Important Information for Faculty: Examinations
What kind of exam should I give?
If you give an exam, announce during the first class of the semester whether your exam will be open or closed book. Announce all grading standards: exam only, mid-term exam, written paper, class participation, etc. Also, it's a good idea to put all of this information in your syllabus.
While we neither encourage nor discourage the traditional open book exam (which permits the student to bring everything but a telephone, a computer and an expert into the exam), we do discourage "modified" or partly open book exams which permit students to bring in certain limited materials (like their casebook or supplement only).
WHY?
Some students' books will have no "notes" in the margins of the books while others' books will be heavily annotated. Owners of the unannotated materials will complain loudly after the exam about their disadvantage, but by that time it is nearly impossible to level the playing field.
You may view this as a trivial problem or believe that it gives only a perceived advantage at best. Be aware that students do not share this view. It is difficult to explain to aggrieved students that they wouldn't have done any better on your exam even if they were able to copy all of their notes into the margins of their casebook. PLEASE help avoid these problems by offering another type of exam.
What if one or more students want to change the date scheduled for my final exam?
Once it is scheduled, DO NOT change the time or date of your final exam. The two week final examination schedule is a fragile house of cards. Usually, it's impossible to reschedule an exam to a time that is not in conflict with another exam to be taken by at least one of your students. Students rely on the printed exam schedule when they register for courses. They are well informed about the exam schedule when they prepare their schedules.
Occasionally, a group of students will approach you with a request to change the examination time. In nearly all of these cases, the group does not speak for the entire class. Do nothing without first consulting one of us. This can be a nightmare.
DO NOT permit an individual to change his or her examination time - even if they appear to have a good reason. We prefer that you express no opinion about the request and tell the student to see Dean Jim Faught or Dean Jean Gaspardo, who are the "central clearing house" for all exam requests. One of them will be the final arbiter of all such requests. Fairness to all students is the goal.
Does the law school have any established exam procedures?
In 1993, a student/faculty committee established detailed examination procedures which were based upon years of experience (mostly bad experience) with final exams. The procedures require your involvement and understanding, and we ask that you follow them each semester.
Whenever you deviate substantially from the procedures, you risk creating an exam environment that may produce an unfair result. Also, when faculty don't take the procedures seriously, students don't.
