Classes and Exams

2.1 The Syllabus

Each course and each section of multisectioned courses taught at the University must have a syllabus on file in the office of the dean of the college/school in which the course is offered. Accrediting organizations require that these syllabi, as well as the final exams of the course, be kept on file. The filing also helps the departments, programs, and deans answer student questions about course requirements. Be sure that each syllabus and each examination is labeled with the course number and title, semester date, and the instructor's name. The dean's office of each college/school will notify their faculty about the procedure for submission of these materials to their office.

The syllabus is meant to be a detailed outline of the course, including

• the instructor's name, office location, telephone number, email address, and office hours as well as expectations for correspondence
• the specific learning objectives of the course explicitly listed
• notes on how students will be graded, as well as the grading scale to be used (please be specific if you are not using the same scale as listed in section 3.2)
• the numbers of papers and exams that will be required and their weight in the final grade
• a list of the material that will be covered, including recommended reading
• notes on how students taking four-credit courses will be required to commit additional time to the course—through extra readings or assignments, for example 
• attendance policies and outcome resulting from nonattendance (see section 2.3)
• expectations for class participation and how it will be graded
• policies on late papers and missed exams
• possibilities for extra credit and/or revision of work
• discussion of the University Academic Integrity Policy and the sanctions therein (see section 4); instructors are encouraged to state here any actions that would lead to concerns about an academic integrity violation. For example, it is recommended stating here that no phones may be accessed during exams, any requirements about using AI, or any other considerations that would initiate an Academic Integrity Violation charge).
• a paragraph to make students aware of the University services available for students with disabilities. A sample paragraph you can use is given in section 8.2 (italicized portion).
• a statement such as “The preceding class content schedule is subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances” is also recommended.

2.2 Academic Calendar

The academic calendar for individual colleges/schools can be found on the Fordham website at: Academic Calenders.  Note that you can select future terms using functions at the top of the calendar, and you can also select different formats such as list or grid.

Or you may go the main page of the Fordham website, fordham.edu, and select Faculty and Staff from the menu. From there, you can find links to a wide variety of useful resources.  

Instructors who need to reschedule classes due to religious holidays or academic commitments should note such dates on the syllabus and alert the students as to how the work for the missed class will be made up, including any makeup dates in the course syllabus.

2.3 Student Attendance

Please see the attendance guidelines below.

Fordham Arts and Sciences and Gabelli School of Business Policy and Procedures

1. The maximum number of total absences allowed is as follows:
   1. six class meetings for a course that meets three days per week,
   2. four class meetings for a course meeting two days per week,
   3. or two class meetings for a course that meets once a week (but only one class meeting if the course is for one credit),

unless otherwise noted in the syllabus.

1. The penalty for exceeding the total number of absences allowed is determined by the instructor and must be stated in the syllabus.
   1. Examples of penalties may include failing the course or failing the attendance portion of the course grade.
2. All faculty must include their attendance policy in the course syllabus distributed at the first course meeting, during which it should also be articulated to students verbally.
3. Faculty may choose to establish a more stringent attendance policy in accordance with their course goals, but must have the approval of their department chair or other relevant departmental leadership.
4. Excused Absences
   1. Absences when there is a required in-class activity, such as a presentation, examination, quiz, or other evaluated exercise, are not permitted unless there is a documented excused absence.
      1. Excused absences occur ONLY in instances where students are missing a required in-class activity.
         1. For an absence to be excused, students must submit an Excused Absence Request via the electronic form on the University portal along with appropriate documentation.
            1. The only possible exceptions are university-sponsored athletic events for which a separate mechanism may be developed.
         2. All such required in-class activities must be listed in the syllabus.
         3. For any other absences, students are NOT to submit an Excused Absence Request via the electronic form.
      2. Illness, death in the student’s immediate family, religious observance, and required participation in a University-sponsored event are the only grounds for excused absences.
      3. Obtaining approval for an excused absence does not guarantee that a student will be permitted to make-up a missed test or project in exactly the same form as originally assigned. The determination for how missed projects or exams are to be made-up remains with the instructor. For instance, an instructor may shift the weight of a missed exam to another exam or combine projects, among other alternatives. 
      4. Absences from final exams are not permitted unless there is a documented grounds for excused absence as noted above. In such an instance, students should submit an Excused Absence Request and expect to receive an ABS grade.

When faculty become aware that a student has reached the number of absences allowed for the course, they are encouraged to notify the student and the student’s advisor.

• Monitoring attendance and informing students and advisors in a timely manner is important because if a student’s total number of absences exceeds the maximum allowed before the deadline for course withdrawal, the student may want to withdraw from the course.
• In all cases, it is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their attendance and absences.
• In keeping with Fordham’s commitment to cura personalis, all faculty and staff are encouraged to notify a student’s advisor if a student has multiple absences without explanation, or more generally, whenever faculty are concerned about a student, so that other units at the University (Student Affairs, Campus Ministry, etc.) can be informed to support the student as well.

School of Professional and Continuing Studies Policy and Procedures

As a standard, students are expected to attend all class meetings and are responsible for the material, assignments, and announcements covered during any absence. Because regular engagement is essential to student learning and successful course completion, attendance expectations must be established by the instructor and stated in the syllabus.

Faculty are responsible for setting clear expectations, applying attendance policies consistently, and communicating promptly with students about attendance-related concerns. Attendance policies should support academic integrity, maintain course standards, and reflect the needs of students in our division.

1. Unless otherwise specified in the syllabus, the maximum number of absences allowed in a 15 week course is as follows:

• Six class meetings for a course that meets three times per week.
• Four class meetings for a course that meets two times per week.
• Two class meetings for a course that meets once per week.

Students enrolled in two weekend intensive courses and 7 week hybrid courses are not permitted to miss any of the in-person meeting sessions and will be required to withdraw from the course if they are unable to attend all meetings.

2. Attendance in asynchronous online courses is defined as documented academic participation which can include completing required assignments, quizzes, exams, discussion posts, reviewing videos or any other activities defined by the faculty. Logging into the Learning Management System alone does not constitute attendance. Students enrolled in asynchronous online courses are expected to complete all course activities according to the published schedule. Failure to submit coursework by the stated deadlines may be considered non-attendance by the faculty.Falling behind by more than one module—or approximately two weeks—in an asynchronous online course requires immediate attention and should be discussed with the student and reported to the PCS advisor for online engagement.

The penalty for exceeding the number of stated absences will be determined by the instructor.

3. Faculty may define a more stringent attendance policy when justified by the nature of the course and its learning outcomes. A more restrictive attendance policy must be approved by the department chair or other relevant departmental leadership.

• The attendance policy must be clearly detailed and included in the course syllabus distributed at the first class meeting. Faculty are also expected to review the attendance policy verbally with students during that first session. For asynchronous online courses or hybrid courses with a delayed first meeting, the faculty should also include the attendance policy in their welcome email at the start of the term.

Student Absences

Students are expected to be present for all course assessments. In rare cases, if a student misses a required in-class activity, such as an exam, quiz, presentation, or other evaluated requirement, the student must submit an Excused Absence Request through the University portal, along with supporting documentation.

Students should complete the Excused Absence Request form only when approval is needed for a missed, required in-class graded activity. The form is not required for routine absences that do not involve a graded activity.

1. Approval of an Excused Absence Request does not guarantee that a student will be permitted to make up the missed work in the same format or under identical conditions. The determination of how missed work may be completed, if at all, remains at the discretion of the instructor, consistent with course objectives and academic standards. In some cases, an instructor may allow an alternate assessment, adjusted weighting, or another appropriate make-up arrangement.
2. Excused absences may be granted for reasons such as religious observance, serious illness, death in the student’s immediate family, or required participation in a University-sponsored event, when supported by appropriate documentation and submitted via the Excused Absence Request Form. The only possible exceptions are university-sponsored athletic events for which a separate mechanism may be developed.
3. Using the Excused Absence Request will keep advisors informed of any potential academic risk for students, across their courses, and will help the advising team to implement targeted support or early intervention measures if patterns arise.
4. Students are not required to submit an Excused Absence Request for routine absences that do not involve a required in-class graded activity. 
5. All absences will count toward the total absence limit for the course, regardless of the reason. No external review will be conducted for unexcused absences but the faculty should keep track of all absences and consult with the student and the student’s advisor if there is reason for concern.

Final Examinations

Absences from final examinations are not permitted except in the case of a documented emergency or illness. In such cases, the student must submit an Excused Absence Request as soon as possible. Students who are unable to complete a final examination and have an approved excused absence, should expect to receive an ABS grade.

2.4 Activity Period

Activity periods (at Rose Hill these are Monday/Thursday from 1 - 2:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 2:30 - 3:20 p.m.; at Lincoln Center this block is on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) are set aside each week (except during reading days and the week of final examinations) for departmental or administrative meetings, student activities, etc. No classes or laboratories may be scheduled during these hours without consultation with an associate dean. No student activities may be held during reading days or the final examination period.

2.5 Midterm Exams and Assistance to At-Risk Students

Midterm examinations, if pedagogically appropriate for the class, should be given about two weeks before the deadline for midterm evaluations, which is listed in the University’s academic calendar. Examinations given at this time should be administered within the scheduled class meeting. Faculty members are also required to submit mid-semester evaluations (section 1.2).

Since the deans' offices closely monitor student performance, please respond expeditiously to requests for information on any student experiencing academic difficulty. If reached soon enough, our students can be warned about their unsatisfactory performance while there is still time for them to attempt to rectify their deficiencies. Many may be helped to succeed through tutoring and academic advising. Others may be encouraged to withdraw from the course before the deadline.

2.6 Reading Days

Reading days are listed in the academic calendars for FCRH, FCLC, and GSB (day). They are usually the two days following the last day of classes. Mandatory classes are not allowed during this time, but optional review sessions may be scheduled. However, the first reading day may be used to make up classes missed due to campus-wide cancellations such as snow days. Please note, however, though that GSB may hold common exams at this time and therefore their students may not be available.  The common final examinations for language courses are held on the second reading day.

The purpose of these days is to give students the opportunity for independent and more concentrated study prior to the examination period. The reading days, like the final examination days, are part of a state-mandated 15-week semester. It is understood that the readings done during this period are part of the student's regular coursework, and under no circumstances are additional assignments to be given for these days. It is expected that faculty involved in teaching will increase their presence on the campus during this period and be more accessible to their students by offering additional office hours. Please note that some classes may follow a different schedule and may hold class on reading days to satisfy the state-mandated 15-week semester.

2.7 Final Examinations

It is expected that final examinations will be administered in each course, except in special cases where a final project is pedagogically appropriate. The days, times, and rooms for final examinations are scheduled by the Office of Academic Records. The standard length of a final exam is two hours. The current version of the final exam schedule will be posted by Academic Records on the portal.  Faculty can find it under Student Notifications in the Administrative Applications page.  A preliminary version of the schedule based on blocks is posted a few weeks prior to the start of the semester.  A detailed section-by-section schedule is posted and updated during the semester. 

Note that for evening courses in any college/school, final examinations are scheduled for the same day, time, and room as the course itself.

A final examination may not be rescheduled without the written permission of an associate dean. Examination booklets will be distributed by the departments.

All instructors are expected to retain copies of their students' final examinations for at least one calendar year in case students request a consultation about them.

Accrediting organizations require that a copy of the final exam given for each course be kept on file. Each examination should be labeled with the course number and title, semester date, and the instructor's name. The dean's office of each school will notify their faculty about the procedure for submission of these materials to their office.

Faculty are not allowed to move their final exams to the last days of class or to the reading period. Take-home exams must be distributed in a timely fashion during the last week of classes and be due no earlier than the regularly scheduled examination date. Faculty are required to meet with their students during the time scheduled for the final examination, whether the final is actually given during that time or is a take-home exam.

If a student has a conflict of examinations, he or she should notify and arrange with the instructor to take one exam at another time within two weeks of the final exam date. For example, it is recommended that students have a maximum of two exams per day (excluding evening courses). If a student anticipates the need to miss a final exam, this should be worked out in advance with the instructor and in consultation with the appropriate class dean/associate dean.

2.8 Absence from Final Examinations

If a student experiences an illness, personal emergency, or some special contingency on the day of the final exam or when a final assignment is due, the instructor can give a grade of ABS. See section 3.2.2 for more details. These are the only circumstances where an ABS applies. For missing work beyond the final exam/assignment, instructors should discuss with the relevant dean.

In most cases, the deferred exam should be completed in a timely enough manner, so that the professor can grade the exam and submit a change of grade before the deadline. See Change of Grade, section 3.3 for more details. Students should make arrangements with the instructor for making up the final with assistance from the home department if needed.

2.9 Postponement of Examinations

Rules for postponing final exams due to inclement weather follow the rules for the cancellation of classes due to weather (see section 10.7). If the Provost closes the University during the scheduled examination period, the dean of the appropriate college/school, in consultation with the Office of Academic Records, will establish the new time for the examination.

2.10 Proctoring Examinations

In order to sustain a climate of academic integrity, extra care should be taken to develop alternative examinations and to proctor examinations during the allocated testing period.

2.11 Students' Evaluation of Educational Quality

The Students' Evaluation of Educational Quality survey, known as SEEQ, is administered online each semester near the end of the term. All instructors are required to allocate time to introducing and administering SEEQs during the designated period. A new instrument called the Student Experience Survey, or SES, is being phased in and may replace the SEEQ in the near future.