Senate By-Laws require that “instructors of undergraduate courses shall provide a clear form of assessment of student work that shall be consistent with and sufficient for the learning goals of the course.” This may include activities such as final examinations, final papers, final individual/group projects or presentations, portfolio reviews, or other forms of cumulative assessment.
Final Exam Scheduling
In-class final examinations must be given in the places and at the times scheduled by the University.
If a time is scheduled for a course in the official finals schedule, the time may not be changed. Very few exceptions to move and change final exams – requested by either faculty or students – are approved because of limited space and a short, tightly scheduled exam period. Please keep in mind fairness to students: many plan their studies and projects far in advance of finals based on the published exam schedule. To depart from the published ground rules causes not only inconvenience, but also inequity.
Even the well-intentioned inclination of a faculty member – or of a student – to change a scheduled finals time can have a devastating effect upon students who are then frustrated by a suddenly altered schedule. Even apparent consensus among students to change an exam time can mask an unanticipated intrusion by the majority upon the legitimate expectations of a few. We therefore approve such requests on a very limited basis.
Finals may not be administered on Reading days.
Each teaching member of the staff should announce to each class exactly when and where the final is scheduled for the particular section. While such an announcement would probably be helpful in all cases, it would be especially useful in sectioned classes where finals are held at a number of different times. It seems it is not uncommon for students who are absent from a finals to present as excuse that they did not understand correctly when or where the final was to be held.
Missed Final Exams
There is no provision for excusing any student from finals by department vote or otherwise.
If the student has missed the final or seeks to be examined early, the student’s absence must be excused by the Dean of Students office, thus permitting you to offer a rescheduled examination. A student whose absence from a final is not excused in this way shall receive no credit for this final. (Depending on the student’s previous performance in the class and the weight of the final in the grade, this need not mean failure in the course). A student whose absence is excused by the Dean of Students shall have an opportunity to take a final without penalty. Dean of Students office (Ext. 3426) welcomes any information you may have concerning a student’s reason for requesting a rescheduled final. If you teach at a regional campus, contact the campus Student Services.
If a student does not take your final at the time scheduled in the official schedule, no matter how valid and urgent his or her reason, one of the following grade reports must be made:
(a) If in your judgment, it is reasonable to suppose that the student could pass the course by a reasonable performance on the final, you are to mark the student “X”
(b) Otherwise, you are to mark the student “F”. (Please note that a grade of “F” should not be turned in simply because the student is absent – nor should the instructor attempt to evaluate the reasons for the absence.)
(c) A third option is that when a student’s absence from a final is not excused they shall receive no credit for the final. Depending on the student’s previous performance in the class and the weight of the final in the grade, this need not mean failure in the course. However, a student whose absence is excused by the Dean of Students shall have an opportunity to take a final without penalty.
Once you have reported a student as being absent from a final, you should not thereafter give the student a make-up final or any further work of any kind until you are authorized to do so by one of the following offices, as appropriate:
For undergraduate degree-seeking students and non-degree students enrolled in undergraduate classes at Storrs, Dean of Students office Wilbur Cross Building, or call (860) 486-3426.
For undergraduates and non-degree students at the regional campuses, the campus Student Services office.
For medical reasons, Student Health Services call Ext. 4700.
Bunched Exams
Students with “bunched” finals may postpone a final in the special circumstances described below: If approved, Dean of Students office will send an e-mail to the effected instructor(s) and to the student. For additional information on absences from finals, go to http://dos.uconn.edu/ Students at a regional campus should contact the campus Student Services.
A student whose final schedule includes four finals in two consecutive calendar days may request a rescheduled final in place of one of the four scheduled finals.
A student whose schedule includes three finals in one calendar day or three finals in consecutive time blocks spanning parts of two consecutive days may request a rescheduled final in place of one of the three scheduled finals.
The iCenter in Wilbur Cross verifies a student’s final schedule in Storrs and determines which of the “bunched” final may be rescheduled.
The rescheduled final must be given, at a mutually agreeable time for both instructor and student, not later than the third week of the next semester in which the student is enrolled.
When final grades for the course are reported to the Registrar, the instructor should report a mark of Absent (“X”), unless the make-up has been completed in time for the student’s letter grade to be determined.
Questions on any of these matters may be referred to Dean of Students office (Ext. 3426) or the Office of the Registrar (Ext. 3331).
Academic Misconduct
The incidence of cheating unfortunately increases during finals. Instructors are reminded that the current Student Code pamphlet outlines University Senate policy and guidelines for confronting cheating and other forms of academic misconduct. The policy states, in part, the following: “Instructors shall take reasonable steps to prevent academic misconduct by students in their courses.” During the course of the finals, an instructor or proctor who observes suspicious behavior should warn the individuals involved regarding the appearance of their actions and request them to cease the suspicious actions immediately. Continuation of such behavior may be considered evidence of academic misconduct. The Community Standards office believes instructors should consider requiring student identification at finals and having more than one version of the final (especially for make-ups). If you suspect any irregularities, please contact the Community Standards office (Ext. 8402) for assistance. If you teach at a regional campus, contact the campus Student Services.
Grading
Semester grades should be reported to the Registrar as soon as possible after the completion of the final examination and no later than 72 hours after the completion of the exam.
Retention
Final papers should be retained for a reasonable period of time after the final is over. Unless papers are returned to the students, the instructor should keep them at least through the following semester.