counsellor (see 6.2).

4. Then the student submits a request to assess the circumstances with the BSA Committee before 1 August (see 6.3). This request consists of a personal statement on the seriousness and the nature of the circumstances, with documentary evidence, to the Rode Balie (Red Desk) in the Bastille building: Universiteit Twente, Secretaris BSA-commissie, De Rode Balie, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede. The following cases might occur:

a. In the event of illness, disability, or exceptional family circumstances, the documentary evidence is a declaration from a doctor or psychologist, indicating the degree to which the progress of studies is hindered as well as an estimate of the duration of the personal circumstances. The student can also contact a campus general practitioner to obtain this declaration.

b. In the event of pregnancy/childbirth, this is a declaration from the obstetrician or gynaecologist, stating the expected date of birth. In the event of pregnancy, the student is considered unable or barely able to study for four months. If the delay in the progress of studies exceeds the stated four months, there must be other reasons than pregnancy/childbirth for the additional period of delay.

5. The BSA Committee evaluates the validity, the expected duration and the seriousness of the personal circumstances. It reports on these matters to the Examination Board and the student.

6. The Examination Board issues the final evaluation (negative BSA or not). It will take due consideration of the period of illness and evaluate the academic achievement attained in the light of the personalised study plan (see 4.4).

3.2 Student Counsellor

The student counsellor informs and advises students with regard to all problems he or she might be faced with during studies. The student counsellor does not solve the problem, but can advise, mediate and/or refer to other assistance, service providers or authorities. Experience has shown that it is difficult for students to write a personal statement. Therefore, the student has to make an appointment with the student counsellor before submitting the assessment request. The student counsellor can give advice and help to formulate the problem. The student counsellor can also advise on other (financial) regulations that might apply. With the student's consent, the student counsellor may bring this forward during the meeting of the BSA Committee.

3.3 BSA Committee

When a student does not meet the standard set by the educational programme due to personal circumstances, he or she may submit a request with the BSA Committee. The BSA Committee evaluates the request on the basis of the information submitted by the student, as defined in section 4.1. The Committee 2011-2012 consists of the following members:

- Mrs P. van Adrichem-Rotteveel MA (also chairwoman of the Graduation Support Committee (CVA))

- Mrs C. van Dijken LL.M. (student counsellor)

- Mr R. Langerak PhD (non-involved director of studies)

- Mr M.A.M. Evertzen (non-involved study adviser)

The secretary of the BSA Committee is Mrs M. van Heijst-Wijkhuizen. The student's details will be handled confidentially.

3.4 Examination Board

The Examination Board of the educational programme will issue the final evaluation before 31 August. This can be either a positive or a negative student progress evaluation. When a student has submitted a request with the BSA Committee, the Examination Board will be informed about this in writing. The BSA Committee evaluates the validity, the expected duration and the seriousness of the personal circumstances.

The Examination Board will issue a final student progress evaluation based on the BSA Committee's advice and the academic achievement attained in the light of the personalised study plan.

The student may lodge an appeal against a negative student progress evaluation. This appeal must be submitted with the Complaints Counter of the UT in writing and it must bear the student's signature. The time limit for lodging a notice of appeal is 6 weeks after the date of the Examination Board's decision. A decision will be given within 10 weeks after the receipt of the notice of appeal.