Meet Jeanne Crowell, CAS VP-Admissions

The implementation of Technology Based Exams (TBE) is fast approaching, with Exam 5 in May of 2018 to be the first CAS exam to be offered in the TBE format. We spoke to Jeanne Crowell, the new VP of Admissions, to learn more about how the process is going so far, how TBE will be used in the future, and what her goals are for her three-year position as VP.

Q: What was your CAS volunteer background before becoming VP Admissions?

A: After receiving my Fellowship I spent a number of years on various Admissions committees and task forces, including the Syllabus and Education Policy committees. After that I spent some time on other CAS committees such as the Committee on Volunteer Resources, the Trust Scholarship Committee, and the University Relations Committee. I continued to be involved in various Admissions-related task forces, so while I didn't have direct Admissions responsibilities for a number of years, I remained focused on CAS Admissions issues. I also had an increasing role with my employer in managing the actuarial student development program and stayed aware of exam changes and issues. In 2010 I joined the CAS Board of Directors for a three-year term, and after that I served on the Nominating Committee and the Leadership Development Committee. I am excited to be back in service for the CAS in Admissions.

Q: How is implementation going for TBE for Exam 5?

A: It's going very well! I am proud of our CAS staff members and volunteers who have put in hundreds of hours to ensure a smooth transition to Excel-based exams.

Q: What challenges have you encountered with implementation of TBE?

A: We are committed to producing a high quality product and ensuring a fair process for all candidates. With this in mind, I have found challenging the quantity of decisions and communications that are required. The TBE team meets regularly to evaluate and discuss our guidelines and communications, and we carefully review and edit each one to ensure that they say what we mean and don't imply something that we don't. For example, we decided to allow the use of a small desktop dry-erase board so candidates can think through a problem in writing before they begin typing the solution in the Excel file. This single decision created a myriad of questions to address: How to define what's acceptable? How to communicate these expectations? How to ensure there's no writing on it before the exam? How to ensure candidates don't write on it during a break? How to ensure candidates do not write notes to keep after the exam? What guidelines do proctors need so they know how to respond if these rules are broken? Every decision, large and small, must be clarified, worked out with the vendors, and communicated to our candidates and other interested parties.

Q: What has surprised you the most about implementation of TBE?

A: I was surprised at the lack of online chatter after we released the TBE Sample Exam and the Sample Solutions at the end of December. I expected to see more discussion on the examples of what taking the exam in Excel looks like.

Q: What have you heard from employers with respect to TBE?

A: We continue to maintain a healthy dialogue with employers about TBE. We first discussed TBE with the CAS Employers Advisory Council   (EAC) in March 2017. It was important for us to inform employers of our plans and get their feedback along the way. More recently, we provided an update to the EAC in early December. The EAC and other employers who have submitted emails to the TBE mailbox appear to be focused on working out how they can best support their actuarial candidates. For example, we have received questions about what types of exam setups might be acceptable and questions about IT requirements.

Q: As the CAS examination system continues to evolve, what do you think it will look like in five years?

A: I envision that all exams will be open-book and given in the TBE environment with possibly other tools at our disposal besides Excel. I anticipate fewer exam questions, with each one closely resembling actuarial work. For example, on Exam 5 candidates might be given a large data set and some background information, and they would be asked two large questions. One would be to do a reserving analysis, select an appropriate reserve, and write a reserve opinion to support the selection. The other would be to do a pricing analysis, select a rate change recommendation, and write a report to support the recommendation. I don't know if we would get there in five years, but I expect we will move in that direction.

Q: What are your goals as VP-Admissions?

A: As a VP, I have goals that are similar to other CAS vice presidents: ensure the work of the CAS is accomplished while implementing the strategic direction put forth by the Board. This includes ensuring appropriate committee structures staffed with effective volunteers while working with the CAS staff to accomplish the normal tasks of the society while also developing new initiatives. The regular work of the Admissions committees include designing the syllabus, creating, administering, and grading exams, and ensuring two-way communications with candidates. New initiatives include the continued expansion of integrative questions on Fellowship exams, the development of the new Modern Actuarial Statistics exams, and the implementation of TBE. In addition, we are reviewing our syllabus against the new IAA syllabus, developing a job analysis, and evaluating other learning tools. Volunteers on the Admissions committees, and our CAS staff support, are highly engaged individuals who spend countless hours to ensure that our exams are carefully constructed, fairly graded, and appropriately communicated. I am privileged to work with this team!