Mar 28, 2024  
DMACC Policies and Procedures 
    
DMACC Policies and Procedures
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ES4075 - Challenge Test Development/Revision and Payment


Procedure

Section: EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROCEDURES

SubSection: ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Master List Section: Student Services

  1. Scope
    1. To outline the procedure for development/revision of a challenge test.
  2. Institutional Regulations
    1. Many credit courses have potential for the development of a challenge test. It is very important that challenge tests are developed as quality instruments and made available for students.
    2. Proposals for challenge tests may be developed by a contractual faculty member after approval by the appropriate department dean/campus executive dean.
      1. If a course is unique to a campus, the challenge test should be approved by that campus executive dean. If a course is taught on more than one campus, the academic dean should approve the challenge test. The discipline faculty on each campus will be consulted. After approval by the department dean/campus executive dean, four copies should be sent to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ankeny Campus, for final approval.
    3. Each challenge test will fully evaluate the student’s knowledge and/or proficiency and all subject matter and/or competencies identified in the approved course outlines.
    4. All proposed challenge tests will be reviewed for content and consistency by the appropriate dean and must have his/her approval.
    5. Challenge tests will be revised and updated periodically to reflect changes in course content.
    6. The Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ankeny Campus, will give final approval of each challenge test.
    7. Faculty will be compensated for the development/revision and correction of the challenge tests in accordance with the board approved fee schedule.
    8. Faculty will be responsible for submitting a Personnel Action Notice (PAN) to the appropriate dean to receive their compensation.
  3. Procedure
    1. The need for a challenge test will be established based on requests from students, faculty, administrators, or counselors/advisors.
    2. The request must be submitted to the appropriate dean in writing who will determine, after consultation with program faculty, who will be assigned to develop the test. It will be possible for more than one faculty to develop a test, with the compensation divided among them.
    3. The test must follow the format and guidelines which have been established for challenge tests.
    4. The test will be submitted to the appropriate dean for his/her review. The dean will insure that the test measures course content. In making this determination, he/she must review course outlines and consult with other faculty members.
    5. Each challenge test packet should contain:
      1. Cover sheet
      2. Detailed instructions for administering the challenge test which include grading scale, time limit, need for soft lead pencil, need for reference materials (e.g., log tables, periodic chart of the elements, dictionary, thesaurus, foreign language tapes), need for scratch paper, need for calculator or restriction, etc. (See attached.)
      3. Challenge test
      4. Answer form for student use or copy of Scantron form
      5. Answer key
    6. Answer keys for each approved challenge test will be kept under security in the department deans’ and campus executive deans’ offices. If Scantron is used, four (4) copies need to be submitted with developed/revised test.
    7. The appropriate dean and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ankeny Campus, will review the challenge test packet and give final approval. The approved challenge tests are the property of DMACC.
    8. The Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs’ office will be responsible for the dissemination of the approved tests. Challenge test packets will be hand delivered to each campus executive dean and the Dean, Academic Achievements, Ankeny Campus. The challenge test packets will be kept under security in the learning center on each campus, and the answer key should be kept in the department dean’s/campus executive dean’s office.
    9. An updated list of challenge tests will be sent to the appropriate staff each time a challenge test is developed/revised.


Adopted: July 1, 1991
Revised:
August 1, 2003



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