They are our neighbors directly to the south, so there’s a good chance that students from the Caribbean apply to your institution. And for admissions officers and international credential evaluators, if you host even one of those students, you’ll
want to have as much information at hand as possible to know what to reasonably expect during the admissions process.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and the need to make changes to many of the things we do and the ways we conduct business in the higher education sphere. In the Caribbean, health advisories have prohibited gatherings, which in turn affect
the exams administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council® (CXC®).
Last week EducationUSA, a U.S. Department of State network of over 425 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries, held a webinar featuring Dr. Wayne Wesley, the Registrar and CEO of the CXC®. Dr. Wesley and his colleagues
shared information on the current situation at the CXC® regarding examination postponements, transcripts, grading, and about the logistics of exam-taking for Caribbean students.
For example, Dr. Wesley reported that the May/June examination administration has been rescheduled to July 2020. He also reassured colleagues that a revised examinations strategy to yield valid grades and minimize the disruption to the education system during these unprecedented
times is in place. In addition to the information presented, webinar participants also had the opportunity to ask questions.
One participant asked: Are past students currently able to obtain official copies of their academic records? Via Blockchain? What about paper documents?
Another wanted to know about CXC® examinations: If students are already at university in USA when the test is administered, will they be expected to return to the Caribbean to take the exam or will they be exempt from that exam?
A third questioned how private candidates would be assessed, as school-based assessment is not available to non-school candidates.
Dr. Wesley will be joining AACRAO to deliver a similar webinar for AACRAO members this month. Please plan to join us on May 27 for this free online event, and bring your questions about CXC® exams.