Academic
Catalog August 2008 - August 2009 Undergraduate
and Graduate
The following policies are intended to establish the best possible climate for scholastic performance and to foster fairness for both students and faculty members.
The following policies apply to the week preceding final exams.
Student groups and organizations are not to schedule concerts, major social events, or any activity that might conflict with academic studies, except on weekends.
Athletic events are not to be scheduled during this week, except on weekends.
Faculty members are not to schedule field trips or major exams. Exceptions are quizzes, lab exams, and individualized instruction courses that are self-paced and allow students to elect when to take the final exam.
Major research papers should be assigned as early as practical in the term, and students are encouraged to submit such papers before this week.
Take-home final exams are due at the time scheduled for the final exam.
Under no circumstances may a final exam be moved to the preceding week, with or without the consent of the students in the course, except in the individualized instruction courses as previously explained.
Final exams must be held in all courses and must be scheduled at the time that conforms with the final exam schedule published at the Registrar's website. Exceptions require prior approval by the dean of the college or school.
Where the course objectives provide for a type of final evaluation that differs from the ordinary, a different type of exam or evaluation may be provided, with prior approval by the dean of the college by midterm.
Interactive instructional television courses that don’t fit the final exam schedule will hold exams on the first regular meeting date of final exam week at the regularly scheduled meeting time.
In cases where it is difficult to fit various courses into the published schedule, the instructor must choose the starting time of the closest exam period. A poll of the class should determine whether there would be an actual conflict. If insurmountable problems are encountered, the instructor must contact the department head or, if necessary, the dean.
For courses that meet daily, four days a week, or once a week, the final exam may be held at your first scheduled period during final exam week. The final exams for all evening courses (those meeting at 5PM or later) must be scheduled for the first regular meeting time during final exam week.
NAU’s policy is that no student should be forced to take more than two final exams in a day. If you are scheduled for three or more exams in one day, it is your responsibility to seek an alternative schedule. At least three weeks before the scheduled exam(s), you should first approach the department chair or faculty member about the exam(s) scheduled between the first and last exams of the day. Unless there are pedagogical problems with doing so (such as a common exam or the use of lab or other special equipment), the department chair or faculty member should provide an alternative date for you to take the exam.