EXAMINATIONS

1. General Information
   
   No credit for a course in which an examination is required shall be given to a student unless he or she takes and passes an examination under appropriate conditions. Grades for the majority of courses are based on one examination given at the end of each semester. However, faculty members in the first-year small group courses and in several upper division courses give one or two additional examinations, writing assignments, or both during the course of the semester. The dates of the final examination period are included on the School of Law Academic Calendar available on the School’s web site. The schedule of examinations is published at the beginning of the semester.
   
   Unless otherwise specified by the faculty member, all examinations are graded anonymously. To ensure this anonymity, each student receives an exam number from the University, which is posted on Banner just prior to the examination session. Students are to use this number, rather than the student's name or other identifying information, on all examinations for that semester. Grades are determined by the faculty member and submitted to the Registrar. The grades are then recorded and assigned to examination numbers by the Registrar. Failure to use the examination number may result in a delay in the posting of grades.  Students may view their grades on Banner.
   
   Once an examination has been taken, the results are final.  A student may not retake the exam, have the grade expunged, raised, changed to a pass, submit a paper as a substitute for the exam, or withdraw from the course.
   
   
2. Use of Laptops for Examinations
   
   Certain final examinations may be designated as appropriate for students to take on their laptop.  Such examinations will be identified at the beginning of the semester.  Students wishing to elect to take such an examination on their laptop must comply with the Laptop Policy in effect for that examination period.  The Laptop Policy will be posted with the Examination Information on the School’s web site. 
   
   
3. Procedure and Regulations
   
   
   1. J.D. Students
      
      Students who believe they are entitled to an accommodation due to a permanent or temporary physical or learning disability must submit a Request for Accommodation form and supporting documentation pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 14.  Students in need of such accommodation should notify the Dean of Students as soon as possible, and no later than the deadline published in the Docket each semester.  Periodic updating of such documentation may also be required.  Reasonable accommodations may include additional time for exams, use of a computer or other aid.  See Chapter 14, the Accommodations Policy.
      
      
   2. International LL.M. Students
      
      Students who are enrolled in the LL.M. Program in American Law for foreign lawyers will be permitted 1.5 times the regularly scheduled time for in class examinations if English is their non-native language. LL.M. students seeking the accommodation of additional time on their exams must notify the Dean of Students by the examination conflict deadline which is published in The Docket on the School of Law’s web site.
      
      
4. Scheduling
   
   
   1. Self-Scheduled Examinations
      
      Effective with the summer 2007 semester, some upper division examinations will be designated as self-scheduled.  Information on the self-scheduled exam process will be published in the Docket and made available on the School’s web site. 
      
      
   2. Take-Home Examinations
      
      Faculty may elect to provide a take-home examination option.  Take-home examinations cannot serve as the basis of an examination conflict except in extraordinary circumstances, to be determined by the Dean of Students.
      
      
   3. Scheduled Examinations
      
      All other exams are to be taken on the date and at the time scheduled unless a student has rescheduled as set forth below. 
      
      
5. Re-Scheduling
   
   Exceptions to the requirement of taking exams at their regularly scheduled or self-scheduled time are limited to the following:
   
   
   1. The student has been granted an accommodation for a diagnosed physical or learning disability.
      
      
   2. The student has an examination conflict.
      
      Only students who timely request an exception to the exam schedule on the basis of an examination conflict will have requests considered by the Dean of Students. An exam conflict is defined as having two exams scheduled within a twenty-three hour period or exams scheduled for four or more consecutive days. It is not considered an exam conflict to have exams scheduled on two or three consecutive days.
      
      No examinations will be rescheduled to an earlier date, unless part of the self-scheduling process. Rescheduled examinations in a given course shall be given, to the extent feasible, at the same time on a designated make-up day listed in the examination schedule.
      
      
   3. The student is unable to take exam due to serious ill health, family crisis or serious illness or death in the immediate family.
      
      In the event a student becomes ill or has an emergency which prevents taking an exam as scheduled, that student must notify the Dean of Students of the specific situation prior to the scheduled time of the exam. If the student's reason for missing an exam is deemed reasonable, the exam will be rescheduled on the next day during the exam period when the student’s exam schedule permits without creating a conflict. The Dean of Students will determine what constitutes "substantial illness." The student bears the burden of proof to substantiate illness or injury. Exceptions shall not be granted in the case of a student's illness without supporting documentation, and such documentation shall also be required to the extent feasible when other reasons are involved.
      
      
   4. The student’s religious or military obligations prevent taking the examination on the date scheduled.
      
      
   5. The following reasons are not considered adequate grounds for rescheduling an exam: plane reservations, weddings, family reunions, jobs and vacations.
      
      
   6. Students should be aware that repeated failure to show up for examinations as scheduled may serve as the basis for revealing a student's lack of dependability and reliability that goes to the student’s character & fitness to practice law when the Dean’s certificate for the student is prepared for submission to a state’s Board of Law Examiners during the Bar Application process.
      
      
   7. All students who have exams rescheduled are expected to refrain from discussing the exam or any part of it with any other person.  A violation of this requirement will result in a complaint filed with the faculty ethics investigator.  (See Chapter 6)
      
      
6. Emergencies During an Examination
   
   If an emergency arises during the exam, the student will inform the Dean of Students, who will determine whether the emergency justifies postponement of the exam or other remedy.
   
   
7. Conduct During Examination Period
   
   Students are to be courteous and respectful of their classmates who are studying for, or taking, examinations including the following:
   
   
   • Not congregating outside of rooms where examinations are being administered either before or after an examination starts or ends;
     
     
   • Observing the no-talking signs posted in the School and the Law Library;
     
     
   • Observing signs posted on the doors of classrooms and other rooms that are being used to administer examinations;
     
     
   • Not talking about examinations until after the examination period is completed; and
     
     
   • Not sharing information about examinations with students in the class who have not yet taken the examination and will be taking the examination that semester.
     
     
8. Conduct During Specific Exams
   
   Students are to arrive at the examination room in a timely manner as indicated in the examination materials posted on the School’s web site, with their Examination Number (obtained by the student from BANNER) and any material permitted to be used during the examination. Any student who believes he or she is unable to start the examination must see the Dean of Students prior to the start of the examination.
   
   Students are to turn off all cell phones, pagers and beepers. Students who believe they will need to be reached during the examination are to make arrangements with the Dean of Students before the examination begins.
   
   Students are to adhere to the instructions provided at the time of the exam, including oral and written instructions covering the length of examination and scope of permitted materials.
   
   Any student who has started an examination, and is unable to complete the examination is to notify the Proctor immediately.
   
   
9. Reporting Honor Code Violations
   
   A law student who knows of facts indicating a significant likelihood that a violation of the Student Honor Code has been committed has a duty to report that violation. When such knowledge arises in the context of an examination, the student is to notify the Proctor, or if there is not a Proctor for the exam, the Dean on duty at the time of the exam. The time taken to notify the Proctor or Dean on duty will not be counted toward the time allotted to complete the examination. The Proctor is to report these concerns immediately to the Dean on duty for that examination period.
   
   The Dean on duty shall make a written report of the student’s concern, and shall have discretion to investigate the concern at that time, and/or to segregate a particular exam or examinations.  Both the student and the Dean on duty are to submit written complaints to the Faculty Investigator for processing under the provisions of the Student Honor Code.
   
   Note:  Some examinations are proctored.  A Proctor’s role during the examination process is to assure that the exam starts and ends timely, that the materials necessary for the examination are provided to students and received from students, that the oath and receipt are signed by students, and that the student receives the receipt when the exam is turned in. It is not the Proctor’s responsibility to take any action regarding examination policy or ethical policy violations. Instead, where the Proctor observes or is notified of examination policy or ethical policy violations, the Proctor shall notify the Dean on duty. 
   
   
10. Exam Retention Policy
    
    Examinations for all students are generally retained by the Office of Student Services for one year.  Examinations are retained by the faculty member for the first six weeks following the end of the exam period.