Hour and Midterm Examinations

The administration of hour and midterm examinations is the responsibility of the instructor; such exams should ordinarily be scheduled during regular class meeting times. Instructors are required to offer makeup exams to students who are absent from hour and midterm examinations for the observance of a religious holiday. If an instructor is satisfied that an absence for another reason is necessary and that omitting a grade for the missed hour or midterm examination will not affect the student's course grade, final evaluation of the student's work in the course may be determined from the remainder of the course work. The instructor may also elect to give a makeup examination. The responsibility for such decisions rests with the instructor only, and not with the Dean's Office or the Administrative Board.

Although instructors are obligated to offer makeup examinations only in the case of absence for the observance of a religious holiday, students who have obtained proper Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) documentation of illness may not be penalized for their absence from hour and midterm examinations. The appropriate form must be signed by a HUHS medical professional and given to the student's Allston Burr Resident Dean or Freshman Dean, who will write the student a letter that acknowledges receipt of the HUHS form. This letter may be presented to the instructor as certification of the student's illness.

Absences for Religious Holidays

A student whose absence from an hour or midterm examination is a consequence of his or her religious belief "shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination" (Commonwealth of Massachusetts H6642-a bill enacted in September 1985 excusing the absence of students for their religious beliefs). It is the responsibility of the students concerned to provide instructors with the dates on which they will be absent because of a conflict with the religious holidays they will be observing. If conflicts are unavoidable, students who are absent from hour or midterm examinations for religious reasons shall be offered an opportunity to make up the work, without penalty, unless it can be demonstrated that such a make-up opportunity would constitute an "unreasonable burden" on the faculty.

Reading Period

At the end of each term, a period of eleven or twelve days prior to the start of final examinations is designated as Reading Period. During this time, faculty members may choose not to hold formal class meetings. Those who exercise this option often do so in order to allow students to work independently, exploring special topics or integrating the material covered in the course through a term paper or other project. Those courses that have a final exercise other than a regular three-hour final examination schedule these activities during Reading Period. Some courses continue to meet on their regular schedules during much of Reading Period.

Regardless of whether a class meets during Reading Period, that time is an integral part of the term. Students are expected to remain in the immediate vicinity of Cambridge throughout this period.

Final Examinations

Final examinations will be held at the end of all courses unless the Registrar, acting on behalf of the Dean of Harvard College, has approved an exam substitution such as a project or major paper. Substitutions are always due no later than the last day of reading period. In courses that run throughout the year, final examinations will be held at the end of both the fall and spring terms.

The Registrar schedules and administers all final examinations scheduled during the Mid-year and Final Examination Period. They are three hours in length. There are two exam sessions a day. Morning examinations begin at 9:15 am and afternoon exams at 2:15 pm. Official dates and times for examinations are published on the Final Examination Schedule which is available at www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu near the beginning of each Reading Period. This schedule is subject to change as required.

To seek accommodations for a final examination on account of disabilities, undergraduates must direct their petition to the Accessible Education Office (see page 405). The Accessible Education Office will work with the faculty member and the examinations office to make arrangements for accommodations when appropriate and will contact the student directly about the accommodations. For more specific information about final exams please consult the website of the Accessible Education Office at www.aeo.fas.harvard.edu/.

Students are responsible for learning the times and locations of examinations in their courses and for arriving at their exams on time. Students who miss an examination and who are not granted a makeup examination will receive a permanent ABS (unexcused absence), which is equivalent in all respects to a failing grade.

Most instructors return examination booklets, papers, and other academic work to the students enrolled in their courses. By law, students have the right to review all materials submitted to a course, including final examination booklets, and for a reasonable charge may have copies of any originals not returned to them.