CESP Proposal – Session Dates Within Semesters
April, 2011
The following proposal is presented to address two issues related to the two sessions within the Autumn and Spring semesters:
 How to conduct a final examination at the end of the first session? and
 What should be the last day of the first session and the first day of the second session.
First Session Final Exam
For a final at the end of the First Session, we propose that the following “guidelines” be offered to instructors:
For a final examination at the end of the First Session in either Autumn Semester or Spring Semester, please consider one of the following:
1. An examination during the regularly scheduled class on the last day of that class for the session, but allowing for at least one “reading” day between the
last day of instruction and the examination.
2. An evening examination on the last scheduled class day, or soon thereafter, but allowing for at least one “reading” day between the last day of
instructional and the examination. Scheduling arrangements would need to be made in advance through the Office of the University Registrar.
Last Day of the First Session/First Day of the Second Session
The first day of the Second Session of Autumn or Spring Semesters would be the day after the last day of the First Session for that semester.
Examples of Instructional/Final Patterns
The following session patterns have been proposed such that there will be a nearly identical number of instructional days in each session for the most common
course meeting patterns.
The 4 most commonly proposed instructional patterns in semesters are the following:
 MTWRF for 55 minutes each day (5 credit hours). In a session pattern, this would be a 2-hour block of time each day of instruction.
 TWRF for 55 minutes each day (4 credit hours). In a session pattern, this would be a 2-hour block of time each day of instruction.
 MWF for 55 minutes each day. (3 credit hours). In a session pattern, this would be a 2-hour block of time each day of instruction.
 TR for 80 minutes each day (3 credit hours). In a session pattern, this would be 3-hour block of time each day of instruction.
Note that additional class time in a session pattern may make it easier to offer a Final Examination during the regular class period. The
following table presents the two final exam options for the First Session and the days of instruction that would result.
Autumn Semester
8th Week of Classes (Second Week of October)
First Session – Last Day of Session
Last Day of Instruction
“Reading Day”
Final Exam Day (If during last scheduled
class – or that evening)
Final Exam Day (If evening, after last
class day)
Number of Days of Instruction for First
Session
Second Session – First Day of Classes
Number of Days of Instruction for
Second Session
MTWRF (110 mins)
R
T
W
R
TWRF (110 mins)
R
T
W
R
MWF (110 mins)
W
M
T
W
TR (160 mins)
R
T
W
R
After R
After R
After W
After R
34
28
20
14
F
34
F
27
F
20
Following T
14
Spring Semester
7th and 8th Weeks of Classes (Last Two Weeks of February)
First Session – Last Day of Session
Last Day of Instruction
“Reading Day”
Final Exam Day (If during last scheduled
class – or that evening)
Final Exam Day (If evening, after last
class day)
Number of Days of Instruction for First
Session
Second Session – First Day of Classes
Number of Days of Instruction for
Second Session
4.11.11
MTWRF (110 mins)
T-8th week
F-7th week
Weekend/M
T
TWRF (110 mins)
T-8th week
F-7th week
Weekend/M
T
MWF (110 mins)
M-8th week
F-7th week
Weekend
M
TR (160 mins)
T-8th week
R-7th week
Weekend/M
T
After T-8th week
After T-8th week
After M-8th week
After T-8th week
34
28
20
14
W-8th week
34
W-8th week
27
W-8th week
21
R-8th week
13