Table of Contents | Index | Internal Audit Web

The purpose of this Academic Operating Policy and Procedure (AOP) is to define the policy regarding final examinations at Mississippi State University and define the responsibility of the administrators and faculty.

This AOP will be reviewed every five years (or whenever circumstances require an earlier review) by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (APAA) with recommendations for revision presented to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

All examinations shall be held as specified on the examination schedule except classes meeting fewer than two lectures per week and/or certain other classes which may be given at particular times by special permission from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Exceptions to the published examination schedule will be announced in the classes affected. Classes meeting fewer than two lecture hours per week and all laboratories will have their examinations at the last regular meeting of the class.

When an instructor is teaching more than one section of the same course, permission may be given (by the instructor) to a student registered for the course to take the examination in any one of the sections, provided that procedure does not result in too many examinations in one day.

Evening classes will have their examination at the regular meeting hour of the class during the examination period.

Exceptions to the published examination schedule are discouraged. If an exception is deemed necessary, the request must be approved by the respective department head and dean and copies of these approvals placed on file in the dean's office. Approval for a request to change the final exam schedule must be secured at least 2 weeks prior to final exam week.

Students scheduled for more than two final examinations in a given day may request that the third (or more) examination(s) be rescheduled. The student should request that the instructor reschedule this examination at a time convenient to both the student and the instructor. This request and the resulting rescheduling must be completed prior to the beginning of the final examination period. The resulting examination must be administered during the final examination period.

Students should report any violation of the above policy to the instructor’s department head.

For information about this policy, contact the responsible/reviewing department hyperlinked above.