Update on Final Exam Schedule

To: The University of Arkansas Academic Community

From: Bob Smith, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

This is a follow-up to my December 12 and 13, 2000 memos (#1 and #2) and possible concerns faculty may have about exams on Sunday since the University has had to close on this day, Thursday, December 14, 2000. Also, I wish to reiterate responses to additional concerns we are hearing from students relative their having unalterable travel plans on Saturday, December 16 or Sunday, December 17, 2000. Please note that this memo is meant to contain all necessary information relative to the University’s final exam schedule, which has been altered due to inclement weather.

With the closing of the University Thursday, December 14, 2000 due to inclement weather, final exams scheduled for this day are now rescheduled at the same hours and at the same locations on Sunday, December 17, 2000. If students have religious obligations they must abide by on Sunday, then they will need to seek accommodation from faculty members for an alternative examination at the mutual convenience of faculty members and students (see also Religious Observances http://pigtrail.uark.edu/pubs/facultyhandbook/2000/sec4-00.pdf page 4-3). For faculty members who may have parallel religious obligations, we ask that you work with your department chair or dean to arrange help in administering your exam(s). We would hope that faculty colleagues or teaching assistants would be willing to assist--at a special time--for a special need.

Regarding unalterable travel plans, students who have made airline flight arrangements on Saturday or Sunday, December 16 or 17, 2000 or other unalterable travel arrangements and can not revise their plans without significant financial or other hardship, we ask that faculty provide an accommodation on a case-by-case basis. The accommodation--most logically would be the rescheduling of an exam(s) after the holidays. In the interest of fairness to all students, we ask that students seeking accommodations be willing to provide documentation of their travel exigencies.

We will greatly appreciate the UA community’s full cooperation in honoring the procedures articulated above. For all students, faculty and staff—please watch our website (http://www.uark.edu/) and be alert to messages on radio and television regarding possible additional advice about scheduling and other information during the next few days. At this time (0800 h, Thursday, December 14, 2000) it appears that the University will be able to open on Friday, December 15, 2000. On this latter day, the previously posted Friday (December 15, 2000) schedule of final exams will be administered.

We will continue to think positive thoughts about all of our students and faculty during the next few days and wish all in our community a most joyous and safe holiday period.

If there are questions regarding this or my previous memos on this topic, the questions may be directed to me at 479-575-5457 or at my home number: 501-973-4459.

Kind regards.