JD Program,  JD—Part-Time Program ("FlexJD"), and On-Ground LLM Programs

As part of the testing of scholastic achievement, a written exam of suitable length and complexity shall be required in every course for which credit is given, except clinical work; courses involving skills practice such as moot court, trial practice, legal writing and drafting, and other performance courses; and in courses involving extensive written work, such as seminars and individual research projects.

Policy on Anonymous Evaluation of Student Performance

 The course syllabus may explain that a final grade consists of specified factors in addition to one’s performance on a final exam, paper, or project. In a course with a final exam, paper, or project, once an initial grade based on the final exam is submitted by the faculty member, student names will be revealed. Faculty will then be able to alter the students’ grades based on factors specified in the syllabus. 

Timing of Assignment of Term Papers and Drafting and Negotiating Exercises

Instructors should provide notice of term papers or drafting or negotiating exercises as early as possible during the upper-level term so that the assignment will not interfere with a student’s preparation for exams in other classes. In particular, instructors may not assign term papers or drafting or negotiation exercises that will be a substantial part of the final grade during the last two weeks of classes before the official exam period.

Proctoring Exams 

Exams shall be given pursuant to such proctored or honor system as the course instructor deems necessary.

Grading Exams 

Exam numbers shall be employed for all final exams, including take-home exams. Exams are graded anonymously, and grades are submitted tentatively on that basis. Instructors may, thereafter, learn the identity of students before finalizing course grades so that factors other than the final exam scores may, at the instructor’s discretion, be reflected in the final course grade determination.

Postponing Exams

Students are required to take their exams when scheduled unless they have been granted a postponement by the associate dean for student and academic services. Students seeking a postponement should contact the associate dean directly rather than their professor to preserve anonymity and the integrity of the grading process. Any student who believes they need a postponement must contact the associate dean prior to the exam administration. Postponements may be granted at the associate dean’s discretion only for compelling reasons, including but not limited to physical illness or acute mental health incidents. A student with an approved postponement must take the exam as soon as practicable as determined by the associate dean. If course grades are submitted before the student completes the postponed exam, the student will receive a grade of Incomplete.

Accommodations 

Students who require accommodations during exams are expected to obtain the necessary approval from DAS. Failure to obtain the necessary approval in advance will not be deemed a compelling reason for postponing an exam.

Unauthorized Postponement 

Any student who has not received permission to postpone a scheduled final exam, or who fails to appear without giving adequate justification, as determined by the dean, or who fails to timely hand in any final paper or project, shall receive a grade of Fail. A student who fails to appear for a scheduled exam without permission to postpone, or who fails to timely hand in any assignment without an extension from the professor, may at the professor’s discretion receive a grade of Fail or a reduced grade on the exam or assignment.

Illness

Any student who becomes ill during an exam shall notify the proctor if one is present and immediately contact ASA. An ASA staff member shall—if possible—meet the student outside of the exam room, or—in the case of an exam taken remotely—speak with the student by phone to determine the proper course of conduct. If no ASA staff person is available to respond swiftly, the student may leave the premises, and the associate dean for student and academic services shall make contact with the student as soon as possible.

Variations in Exam Schedules

Students may arrange the following variations in the exam schedule with ASA’s approval.

Same-Day Exams

When a student has two in-class exams scheduled on a single calendar day, they may postpone the date of one such exam to a subsequent date approved by ASA. In all cases, the subsequent date shall be within the official exam period.

Consecutive-Day Exams 

When a student has three or more in-class exams scheduled on three consecutive calendar days, they may postpone the date of one such exam to a subsequent date approved by ASA. In all cases, the subsequent date shall be within the official exam period.

Construction of Rules

The above rules shall be construed so as to assure that no student is required to take more than two in-class exams in any three  consecutive calendar days. 

Exam Procedures

Before each exam period, a schedule will be posted on the ASA website. For exams administered by ASA, to preserve anonymity in grading, exams are identified by a number assigned to each student at the beginning of every exam period; students will receive their exam numbers from ASA. This number should be retained by the student for that period and written on all exam books and papers. After reading and grading the exam, the faculty member will identify the author of each one, making suitable adjustments in the evaluations to reflect classroom performance.

Exams may be open or closed book, or take-home, at the discretion of the professor. Students may handwrite their exams or use their own laptop computers. ASA will assign each student to a room in which the student must take their exam. Students using their own laptops will be required to install secure exam software provided by the law school.

Exams may be conducted on the honor system or proctored. Under the latter method, students will be told at periodic intervals how much time is left. At the end of the maximum time allowed, students must submit their answers as well as the exam itself and any scrap paper the student has used.

Review and Retention of Exam Papers

Exam Software

Faculty shall use either the exam software administered by ASA or the university courseware system to administer final exams and assessments. These programs automatically archive uploaded material. Once archived by these programs, final exam papers shall be retained for seven years. ASA shall oversee the retention of archived academic materials to ensure that items are retained for the entire period. In the event of a change in exam software or university courseware, ASA shall ensure that the materials still within the retention period are archived in another way.

Right of Review 

Students shall have the right to review their evaluated exams. In cases in which the instructor deems it appropriate, the instructor may require that the student review the graded exam and/or exam questions in the instructor’s presence. 

Online LLM, MLS, and Graduate Certificate Programs (for Students Other Than JD Students)

Students are expected to complete examinations required for the courses in which they are enrolled.