Shaped by the university’s mission, a two-day workshop on grading systems and the harmonized table of specifications (TOS) convened NEMSU’s academic stewards to recalibrate its standards for evaluating students' performance and to enhance the faculty’s capability to ensure that its assessments align with the program and institution's outcomes.

Now in its second phase, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Maria Lady Sol A. Suazo led the Office of Curriculum Development in continuing the implementation of the three-phase university curriculum roadmap, which was initiated and prepared last year by former Curriculum Development Director Dr. Erwin B. Berry.

“Our grading system is the backbone of our assessment process,” Dr. Suazo exclaimed, emphasizing the need to recalibrate it to meet emerging standards and existing policies in the current educational landscape, which expect outcomes-based education for learners.

The two-day workshop generated ideas to address current challenges and provided additional learning opportunities for educators. Dr. Berry led the harmonization of the Table of Specifications, ensuring that each faculty member understood the importance of content validity through aligning course-intended learning outcomes with assessments. During this workshop, with Dr. Berry's assistance and the active participation of department chairs, curriculum heads, directors, and deans, a new format for the Table of Specifications was established.

The fruitful collaboration among academic officials, vigorously facilitated by Dr. Romeo A. Patan, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, resulted in the creation of a unified grading system proposal, considering each program's unique requirements and study program outlined in respective CMOs. The outcomes of this session, including the new transmutation table and the NEMSU e-class record, will be unveiled to stakeholders during a public presentation no later than the last week of March.

The gathering also provided an opportunity to reorient department chairpersons regarding the university’s Faculty Development Policy. This policy outlines numerous opportunities and faculty support the university can offer to address faculty capability development, professional growth, and program priority needs.