Faculty Handbook

SUNY College of Optometry

Faculty Handbook 2022-23

Examinations The SUNY College of Optometry Policy on Examinations is designed to minimize conflicts between examinations and other assessments of students during a given semester. For this policy, an examination is defined as a written assessment that requires a full class session for completion. A quiz is considered to be a single short written or oral assessment used to contribute not more than 10% to a final grade and that does not require a full class session for completion. A lab practical/assessment is essentially a non-written assessment of laboratory concepts that takes place during the laboratory portion of the course using materials or procedures taught in the laboratory. Written assessments of laboratory concepts, whether they are in the laboratory or classroom, are examinations or quizzes, depending on scope, and will be administered according to the following policy statements: • All procedures for student assessment and the determination of the final grade for each course must be clearly defined in the course syllabus. • The dates and times of all examinations and lab practicals, and whether there is a midterm or final examination, must be clearly stated in the syllabus. Defined dates for quizzes are recommended but not required. • All midterms and finals must be delivered through ExamSoft. When multiple choice questions in midterms and finals are employed, they must only use item formats consistent with the formats used by the NBEO. • All examination and lab practical dates are fixed and registered in a master calendar at the beginning of the semester and may not be changed without a written request from the IOR/course coordinator and approval from the Office of Academic Affairs. • The dates and times of all midterms and finals are determined by the Registrar and once finalized, are not subject to change. Midterms and Finals weeks are posted on the Academic Calendar, which is available prior to the Academic Year. • Except for lab practicals, no examinations or quizzes are permitted the week before or after midterms week, or the week before finals week. If a course has a midterm and/or final, it must be scheduled during midterm or final weeks. • To ensure that the overall schedule of assessments during any given semester is as reasonably balanced as possible, the Office of Academic Affairs will examine the schedule of assessments at the beginning of the semester and may initiate discussions with instructors regarding the timing of assessments. It is understood, however, that there may be days when scheduling more than one assessment, or scheduling assessments on back-to-back days, is unavoidable. • Students who cannot take an examination on the scheduled date must notify and get permission from the IOR, in advance whenever possible, for a make-up. If approved, arrangements for a makeup will be made after the exam’s original date has passed at the discretion of the IOR. Instructor Responsibility Regarding Cheating and Unethical Behavior Instructors are responsible for providing testing and assessment conditions that are conducive to ethical and professional behavior. Cheating will not be tolerated and should be reported to the Department Chair whenever suspected. Refer to sections of the Student Handbook for judicial policies and procedures relating to suspected unethical and/or unprofessional student conduct.

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