Reading Period, Dean's Date, and End-of-Term Work

A period of approximately 8–9 days immediately preceding final examinations in each term is set apart to give students time in which to consolidate coursework or to extend reading and investigation in accordance with their interests. Individual faculty members may choose to continue instruction during reading period. All written coursework, including term papers, homework assignments, lab reports, and projects, is due on the date set by the instructor, but in no case later than the date set by the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing for the submission of written work, normally the last day of reading period, which is known as "dean's date." All written coursework originally due during the term must be submitted by this deadline; extensions beyond this date are granted only for end-of-term assignments. In the absence of an authorized extension (see below), a failing grade will be assigned to any work not completed by this deadline.

A student who is unable to complete end-of-term written work by dean's date because of illness or another equally compelling reason beyond the student's control may apply for permission to submit the work late. Instructors may elect to give extensions of up to 24 hours on end-of-term written work, provided that the application is made on or before the due date.  Applications for extensions on end-of-term written work beyond 24 hours must be made before the due deadline and must be approved by both the course instructor and the student’s residential college dean or assistant dean for studies.  Faculty may not independently grant extensions of more than 24 hours beyond dean’s date.

If the request for such an extension is approved, the student and the course professor will be notified of the new due date. Normally, only short-term extensions are granted, and the new deadline will not extend past the last date of the examination period. In exceptional cases, a longer-term extension may be granted at the discretion of the residential college dean, provided that the student will not carry an INC into the subsequent term. Further postponements are available only to students who take a leave of absence from the current term for medical reasons. 

A student whose request for an extension is approved may receive the symbol of Incomplete (INC), which is converted to the appropriate grade on submission of the written work on or before the new deadline. Failure to submit work by the extended deadline will result in a failing grade for that component of the course.

A student whose request is denied must submit the written work by the University deadline or receive a failing grade for that component of the course.

Final Examination Periods

Each term, the registrar schedules final examinations during a 7-day final examination period. Examinations must be taken at the assigned times, so students should be prepared to be available throughout the examination period and should not schedule personal travel until the examination schedule has been published. The registrar, acting for the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing, may authorize a student to take an examination up to 24 hours before or after the scheduled examination time. Appropriate reasons for granting such requests are religious days, personal emergencies, and more than one examination scheduled in a single calendar day.

Examinations will normally be rescheduled during the 24 hours after the scheduled examination time, although the Office of the Dean of the College, acting for the Committee on Examinations and Standing, may authorize rescheduled final examinations beyond the 24-hour period on a case-by-case basis for students with documented conflicts. Examinations will be rescheduled during the 24-hour period before the regularly scheduled time only in the most unusual and compelling circumstances.

A student who, because of illness or another compelling reason outside of their control, wishes to postpone a final examination more than 24 hours beyond the scheduled time may apply for authorization of a postponed examination. The request must be made prior to the scheduled examination time and must include the endorsement of the course professor. Students apply through their residential college deans or assistant deans. Faculty are required to write new exams for students given a postponement.

Postponed fall term examinations are administered during Wintersession; postponed spring term examinations are administered the week before fall term classes begin.

A student who has received authorization for a postponed final examination will receive the symbol of Incomplete (INC) until the examination has been completed and a final grade reported.

A student who fails to take an examination at either the scheduled/rescheduled or postponed time will receive a failing grade for that portion of the course.

A student who becomes ill or otherwise incapacitated at the time of a scheduled examination should notify the deputy registrar, as well as their residential college dean or assistant dean for studies, as soon as possible. If a student elects to take the examination at the scheduled time, the student's grade will not subsequently be altered on the grounds of poor health or other problems.

A student who arrives late at an examination but within 30 minutes of the scheduled start time will be given the examination and permitted to complete as much work as possible during the remaining time.

A student who arrives at an examination more than 30 minutes late must notify the deputy registrar immediately. A student who misses an examination entirely, for any reason, must notify the deputy registrar as soon as possible. In these cases, upon review of the circumstances, the student may be allowed to make up the examination in the next available examination period. Such a makeup examination is permitted only once in a student's undergraduate years. Failure to report a missed examination within 24 hours of the scheduled examination time will result in a failing grade for the exam.

Take-Home Final Exams

Faculty may elect to assign a take-home examination rather than a final examination scheduled by the registrar. Take-home examinations must be scheduled for completion during the final examination period; they may not be scheduled for completion before dean's date and must be submitted by the University deadline for take-home examinations. Take-home finals should be of a reasonable length and should not exceed eight hours in duration. Students who have a conflict between a regularly scheduled exam and a take-home exam should consult with their residential college dean or assistant dean.

Deadlines for the Submission of Independent Work

The Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing establishes deadlines each term for the submission of junior independent work and in the spring for submission of the senior thesis. While individual departments may set earlier deadlines for this work, departmental deadlines may not be later than those set by the committee. A student who will not be able to meet a departmental deadline may request an extension within the department to submit work no later than the University deadline.

Students who are unable to complete independent work by the University deadline because of illness or another compelling reason essentially outside their control may apply for permission to submit their work late. Students should apply to their residential college dean on or before the due date and must include the endorsement of the adviser. An unauthorized failure to submit independent work by the University deadline or by an extended due date established by a residential college dean or assistant dean will result in the assignment of a failing grade. In such cases, a second grade is added to the transcript when the late work is submitted. Both grades remain on the transcript.

No student will be permitted to enroll as a senior unless all junior independent work has been successfully completed.

A senior who fails to submit an acceptable senior thesis will not be permitted to graduate until that requirement has been met.