Education Office Newsletter no. 12 – December 2011

Contents

• New Rules for Admission to the CMS
• Conditions for Admission to Bachelor Courses
• Promotion of Study Programs
• Electronic Document Management (EDM)
• Grants Directive
• Indicative Evaluation of Bachelor & Master Teaching
• EPFL Exchange Directive
• International Coordination

New Rules for Admission to the CMS
The CMS admission criteria have changed. As from the start of next academic year, the rules set out on the Conditions for admission to CMS web page shall apply. It should be noted that, beyond 2013, the holders of a general education diploma will no longer be admitted to the CMS.
These changes aim at better monitoring admissions to the CMS and no longer admitting to this transitional course persons able to meet the requirements for admission into first year.

For further information: [email protected]; [email protected]

Conditions for Admission to Bachelor Courses:
Admission requirements: further to the changes to the CMS admission conditions implemented by the Senior Management, the Registrar’s Office has updated all admission requirements by country as indicated on the CRUS website. Changes mainly relate to EU nationals, expected to start their studies at EPFL with top grades in 1st year Bachelor rather than through the CMS as a fall-back.
For a full list of countries with admission requirements for EPFL Bachelor courses:
http://www.crus.ch/information-programmes/reconnaissance-swiss-enic/admission/admission-en-suisse/pays.html?L=1
For further information: [email protected], [email protected]

Promotion of Study Programs
As from 1 January 2012, all activities to promote EPFL studies will be grouped under a DAF department entitled “Service de promotion des études / SPE / Study Programs Promotion”. The team will have five staff members including the department head. Open positions will be advertised this December.

The objectives of the Study Programs Promotion Department will be defined by a steering committee made up of the Dean of Bachelor and Master Studies, the Dean of the Doctoral School, the Dean of International Affairs plus, in principle, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of one of the Schools. These objectives will serve to define and implement the best strategy to promote EPFL studies, relying on the combined skills of Mediacom, the CMS, study programmes, doctoral programmes, the science promotion unit, the high school (gymnase) unit and the Organization and Informatics Management of Education Department.

For further information: [email protected]

Electronic Document Management (EDM):
The EDM project continues at the Registrar’s Office. Having computerized the SAC archives, the system now includes all student files for PhD and continuing education students, thereby ensuring the preservation of essential data even in case of fire or natural disaster. The incoming mail relating to these students is also being scanned to be integrated into their file. The last stage of computerization is to scan the files of the 8000 active Bachelor/Master students; the process started at the end of November and should take several months. Once computerization has been completed, access to these data will be extended to the Sections and doctoral programmes so as to improve coordination with central services.

For further information: [email protected], [email protected]

Grants Directive
The directive on the allocation of grants has been adjusted. The procedure for excellence fellowships has been amended, and such grants will no longer depend on the financial situation of the student’s family. Fellowships will amount to CHF 16,000 per annum for external applicants. EPFL students will be awarded a certificate of excellence and a grant of CHF 5,000 per annum.
See:
http://polylex.epfl.ch/page-26078-en.html

(page in French: http://polylex.epfl.ch/taxes-bourses)

For further information: [email protected]

Indicative Evaluation of Bachelor & Master Teaching
Bachelor and Master courses were evaluated by the students. The response rate for this autumn term is 62%. Lecturers have a deadline until the end of term to discuss the results with their class. For evaluation grades lower than 4.0, the Sections will propose an in-depth assessment and lecturers should put forward remedial measures.

For further information: [email protected]

EPFL Exchange Directive
On 17 May 2010 the EPFL Senior Management decided to harmonize the conditions for an academic exchange across all EPFL sections. The terms are set out on the relevant website, which had already been amended for the start of the 2010 academic year.
The former directive, dating back to 2004, has been fully revised as a consequence. The Senior Management endorsed it on December 12 and it will enter into force on 1 January 2012.

For further information: [email protected]

International Coordination
So as to improve coordination in the field of international affairs, the Senior Management is setting up a working party headed by Patrick Aebischer and Philippe Gillet. Coordinated by the Head of External Affairs Stéphane Decoutère, this working party brings together the Head of the Cooperation & Development Center, the Dean of International Affairs and the Head of International Affairs. The Deans in charge of education and research, as well as School Deans, will be more closely involved in the management of issues connected with the EPFL’s international policy.
The missions and activities of the International Relations Unit, headed by Antoine Fromentin, will be further defined.
For further information: [email protected]