Commencement Participation

Students who have not completed all required courses for graduation may participate in the commencement ceremony provided they have no more than a total of four (4) credits remaining. Students must plan to complete their courses by the end of the Fall term of the next academic year. Policies regarding residency requirements apply. 

Final Examinations

At the close of the Fall and Spring terms, one week is provided for final examinations. Students are required to take examinations at the time indicated for each course by the instructor in the syllabus or through other communication. Exceptions necessitated by conflicts with an established work schedule, severe personal hardships, or academic hardship (in the form of having three examinations on one day) must be approved by the faculty member. Faculty approval must be obtained at least two weeks prior to the date of the exam in cases where the hardship is known in advance. Exams will not be rescheduled merely for the economy and/or convenience of the student.

Final examinations are usually given as part of the January Session term, but no special days are specifically set aside for this purpose.

Bethel's policy on final exams is that every regular academic course must include a final exam or other final appropriate academic exercise within the final exam schedule. In lieu of a final exam which covers the entire course, the following have been declared to be appropriate academic exercises: a paper due at the time of the regularly scheduled final exam period; a unit test similar to others given during the term which covers only a part of the course; or a required class meeting or academic exercise during the regularly scheduled final exam period. Final exams should not be advanced into the last week of classes because this impacts negatively on student performance in other classes.