Faculty Handbook

Auditing Courses Permission to audit is on a space-available basis, in compliance with appropriate state statutes, and is at the discretion of the IOR with permission of the Office of Academic Affairs. The auditor shall attend without formal recognition (i.e., transcript credit.) Requests to audit are handled by the Office of Student Affairs, which shall communicate with the appropriate department chair and IOR of the course being requested for audit. Examinations The SUNY College of Optometry Policy on Examinations is designed to minimize conflicts between examinations and other assessments of students during a given term. For this policy, an examination is defined as a written assessment that requires, at minimum a full class session for completion. A quiz is considered to be a single short written or oral assessment that does not require a full class session for completion. Individual quizzes will contribute to no more than 10% of the final grade. 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 including a policy for calculating the final course grade in the event the course must be remediated. • 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. However, if in person attendance is required for quizzes, the date and time of the quiz must be noted on the course syllabus. • Students are expected to be available, in person during midterm and finals week and for any exams noted on the course syllabus. Students are responsible for reviewing course syllabi and noting assessment dates. • 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. • All exams 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 exam questions must be categorized on ExamSoft . • 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 and approval from the Office of Academic Affairs. • Students must notify IORs at the beginning of the term of religious holidays that may interfere with scheduled examinations or other assignments so scheduling can avoid conflict with these dates when possible.

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