University Governance

January 28, 2009

TO:                  Faculty, Unclassified Staff, and Graduate Teaching Assistants

FROM:           Barbara Phipps, Curriculum and Teaching (email: phipps@ku.edu)
Chair, University Senate Calendar Committee

RE:                 Regulations on Final Examinations and Regular Examinations for the Semester

Occasionally our Committee receives reports from students that instructors have scheduled final exams during the last week of classes or during Stop Day.  The purpose of this memo is to remind instructors that they are required to follow University Senate Rules and Regulations (“USRR”), Sec. 1.3 and Sec. 1.4, concerning final exam and regular exam scheduling.  The rules were developed to protect students from the potential development of unmanageable test loads. 

The regulations require that the last major exam of a class, whether covering material for the entire semester or only a section of the course material, may not be held during the last week of classes or on Stop Day.  The appointed time for the exam during the final exam period is listed in the Timetable.  This regulation applies to classes on both the Lawrence and Edwards Campuses. 

The Calendar Committee does allow exceptions to the rule, but only under very special circumstances, with the best interests of students the overriding criterion.  A vote by the class, even when unanimous, is not considered justification since, among other concerns, it can unintentionally place students under pressure to follow their peers.  Also, special recognition ceremonies (held before the final exam week) are not grounds for rescheduling final examinations.  Petitions for exceptions to the rule should be directed to me by email (phipps@ku.edu) and must be received at least three weeks before the last scheduled day of classes.

Instructors are also reminded that normally, exams and tests other than final examinations CANNOT be scheduled outside of regular class or laboratory hours.  As stated in USRR 1.4.2, examinations and tests other than final examinations may be given at times other than regular class hours ONLY when the time and place have been approved by the Calendar Committee and published in advance in the Official Timetable of Classes/Enrollment Guide.

EXCERPT FROM UNIVERSITY SENATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I.  ACADEMIC SCHEDULES
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