International Credentials Workshop

Credentials 801: Basics for the Non-specialist International Credentials Workshop Douglas Dombrosky SESD/CGSR January, 2007

Overview 1.Basic Document procedures 2.Basic Transcripts: the B side 3.Basic Systems: a)United States b)British c)French (20 point) d)Russia 4.Basic Credit Units 5.Basic Calculations 6.Awards Coffee Breaks!!

Basic Document Procedures

Admission Average Official or Attested Academic Credentials Acceptable Translations Final Academic Credentials Comparable Degrees Credentials Required Fraudulent Credentials Source: Academic Credential Basics Workshop Retreived from: cademic_credential_files/v3_document.htm cademic_credential_files/v3_document.htm Date: January 10, 2007

Official or Attested Academic Credentials Official Letterhead / Transcript Paper Seal or Stamp and Signature of Registrar Received in sealed envelopes – directly from the Institution Both Original and English versions are required. Recognized institution

Official or Attested Academic Credentials If original language credential received directly from Institution. English translations may be accepted from: –Applicant’s institution –Government agency in institution’s country –U of S Faculty member or staff (but not student) Copies from a Notary Public are not acceptable Copies of international credentials from other North American institutions are not acceptable.

Final Academic Credential Degree conferred listed on transcript or certificate of degree. Degree date listed on transcript or certificate of degree

Things to look for Does the biographical information match? Do the pictures match? Do the timelines agree? Does the translation agree with original language. –Should be a translation not an interpretation. Do referees exist and are not related? White out?

End of Basic Documents

Basic Transcripts: the B side

Grading Systems Grade interpretation is no more objective than grading. Fairness is more important than accuracy. Grade categories/classes convey core information. Average grades mean more than individual grades. Capturing the Message Conveyed by Grades: interpreting Foreign Grades by Guy Haug, Word Education News and Reviews 12,2:12-17, 1997

Everything is changing … … all the time … … continuously … … quickly …

University of Saskatchewan Grading system

UofS Transcript B side

Current Grading Practice Table

Ontario Grading system: 2001 Level 4 = A or excellent (exceeds provincial standard, 80%-100%) Level 3 = B or good (meets provincial standard, 70%-79%) Level 2 = C or average (approaches provincial standard, 60%-69%) Level 1 = D or poor (well below provincial standard, 50%-59%) Level 0 = F or failing (remedial action necessary, 0%-49%) Retrieved frrom: January 08, 2007

Example: Mount Royal College

End of Basic Transcripts

International Systems

Four Grading Systems United States British French (20 point) Russian From: International Educator, Credentials Evaluation for the Nonspecialist, Volume Xi, Number 3, Summer 2002, p by Foley, C. & McKown II, R.

United States Pattern Grading scales include: Letter (alpha), 4 point, and descriptions Example countries: United States, South Korea, Taiwan Variations: Mexico, People’s Republic of China, United Arab Emirates Letter A B C D F Description Excellent Above Average Average Below Average Failure Percentage Point

China Universities in China are rapidly improving. Key Institutions and now 211 Institutions are receiving large amounts of Government money. The new Admission & Recruitment Committee will be looking at specific Institutions. Letter A B C F Percentage Description Excellent Good Average / Fair Fail

China

British Pattern A United Kingdom 3 year degree is accepted for entrance into Graduate Studies. (Except India, Sri Lanka) Exams play an important part of the process. Typically do not use credit units - but that is changing. Example countries: Britain, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria. Variations: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore

British Pattern * Bold designates Honours degrees Degree Designation * First-Class Honours (First or 1st) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) Ordinary degree (Pass) Fail (no degree is awarded) Percentage Designation A B C D D F Country Britain Nigeria Uganda Kenya Sri Lanka Bangladesh India Designation 2:1 1 st

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Passing grades: O for Outstanding E for Exceeds Expectations A for Acceptable Failing grades: P for Poor D for Dreadful T for Troll Fred and George WeasleyFred and George Weasley once claimed that they should get at least an E on everything, since they exceeded expectations by just showing up.

French Pattern ( 20 pt ) The Maitrise degree is equivalent to the 4 year Canadian Degree – although the degree might be called other things in other countries. The “coefficients” system is similar to Credit Units. Example countries: France, Francophone Africa, Iran, Afghanistan Variations: Haiti Grade – – – 11 Below 10 Description Trés Bien Bien Assez Bien Passable Ajourné Translation Very Good Good Good Enough Pass Fail

Iran Grade Description Excellent Very Good Good Fair Pass Fail

Russian Pattern Countries were originally part of the old Russian Federation Since the original system no longer exists, every country is developing in their own direction – therefore least predictable Usually contact hours are listed instead of credit units In the past marks and exams were hand written books like bank pass books. Common Countries: USSR, Russian Federation, Mongolia, Variations: Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Vietnam

Translation Excellent Good Satisfactory Fail Russian Pattern Grade Description Otlichno Khorosho Udovletvoritel'no Neudovletvoritel'no

End of Basic Systems

Basic Credit Units

Credit Units The admission average is a weighted average - calculated on the last 60 credit units of an undergraduate program. 60 CUs is the last half of the usual four year program of 120 CUs. Not all countries list credit units or even contact hours.

Therefore: –If there are CUs – use the whole term including the 60 th cu. –If credit hours – about ½ of the hours. –If neither: Use about 20 classes or Use ½ the classes. Credit Units

End of Basic Credit Units

Basic Calculations

Basic Calculation Calculate Weighted Average –CUs * Grading: Use original scales if possible. If alpha scale (A, B, C), use middle of the range provided on original transcript. Failed courses: –If retaken – use best mark and disregard first –Covert Failure to F grade equivalent.

Grade Conversion Admission Average Know the minimum score acceptable out of the maximum. System United States (4) United States (%) British (2:1 or 1 st ) French (20) Russian (5) Minimum (Good, B) Maximum

Grade Conversion /30 15 U of S 30 50%

Grade Conversion China /20 50%

U of S China Min (0%) Max (100%) Good B 90% (China) = 85% (UofS) 80% (China) = 70% (UofS)100% (China) = 100% (UofS) ½ way (China) = ½ way (UofS) 90% - 10% ≠ 85%

U of S China /20 25% ? 30 25% of =77.5% ¼ of the way

OR 5 = ? * 30 = ? * 20 ?= 5 *

Formula Min i = Minimum of International Scale (80%) Min s = Minimum of UofS Scale (70%) Max i = Maximum of International Scale (100%) Max s = Maximum of UofS Scale (100%) Grade i = International Grade (85%) Grade s = UofS grade (??) Max s - Min s = 30 Grade s = ( (Grade i - Min i ) * 30 ( Max s – Min s ) ) + 70

Grade s = ( (Grade i - Min i ) * 30 ) + 70 ( Max i – Min i ) Grade s = ( (Grade i - Min i ) * 30 = 5*30 = 150 ( Max i – Min i ) ) + 70 Grade i = 85% (Grade i - Min i ) = = 5 (Grade i - Min i ) * ( Max i – Min i ) = 100 – 80 = % Excel Spreadsheet

End of Basic Calculations

Awards Averages

Award Averages Have different purpose than admission averages. Admission average based on minimum admission percentage (Good, B, 70%). Awards are based on excellent, exceptional, A, 80%, 85%????

Letter A B C F Percentage Description Excellent Good Average / Fair Fail China U of S

What difference does it make? Admission AverageAwards Average Chinese student with 95% average in China? Awards Average :

India Iran GoodExcellent Awards Average :

End of Awards Averages

Review Basic Document procedures Basic Transcripts: the B side Basic Systems: –United States –British –French (20 point) –Russia Basic Credit Units Basic Calculations Awards

Questions

Thank You!!!!