End of the Semester Academic Procedures

To: UT Knoxville Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Todd Diacon, Vice Provost for Academic Operations
Subject: End of the Semester Academic Procedures

Soon many of you will break out the suntan lotion, renew your passports, report to summer jobs, and/or gear up for research and writing. Before then the end of the semester approaches, and as such it is time for this reminder on academic procedures, as quoted in part from the Undergraduate Catalog.

Final Examinations (p. 45)

"Final exams must be given during the final exam period at the scheduled time, although alternative uses of the scheduled exam period may be designated by the instructor." Professors assigning take-home final examinations and/or papers should make them due in class during the scheduled final exam period (see FERPA note below).

"Students are not required to take more than two exams on any day. The instructor of the last non-departmental exam on that day must reschedule the student's exam during the final exam period."

Please note the following: "It is the obligation of students with such conflicts to make appropriate arrangements with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the end of classes." This means April 11th is the last day to make such arrangements.

Also, please note this end of semester regulation: "No in-class written quizzes or tests counting more than 10 percent of the semester grade may be given the last five calendar days prior to the study period." This means April 18th is the last day to give quizzes or tests counting more than 10 percent of the semester grade.

The Grade of Incomplete (p. 43)

"Under extraordinary circumstances and at the discretion of the instructor, the grade of I (Incomplete) may be awarded to students who have satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the course but cannot complete the course for reasons beyond their control." Please note that "the grade of I is not issued in lieu of the grade F or FX," and that "students may not remove an I grade by re-enrolling in the course" (sitting in on the same course next semester).

A Final Note Concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

In light of the provisions of this Act, please do not ask students to submit assignments in open mailboxes or in any other unattended public venues (boxes in the hallway, envelopes taped to doors, and the like).

Graded assignments for student retrieval likewise should not be made available in such public venues. Grades should not be posted publicly using student ID numbers or Social Security numbers, nor should the students' names be linked with their IDs in any public manner. More information on FERPA can be found by clicking "F" on the A-Z index of the UT homepage.

Thank you, and have a great end of the semester!

 

Posted: April 7, 2008