Examinations

University Handbook, F70-74

Semester final examinations are scheduled by the Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures. Once the final examination time for a course is published in the Course Schedule it may be changed only with the concurrence of the Provost and Executive Vice President. Faculty members may assign take-home examinations, projects, papers, or other media in lieu of a written final examination. In such instances, the deadline for the submittal of the alternative assessment may not be earlier than the end of the scheduled final examination period for the course. Course schedules can be found on the university’s academics website.

Except for honors, problems, seminars, reports, research, laboratory practical, language, 8-week evening college, studio, and fine arts performance classes, the last examination (either unit or comprehensive) must be given during the final examination period. No examination (unit or final) may be scheduled seven calendar days prior to the first scheduled day of semester examinations. (FSM 5/13/03)

Faculty members may not give the final examination at a time other than that published in the class schedule. The final examination may be given to an individual student under special circumstances at another time during final examinations. In particular, students who have more than two examinations
scheduled in a 24-clock hour period (a 24-hour period starting at any time) and students who have conflicting exam times may petition the instructor(s) of the highest numbered non-group exam course(s) and schedule an alternate time for taking the final examination(s) at some other time during final
examinations. If a student is unable to arrange the necessary rescheduling through the instructors involved, then the dean will resolve the overload problem, if all the scheduled examinations are within the same college. If the examinations in question are within the jurisdiction of different colleges,
decisions regarding rescheduling shall be made by the Provost and Executive Vice President. (FS 2/12/08, revised)

University-sponsored events, on- and off-campus (such as extracurricular events, social activities, athletic events, and field trips) shall not be scheduled between 24 hours before the first scheduled final examination and the end of the last scheduled final examination. In addition, off-campus events shall
not be scheduled to prohibit a student from being on campus between 24 hours before the first scheduled final examination and the end of the last scheduled final examination.

Exceptions to the scheduling restrictions for university events can be made under the following conditions:

• Approval for events must be obtained from the Provost and Executive Vice President and President of the Faculty Senate.
• For events scheduled well in advance, approval must be obtained at least 18 weeks in advance.
• Consideration may be given to approval of events whose scheduling is not known as long as 18 weeks in advance.
• Students who plan to participate in approved events that conflict with final examinations may obtain from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice
• Present a statement certifying their participation in the event. Faculty may choose to make special arrangements for final examinations for students who are involved in such approved events.