Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues:

Several years ago, the University Senate passed a by-law change regarding final assessments in all undergraduate classes. The change enabled all faculty and instructors in our undergraduate courses to choose to use various assessment of student work, stating that final exams are no longer mandated. Many of our instructors have used other forms of assessment such as projects, shorter quizzes during the semester, papers, team based work, and other assessments in lieu of final exams. The change also eliminated the approval of the Department and of the Dean of the School or College for faculty who choose not to offer a final examination.

If you are not delivering a final exam in Fall 2020, we ask that you fill out a brief form to notify the Registrar that you are opting out. The form and instructions are available by clicking here.

Please note that we are not requesting that you give your final assessments during the last week of classes; this is prohibited by Senate By-Laws and puts an undue strain on students who are trying to attend and participate in their other courses during the last week of classes. We are asking for those who use another method of assessment (portfolios, projects, etc.) to let us know so that the room and/or time may be available for other instructors during the assessment period. It is also important that instructors recognize that due dates for these alternative forms of final assessment should not fall on days designated as reading days. As always, all due dates should be indicated on the syllabus at the beginning of the semester.

Thank you,
Carl

Carl W. Lejuez, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs