Final Exam Policies

The University Registrar is charged by the university faculty to create the final exam schedule. The Office of the University Registrar creates the final exam schedule to minimize students' exam conflicts and spread students' workloads as evenly as possible during the exam period. Per university faculty policy, the final exam schedule is to be created to minimize the number of students who have more than two exams in one twenty-four hour period.

More than two exams in twenty-four hours is defined as one of the following:

  • More than two exams in one day (9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM)
  • An evening exam followed by morning and afternoon exams (7:00 PM, 9:00 AM, and 2:00 PM)
  • Afternoon and evening exams followed by a morning exam (2:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 AM)

In the event that a student has more than two exams in 24 hours, members of the faculty are urged to grant student requests for a make-up examination, particularly if their course is the largest involved.

Final exams for fall and spring semesters are scheduled based on enrollment data as of the end of the add period. The schedule will be published approximately 4 weeks after the end of the add period. See Key Academic Dates for current dates.

Due dates for final projects, papers and take-home exams will be determined by the University Registrar as part of the above process.

If a seven-week 1 class requires a final exam or deliverable, the exam should be held in the week immediately following the end of the session.

Final exams for seven-week 2 classes are scheduled with exams for full semester classes.

For more information on final exams, refer to the Faculty Handbook.

Other Policies

Return of Exams, Papers, etc.
Although there is no federal or state legislation that pertains to the manner in which graded work is to be returned to students, the returning of such materials should be handled in such a manner as will preserve the student's privacy. Students have a right to examine their corrected exams, papers, and the like, in order to be able to question their grading. They do not, however, have an absolute right to the return thereof. Exams, papers, etc., as well as grading records, should be retained for a reasonable time after the end of the semester, preferably until the end of the following term, to afford students such right of review.

Posting of Grades
Posting of student grades by name or a personally identifiable number is prohibited under the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). However, a student waiver authorizing disclosure of educational records by means of a personally identifiable number (e.g. a student ID number) is acceptable provided that such consent is in writing, dated and signed by the student. NOTE: A name or social security number must never be used for this purpose. If instructors use this method, the waiver must be for a specific course; must be for a specified period of time (semester, academic year, etc.); must specify the records to be disclosed; and must be retained by the instructor of the course for a period of one year after its expiration. Students should not be coerced into signing a waiver, as the law requires that it be voluntarily given. Instructors may post grades for students who do not want their student ID number used by establishing a unique identifier known only to that student and the instructor.