Fingers crossed for CLEP?testing
Carmen Mesbergen
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams appear on-schedule for October, despite their cancellation last year because of technical difficulties. The exams normally offer only freshmen an opportunity to earn credit, but this year the registrar will also allow sophomores to test if they had tried to do so in 2008.
Sophomore Nora Wood was among the group of last year's thirty prospective examinees. She remembers well the "CLEP episode," as notoriety has named it.
"After watching my email for weeks on-end, I finally saw an announcement for registration, so I went with a group of friends to sign up for the German exam. I paid my $70, and was prepared to test, but then discovered the exams had been postponed, and finally cancelled, although they (the Office of the Registrar) never emailed us an up-date," she explained.
However, Registrar Douglas McArthur projected assurance for the 2009 exam administration.
"I think we have the software problems resolved by now," he said. "I'm optimistic we'll be on track for October, and depending on how the fall exams go… let's keep our fingers crossed for the spring."
Ellen Justice-Templeton, Chairwoman of the French Department, strongly urges her students to try for credit by taking the tests.
"With the credits earned from successful scores on CLEP exams, students have more time in their schedules," she said. "This allows more flexibility to explore classes in other subject areas, concentrate on a particular study in greater depth, or even manage study abroad opportunities during undergraduate years."
For students who have not taken similar exams through an Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate program, CLEP is another way to begin college language classes at a more advanced intensity, and it still offers credit for the levels beneath a student's particular starting point.
"CLEP exams are only available during a student's freshmen year, because their intent is to allow students to earn credits for previous knowledge, not for knowledge they have gained in college courses," professor of Spanish Kevin Teegarden said.
The exception nevertheless stands for sophomores still interested in testing.
Sophomore Nora Wood was among the group of last year's thirty prospective examinees. She remembers well the "CLEP episode," as notoriety has named it.
"After watching my email for weeks on-end, I finally saw an announcement for registration, so I went with a group of friends to sign up for the German exam. I paid my $70, and was prepared to test, but then discovered the exams had been postponed, and finally cancelled, although they (the Office of the Registrar) never emailed us an up-date," she explained.
However, Registrar Douglas McArthur projected assurance for the 2009 exam administration.
"I think we have the software problems resolved by now," he said. "I'm optimistic we'll be on track for October, and depending on how the fall exams go… let's keep our fingers crossed for the spring."
Ellen Justice-Templeton, Chairwoman of the French Department, strongly urges her students to try for credit by taking the tests.
"With the credits earned from successful scores on CLEP exams, students have more time in their schedules," she said. "This allows more flexibility to explore classes in other subject areas, concentrate on a particular study in greater depth, or even manage study abroad opportunities during undergraduate years."
For students who have not taken similar exams through an Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate program, CLEP is another way to begin college language classes at a more advanced intensity, and it still offers credit for the levels beneath a student's particular starting point.
"CLEP exams are only available during a student's freshmen year, because their intent is to allow students to earn credits for previous knowledge, not for knowledge they have gained in college courses," professor of Spanish Kevin Teegarden said.
The exception nevertheless stands for sophomores still interested in testing.
Be the first to comment on this story