Examinations
1. General Policy
Examinations are part of the education process and serve to assess students’ academic performance in courses. Instructors determine the format and schedule of tests and assignments during the semester. Tests and midterm examinations are normally given during the assigned class hours. The Department Chair or Dean must approve any significant deviation from this procedure. Faculty comments on written assignments and projects are integral to the development of students’ writing and analytical skills. Therefore, it is expected, for pedagogical reasons, that faculty members return students’ work in a timely fashion. Furthermore, faculty members are responsible for returning papers and examinations directly to students.
2. Study Days and Final Exams
The University normally designates 2–3 days between the end of classes and the beginning of the final examination period each semester as study days (see the Academic Calendar for the specific dates). During study days, no work may be due providing students undisturbed time to prepare for finals.
The final substantive assessment in a course (exam, take-home exam, project, paper, etc.) must be due during the final examination period, and sit-down examinations must be offered according to the Registrar’s schedule. Altering the examination schedule, or scheduling a final examination or assessment at any other time, deprives students of study days and effectively shortens the instructional semester.
3. Conflict Exams
Students will occasionally encounter conflicts in the final examination schedule that qualify for administrative relief. The following cases, and only the following cases, are grounds for conflict exam relief :
1. two examinations scheduled at the same time;
2. three examinations on one calendar day,
3. three examinations in successive time-slots over two days.
Each school coordinates its own conflict exam process, but, in all cases, conflict exams are rescheduled for the conflict exam period scheduled by the University Registrar.