3.2.7.1 Final Examinations
Final Exam Policy
Final exams are those tests scheduled for a special period following the last week of instruction which is referred to as "final exam week". This period begins and ends with the first and last officially scheduled final examinations. Each department shall designate all courses or sections of courses in which final examinations are to be given.
A comprehensive final examination designed to measure the student's overall knowledge is considered good teaching policy. However, no regulations shall attempt to govern the content of a final exam. A final exam could be either incremental or comprehensive.
No final examination will be given earlier than the final exam week. In classes which do not have final exams the instructor may not give any major tests or examinations during the last week of regularly scheduled classes, because such a test would be in effect a final examination given earlier than the final exam week. However, departments with lab courses can choose to exempt lab examinations from this policy. Make-up exams for illness or other excused absences may be administered before or after the scheduled time, consistent with maintenance of exam security.
No final exams shall be scheduled on Sunday, unless the regular instruction periods are also scheduled on Sunday.
No regular instruction is to be continued during the final exam week, except that the final examination time assigned to a course can be used for instruction if an instructor so desires.
The University shall not schedule, nor shall the students participate in, any official function during the scheduled final exam period, except events whose date is beyond the control of the University.
It is the responsibility of the chair of each department to prevent violations of the final examination policy. Students may report violations of the policy to the chair of the instructor's department either in person or by anonymous note. Students may similarly report violations to the office of the Dean of Student Affairs; these reports will be forwarded to the departmental chair for appropriate action.
Any departures from an officially scheduled examination time must be approved by the scheduling office.
Absences from final exams need not be excused when caused by a student scheduling courses with conflicting final examination times.
No student shall be required to take more than three examinations per calendar day. For students with an accommodation for extended time on examinations, the limit may be fewer than three examinations per day, since Policy 605.1 limits the total amount of time that such students may be required to spend on examinations to six hours per day.
Conflicts will be resolved by the Dean of Student Affairs.
Accommodated Examination Policy
Any student requiring accommodations due to a documented disability must provide the instructor of the course notification of needed accommodations no later than five business days prior to the use of the accommodations. In situations where fewer than five days' notice is given, the instructor is encouraged, but not obligated, to provide accommodations. The instructor will determine, in consultation with the Testing Center in the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning, whether these accommodations can be met.
Students who have an accommodation for extended time allowed on tests shall not be required to spend more than six hours per calendar day in final examinations. For a student with an accommodation for extended time, this may imply no more than two examinations per day. To resolve time conflicts between two overlapping exams (either regular exams or final examinations), the current practices of the University shall be followed.
Revised:
05/27/2025 - Revised to contain the text from former Senate Policies 602.1 and 605.1.
09/24/2019 - Updated to reference senate policy directly.
12/08/2016 - Annual Review: No changes made to content.
03/31/2015 - Annual Review: To reflect current practice, the email address for questions
is now policy@mtu.edu. No changes made to content.
02/12/2014 - Annual Review: Updated Michigan Tech and Handbook banners, no changes
made to content.
03/13/2013 - Annual Review: "(Senate Proposal 10-94)" now reads "Senate Policy 602.1".
07/18/2011 - Annual Review: Was previously 3.2.6.1; to reflect current University
titles and practice, MTU is now Michigan Tech and the email address for questions
is now hbwebmaster.
11/9/2006 - Format changes made.