Faculty Resources

Examinations and Grading

The final examination schedule is developed by the Registrar and by the Council on Academic Policy, is approved by the faculty, and is published on the web. Examinations must be held at the scheduled times. Exceptions for individual students may be made at the discretion of the professor. However, requests by faculty members to change the time of final examinations must be approved by the Council on Academic Policy.

The final exam schedule was designed to ensure that no student has more than two final exams on any given day. If professors administer final exams during the last week of classes, it is possible for a student to have more than two finals on a single day. Professors are therefore discouraged from giving comprehensive tests during the last week of classes.

Reading Day is reserved for students’ final exam preparation. No required course meetings will be held on Reading Day. Reading Day may be used for individual student capstone experience presentations or defenses; however individual students should not be asked to participate in any such meetings other than their own. No extra required class meetings will be scheduled during the final exam period beyond the time allocated to the course in the final exam schedule.

Course assignments should not be made or due during fall or spring breaks, or on Reading Day.

Faculty members should follow the policies outlined in the Catalog when assigning grades. These policies describe the allowed grades of A, B, C, D, F, CR, NC, NR, I, and W as well as how these grades are interpreted on the transcript and in the computation of grade point averages. Grades of CR, NC, NR, I, and W can be assigned only in particular circumstances and when the appropriate policies and deadlines as outlined in the catalog have been followed. Questions should be directed to the Registrar.

If a student is doing poorly, or if there is a marked decline in the quality of work, a professor should report this problem to the student’s advisor, who confers with the student and report to the faculty member. Persistent problems should be reported to the Office of Advising and Student Success.