OF RECORD
Rules
Governing Final Examinations
1. No
instructor may hold a final examination nor require the submission
of a take-home final exam except during the period in which
final examinations are scheduled; when necessary, exceptions
to this policy may be granted for postponed examinations (see
3 and 4 below). No final examinations may be scheduled
during the last week of classes or on reading days.
2. No
student may be required to take more than two final examinations
on any calendar day during the period in which final examinations
are scheduled. If more than two are scheduled, the student
may postpone the middle exam. If a take-home final exam is
due on a day when two final examinations are scheduled, the
take-home exam shall be postponed by one day.
3. Examinations
that are postponed because of conflicts with other examinations,
or because more than two examinations are scheduled in the
same day, may be taken at another time during the final examinations
period if the faculty member and student can agree on that
time. Otherwise, they must be taken during the official period
for postponed examinations.
4. Examinations
that are postponed because of illness, a death in the family,
or some other unusual event, may be taken only during the official
periods: the first week of the spring and fall semesters. Students
must obtain permission from their dean's office to take a postponed
exam. Instructors in all courses must be willing to offer a
make-up examination to all students who are excused from the
final examination.
5. No
instructor may change the time or date of a final exam without
permission from the appropriate dean.
6. No
instructor may increase the time allowed for a final exam beyond
the scheduled two hours without permission from the appropriate
dean.
7. No
classes (excluding review sessions) may be held during the
reading period.
8. All
students must be allowed to see their final examination. Exams
should be available as soon as possible after being graded
with access ensured for a period of at least one regular semester
after the exam has been given.
9. Social
Security numbers may not be used to post grades, either in
hard copy or electronically. Instructors may not publicly
display a student's Penn ID or any portion of the Social Security
number, nor use name, initials, or any personally identifiable
information to post grades. Even when an identifier is masked
or absent, grades may not be posted in alphabetical order,
to protect student privacy.
In
all matters relating to final exams, students with questions
should first consult with their dean's offices. Faculty wishing
to seek exceptions to the rules also should consult with their
dean's offices. Finally, the Council of Undergraduate Deans
and SCUE urge instructors to see that all examinations are
actively proctored.
--Robert
Barchi, Provost