School of Library and Information Science

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

Comprehensive Examination > How are Comps Graded?

The comprehensive exam is graded on a pass-fail basis. Students must pass three of their four questions to pass the exam. All SLIS faculty participate in grading. The student's identity is kept confidential throughout the grading process, with students identified only by the special numbers assigned specifically for taking comps.

 

In the first round of grading, responses to each question are read by two faculty members who grade responses as passing or marginal. Any responses they consider passing are passed at this point, and students who pass at least three of their four questions have passed the exam.

Marginal responses written by students are then read and graded by the entire faculty (with the exception of the dean). Those responses receiving a majority of passes are passed - and students who as a result have received at least three passes on their four questions have passed the exam.

Reponses by students who wrote more than one response failed by a majority of the faculty are then discussed, along with faculty comments on them, in a closed faculty meeting. A final vote is taken (with the dean voting if needed to break a tie), and only at this point does the decision to fail a response become final. Students failing two or more questions fail the comprehensive exam.

The comprehensive exam may be retaken once, by registering to take comps along with other students at the regularly scheduled time in a future semester or summer session. Special examinations are not given.

The School sends written notification to students informing them of the results of the comprehensive examination.