The American Bar Association, as an accrediting agency for the Law School, requires a final examination in all regular courses. The final examination grade is the major component of the course grade. Professors may also give assessments during the semester in the form of assignments, quizzes, or midterms. As determined by the professor, these assessments may or may not count toward the final grade.
At Seton Hall, the examination requirement applies to all courses except seminars, clinical, skills, and moot court programs, journals, externships, Legal Research & Writing and Independent Research.
The examination schedule is published by the Registrar during the 5th or 6th week of the semester. For classes with enrollments of 50 students or fewer, final exams will be conducted under the “self-scheduled” system, whereby students will sign up and choose when to take their exam, within the limits of the applicable exam period (full time or weekend) and available days and times, in a proctored room. Instructors also may opt to offer take-home exam. Take-home exams are announced at the time of registration, and again when the class meets, prior to the conclusion of the add/drop period.
Failure to appear for an examination or submit a take-home within the time allowed will result in withdrawal from the course. The only exceptions are detailed in "Exam Emergencies" below.
Law school policy requires that examination papers be graded anonymously. For every examination period, each student is assigned a unique five digit identification number, which is to be used on all examination answer in lieu of any other personal identification. Exam numbers may be accessed by logging into LawNet and clicking on "Banner Self-Service" and then clicking on "Registration and Financial Aid", "Registration", "Registration Status" and selecting the appropriate term.
Failure by a student to use the correct assigned random number on each examination may considerably delay the posting of the examination grade(s) in question.
Only serious illness or an emergency is an adequate excuse for absence from an examination.
Students seeking such a rescheduling must be aware of, and agree to, adverse consequences
such as an incomplete appearing on their transcripts, and the absence of any grade
in that course to factor into their grade point average for purposes of class standing.
A written application for excuse must be submitted to the Dean of Students before
the examination.
In case of serious illness, a physician must attest in writing that the student is
suffering from a severe condition that would adversely affect performance. Where prior
written application is impossible, prior oral application, followed within 24 hours
by the required written application and supporting materials, will be sufficient.
The faculty member involved should not be contacted in order to preserve anonymity.
The Dean of Students or designee will excuse the student if a valid reason is found. No student may be excused from an examination grade based on a claim of illness made after the examination has ended.
A student who appears for an examination must complete the exam and receive a grade for it. In extraordinary circumstances of sickness or inability to continue, if reported to the proctor during the examination, the Dean of Students may, upon medical corroboration as required, grant the retaking of the examination.
In cases of irreconcilable other commitments and with the approval of the Dean of Students, an examination may be rescheduled for a future date.
Failure to appear for an examination or submit a take-home within the time allowed will result in withdrawal from the course.
Pursuant to the Law School's Conflicts Policy, for examinations scheduled on three consecutive days of the examination period, the second examination shall normally be rescheduled to a later date. For examinations scheduled to begin twenty four hours apart, the second examination shall normally be rescheduled to a later date. A student seeking to reschedule an examination due to either of the above defined conflicts must file a "Request for Rescheduling of an Exam Conflict" form by the published deadline. For those students seeking accommodations because of religious observance or disability, the "Request for Special Exam Accommodations" form is to be filed by the published deadline.
If during the examination period a student has been excused from sitting for an examination(s) because of illness or other exigency, the student must file a "Reschedule Missed Examinations" form with the Dean of Students accompanied by a physicians documentation of the illness, or other relevant documentation requested by the Dean of Students. The documentation must be received by the Dean of Students within ten days of the date of the missed exam(s). If approved, the student will receive notification from the Registrar as to the date and time of the rescheduled examination(s) which generally occur the next time the class is offered, during the summer exam period, or during spring break.
The Dean of Students or designee determines the date for any make-up examination at the earliest date practicable for the student and administration. Normally, if the exam cannot be made up in a reasonable amount of time, then it will be administered the next time the class is offered, during the summer exam period, or during spring break. For students whose graduation is imminent, special arrangements will be made if possible.
Under no circumstances should a student awaiting a decision on a make-up examination contact the professor of the course since this may jeopardize anonymity.
Except as provided in the Academic Standards and Procedures, no student may take a reexamination in any course for the purpose of raising a grade received in that course.
After the exam has concluded, an attempt may also be made to retrieve exam answers from the student’s hard drive. The retrieved exam portion, together with the hand-written portion, will be submitted to the professor for grading.
Only if exam answers cannot be retrieved within 24 hours, may the Associate Dean, in consultation with the professor, determine any additional remedial options, if any. However, no relief will be given to a student who failed to alert the proctor at the time of the difficulty.
After grades are posted via the web, a student may contact the professor, furnish his or her anonymous number, and request a review. The deadline for examination review is the last day of classes of the following semester. No professor may change an examination grade unless there has been a mechanical error in computing or transcribing the score. The purpose of a review is to assist the student in preparing for future examinations, not to make any grade changes. Indeed, grades may not be changed except in case of mechanical error demonstrated to the Associate Dean. The extent and nature of the review is within the sound discretion of the individual faculty member.
