Board Creates Task Force to Review Exam and Education Process and Procedures

During the CAS Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, the CAS Board established the Task Force on Review of Education and Examination Process and Procedures. The task force will take an independent, objective look at the CAS education and exam process.

Mavis Walters, 1997-98 CAS President, stated that the task force was not created because of a perceived problem with the current admissions process. On the contrary, she noted that the Board, the Executive Committee, and others involved in the education and examination process have been very complimentary of the efforts and success of the admissions committees. Walters reasoned that since some students and members will always be critical of the admissions process, it is valuable to have an independent committee take a step back, review the process, and report its findings.

The task force's official charge is to work closely and cooperatively with the Syllabus and Examination Committees, review the current processes and procedures used by these committees, and recommend any changes to ensure that:

• The Syllabus contains high quality, relevant and understandable readings;
• The examinations are high quality, credible, relevant and fair.

The Task Force review should include, but not be limited to the following processes:

1. Removing outdated or irrelevant material;
2. Obtaining up-to-date, readable study notes;
3. Training new Examination Committee members on how to write exam questions;
4. Determining when to hire professionals to assist in writing exam questions;
5. Selecting questions for the exams;
6. Determining appropriate pass marks;
7. Choosing sample answers from students' responses rather than model answers used by graders; and
8. Considering appeals by students.

This is a natural time to evaluate this process as the CAS prepares to implement a new education and examination system in 2000. To help determine other pertinent issues, the task force is gathering input from students and members. In December the task force placed an announcement on the CAS Web Site soliciting comments on the education and examination process. Comments are due by March 1, 1999. The Task Force will work throughout the year and then prepare a final report by October for submission to the CAS Board in November 1999. All comments should be sent to:

Task Force on Review of Education and Examination Process and Procedures
Casualty Actuarial Society
1100 N. Glebe Road, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22201-4798
Fax: (703) 276-3108

Comments may also be sent via e-mail to tdowney@casact.org.

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