Important Lecture Attendance Regulations
Attending Lectures
Attending lectures is compulsory and other activities should not be scheduled during lecture time unless prior arrangements have been made through the offices of the Heads of Department. A student who misses 25% of lectures will not take exams, regardless of the requirement that he or she will have paid full fees to register for that semester.
Lecture Times
Nairobi, Nakuru & Machakos Campuses: Morning classes are held from Monday to Saturday between 9.00 am and 12 noon. Evening classes are held between 5.30 pm and 8.30 pm Monday to Friday and 9.00 am to 12 noon on Saturdays.
Limuru Campus: Classes are all day long from 8.30 am to 7.00 pm. Third term classes begin at 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Use of Mobile Phones
Mobile phones should be switched off during lectures, and should not be brought to any examination rooms during exam period.
Practical/Attachment
Each department will assess its industrial attachment according to the regulations. It is the responsibility of the student to get the attachment place. The university may only advice on the attachment and provide recommendations, where needed. The department will organize the supervision of all the attachment.
University Common Courses
The University Common Courses (UCC) are common for all students and will be taken by all students who join the university. There are no credit transfers on these units. The student should take the unit when it is offered in their program. The courses will be taught for all students together. The courses are:
- UCC 101: Christian World View,
- UCC 102: Academic Writing,
- UCC 103: Introduction to Quality and Quantitative techniques,
- UCC 104 Environmental Issues,
- UCC 105 Sexuality, Gender and HIV&AIDS.
Course Work
In all the units taught at the university, there are two parts.
- The first is the coursework (examined by continuous assessment), which is determined by the department.
- The second is the examination at the end of each semester.
- The coursework counts towards 30% and the examination is 70% unless specified otherwise.
- In the case of languages and practical studies, a higher weighting, up to 50%, may be assigned to the coursework at the discretion of the departments concerned, provided it is duly approved by the Faculty concerned and ratified by the Senate.
- Coursework requirements at modular and distributed learning programmes may be different from those at regular residential programmes as determined by the Senate.
- All coursework assignments (except class room quizzes and tests) should be submitted typed, and conforming to St. Paul’s University Style Guide (Provided to all students).
- All coursework assignments should be submitted on or before the deadlines as set by the lecturers. If a student has valid reasons not to be able to meet the deadline, he or she should seek prior approval from the lecturer concerned for a late submission, failing which the lecturer is authorized to deduct one (1) mark for each day of late submission.
- All course work assignments should be submitted to the lecturers concerned through the respective class Representatives, and not directly to the lecturers. The class Representatives should maintain records as evidence of all students submitting their coursework assignments and receiving the same back after being marked by the lecturers.
- Coursework results and the scripts should be returned to the students two weeks after being done if it is a quiz and three weeks if it is a project. Students should know their course work marks before they sit for their final exams.
- In case of a dispute where a student claims that he or she submitted a coursework assignment, the lecturer claims that such assignment was never received; the lecturer concerned shall consult the Class Representative with the aggrieved student to determine whether the assignment in dispute was indeed submitted. If it is established that the assignment was submitted but got lost, either by error of the Class Representative or that of the lecturer, the aggrieved student shall be allowed to re-submit the same assignment. Such re-submission shall not be deemed a late submission and the student concerned shall not lose any mark for such late submission. However, if it is established that the aggrieved student never submitted the assignment, such a student shall be allowed to re-submit the same assignment, and such re-submission shall be deemed a late submission and count for loss of marks at the rate of one (1) mark for each day of late submission.
- In their own interest, students are advised to retain both a hard copy as well as a soft copy of their course work assignment.
- A student who completely fails to participate in the coursework (by not submitting the coursework assignments, or being absent at class room quizzes or both), shall not be allowed to sit for the University Examination at the end of the semester, even if such a student has maintained the required attendance at lecturers, or paid the fee. However, a student who participates in the coursework, but fails in it, shall be allowed to take the University Examination at the end of the semester.
- Students found cheating during quizzes, will not receive marks for the same.
- Students are supposed to use the admission numbers only in their assignments, CATS and in examinations; student names shall not be used.
Failure To Submit Assignments
Regulations governing absence due to illness are as follows:
- Short –term absence (up to five working days)
- Self –certification of illness is permitted for an absence of up to five working days.
- Full completed self–certification forms or medical certificates must be submitted within three days of returning to studies. Forms or certificates must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.
- Consecutive self-certification is not permitted.
- Absence of longer than five working days or absence from examination.
- Absence of longer than five working days, or failure to meet the course-work deadlines, or absence from any examination or class test counting towards a unit, MUST be covered by a medical certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner.
- Medical certificates must be submitted to the Academic Registrar’s office within three days of returning to studies. Retrospective medical certificates submitted after this period is not acceptable.
- Illness during exam time
- A student should not take exams if he or she is ill.
- In case of illness during the exam week(s), a student should inform in writing the head of department that they are not able to take exams.
- After recovery, a student should bring evidence of treatment from a doctor who examined them.
- The exams missed on medical grounds will be taken when the course is next offered.
Deferment of Studies
A student may defer studies because of illness, financial problems, and family issues. In case of deferment a student
- Should apply in writing to the Head of Department stating the reasons why he or she wishes to defer.
- The department Committee may allow the deferment and inform the Dean of Faculty
- The Dean of the Faculty will write to the student offering the deferment for a given period. The action on deferment shall be entered into the student’s record.
- After the period of deferment is over the student will reapply for admission two months before the semester begins. The Dean will assess the letter and re-admit the student.
- With the deferment the undergraduate programme should be completed in six (6) years total.
- The post graduate programmes should be completed in seven (7) years.
- After the years expire, the student should apply to take the course a fresh.
Changing Campus of Study
A student is allowed to transfer to another St. Paul’s campus. To do so the student is required to complete the “Student Campus Transfer Form”.
