Culminating Activities and Final Examinations Policy
In accordance with University Policy S17-1 [pdf], faculty members are required to have a culminating activity for their courses. This applies to courses offered during Regular Session Fall and Spring, during intersessions (Winter and Summer terms), and in all special session programs. Culminating activities may include a final examination, research paper, project, creative work, performance, portfolio, or other appropriate assignment. Supervision, internship, and individual study courses are not required to have a culminating activity.
Culminating activities for Regular Session Fall and Spring Courses, including final examinations, must be completed no later than the last day of the Culminating Activity Period (“Makeup Day”). Culminating activities for intersession, summer term regular session, and special session courses must be completed no later than the last instructional day.
Timing and Schedule
Regular Session Fall and Spring Courses
Culminating activities, including final examinations, shall not be held or be due prior to the start of the “Culminating Activity Period for the given term. They shall not be held or be due during the instructional period or on “Study/Conference Day.”
All courses are assigned a day/time for their culminating activity to be held or be due based on the start time, meeting pattern of the course and its mode of instruction. These “Culminating Activity Time Slots” shall be scheduled during the designated “Culminating Activity Period,” as assigned in the academic calendar, and shall:
- Be scheduled for no more than two hours in duration;
- Start no earlier than 0830; and,
- Be spaced a minimum of fifteen minutes apart.
Courses with multiple components or multiple meeting patterns must specify which component(s) and/or meeting time(s) will have a culminating activity scheduled.
The schedule for the “Culminating Activity Period” for each Regular Session Fall and Spring courses shall be published prior to the beginning of the registration period.
Final Examinations or other Timed Culminating Activities
In the case where there is to be a scheduled final examination, whether in person or online, it must occur during the scheduled “Culminating Activity Time Slot” for that course. If a final examination is to be a take-home examination, it may not be due prior to the start of the scheduled “Culminating Activity Time Slot” for that course.
Courses with multiple sections may be assigned a day/time for a group final
examination. This examination schedule will be announced at the beginning of the semester
in the course syllabus.
Online or hybrid courses without a designated day or time will be able to select a “Culminating Activity Time Slot” from a designated list offered by the university.
Submission Dates for Culminating Activities other than Final Examinations
Submission dates and times for final papers, projects, creative works, portfolios, or other culminating activities shall fall no earlier than the beginning of the scheduled “Culminating Activity Time Slot” for the course.
Intersession, Summer Regular Session, and Special Session Courses
For intersession, summer regular session, and special session courses culminatingcactivities are typically scheduled for the last instructional day. The culminating activity schedule must be available in the syllabus on the first instructional day of the course.
Courses with multiple components or multiple meeting patterns must specify which component(s) and/or meeting time(s) will have a culminating activity scheduled.
Exceptions to Timing and Schedule for Culminating Activities
Courses may have culminating activities where students cannot feasibly be assessed during the scheduled “Culminating Activity Time Slot.” Instructors or course coordinators, as appropriate, shall provide a rationale for an exception to the college dean for approval, with notification to the department chair/director. Exceptions will normally be requested before the start of the term and approved by the dean's office and then included in the syllabus. Deadlines for the exceptions are posted in the schedule.
Students may request an excused absence for a culminating activity per the university Excused Absence Policy (S22-2 [pdf]). Students should inform their instructor of the need to reschedule the culminating activity or final exams as quickly as feasible so a suitable alternative can be identified.
A student may request the rescheduling of a culminating activity if their schedule results in three or more culminating activities or final exams held/due within a 24-hour period. Requests must be made at least three weeks prior to the last class instructional day of the semester. If one of those culminating activities or final exams scheduled for that 24-hour period is an individual activity, such as a final paper or project, the deadline for that exam or activity will be moved to a mutually agreeable time within the culminating activity period.
Oversight of Culminating Activities
The department chairs will oversee culminating activities in a manner that assures that the rules for culminating activities are followed. If a dispute arises, the dean (or designee) will be consulted.
