The University catalog contains information about grading and examination procedures. Faculty should review this information at the beginning of each academic year. In addition, the University catalog states that students are expected to attend the class periods of the courses for which they register. Although absence alone is not reason for lowering a grade, students are not relieved of the obligation to fulfill course assignments, including those that can only be fulfilled in class. In particular, a student who misses an exam without an excuse may have the course grade lowered.
Faculty are responsible for preparing the examinations for their courses and determining the grades.
Policies concerning the weight given examinations in determining final grades and the kinds of examinations used may vary depending on course content, learning objectives, and preferences of individual faculty. Such information should be clearly communicated to students in the syllabus during the first week of classes. With certain exceptions, final examinations are given at the conclusion of all undergraduate courses. Individual student requests for changes in the final examination process must also be approved by the collegiate dean. Students should be told at the beginning of the semester if a take-home examination will be used.