Final Exams: Policies and Guidelines
Below are some guidelines you must follow when taking your law school exams. This list is not intended to be all inclusive, but it does highlight the most common areas of concern.
- All students will be required to read and electronically sign a Student Certification of Examination Performance Agreement each semester when retrieving their exam numbers.
- No electronic devices of any kind (including iPods, cell phones, blackberrys, etc.) will be allowed in exam rooms during exams with the exception of computers being used to take an exam. A zero tolerance policy will be in effect.
- All students (both typists and writers) will be combined in exam rooms.
- Any student arriving after an exam has commenced will be penalized on a minute-by-minute basis.
- No smoking, chewing tobacco, eating or drinking is allowed during exams.
- Read and follow the exam directions carefully. Failure to comply with all directions is an honor code violation and will subject you to disciplinary action.
- When the proctor says, "stop," you must stop instantly. This means that you cannot finish dotting an "i" or crossing a "t". Failure to stop writing when "stop" is called is an honor code violation.
- Some professors allow their students to take exam questions out of the room upon completion of their exams. Some do not. Please read and follow each professor's instructions. If you are required to return the questions for a particular exam, but you inadvertently or otherwise take the questions out of the room with you, it is an honor code violation; you should immediately contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
- If part of or all of your exam is objective and is to be answered on a Scantron form, please bring a #2 pencil with you. You must also bubble in all of your answers during the allotted time. Allow yourself sufficient time to finish prior to time being called.
- If you observe anyone not following instructions, using unauthorized materials, writing beyond the allotted time, you are immediately to report the incident to the proctor, as well as to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. While it is difficult to report an alleged violation, you must do so to maintain the integrity of the exam process. If you lose exam time while reporting a violation and need it, you will be allowed to make it up.
- Students leaving the room during the administration of an exam (for use of the bathroom facilities, etc.) must sign in and out.
- If you are typing a floating or take-home exam, please be sure to save your document every five minutes. This will ensure that any computer problems will cause only a minimal loss. Please allow sufficient time to print exams. Printing time, including printer problems, is included in the allotted exam time.
- For exams that are administered in a classroom, which are non-floating and non-take-home, a laptop cannot be used to access notes or an outline. Make sure that you print such materials prior to exam time if you are allowed to use them and want to do so.
- Laptops checked out from the library may not be used to take in-room exams because the software cannot be loaded to these computers. The exam software can be loaded only to personally owned laptops.
Additional rules regarding exams are found on page 46 of the Law School Catalog, 2008–2010, and the Honor Code is on page 43. Chapter 11 of the Institutional Rules in the General Information Bulletin also governs scholastic dishonesty.
