Rules Governing Final Examinations 1
RULES GOVERNING FINAL
EXAMINATIONS
1. No instructor may hold a final examination nor require the submission
of a take-home final exam except during the period in which final
examinations are scheduled. When necessary, exceptions to this
policy may be granted for postponed examinations (see 3 and 4
below). No final examinations may be scheduled during the last week
of classes or on reading days.
2. No student may be required to take more than two final examinations
on any calendar day during the period in which final examinations are
scheduled. If more than two are scheduled, the student may postpone
the middle exam. If a take-home final exam is due on a day when
two final examinations are scheduled, the take-home exam shall be
postponed by one day.
3. Examinations that are postponed because of conflicts with other
examinations, or because more than two examinations are scheduled
in the same day, may be taken at another time during the final
examinations period if the faculty member and student can agree on
that time. Otherwise, they must be taken during the official period for
postponed examinations.
4. Examinations that are postponed because of illness, a death in the
family, for religious observance, or some other unusual event may be
taken only during the official periods: the first week of the spring and
fall semesters. Students must obtain permission from their Dean’s
office to take a postponed exam. Instructors in all courses must
be willing to offer a make-up examination to all students who are
excused from the final examination.
5. No instructor may change the time or date of a final exam without
permission from the appropriate Dean.
6. No instructor may increase the time allowed for a final exam beyond
the scheduled two hours without permission from the appropriate
Dean.
7. No classes or required class activities may be held during the reading
period.
8. The first examination of the day begins at 9 a.m. and the last
examination concludes by 8 p.m. There will be one hour between
exam time blocks.
9. All students must be allowed to see their final examination. Exams
should be available as soon as possible after being graded with
access ensured for a period of at least one regular semester after
the exam has been given. To help protect student privacy, a student
should have access only to his or her own exam and not the exams of
other students. Therefore, for example, it is not permissible to leave
student exams (or grades or papers) in publicly accessible areas.
10. Students may not be asked for their Social Security Numbers.
Instructors may not publicly display a student’s Penn ID or any
portion of the Social Security Number, nor use names, initials, or
any personally identifiable information to post grades. Even when
an identifier is masked or absent, grades may not be posted in
alphabetical order, to protect student privacy.
11. Final exams for College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS)
courses must be given on the regular class meeting night during the
week of final examinations. No change in scheduling is permitted
without unanimous consent of all students in the class and the
director of LPS. LPS final exams may not be administered during the
last week of class or on a reading day.
In all matters relating to final exams, students with questions should first
consult with their Dean’s offices. Faculty wishing to seek exceptions to
the rules also should consult with their Dean’s offices. Finally, the Council
of Undergraduate Deans and Student Committee on Undergraduate
Education (SCUE) urge instructors to see that all examinations are
actively proctored.
(Source: Almanac, April 17, 2018, Volume 64, No. 31 (https://
almanac.upenn.edu/volume-64-number-31/#of-record-rules-governing-
final-examinations1))
2022-23 Catalog | Generated 12/01/22
