Student Update: Shifting to online exams
Dear Students,
I know you may have many questions after receiving President Pollack’s message earlier today announcing the move to alert level red and associated shift to online exams for the remainder of our finals period. The change to online finals may have come as welcome news to some of you, but it can also be stressful to have to pivot with little notice, especially when we’re so close to the end of the semester and many of you are juggling final deadlines with travel arrangements.
We have asked faculty to proceed with exams during the original scheduled slot, if at all possible, to minimize disruptions to your studying and travel plans. So far, the majority of faculty have indicated that they will be able to do so. However, if you have unforeseen conflicts, please reach out to your instructors directly to try to arrange an alternative. We are working closely with faculty who need to reschedule, and we can assure you that there are very good reasons why rescheduling is necessary for some courses. Please keep in mind that they, too, are under extreme stress and are doing their best to support you and respond to this evolving situation with little notice.
Some of you may need to take an Incomplete (“INC”) in your course(s) due to our current exigent circumstances. Please know that the normal practice of replacing an INC with a grade that includes an asterisk (*) notation on student transcripts will be suspended for Fall 2021 classes.
We have heard from some students in need of a quiet place from which they can take their online exams. Barton will be open to students for this purpose from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday (use the entrance on Garden Ave.). To address other questions you may have related to the final exam period, please refer to these FAQs. More FAQs will be added in the coming hours and days.
We’ve almost reached the end of the term now and I’m confident that we will work through this most recent challenge presented by the COVID-19 virus. As you finish your exams and depart campus, please remember to submit your Winter/Spring Checklist, which is also where you report your fall departure date.
I wish you safe travels home and a peaceful winter break with family and friends.
Lisa Nishii
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education