UGC asks private universities to stop admissions, grades without tests

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked private universities to stop assigning students' grades without holding semester finals as well as enrolling new students without admission tests, due to the evolving coronavirus situation.

"Several universities have taken the decision to assign students' grades without holding semester final exams or evaluation, and enroll new students without admission tests. This is unethical," UGC said in a statement this afternoon.

"…Activities of several universities are unfortunate. We are urging them to stop this immediately," it added.

UGC in the statement also said that some universities are trying to take online tests and some of them started enrolling students for the summer semester during this crisis period of the country.

"This is a matter of concern," said the statement.

UGC top officials said that they made the statement following a The Daily Star report published on Sunday.

Two reputed private universities -- Brac University and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) -- have decided they will not be holding final exams for the spring semester and asked faculty members to complete grading based on coursework so far.

Three private universities -- IUB, United International University (UIU), and the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) -- have also decided to enroll students for the summer semester without admission tests, instead based only on their SSC and HSC results.

Brac University Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Mohammad Tamim on Sunday afternoon confirmed to The Daily Star that the university authority has postponed its previous decision to assign students' grades without holding semester finals.

He said that university authorities had formed a steering committee consisting of several faculties to propose how the marks will be distributed.