Final Examinations

Winter Quarter 2025

Final Examination Policies | Fall 2024 Final Exam Schedule | Fall 2024 Final Exam Schedule by Time Block | Winter 2025 Final Exam Schedule | Winter 2025 Final Exam Schedule by Time Block

Final Examination Policies

Final examinations are required in all undergraduate courses unless the department or other agency sponsoring the course has obtained permission from the Committee on Educational Policy to evaluate students in another manner. Final examinations are only given during the examination-week period at the time announced in the Schedule of Classes, usually in the same room used for class meetings during the quarter.  No change in the time or date of a final examination may occur unless the course sponsoring agency has obtained the approval of the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP). Requests must be received by CEP not later than the first week of the quarter in which the course is occurring. Completion or submission of final examinations or papers for undergraduate courses is not allowed during the regular term’s period of instruction, including the closed week before final examinations. When finals are administered (not during week 10), they must be completed at the scheduled examination time and may not require more than the scheduled three-hour time block. If a take-home examination is not assigned until the week designated for final examinations, it cannot require more than three hours to complete.

To avoid three final examinations on the same day, students may want to consider the final exam schedule when enrolling in courses.

Instructors may bar students from taking the examination if they arrive late. If a student misses an examination due to an unavoidable emergency, the instructor may agree to give an Incomplete and schedule a makeup examination provided that the student’s work is passing up to that point. When a final examination is one of the regular requirements in a course, no one taking the course may be individually exempted from it. Travel plans for vacation are not an emergency, and should not be made without checking the final examination schedule.

Closed Week

No examinations, tests, assignments, papers, final projects or final performances that result in more than 12.5 percent of the final grade (other than individual makeup exams) may be given during the last week of instruction. This does not include the collection of materials produced throughout the quarter, such as final portfolios.

Examination Retention

An instructor may release to individual students the original final examinations (or copies). Otherwise, the instructor will retain final examination materials at least until the end of the next regular term. During that time students will be allowed to review their examinations.

Religious Observance for Tests and Examinations

Given the diversity of religious practice within the campus community, academic and administrative units are encouraged to make reasonable accommodation when the schedule of a required campus event conflicts with an individual’s religious creed. It is the official policy of the University of California, Santa Cruz, to accommodate, without penalty, requests for alternate test or examination times in cases where the scheduled time for the test or examination violates a student’s religious creed, unless the request cannot be reasonably accommodated.

Requests to accommodate a student's religious creed by scheduling tests or examinations at alternative times should be submitted directly to the instructor in charge of the course as soon as possible after the test or examination is announced. Students who are unable to reach a satisfactory arrangement with the instructor should consult the head of the unit sponsoring the course. If the unit head feels that the request cannot be reasonably accommodated, the unit head should consult with the Dean of Graduate Studies or the Dean of Undergraduate Education as appropriate.

Accommodations for Disability

Students with documented disabilities that require examination modifications will be accommodated in compliance with state and federal laws. Reasonable accommodations will be made based on recommendations from the Disability Resource Center (DRC). If you have exam accommodations through the DRC, please note that your exam may be at an alternate test date or time.

Revised: 11/07/24