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University of Missouri

Final Exam Policies

The Committee on Schedule of Studies and Examination has adopted the following Committee of Dean’s clarification of Article V. Section I, of the By-Laws of the University Faculty:

No teacher shall hold a final examination during any time other than the regular final examination time appointed by the Committee on Schedule of Studies and Examinations. No teacher shall hold an interim examination during any time other than the regular meeting time of the class unless a schedule of such irregular examinations is published prior to the beginning of the semester. Examinations of individual students for particular reasons may be held at the discretion of the teacher.

Finals Schedule

Current Final Exams Schedule »

Each class must meet in the scheduled room at the scheduled period for examination or other instructional activity. No one is authorized to change this schedule in any way without the permission of the University Registrar, upon recommendation of the appropriate department chairperson and divisional dean, in accordance with the Faculty Handbook.

Non-Standard Class Meeting Times

  • When a class period crosses over two possible finals times, the Office of the University Registrar will assign the final using the earlier beginning time. Example: For a section that meets Tuesday and Thursday 9-10:50 a.m., the final would be scheduled using the TR 9-9:50 a.m. day and time
  • For sections meeting only Monday and Wednesday, the Office of the University Registrar will assign the final as if the section meets MWF. Example: For a section that meets Monday and Wednesday 9:30-10:45 a.m., the final would be scheduled using the MWF 9-9:50 day and time.

Conflicting Final Examinations

  • When a regular final conflicts with a group final, the group final instructor must schedule the makeup exam.
  • When a second 8-week or part-of-term course is scheduled to meet during the week of finals, if the course conflicts with a regular or group final exam, the regular or group final exam must provide a makeup exam.
  • Conflicting group finals should be rare, but when they occur, the course designated by an asterisk in the finals schedule must give the makeup exam that term. See the final exams schedule »
  • When two regularly scheduled finals conflict, the course with the time designated by an asterisk in the finals schedule must give the makeup exam that term.

More Than Two Finals in a 24-hour Period

If a student is scheduled to take more than two final examinations within a 24-hour period, the student may choose one of these options:

  • Take all final examinations as they are scheduled.
  • Consult with the instructors giving the final examinations to determine whether any makeup examinations have been scheduled or can be scheduled.

Room Assignments

  • Rooms for examinations are the same as those used for class meeting or common meeting time during the semester, except in the case of group (multiple sections of a course) final examinations.
  • The Office of the University Registrar will assign rooms for group final examinations. Departments are notified of room assignments.
  • Where the finals schedule creates a classroom conflict, the Office of the University Registrar staff members will notify the appropriate departments and find alternative spaces for the classes that are to be relocated.
  • Classes that meet in the second 8-week session can choose to either have the last week of courses at the normally scheduled class time or hold a final exam during the assigned finals time. If meeting during the regularly scheduled class time, any 16-week (regular session) courses that have a conflict during finals week will be found an alternative exam location.

Requests for Group (Multi-Section) Final Exams

Requests must meet the following conditions:

  • Courses must have total enrollment of 100 or more.
  • Sections must not have a common meeting time.
  • All sections must be willing to participate in the requested common exam time.
  • Courses offering a group final must offer a makeup final for students who may have conflicts with regularly scheduled section finals.
  • Times and dates for group final examinations will be determined by the Office of the University Registrar and published in the Schedule of Classes.
    • Requests for such examinations must be submitted with the proposed course schedule to the department’s dean’s office and then to the Office of the University Registrar.

Group final examinations include all sections of the course.

Late-Afternoon, Upper-Division Courses

These courses, as defined below, are not required to follow the published schedule.

  • Classes beginning after 7 p.m. (evening classes) may conduct final examinations any time during the examination period that is agreeable to the instructor and the students.
  • Arrangements for use of a classroom during finals week must be made with the Office of the University Registrar.
  • Courses numbered 8000 to 9999 may conduct final examinations any time during the examination period that is agreeable to the instructor and the students.
  • Arrangements for use of a classroom during finals week must be made with the Office of the University Registrar.

Late-afternoon/upper-division courses which choose to give a final exam are responsible for giving makeup exams if the exam:

  • conflicts with a regular scheduled final exam or
  • conflicts with an approved group final exam

Sections That Meet One Day Per Week

  • No final exam time or room will be assigned to instructors who teach a course that meets one day a week. The instructor should check with the Office of the University Registrar.
  • If a conflict occurs with a course and a regularly scheduled exam or an approved group final examination time, the course that meets one day a week is responsible for a makeup exam.

Courses Taught With Instruction Mode EL

If a course is taught 100 percent online and you need a room for a proctored exam, contact the Office of the University Registrar.

Makeup Exams

Makeup exams must be concluded in time to allow faculty and students to attend MU graduation ceremonies. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis for individual students, when the student and faculty member are in agreement. See the current dates for makeup exam deadlines.

Policy Source: Faculty Handbook