Student administration/Assessment administration, Trinity College, Glasgow

Trinity College, Glasgow formerly Glasgow College of the United Free Church of Scotland formerly Glasgow Free Church College

Student administration

Assessment administration

Senate

Principal

Professors

Clerk of Senate

Board of Examination

General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland 1857-1900

General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland 1900-1929

General Assembly of the Church of Scotland  1929-1973

Presbyteries

Up until 1969, all students had to pass an entrance examination before they could be admitted to the College. Up until 1901 a Board of Examination was appointed each year by the General Assembly of the Church to ascertain the attainments of all applicants. It fixed the subjects of the examination, nominated examiners and fixed the time and place of the examination. The examiners marked the papers and then issued certificates to successful students. The board transmitted the marks to the Clerk of Senate and he transmitted them to the Senate. From 1901, the College Committee (renamed in 1930 the Committee on Education for the Ministry) took over the arrangements for the entrance examination. The Clerk of the College Committee transmitted the results to the Clerk of Senate.

Before admission to the College, students also had to be examined by their local presbytery which, if satisfied, issued certificates for successful candidates to the College Committee.

Examinations were also held to test a student's progress at various points throughout the course. Up until 1901, such examinations took place at the beginning of each academic session and were handled by the Board of Examination. From 1901 to 1916, the attainments of the students were tested by the professors and the College Committee. The professors conducted two written examinations on class work, one in the middle of the session and the other at the close of the session. The College Committee set examinations on additional work it had previously prescribed after consultation with the Senate. These examinations were held before the start of the second, third and fourth sessions. At the close of each session, the Senate, on reviewing the whole work of each student, decided whether the student had performed satisfactorily and reported accordingly to the College Committee. From 1916 to 1930, students' progress was determined by class work and autumn examinations on summer reading. Examination papers on class work were prepared and marked by the professors. Papers for the autumn examinations were prepared and marked by assessors acting in consultation with the professors. The assessors were appointed by the General Assembly. They reported the examination results to the College Committee in October. The printing or typing of the examination papers together with the timetabling and conduct of the examinations was arranged by the Clerk of Senate. After 1930, examinations were held annually in autumn at which all students entering on their second or third session were tested on the prescribed books.

In addition to these examinations, students were examined every year in the recess by their local presbytery. The presbytery issued a certificate which, up until 1901, was handed to the relevant professor. After 1901, it was handed to the College Committee.

At the close of the last session, all students had to sit an exit examination. Up until 1901, this was set and organised by the Board of Examination and from 1901 by the College Committee. The board issued exit certificates to successful candidates. The students presented this to the presbyteries to which they were applying to be taken on trial for licence.

Examinations were also held for the award of those scholarships and bursaries under the control of the Church. The Senate fixed the subjects for the examinations and the Clerk of Senate and Principal were responsible making arrangements including issuing advertisements and appointing examiners. The examiners comprised a number of the professors together with a number of outside examiners, each of whom were paid an honorarium by the Senate. The Principal reported the results of the examinations to the Senate. From 1901, the College Committee took over these arrangements and adjudicated on the results. It reported the results to the Senate and they were recorded in the Senate minutes.

After 1935, when the College united with Glasgow University's Faculty of Divinity, the university handled arrangements for degree examinations for those students who chose to graduate.

Bibliography:

College Calendar of the Free Church of Scotland

College Calendar of the United Free Church of Scotland

College Calendar of the Church of Scotland

Senate minutes 1857-1907 ref: GB 0248 DC 84/1/1
Examination arrangements as well as the results of bursary and scholarship examinations are recorded in the minutes.

Scroll or draft Senate minutes 1857-1954 ref: GB 0248 DC 84/1/2/1-3
Examination arrangements as well as the results of bursary and scholarship examinations are recorded in the minutes.

Records of the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland are held at the National Archives of Scotland.   

Title of function/activity taken from Elizabeth Parker's Function Activity Model (report compiled for JISC). Function and activity description compiled according to GASHE's Standard for Creating Function and Activity Descriptions.

Student administration/Assessment administration, University of Glasgow