Section 250.50 Examinations

Section 250

Section 250.50  Examinations

a)         Kinds of Examinations. Each classification shall have a

designated examination.  Each examination may have multiple components.  A

candidate who obtains a score on the examination that is deemed to be passing

will have his/her score placed on either an original entry register or a

promotional register. Examinations  shall be open and continuous competitive

examinations.  For the purpose of this Section, an original entry and a

promotional examination shall be considered to be one and the same examination.

b)         Eligibility to Compete in Examinations

1)         Any citizen or resident of the State of Illinois who applies

for examination in a specific class at a constituent place of employment served

by the University System, who is not rejected or disqualified under subsection

(c), and who meets the minimum qualifications as prescribed in the class

specification shall be admitted to the examination. Out-of-state applicants may

also be admitted for examination in accordance with conditions outlined in

subsection (b)(6).

2)         A status employee in a place of employment who is not rejected

or disqualified under subsection (c), who meets the minimum qualifications

specified in the class specification for a higher class in the appropriate

promotional line, and who is working by virtue of a status appointment in a

position of a lower class in the same promotional line, is on leave of absence

from that position, or is on layoff from that position shall be admitted to an

examination. An employee who obtains a passing score will have his/her score

placed on a promotional employment register.

3)         An applicant who fails to meet the minimum qualifications

established for the class, but who can offer qualifications, that in the

opinion of the Executive Director, are considered to be compensatory, shall be

admitted to the examination for the class

tted to an

examination. An employee who obtains a passing score will have his/her score

placed on a promotional employment register.

3)         An applicant who fails to meet the minimum qualifications

established for the class, but who can offer qualifications, that in the

opinion of the Executive Director, are considered to be compensatory, shall be

admitted to the examination for the class.  The names of all applicants who

pass the examination shall be placed on the appropriate register in order of

score.

4)         In the absence of a name of a candidate on any existing

register for a class, an applicant who does not possess the minimum

qualifications for the class and cannot present compensatory qualifications may

be admitted with prior approval of the Executive Director to the examination

for the class for the purpose of attempting to fill a specific vacancy.  The

name of an applicant so admitted, and who passes the examination, shall remain

on the register only until the specific vacant position has been filled.

5)         In accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

(42 USC 12101), any applicant with a recognized disability may receive an

accommodation for any examination maintained by the University System.  These accommodations

are to be administered in coordination with requirements contained in the ADA,

the State Universities Civil Service Act and this Part, and other applicable

policies at each employment location.

6)         For classes within the 01 professional, 02 semi-professional, 03

or managerial occupational areas for which a broader recruitment base is

typically applied, out-of-state residents may be admitted to the examination

and equally considered.  In these instances, when the Illinois citizenship or

residency requirement is waived,

out-of-state

candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days after any

employment offer or final appointment

03

or managerial occupational areas for which a broader recruitment base is

typically applied, out-of-state residents may be admitted to the examination

and equally considered.  In these instances, when the Illinois citizenship or

residency requirement is waived,

out-of-state

candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days after any

employment offer or final appointment.

7)         Any applicant may complete an examination for a class four

times within any 12 month period, with at least one month time lapse between

every rewrite.  The candidate's place on the register for the class shall be

determined by the highest score achieved on any examination for the class.

c)         Rejection or Disqualification of Applicants.  The employer may

reject any applicant or, after examination, the Executive Director may refuse

to certify any candidate who, in addition to requirements specified in Section

36f of the State Universities Civil Service Act and subsection (b), fails to

pass a physical examination given to determine his/her physical qualifications

for employment, abuses intoxicating substances, uses illegal drugs or narcotics,

has been dismissed from either private or public service for a cause

detrimental to his/her employment, has maintained an unsatisfactory employment

record, has practiced deception or fraud in his/her application, examination or

material pertaining to these, or has committed an offense that, in the judgment

of the Executive Director, disqualifies him/her for employment.

d)         Character of Examinations

1)         All examinations within the classification plan shall consist

of one or more of the following:  cognitive or knowledge test; typing test;

oral board test; physical fitness test; credential assessment test; or modified

education and experience test or other similar examinations as authorized by

the Executive Director

lifies him/her for employment.

d)         Character of Examinations

1)         All examinations within the classification plan shall consist

of one or more of the following:  cognitive or knowledge test; typing test;

oral board test; physical fitness test; credential assessment test; or modified

education and experience test or other similar examinations as authorized by

the Executive Director.

2)         A

cognitive or knowledge test may be utilized for certain examinations and

consist of one or more of the following components:  essay, multiple choice,

true/false, or short answer questions.  A typing test may be required for

certain examinations that would require an applicant to perform this skill.

Oral board and physical fitness tests are components for the Police Series

examinations.  A credential assessment test may be utilized for certain

classifications. That test consists of a review of the applicant's resume or

employment application, professional certification, licenses, or other

education or experience deemed relevant.  A modified education and experience

test is a rating of an applicant's training and experience based on the

applicant completing a prescribed examination form provided by the University

System.  For classifications requiring valid licenses or certifications, an

applicant must show possession of the license or certificate prior to taking

the examination.

3)         All examination content shall be provided by the staff of the University

System.

4)         All examination supplies and materials and all examinations

are the property of the University System.

5)         An examination may be revised, with the approval of the Executive

Director, without affecting existing original entry or promotional registers

for the class, providing the revision does not change the character or

weighting of sections of the examination

versity

System.

4)         All examination supplies and materials and all examinations

are the property of the University System.

5)         An examination may be revised, with the approval of the Executive

Director, without affecting existing original entry or promotional registers

for the class, providing the revision does not change the character or

weighting of sections of the examination.

6)         Upon approval of the Executive Director, the character or

weighting of sections of an examination may be changed, provided there is

sufficient evidence that the current examination for the class is not a

satisfactory examining instrument and the current examination has been in use

for a period of at least one year.  At least 30 calendar days advance notice of

the change shall be given to all appropriate employers who shall then

communicate the notice to each candidate on an original entry or promotional

register by score and shall further communicate the notice to any applicant who

applies for an examination during the notice period.  During the notice period,

qualified applicants and candidates whose names are already on the register by

score may be scheduled for the examination upon his/her request.  At the end of

the notice period, the previous original entry register or promotional register

of candidates by score will be voided, and a new original entry register or

promotional register by score shall be established on the basis of the new

examination.

e)         Security and Confidentiality Requirements in the

Examination Development Process

1)         The

examination development process requires all subject matter experts, and any

other participant in the development process, to exercise discretion and

maintain the confidentiality and security of ALL examination materials in their

possession

tablished on the basis of the new

examination.

e)         Security and Confidentiality Requirements in the

Examination Development Process

1)         The

examination development process requires all subject matter experts, and any

other participant in the development process, to exercise discretion and

maintain the confidentiality and security of ALL examination materials in their

possession.  Any person, including but not limited to a University System staff

member, Designated Employer Representative/Human Resources employee, subject

matter expert, union representative, or incumbent/volunteer involved in any

step of the examination development process who willfully or corruptly

discloses, distributes, or fails to secure and maintain materials used in the

development of an examination instrument shall be considered in violation of

the Act.

2)         Following

the final development of the examination questions, all electronic/paper copies

of questions, along with all reference sources for these questions, must be

deleted from emails, computers, external hard drives, etc.  Any hand

written notes that contain examination data elements or comments must be

returned to the University System.

3)         All

persons must be aware that any violation of the Act is a criminal offense and

is punishable under Section 46 of the Act.

4)         If a

security breach is discovered, the University System will contact the Illinois

Inspector General's Office and the State's Attorney of the county where the

offense occurred for investigation and prosecution.  The offending party

may be held liable for costs incurred by the security breach and the position

held by the party will become vacant upon conviction.  Additionally,

universities and agencies may be forced to freeze all registers and discontinue

all employment actions in the affected classification or classifications

f the county where the

offense occurred for investigation and prosecution.  The offending party

may be held liable for costs incurred by the security breach and the position

held by the party will become vacant upon conviction.  Additionally,

universities and agencies may be forced to freeze all registers and discontinue

all employment actions in the affected classification or classifications.

f)         Administration of Examinations

1)         As approved by the Executive Director, examinations shall be

scheduled and administered by the employer.  The examinations shall be

conducted on an open and continuous basis.  Upon request by the employer and

approval by the Executive Director, examinations to original entry registers at

each place of employment may be closed up to six calendar months when a

sufficient number of candidates on the register has been established and

further recruitment and testing is not required for a period of time.

2)         In

making the determination to close an examination, the Executive Director will

consider requests by the employer based on the number of positions in the

class, projected new positions, and annual turnover rate.  The employer shall

be responsible for the security of all examination materials in the employer's

custody and access to any electronic examination process, as provided to the

employer by the University System.

g)         Rating of Examinations

1)         The Executive Director and the staff of the University System shall

use appropriate scientific techniques and procedures in rating tests and in

determining resulting rank to the end that all competitors receive uniform and

fair treatment.

2)         Each

examination shall contain a rating or grading form for employers to utilize in

the grading of an examination.  Each examination will have its own rating form

and is developed by the University System at the time of a new or revised

examination

s and procedures in rating tests and in

determining resulting rank to the end that all competitors receive uniform and

fair treatment.

2)         Each

examination shall contain a rating or grading form for employers to utilize in

the grading of an examination.  Each examination will have its own rating form

and is developed by the University System at the time of a new or revised

examination.  The rating form provides a breakdown of how points are awarded in

each area of the examination.

3)         Failure in any portion of a total examination, the passing of

which is deemed necessary to qualify for eligibility in the class for which the

applicant is being examined, shall eliminate the applicant from passage of the

complete examination, regardless of his/her score in other portions of the

examination.  For each eliminating test and the final average in an

examination, the Executive Director shall announce the minimum acceptable

rating.

4)         The passing score for eligibility for certification shall be 70.

This score shall be the same for all examinations given for a class, but it may

be changed if, in the judgment of the Executive Director, the change is for the

best interest of the University System.  The change shall be applicable

uniformly to all examinations for the class.  The passing score shall be made

known to all those taking the examination.

5)         An applicant who fails to gain eligibility for employment in a

higher class may, at the discretion of the Executive Director, elect to accept

eligibility for a lower appropriate class, if his/her scores on all appropriate

parts of the examination are sufficient to qualify him/her for the lower class.

6)         All examination scores shall be on a scale of 1 to 100, with

decimal points in examination scores being rounded to the nearest whole number,

i.e., with below .5 having the decimal points dropped and with .5 or above

being rounded to the next whole number

priate class, if his/her scores on all appropriate

parts of the examination are sufficient to qualify him/her for the lower class.

6)         All examination scores shall be on a scale of 1 to 100, with

decimal points in examination scores being rounded to the nearest whole number,

i.e., with below .5 having the decimal points dropped and with .5 or above

being rounded to the next whole number.

h)         Notification and Review of Scores

1)         An applicant shall be sent a written notice of the date and

results of his/her examination.  The notice must indicate whether the score

achieved is passing or failing and if it includes credit for Veterans

Preference.

2)         All requests by applicants for formal review of examination scores

shall be submitted to the Executive Director.

i)          Filing of Examination Records.  All examinations, and all

examination components, administered by the employer shall be retained by the

employer in accordance with the employer's record retention policy or in

accordance with the University System's record retention policy and in

accordance with the State Records Act [5 ILCS 160].