Examination Policies
Examination Policies are provided courtesy of the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty & Academic Affairs.
Final Examination Period/Free Week
Fall and Spring terms only
There shall be a 5-day examination period at the end of each term. Examinations must be given according to the schedule established by the Office of the Registrar. It is the student's responsibility to check the final examination schedule to determine the date and time of final examinations for their classes.
The week prior to the examination period shall be free of major or final examinations, except for practical tests serving to conclude laboratory periods. Final projects, papers, or similar non-examination cumulative evaluation mechanisms, including those assigned in teams, may be due during free week of finals week provided they are specifically assigned with a clear due date in the class syllabus or other information distributed to students no later than the first week of classes. Final examinations for course sections that are not scheduled to meet through the last weeks of classes (e.g., first eight-week classes) should be held during the last class meeting.
Final Examination Policy for Summer Term
When required, final examinations will be given at the last class meeting or at a time appointed by the instructor.
By action of the Bloomington Faculty Council, the additional rules regarding conflicts, absences, and academic ethics on this page also apply.
More Than Three Exams in One Day
In the event that a student is scheduled to take more than three final examinations in one day, the instructor/department of the fourth (and subsequent) final examination is obligated to adjust the student's examination time, provided the student notifies them by the halfway point of the semester.
The student may exercise the following options:
- Take all final examinations when they are scheduled;
- Consult with all instructors or departments giving the final examinations to determine if any make-up examination(s) is or can be scheduled (e.g., taking the final examination for a different section). If no makeup examination is available, the student must, by the halfway point of the semester, notify the instructor or department of the course scheduled for the fourth (and subsequent) final examination of the day. That instructor or that department will then be obligated to adjust the schedule for the student's final examination.
Absence from Final Exams
Students are expected to attend final examinations at their scheduled times. Students who anticipate absences from final examinations should discuss these absences with their instructors as soon as possible to make arrangements for the satisfaction of course requirements. Academic departments or schools may, at their discretion, adopt more specific guidance on this matter. The final decision in the dispensation of these matters is the instructor's.
Students who fail to attend or complete the final examination of a class and who have a passing grade up to that point should be given an Incomplete only if the instructor has reason to believe the absence or non-completion was reasonable.
Students who are absent from or do not complete a final examination for reasonable circumstances must contact the instructor or, if unable to contact the instructor, the Dean of Students Office immediately, and in all instances prior to the instructor’s submission of final grades (usually 72 hours after the scheduled examination) in order to avoid the possibility of an "F." If the instructor determines that further evidence is necessary to confirm that the absence or noncompletion was reasonable, the instructor may temporarily assign a grade of Incomplete and direct the student to work with the Dean of Students Office to verify and document the reason for the absence or lack of completion. The final decision in the dispensation of these matters is the instructor's.