Exam Policies
1. Student Anonymity
2. Reading period
3. Exam Numbers
4. Exams on Computer
5. Open Book / Closed Book
6. Day of Exam
7. ADA Accommodations
8. Requests to Change Exam Schedule
9. Emergencies
10. Late Arrival
11. Failure to Appear for or take a Required Examination
12. Rescheduling of Make-Up Exams
13. Lost, Improperly Identified or Improperly Submitted Examination Answers
14. Student Appeal of Examination Policy Decision
15. Extended Examination Time for Foreign Candidates
1. Student Anonymity
The policy of anonymity on examinations is intended to protect the student taking the examination, the professor grading the examination, and all others who may be affected by grades given on the examination (including other students). Students share responsibility to maintain anonymity on examinations. Violation of the anonymity policy standing alone, however, will not be the basis for disciplinary action. Seminars, clinical courses and other courses for which law school credit is offered but which do not require in-class exams will be exempt from anonymous grading procedures.
College Council – November 30, 1977
2. Reading Period
No classes (regular or make-up), exams, or other work can be scheduled or assigned for completion during the reading period, with the exception of voluntary review sessions. If take-home exams are given during the reading period, the allotted answering period should extend, or be available, throughout the entire exam period.
3. Exam Numbers
Students will be issued an exam number each semester to be used for identification purposes on exams in lieu of names and/or social security numbers. New exam numbers are available in the front office prior to the exam period. Students taking exams must obtain an exam number and sign an honor code statement each semester.
4. Exams on Computer
The computer is to be a typing and editing tool only, and no electronic materials may be accessed during the exam. It is up to the individual instructor to determine what materials may be brought into each examination, but all such materials are to be brought into the exam in printed form.
Students assume the risk of all technical difficulties that may arise during an exam. In case of technical difficulty during an exam, students should inform the proctor and immediately start writing in blue books. The law school is not responsible for technical support during exams.
College Council- January 30, 2003; March 27, 2003
5. Open Book / Closed Book
Some exams will be open book; others limited open book and some closed book. The class professor should instruct students as to proper exam procedures and allowable materials by the last day of regular classes. If it is unclear as to what materials are allowed, students must seek clarification from the professor before taking an exam. Students must adhere to any written instructions that accompany the exam, unless instructed otherwise by the exam administrator.
6. Day of Exam
Students should assemble in the designated exam room 15 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin and sign and date the exam roster. Blue books and scratch paper will be provided by the proctor.
Students may leave the room at any time during the exam, but must not take any materials from the room and may not consult any materials outside the exam room.
STUDENTS MAY NOT TAKE ANY BLUE BOOKS OR EXAM PAPER FROM THE ROOM, WHETHER BLANK OR USED FOR OUTLINES OR SCRATCH PAPER.
Exams are logged in by exam number following the exam. Each student is responsible to make sure he or she has signed and dated the exam roster and properly identified and submitted exam materials.
7. ADA Accommodations
Students who have medical, physical or cognitive disabilities may request that examinations be administered under special circumstances to accommodate their disability. Because of the variable nature and extent of individual disabling conditions, the Dean of Student Affairs will consider each request on a case by case basis. The Dean of Student Affairs has the responsibility for assessing the student’s situation, defining the special circumstances, if any, under which examinations are to be administered and evaluating the effectiveness of the special circumstances. The Dean of Student Affairs will seek professional or faculty advice where appropriate. Records of examinations administered under special circumstances will be maintained in the Registration Office but will not be entered in the student’s academic record.
To the extent reasonably possible, anonymity of the student will be maintained when examinations are given under special circumstances. If it becomes apparent to a faculty member in the course of grading exams that the examination was given under special circumstances and, in the opinion of the faculty member, the student may have been unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged in light of other factors known to the faculty member, the matter should be brought to the attention of the Dean of Student Affairs for consideration of a remedy, if any is appropriate.
Students requiring special accommodations for examinations must:
- contact the Center for Disability Services on the University of Utah campus at least thirty (30) days before the scheduled examination to allow sufficient time to be evaluated, and
- submit a Petition for ADA Accommodations for Exam(s) (available in the Registrar’s Office) either
- prior to the last day of classes for the semester if the exam is a final exam or,
- at least one week before the scheduled exam if the exam is a midterm exam.
Students requiring special accommodations are encouraged to notify the Dean of Student Affairs at the beginning of each semester.
College Council – April 12, 1989; April 27, 2000
8. Requests to Change Exam Schedule
The following guidelines indicate circumstances that may justify modification of an individual’s examination schedule:
a. The student is or has been ill or otherwise incapacitated or is disabled. Documentation of illness, incapacity, or disability must be provided with the Petition to Reschedule Exam(s):
b. There are extraordinary personal circumstances that directly affect the student, such as the severe illness of a child or other immediate member of the family (documentation required);
c. The student is scheduled to take two exams that are not separated by at least eighteen (18) hours from the scheduled end time of the first exam to the scheduled start time of the second exam;
d. The student is scheduled to take examinations on four (4) or more consecutive days at any time during the exam period;
e. The student presents other documented compelling factors similar to the above.
The above guidelines do not create an absolute right to reschedule, and administrative as well as faculty approval is necessary for a proposed change. In addition to the above guidelines, students have the right to not take exams on a religious holiday as provided in the University regulations.
Students who believe that they have individual circumstances that justify changing their final exam schedule shall complete and submit a Petition to Reschedule Exam(s) to the Dean of Students prior to the last day of classes for the semester. Students who believe that they have individual circumstances that justify changing a midterm exam shall complete and submit a Petition to Reschedule Exam(s) to the Dean of Students at least one week before the midterm exam. Students should obtain the faculty member’s approval and signature on the Petition prior to submitting the Petition to the Dean of Students. Rescheduling will be at the earliest time consistent with these rules, including if possible, time slots prior to the scheduled time. In an emergency, when prior notice is not possible, the Dean for Student Affairs may make appropriate accommodations.
Accommodation of routine travel arrangements is not considered to be a compelling factor unless the semester exam schedule was amended after the beginning of the semester and the amendment directly affects the student.
College Council – April 12, 1989; November 6, 1996; April 9, 1997; April 27, 2000
9. Emergencies
Students who, because of illness or exigent circumstances arising after the beginning of the exam period, believe they cannot take one or more scheduled exams shall notify (or have their representative notify) the Dean of Student Affairs prior to the start of any of their exams in order to explain the circumstance and obtain approval to be excused. Excused students will be allowed to reschedule the missed exam(s).
College Council – April 12, 1989
10. Late Arrival
A student who, without prior notification and excuse, arrives late at a required examination will not be allowed extra time to compensate for the late arrival unless the student demonstrates that there was good cause for the late arrival and that prior notification and excuse could not reasonably be given under the circumstances. A student who arrives late for an examination must notify the Dean of Student Affairs to receive exam materials and a determination regarding allowance of extra time to complete the examination.
College Council April 12, 1989
11. Failure to Appear for or take a Required Examination
A student who, without prior notification and excuse, fails to appear for or take a required examination at the regularly scheduled time will not be allowed to reschedule the missed examination unless both the Dean of Student Affairs and course professor agree that the failure to appear was due to good cause, and that prior notification was not practicable under the circumstances. Students who are not allowed to reschedule a missed examination will receive an “E” as the grade for the missed examination.
College Council- April 12, 1989
12. Rescheduling of Make-Up Exams
Students are responsible to reschedule any examination from which they have been excused. The time and date for make-up exams will be set in consultation with the faculty and the Dean of Student Affairs. Students who wish to reschedule a make-up exam must submit a completed Petition to Reschedule Exam(s) to the Dean of Student Affairs.
College Council – April 12, 1989
13. Lost, Improperly Identified or Improperly Submitted Examination Answers
For each examination, students are responsible for ensuring that they have signed and dated the exam roster and properly identified and submitted their exam and entire exam answer immediately following completion of the exam or when time is called. If a student has signed and dated the exam roster but no exam was logged in for that student, the student bears the burden of showing that he or she took the exam, properly identified it and timely and properly submitted it. The College of Law Academic Appeals Committee will adjudicate any dispute arising under these circumstances. If a student meets his or her burden, the student may elect to take a Credit (CR) for the exam or take a make-up exam for a grade. If the student fails to meet his or her burden, the student will receive an “E” for the exam grade.
A student who has not signed and dated the exam roster and for whom no exam can be located is presumed to have failed to appear unless prior notification and excuse was obtained.
The course professor reserves the right not to grade an exam that is improperly identified or improperly submitted.
College Council – April 12, 1989
14. Student Appeal of Examination Policy Decision
Students may appeal an administrative or faculty decision made under any College of Law Examination Policy that they believe is inaccurate or in violation of any of their rights by submitting a written petition to the S.J. Quinney College of Law Academic Appeals Committee.
College Council – April 12, 1989
15. Extended Examination Time for Foreign Candidates
First year law students whose native language is not English and who have not completed a post-secondary degree at a school in which the primary medium of instruction was English may apply to the office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for additional time to complete in-class final examinations. The term “post-secondary degree” means a program of study which leads to the Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any post-bachelor’s degree. Additional time up to twenty minutes for each hour of in-class examination may, in the discretion of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and class professor, be granted. Applications for additional time must be submitted prior to the last day of class each semester.
College Council – April 5, 2016