Exam Policies

Exam policies help you succeed and ensure fairness for all students. These guidelines cover evening exams, handling exam conflicts, protected days without major academic work, and final exam procedures. Review them before each exam period to understand your rights and responsibilities.

Evening Exams

Evening exams are regular tests or quizzes that happen outside of your usual class time, typically after 6 p.m. They are different from final exams. (Senate Policy 601.1)

When evening exams happen:

  • Preferred: During your scheduled class time whenever possible
  • If necessary: 6-7 p.m., Monday through Thursday
  • Never: Friday evenings, Saturdays, or Sundays

Important: All evening exams must be arranged through the scheduling office.

If you're required to take an evening exam, you'll be excused from one scheduled class to accommodate it.

If You Have an Evening Exam Conflict

Your instructor must provide an alternative test time. Here's what takes priority:

  • Evening exam vs. regular class: Your class wins
  • Two evening exams at the same time: The larger class's exam wins

Days Without Major Academic Work

Major academic work = regular exams, major projects or papers, or presentations that significantly impact your grade.

Days Without Major Work

  • Winter Carnival Week (Senate Policy 603.1): No major academic work after 6 p.m. Tuesday
  • Career Fair Day (Senate Policy 606.1): No major academic work given or due. Regular weekly assignments (like lab reports) are typically fine, but instructors are encouraged to adjust due dates to help you plan.
  • Election Day (Senate Policy 607.1): First Tuesday after November 1 in even-numbered years. No major academic work given or due. Instructors are encouraged to avoid scheduling assignments and be flexible with attendance for election-related absences.
  • University Breaks: October Recess, Fall Break (Thanksgiving Week), Spring Break. 
    • No assignments, homework, quizzes, exams, or other coursework can be due during these instructional breaks. 
    • Nothing can be due at 8 a.m. the Monday after a break.

Final Exams

Final exams happen during final exam week—the week after regular classes end. Finals can cover all material (comprehensive) or just the most recent topics (incremental). (Senate Policy 602.1)

Key Rules for Finals

  • No early finals: Cannot be given before the official final exam week.
  • Last week of classes: No major academic work if your class doesn't have a final (except lab exams)

During Final Exam Week

  • No regular classes (instructors can use the exam slot for instruction) 
  • No University events unless unavoidable 
  • Student responsibility: Don’t attend conflicting events

Exam Schedule Problems

Contact the Dean of Students

  • If you have more than three exams in one day

Contact the scheduling office

  • If you need to change a scheduled exam time (approval required and granted only in exceptional circumstances)

Your responsibility

  • Be aware of your exam schedule
  • Avoid scheduling travel or appointments during your exams

Report Policy Violations

If you notice a violation of these policies: 

  • Contact your instructor's department chair (in person or anonymously) 
  • Contact the Dean of Students office 

Department chairs handle these reports.