4.7.01 Examinations, Quizzes, and Papers
A. The instructor of a regular class has the option to have a closed-book
in-class exam, an open-book in-class exam, a closed-book take-home exam,
an open-book take-home exam, a paper, or any combination of these. Timed,
in-class final exams given at the termination of the course traditionally
are the sole or primary basis for grades in required courses and heavy-demand
electives, such as Business Associations I and II, Secured Transactions,
Commercial Paper, Decedents' Estates, Estates and Trusts, and Criminal
Procedure.
B. Mid-term examinations and quizzes may be given in any course at
the discretion of the instructor. Papers may be required in addition
to or in lieu of examinations in upper-class electives. (See
Section 4.7.01(D)).
C. Instructors of seminars, practicums, and clinics typically do not
give final examinations. Seminars require students to submit law-review
quality papers of substantial length. Practicums require students to
participate in several projects; e.g., simulations or planning papers.
D. If faculty members are directing students in lengthy research projects,
they should not indicate to students that the written product will satisfy
the upper-class writing requirement until approved by the Academic Affairs
Committee. Only full-time Law School personnel may direct projects which
will satisfy this requirement.
4.7.02 Scheduling of Examinations
A. In-class examinations are scheduled during the examination period.
Each instructor is responsible for administering his or her own exam.
B. Students in courses with in-class exams take the exam at the time
scheduled, with two exceptions:
1. In case of an exam conflict, which is defined as two or more examinations
with beginning times within a 24 hour period. The Associate Dean determines
if such a conflict exists. A student cannot re-schedule an exam until
the Associate Dean has provided the instructor with written notice
that a conflict exists.
2. Illness, documented physical or learning disability, or a compelling
and unforeseen reason.
C. Make-up examinations
1. Only the dean or associate dean can give permission for a student
to take an exam at a time other than at the time scheduled, and only
the dean or associate dean decides when the make-up exam will be administered.
Individual faculty members do not make "side" arrangements
with students.
2. Once it is determined that a make-up exam is appropriate, the
dean or associate dean will schedule the make-up exam, giving due
consideration to the reasons why a make-up is necessary. The goal
is to administer the make-up exam as close as possible to the time
that the exam is regularly scheduled. The law school is willing to
make reasonable accommodations when necessary, but the time of the
make-up is determined by the law school, not by the student. Therefore,
to the extent possible, the make-up exam will be scheduled a few hours
prior to the time that the exam is regularly scheduled. If this is
not possible, the make-up exam will be scheduled at a time as soon
as possible after the time that the exam is regularly scheduled. Students
needing to sit for a make-up exam may have to take that exam on a
Saturday or Sunday, or during hours during which the student normally
is employed.
4.7.03 Administration of Examinations
A. Instructors cannot excuse students from taking exams at the regularly
scheduled time for any reason. Only the associate dean can approve student
requests to reschedule examinations.
B. If examinations are scheduled for a fixed period of time [three
(3) hours are typical], the instructor should not permit some or even
all students to have extra time, except in cases of disability as approved
by the associate dean. To give some or all students extra time creates
at least a perception that those who carefully budget their time are
put at an unfair disadvantage, while those who do not budget their time
are rewarded. Once a time limit is determined and announced, changes
should not be made.
C. It is wise for faculty members, at the beginning of the exam, to
orally notify students of the number of questions on the exam and the
number of pages in the exam booklet. This will usually prevent situations
where students later claim that they forgot to read the last question,
or forgot to look at the last page. If the instructor permits students
who claim to have missed a question to subsequently answer that question
at another sitting, it creates an appearance of unfairness to students
who read the entire exam, followed instructions, budgeted their time
and finished the exam within the allotted time.
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