CS/ECE 374 A: Exam Policies

• Exam logistics
• DRES accommodations
• Conflict and makeup exams
• Other stuff

Exam Logistics

• This class has two 2.5 hour midterms, and a 3 hour final exam. Exact times for the exams are announced on the course web page well in advance. On the Thursday and Friday before each midterm, we will hold optional review sessions instead of the regular lecture and lab.
• Logistics:
  • This class has two 2.5 hour evening midterms and a 3 hour final exam. Times and locations of the midterms will be announced on the course web page well in advance. On the last Thursday and Friday before each midterm, we will hold optional review sessions instead of the regular lecture and lab sessions.
  • Cheat sheets:
    • For each midterm, you may bring one double-sided 8½"×11" sheet of paper with anything you like written on both sides. (Two single-sided sheets are okay.)
    • For the final exam, you may bring two double-sided 8½"×11" sheets of paper with anything you like written on both sides. (Four single-sided sheets are okay.)
    • Your cheat sheets must be hand-written by you, not printed or photocopied.
    • Everyone must submit their cheat sheets with their answer booklets. We strongly recommend copying/scanning your cheat sheet before the exam. Yes, that means if you want to use one of your midterm cheat sheets at the final exam, you have to write it again.
  • Except for cheat sheets, all exams are closed-everything. In particular: No medically unnecessarily electronic devices are allowed in exams; leave your cell phones turned off in your backpacks. Bring writing instruments, your cheat sheet, appropriate clothing, and your brain. We will provide answer booklets with scratch paper, and there will be a clock on the wall.
• All exams are strictly confidential for at least 24 hours, or until all conflict exams have been taken. Do not discuss your exam with anyone, either in person or online. Once conflict exams are finished, we will post exam handouts and solutions on the course website.

DRES accommodations

• Students requiring extra time or other exam accommodations should first discuss their needs with DRES, and then give Chandra a copy of the DRES accommodation letter at least one week before the first midterm.
• We strongly prefer that students who require accommodations schedule their exams at DRES. Please do not attempt to schedule exams at DRES at the last minute; they normally require reservations one week in advance for midterms, and two weeks in advance for final exams.

Conflict/Makeup Exams

• Conflict midterms: For each midterm, we will schedule a conflict exam to accomodate students who cannot attend the regular exam for any of the reasons listed in the student code:
  • Another simultaneous exam scheduled earlier
  • A regularly scheduled class
  • A regularly scheduled performance or rehearsal
  • Sickness, regular employment, or other extenuating circumstances
  • Religious accommodations
  "Extenuating circumstances" do not include out-of-state job interviews. (Do not believe recruiters who tell you rescheduling is impossible; they work on commission.) Students who have registered with DRES for exam accommodations are also welcome to take the conflict midterms.
• We may forgive midterms under extreme circumstances, such as documented illness or injury, that prevent taking both the regular exam and the conflict exam. We will compute your exam average as though the forgiven exam does not exist. Please ask Chandra for details.
• Conflict final: We will schedule a conflict final exam to accomodate students who cannot attend the regular final exam for any of the reasons outlined in the student code:
  • Another final exam at the same time
  • Three consecutive final exams in 24 hours
  • National or state professional examinations
  • Sickness, regular employment, or other extenuating circumstances
  • Religious accommodations
  "Extenuating circumstances" do not include already-purchased plane tickets; the date of the final exam was announced before the start of the semester. Students who have registered with DRES for exam accommodations are also welcome to take the conflict final.
• Makeup final: Students who cannot take either the regular final exam or the conflict final exam because of serious extenuating circumstances, such as illness or injury, should request an Incomplete from their college (Engineering or LAS). Any student who does not take the final exam and who does not have an Incomplete will be given a grade of ABS ("absent from final").

  If necessary, we will offer a makeup exam early next semester for students who miss the final exam, either with or without an Incomplete. Please ask Chandra for details.

Other Policies

• Deadly Sins will be penalized, just as they are for homework. Write general solutions, not just examples. Algorithms require English specifications, especially for dynamic programming. Don't use weak induction. Don't cheat.
• Greedy algorithms always require formal proofs of correctness. Otherwise, proofs are required on exams if and only if we explicitly ask for them.