School Rules and Regulations

General University Examinations Regulations

These are general university examination regulations for the Copperbelt University as presented in Section 1.4.3 - General Academic Regulations. These are applicable to all degree programmes in the School of Natural Resources.

Course Definition and Classification

A course is defined as one academic year’s study of a subject in accordance with a syllabus prescribed by the Board of Studies. A contact hour is the equivalent of one lecture hour or one practical hour appearing on the time table. Time allocated for field practical training does not contribute to this definition except for Special Project and the Forest Management Plan. The course number is a three digit figure. The first digit indicates the year in which the course is taken.

A Full Course is one which is taught for more than three (3) contact hours per week through out the academic year and a Half Course is one that is taught for less than tree (3) hours per week and may be offered for half an academic year. 

Grading Scheme

In assessing the performance of a candidate in a course, the following marking scheme shall be used to grade all work:-

Grade of Degree

The Bachelor’s Degree shall be classified as Distinction, Merit, Credit or Pass

Conferment of Degree

1. To be eligible for the award of a degree offered in the School of Natural resources a student must complete all prescribed courses in the Programme.
2. No candidate is entitled to describe himself/herself as holding a degree of Bachelor of Science (Forestry), Bachelor of Science (Agroforestry), Bachelor of Science (Fisheries and Aquaculture), Bachelor of Science (Wildlife Management)   or Bachelor of Science (Wood Science and Technology) granted by the Copperbelt University unless the qualification has been awarded either in person or in absentia at a convocation in a general resolution of the Senate of the Copperbelt University.

Pass Mark

1. All courses are examinable at the end of the academic year; however, half courses may be examined earlier.
2. The pass mark shall be 50% (C) for all University examinations, written and/or practical.
3. There shall be no compensation of marks scored in one paper for another.
4. An aegrotat pass may be awarded in special circumstances by the Board of Examiners.

Course Work Assessment

The assessment of students in a course shall consist of (a) Continuous Assessment, and (b) Final Sessional Examination (Written or presented at a Seminar).

Continuous Assessment shall be 40% of the total assessment, whilst the Final Sessional Examination shall be 60% of the total assessment for the academic year.

Continuous Assessment shall consist of assignments, class exercises, projects and tests and any other work as may be assigned by the Lecturer.  There shall be a minimum of at least two assessments in each term.
A student will be required to write final examinations, in addition to continuous assessments, as an important progression criterion. 

A student who fails or does not have any Continuous Assessment marks shall be prevented from taking the Sessional Examinations.

Field Practical Training

1. The School of Natural Resources attaches great importance to practical training particularly field practical training as essential requirement of the degree programmes.
2. The assessments of the field practical training shall be carried out by lecturers concerned on pass or fail basis.
3. A pass for each practical training programme is required before a student is allowed to proceed to the subsequent year or to graduate in the case of a final year student.

Maximum Duration of study

For a four (4) year Degree programme - six (6) years is the maximum duration of study.

For the purpose of computing the maximum period for a course of study, the years in which a candidate withdrew from studies with permission shall not be counted.

Progression Rules

1. To proceed to the next academic year, a candidate MUST pass ALL the courses taken during the academic year of study.
2. The Board of Studies may permit a candidate who has failed in no more than one course in an academic year with five (5) or Six (6) courses or no more than two courses in an academic year with more than Six (6) courses to proceed.
3. To complete a course, a candidate shall;
   
   • attend at least eighty (80%) percent of such classes, tutorials, seminars, practical exercises and/or field work as may be prescribed by the Board of Studies in consultation with the Lecturer concerned.
   • perform to the satisfaction of the Board of Studies such prescribed practical, written and other course work as shall be prescribed.
   • obtain an overall pass grade in the course.  The pass mark for all courses shall be fifty (50%) percent.

Deferred Examinations

1. A candidate, who, through illness or other reasonable cause is unable to present himself/herself for an examination, sessional or otherwise, may make an application to the School for the consideration of his/her case.  Such application shall be forwarded to the Dean of School through the Dean of Students before the date of the examinations.  It should be noted that misreading of the time-table and pressure of work shall not be considered reasonable cause.
2. The Dean of the School after consideration of any application may permit the applicant to present himself/herself at a deferred examination.  The results of a deferred examination shall be processed in a similar manner as those obtained at the scheduled sessional examinations.

Compensatory Pass

A student who fails in a course with a D+ shall be granted a pass grade of P provided he or she meets the following conditions:

1. Should not have failed in more than two courses in an academic year of six courses.
2. Should not have failed in more than one course in an academic year of three courses.
3. Should be doing more than two courses in an academic year
4. Have passed in the continuous assessment component of the course being considered for a compensatory pass
5. Have obtained an average grade of C+ or better in the courses passed.

Part-Time

1. The Board of Studies shall refer a student to Part-Time study in the following cases:-
   • Any student who has failed two (2) courses where the academic year consists of five (5) or Six (6) courses
   • Any student who has failed three (3) courses where the academic year consists of seven (7) or more courses.
2. A student referred to Part-Time study MUST pass all courses before being allowed to proceed to Full-Time study.

Repeat Course

1. Subject to regulations governing progression rules, all courses failed with grades of D+ and D MUST be repeated
2. A student who has failed a repeat course shall go on Part-Time study to repeat the failed course.  If a student fails that course at Part-Time, he/she shall be excluded from School.
3. A student who is excluded from School in the Third (3rd) or Fourth (4th) Year of study may be permitted to repeat the year but only once, subject to the rule requiring a student to complete his/her programme of study within six years.  Whereas the final year student may be permitted to repeat the entire year in the subsequent year, the Third Year student shall be required to rest/skip a year before being permitted to repeat the year.
4. A final year student who fails a repeat course shall be permitted to proceed on Part-Time and complete the said course subject to the  rule that requires a student to complete his/her programme within six years.

Exclusion

1. Being a student who has failed in three (3) or more courses in one academic year which consists of five (5) or Six (6) courses.
2. Being a student who has failed in four (4) or more courses in one academic year which consists of Seven (7) or more courses.
3. Being a student who has failed a course while on Part-Time study.
4. Being a student who, without express permission of the Board of Studies, fails to re-enroll (re-register) for study in any Year.

Re-admission

1. Readmission after exclusion from school shall be restricted to higher levels of study i.e. Third and Fourth year for degree programmes.
2. Readmission shall not be automatic but shall be on recommendation by the School after taking into consideration the applicant’s previous academic performance.
3. Applicants who stay away for more than two consecutive years shall not qualify for readmission.
4. Students excluded from School and not eligible for readmission may be considered for admission to other Schools within the University.
5. A student who withdraws from an academic year with permission shall be considered for re-admission upon presenting a written application for re-admission.