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Exam Policies

University Policy On All Missed Exams:

Students at The University of Iowa are permitted to make up exams missed due to religious holidays, illness, or special circumstances. Faculty members should reschedule exams for students who miss them for reasons consistent with the University's policy regarding religious holidays, as stated in Section IV, Chapter 2 of the University Operations Manual.

Each college within the University is free to establish its own rules and regulations concerning absences from class. However, University regulations require that students be allowed to make up examinations that have been missed due to illness, mandatory religious obligations, or other unavoidable circumstances or University activities.

See "Statement on Religious Diversity and the University Calendar" in the "Registration Information" section of the "Schedule of Courses".

Course Exam Schedule Conflict Policies:

(These policies apply to exams scheduled during the semester. See "Schedule Regulations Regarding Final Examinations" for Final Exam Policies.)

1. When instructors plan to give exams outside of class time, they should announce the dates and times at the first class meeting and list them on the course syllabus for distribution at the first class meeting.

2. When there is a conflict between an exam scheduled outside of class time and a regularly scheduled course, the regularly scheduled course will take precedence.

3. During Fall semester, when there is a conflict between two exams scheduled outside the regular class times, the course having the lower department number (or letter), or lower course number when the conflict is within the department, will take precedence. During Spring semester and Summer session, when there is a conflict between two exams scheduled outside the regular class times, the course having the higher department number (or letter), or higher course number when the conflict is within the department, will take precedence.

4. When there is a conflict between an exam scheduled outside of class time and other scheduled and required course activities (e.g., performances, meetings, lectures), the required course activity will take precedence.

5. When there is a conflict between an exam scheduled outside of class time and other scheduled, non-required course activities or personal obligations, the exam will take precedence. However, exams not scheduled and announced in class at least 14 days in advance will not have priority under this policy.

6. Instructors must offer reasonable options without penalty to students who miss exams due to conflicts described above.

Alternate exams must be scheduled at a reasonable time and location.

The alternate exam, if different, should be as equivalent as possible in content, difficulty, form, and time limits to the original.

The standards for scoring and grading should be equivalent to those used with the original exam.

Construction Noise During Examinations:

The policy of The University of Iowa Facilities Services Group is to immediately stop construction when the work disturbs an examination in progress. The faculty member in charge of an examination should promptly report such problems to Facilities Services Group (5-5071) or to the construction workers, asking them to contact their supervisor.