Level I final assessments are objective-based (e.g. multiple choice) assessments. Brandman University requires students to follow the student authentication and proctoring procedures while completing Level I final assessments. Students must authenticate their indentity and ensure that the exam integrity is not compromised.
Level II Final Assessments
Level II final assessments (performance assessments) include scored tasks such as projects, papers and portfolios, which are intended to be engaging and authentic and enable students both to learn by doing and to demonstrate what they and can do in their chosen professional field. A performance assessment typically includes individual tasks that, when combined, demonstrate competency for a larger assessment. Please note that all assessments, regardless of delivery platform, are formal testing processes, not exercises or "homework.” Thorough preparation for all assessments is recommended as it facilitates more timely progress toward competency completion.
Retaking Assessments
If a student fails the final summative assessment, the process to retake the summative assessment will not be equivalent to re-registering for a failed course in Brandman’s traditional program. As stated in Brandman's academic policy, a student is allowed a maximum of three attempts to pass the final summative assessment for each competency.
Tutorial faculty must meet with any student who does not demonstrate mastery on a final assessment on the first or second attempt and develop a learning plan for the student to remedy student learning deficiencies.
Following the meeting with tutorial faculty, the student must meet with the academic coach in order to receive counseling on the following:
A. Confirm the project plan and timeline for the learning plan developed by the student and tutorial faculty and schedule the date for the next attempt on the final assessment (i.e., a student may attempt the final assessment no earlier than: (1) 7 days after the 1st failed attempt; and (2) 14 days after the 2nd failed attempt).
B. Confirm that the student understands that he/she will incur a retesting fee to cover the cost for a second or third attempt on the final assessment.
C. Confirm that the student understands that a third failed attempt will result in dismissal from the competency-based BBA program. After a third failed attempt, the academic coach will counsel the student regarding other educational options, such as transferring to a Brandman University credit-hour based BBA program or transferring to another institution.
Grade Review Policy: Level II Summative Assessment
For Level II final summative assessments, assessment graders have the final authority in assigning student grades. Students may request a second grading by another assessment grader for competencies that are not mastered within 30 days from the date that the grade was posted and upon payment of the re-grade fee. The re-grade fee is refundable if the student receives a passing grade from the second professional grader. If applicable, a new grade will be assigned to the student based on the second assessment grader’s evaluation.
Dual Enrollment Policy
Students enrolled in the competency-based education program cannot be enrolled in a credit-hour program or take credit-hour courses due to financial aid requirements and restrictions.
Standards of Academic Integrity
Brandman University is an academic community based on the principles of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. Academic integrity is a core University value which insures respect for the academic reputation of the University, its students, faculty and staff, and the degrees it confers. The University expects that students will conduct themselves in an honest and ethical manner and respect the intellectual work of others.
In order to safeguard the conditions under which scholarship is performed, measured and evaluated, the following will serve to: 1) distinguish the types of academic integrity violations and 2) identify procedures for hearing cases involving such violations. Any sanction imposed is intended to be within the reasonable range of standard higher education and professional practices and to be applied equitably.
A. Academic Integrity Violations
Academic dishonesty can take a number of forms. It includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test or examination; claiming the work of another as your own; plagiarizing any paper, research project, or assignment; or falsely submitting material to fulfill course requirements.
Cheating includes unauthorized copying from the work of another student, with or without that student's consent, using notes or other unauthorized material during a test period, and giving or receiving assistance from another when it is expected the student will perform his or her own work.
Falsifying data to show either the process or the product of scholarly examination to be different from what actually occurred is also considered dishonest. This includes falsely reporting attendance or participation in any field-work experience or having anyone, other than the registered student, participate in online course activities.
Submitting work done in one competency to satisfy the requirements of another competency is academic dishonesty.
Presenting forged or altered documents is academic dishonesty. These documents may include transcripts, add/drop forms, or any academic form which has been falsified or on which a tutorial faculty's signature, or anyone else's signature, has been forged or altered.
Failing to report any previous academic work presented at another college or University may be considered a violation of academic integrity.
For more details on violations of academic integrity, please see the appropriate section in MyBrandman.
B. Procedures for Hearing and Investigation
In cases involving academic integrity violations, if the University has found evidence that a student has violated the University standards, the following action should be taken:
1. The student will be contacted by the tutorial faculty to discuss the possible violation.
Students are not eligible to withdraw from the program until final resolution of the alleged violation.
2. After this meeting if the University is satisfied that the incident does not constitute a violation of academic integrity, then the matter is settled and no further action is required and the Academic Integrity Violation Sanction Report Form is not filed.
3. If the University determines that there has been a substantiated violation of academic integrity then the Academic Integrity Sanction Report Form citing the sanction is completed and it is sent to [email protected]. The form can be found in the faculty area of MyBrandman. A determination will be made if this is the student’s first or second or more academic integrity violation(s).
4. If this is the student’s first academic integrity violation, the following procedure is followed:
a. The completed Academic Integrity Sanction Report Form is sent to the student, and appropriate office for processing if required. A record of the academic integrity violation and sanction is filed.
b. If the student does not agree with the sanctions imposed as articulated on the Academic Integrity Violation Sanction Report Form, the student must work with a coach to submit a petition via MyBrandman within 10 business days of being informed of the imposed sanction.
c. The Director of Competency-Based Assessment will review the petition and contact the student in an effort to resolve the matter. The Director of Competency-Based Assessment will initiate whatever action she/he sees fit to sustain, overturn or modify the sanctions. The Director of Competency-Based Assessment will notify the student of their decision. A copy of the decision will be sent to [email protected] for filing and further processing if required.
d. If there is dissatisfaction with the petition decision made by the Director of Competency-Based Assessment, the student may request a hearing, within ten business days of receiving the decision by the Director of Competency-Based Assessment, with the Governance and Appeals Committee (GAC). The request should be sent using University email to [email protected]. The request will be forwarded to GAC for review and to render a decision. GAC will notify the student, and Director of Competency-Based Assessment of their decision. A copy of the decision will be sent to [email protected].
e. A student has the right to appeal within 30 days of notification of the academic integrity decision by GAC. The request for an appeal should be sent using University email to [email protected]. Appeal decisions are based on relevant information that was not available at the time of the decision or if procedures were not followed in accordance with Brandman academic policy/guidelines. It is not a reconsideration of the merits of the decision. The appeal decision will be rendered by the Office of the
Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. The appeal decision will be final and binding.
5. If this is the student’s second or more academic integrity violation, the following procedure is followed:
a. The completed Academic Integrity Sanction Report Form is sent to the student and appropriate office for processing if required. A record of the academic integrity violation and sanction is filed. Since the student has more than one Academic Integrity Violation, the completed Academic Integrity Sanction Report Form and the students’ prior Academic Integrity Sanctions Report Form(s) and sanction(s) are also sent to the Director of Based Assessment to review. The Director of Competency-Based Assessment will initiate whatever action she/he sees fit to sustain, overturn or modify the sanctions based on the student’s current and prior violations. The Director of Competency-Based Assessment will notify the student and faculty of their decision. A copy of the decision will be sent to [email protected] for filing and further processing if required (e.g., change of grade, academic dismissal).
b. If there is dissatisfaction with the decision by the Director of Competency-Based Assessment, the student may request a hearing, within ten business days of receiving the Dean’s decision, with the Governance and Appeals Committee (GAC). The request should be sent using University email to [email protected]. The request will be forwarded to GAC for review and to render a decision. GAC will notify the student and Director of Competency-Based Assessment of their decision. A copy of the decision will be sent to [email protected],
c. A student has the right to appeal within 30 days of notification of the academic integrity decision by GAC. The request for an appeal should be sent using University email to [email protected]. Appeal decisions are based on relevant information that was not available at the time of the decision or if procedures were not followed in accordance with Brandman academic policy/guidelines. It is not a reconsideration of the merits of the decision. The appeal decision will be rendered by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. The appeal decision will be final and binding.
6. The Student may not withdraw from the program during the time of the alleged violation.
7. A formal dismissal for a violation of academic integrity will be recorded on the student’s official transcript.
NOTE: In all cases of alleged violations of academic integrity it is vital to maintain professional confidentiality in the matter. Students must also adhere to ethical standards set forth by professional licensing boards and discipline specific criteria. Violations of ethical professional behavior may result in dismissal from the university. Refer to appropriate school for professional code of conduct policy.
Diplomas and Transcripts
Diplomas are mailed out approximately two to four weeks after the date of conferral of the degree. This allows time for confirmation that all degree requirements have been met. Under no circumstances will a diploma be released prior to the conferral date.
Transcripts from other institutions which have been presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student's academic file and are not returned or copied for distribution.
A student’s academic history (transcript) will be a straight line listing of competencies completed with the corresponding “M” grade for Mastery. Competencies not completed, or those that were not successfully completed, will not be reflected on the academic record/transcript. Upon request, a corresponding conversion record (credit hour transcript) reflecting courses and credits will be developed. As a result, students will receive both a “competency transcript” that indicates competencies satisfied and a separate standard credit hour transcript which will list full credit hour equivalencies.
Diplomas and/or transcripts will not be released if the student has an active diploma/transcript hold as indicated in the Self Service Holds section in MyBrandman. For further processing and fee information contact the Transcript Processing Department at http://www.brandman.edu/transcript.