Chapter 9:
Examinations

Taking Examinations

Throughout the semester, certain assessments may be administered by the Registrar's Office (each, an "examination" or "exam"). The dates, times, and locations of examinations are posted on the website of the School of Law Registrar’s Office, along with detailed exam procedures and rules.

Students are expected to begin their examinations on time. If a student arrives or starts an in-person examination late, the allotted amount of time may still be granted if: a) the student is no more than one hour late due to unavoidable and emergent circumstances and b) the allotted time does not constitute extending the exam administration beyond regular office hours. In no event will time be granted beyond 5:00 pm. An Exam Incident Report noting the late start time and anonymous exam number will be submitted to the instructor and the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for any further action needed.

Exam Monitoring, Protocol, & Security

The School of Law Registrar’s Office website details how exams are administered and monitored, along with details about exam security.

Exam Hardships

The Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or their designee) may reschedule examinations in individual cases for exceptional hardship. Final exams in close proximity to one another do not constitute exceptional hardship unless: (a) the student is scheduled for two examinations beginning fewer than 24 hours apart or (b) a student is scheduled for three examinations on three consecutive days. In the event of exceptional hardship, the make-up day will be determined by the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the student.

For example, a student scheduled to take an examination at 9:00 a.m. on Day 1 and 9:00 a.m. on the following day is not a hardship. Hardships will ordinarily not be granted with respect to the five classes with the highest enrollments for the semester. The Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or their designee) may grant special permission for hardships due to extenuating circumstances.

Early Examinations

Except for classes that have been front-loaded for a specific pedagogical purpose, no final exams may be given or handed out to a class (including take home exams) prior to the last day of classes of any semester without the approval of the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or their designee).

Exam Time and Language Barriers 

JD students who do not speak English as a first language may request from the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or their designee) additional time to complete their examinations. The Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or their designee) will make this determination on an individual basis to reflect the specific language barrier that the student faces. The amount of extra time granted to the student will ordinarily be reduced during the student’s second year, and the student will receive no extra time will be granted during the third year.

Two-Year JD students who do not speak English as a first language will be granted an additional fifteen minutes per each hour of a timed assessment during their first year in the program. After completion of one year (two academic semesters) no extra time will be given.  

LLM and SJD candidates are allowed thirty extra minutes per each hour of a timed assessment.

LLM students and JD or Two-Year JD students who have been granted extra time for assessments are entitled to take into the exams a printed copy of an English translation dictionary or a hand-held electronic style translating dictionary. Students must notify their instructor of their intention to use such a dictionary in the exam.

Inability or Failure to Take an Examination

To be excused from an examination, a student must obtain the approval of the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Approvals will be granted only for compelling reasons. A student who is excused from an examination will be given a grade of “I” for Incomplete. Failure to obtain approval will result in the Registrar recording a failing grade.

A student who is ill or has an emergency prior to the beginning of an examination should notify the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs immediately. A student who becomes ill or has an emergency during an examination and is unable to continue should immediately notify any exam monitor, the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, or the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

Examination Policy Violations

Any violation of exam policies, including those prescribed by an individual instructor, should be brought to the attention of the Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs. Violations may violate the Honor Code, which can result in suspension, dismissal, or other disciplinary action as outlined in Chapter 11.

Anonymous Grading of Final Exams

All final exams in the JD, LLM, and SJD programs must be graded anonymously. Students may not sign their names or otherwise identify themselves on their exams, except by their anonymous exam number. No instructor will have any knowledge of any student’s anonymous exam number until final grades have been submitted. 

Custody and Storage of Exams

Instructors will keep students’ exams in their possession for a reasonable period following the exam to complete grading and allow student review. The School of Law will store student exams for one year and then may destroy the exams, absent any compelling reason to the contrary.

First-Year JD Exam Preparation Materials

In all first-year JD courses, each instructor will make available to the students materials representative of the final exam and a model answer or rubric. It need not be an entire current exam, but enough will be made available so that students can discern the typical format and content of the exam. Similarly, a professor need not provide actual answers; a detailed outline or an example of a top student paper will suffice. In addition, there should be a written warning to the students that the material on file is not “the answer” and the format of the model question(s) may be different from questions which will appear on the actual examination.