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7.1 Introduction
Each semester the Assistant Dean for Curricular Affairs publishes an examination schedule for that semester. Students should check the schedule carefully to see whether they are taking courses that might have exams on the same day or whether their exam schedule involves an exam each day for more than three consecutive days. (See information below about rescheduling of exams.)
Professors will inform students whether exams are “open book” or whether there are any limits on materials that students may bring with them into the exam room.
Students may generally take proctored examinations on secure laptop computer (students load an approved program into their own laptop) or write in an examination booklet (a “blue book”).
7.2 Rescheduling Law School Exams
Under the Law School Rules, students must take exams at the scheduled time unless there are "extraordinary or compelling circumstances." (See Rule 6.03.) For example, a student scheduled to take two exams on the same day may postpone one of the exams for up to one week. See Rule 6.03 (1). A student who has four exams on consecutive days may postpone one of the exams for up to one week. Students may postpone final exams that fall on a Sabbath or other religious holiday. See Rule 6.03(2). Otherwise, the acceptable reasons for rescheduling an exam are few. You should review Rule 6.03.
To reschedule an exam, you must give notice to the Assistant Dean for Student & Academic Affairs no later than four weeks before the start of the examination period. Every semester the Assistant Dean will set a deadline for such notice and publish the deadline on the school’s web site. After the deadline, the Assistant Dean will only accept applications to re-schedule an examination for unforeseen or emergency reasons.
The Rules give the Assistant Dean some discretion in rescheduling in very limited circumstances. The Rules also specify circumstances in which the Assistant Dean may not reschedule an examination. The Assistant Dean may not reschedule an exam when a student is taking a bar review course within driving distance of Madison, when a student has a professional opportunity that conflicts with the examination, when a student is late or oversleeps, when a student wishes to leave early for a break, or when the student has three exams on three consecutive days. See Rule 6.03(4)
7.3 Special Examination Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students who have disabilities that may affect the taking of
examinations for their courses must be assessed at the McBurney
Disability Center before the Law School can provide accommodations.
The Assistant Dean for Student & Academic Affairs is
responsible for all such accommodations (Room 5105) after McBurney
staff have completed the assessment. Examination accommodations may
include a longer time for the exam, use of a computer, or a private
room. However, no accommodations will be available to students who
have not completed McBurney’s assessment process.
For information, you should contact the McBurney Center at 263-2741
or http://www.mcburney.wisc.edu/ .
The McBurney Center is located in the W.S. Middleton Building at
1305 Linden Drive. This location is on campus bus routes and
accessible parking are located in Lot 21 (behind the building).
7.4 Re-writing Examination
In some circumstances, students have the option to re-write (re-take) the final examination for a course. Law School Rules 6.04, 6.05, and 6.09 explain the conditions under which a student may choose to re-write a final examination. First year courses may only be re-written during the second year. In most cases, the maximum grade attainable will be a C (or 77 for students matriculating before fall of 2005). However, there is a process for students to petition the Faculty Petitions Committee for permission to receive a grade higher than a C on a re-written exam. The Law School Rules are available at http://law.wisc.edu/current/rules/. For information about impact of a re-write on GPAs, see Law School Rule 6.09; for other questions see Assistant Dean Robarts.
7.5 Final exams the semester of graduation
When students take final exams in their final semester of law school, they must notify faculty grading the exams that they will graduate at the end of that semester. Students do so by writing “graduating this semester” on all final exams as well as papers or other projects submitted for grading. This notification is very important. It tells the faculty to review the exam as soon as possible, so that the law school can submit proof of completion of credits and requirements to the boards of bar admissions in a timely manner. This notice is required, regardless of whether the student graduates in May, August or December.
“Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.”
Jane Addams (1860-1935)