The last day of classes is known as the "last day for written work." Many students will have multiple assignments due on the last day of class: papers, lab reports, lab exams. In addition, any late work must be turned in by that day.
Following the last day of classes is a brief review period and then the examination period. Final examinations may be either scheduled or self-scheduled. Examination information for each course is collected by the Registrar's Office and distributed to all students several weeks before the beginning of the examination period. It is also posted on the Registrar's website and outside the Dean's Office.
Generally, scheduled exams take place during the first four weekdays of the examination period. Any professor may elect to give a scheduled exam, but certain types of courses are more likely to have scheduled exams. These include film and art history courses and elementary and intermediate language courses, where visual or audio material is part of the exam.
Self-scheduled examinations are administered through the Registrar's Office, with the assistance of the Student Curriculum Committee and the Honor Board. Self-scheduled examinations are a privilege conferred by the faculty in recognition of the Honor Code. Self-Scheduled Exams are handed out in the Upper Level of Guild Hall at the beginning of each self-scheduled exam period.
In their first semester, students may be somewhat confused about how exactly self-scheduled exams work. A detailed description of procedures and regulations is distributed by the Registrar's office. One basic thing to understand is the degree of flexibility involved in self-scheduled exams. Having self-scheduled exams does not mean getting to take an exam whenever you want to. Instead, there are set examination periods (generally 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. , 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. , and occasionally 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.) during which exams may be taken. Conversely, having self-scheduled exams also does not mean being required to devise and submit a schedule of when you will take particular exams. You should develop a plan for yourself, but you don't have to inform anybody, and you may adapt it as circumstances dictate.
Some professors choose to give take-home exams, and the rules and guidelines for these exams differ enormously. They may be open book or not; they may be limited-time or not; the questions may be known in advance or not, etc. If you have a take-home exam in a given course, make sure you know and understand what is expected.
Finally some classes have no final exams at all. They may have a paper or other project "in lieu of exam," or they may have no assignments at all after the end of classes. When in doubt, talk to your professors to inquire about final exams/ projects.
Should you find yourself in a position that you need extra time to complete exams or your final work (example: illness, family emergency) you must speak to both your Dean and your Professor. If both agree to extra time, you will be given a new deadline to complete your work or make up your exam. You will be assigned a grade of "I" (Incomplete) and upon completion of your work, assigned a grade.