(Trinidad Express) The requirements for the award of Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree to House Speaker Wade Mark were satisfied, The University of the West Indies (UWI) stated last night.
An e-mail trail between officials of the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business suggests that concessions were made by the graduate school to accommodate Mark and in some cases revealed that Mark did not complete core course work which would have enabled him to graduate.
Mark has denied that he did not complete his course work.
In a short release headed “UWI’s statement regarding requirements for graduation,” the university stated:
“The University of the West Indies (UWI) wishes to advise that the institution has specific regulations and policies that govern students’ tenure from matriculation through examination to graduation. It is unfortunate that information relating to the confidential matter of examination grades at The University of the West Indies Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business was released to the public, contrary to the regulations of The UWI. The articles referred were brought to the attention of senior officials at The UWI and the matter has received their fullest attention.
“The examination process is a very closely managed one governed by specific regulations at both undergraduate and graduate levels. More particularly the regulations ensure that all procedures for the award of degrees are strictly confidential. Examination marks are only communicated to appropriate officers of the University and are only made public after they have been duly approved by the Board of Examiners.
“A review of our records indicates that in the instant case the requirements for the award of the degree have been satisfied. The University would like to point out that special arrangements are often put in place for students in various circumstances e.g. students who require one course to complete the requirements for the award of the degree.
“The university remains committed to maintaining the high standards which we have established over more than 65 years of service to the region.”
