Special Circumstance and Help: Be assured that I will be as flexible as possible in helping you succeed in this course, without sacrificing academic integrity. I am ready to accommodate your particular situation (and changes) and circumstance, even at a moment’s notice. So please do not be afraid or hesitate to ask for assistance. Learning should be interesting and fun, and not create additional anxieties and stress, especially in these difficult and uncertain times. As a geologist, I will try to move mountains for you, if necessary, BUT this is only possible if done ahead of deadlines, and exam dates. Retaking exams is not possible and restricted by larger Duke University rules. Once those dates are past, my ability to accommodate your circumstances are severely restricted. So PLEASE reach out to the instructor for help in advance, rather than after the facts, even if it is seconds before the exam or a due date.
Important Information on Exam Policy: Sometimes students aren’t well while taking an exam and do poorly. We regularly get requests to retake exams. Know that once you take an exam, you cannot retake that exam. If you are not well, physically or emotionally, consider a short-term illness form, and a meeting with your Academic Dean BEFORE taking the exam. Do not take exams whilst feeling ill. Reach out to me BEFORE missing an exam unexcused, and I will work with you on a solution.
Missing Exams: I consider missing an exam without a valid excuse a very serious breach of academic standards at Duke. No-shows on exam days (and scheduled make-up days) without prior notification (such as a Short-Term-Illness-Form, athletic participation notification, an official notification by your academic dean, or a prior e-mail-based agreement reached with the instructor), will result in a ZERO for the exam. Since 2020, due to Covid, I have been extremely flexible in exam make-up policies, but this has unfortunately resulted in widespread abuse of this policy in the last few semesters (this is not the only course at Duke that this has been noted for). Make-up requests, many of which were for unexcused or exam-day no-shows, have increased ten-fold, overwhelming instructors and TA resources, as well as the Duke University Testing Center. This is why I will no longer honor exam retake requests that do not follow the requirements described in the FAQ below:
FAQ 1: “I noticed that one of the exam dates listed on the lecture schedule falls on a day I will not be on campus due to [fill in the blank]. It is more than 7 days before the said exam. What do I do?”
E-mail the instructor about your future absence and check with them if it meets the criteria for being an excused absence. Once your absence for that day has been approved, and you have been granted a make-up exam in writing by the instructor (e-mail), you contact the Testing Center immediately and schedule a make-up exam within 7 days of the day and time when the exam is given in class (this includes weekend days in the count). You MAY NOT take the exam before it is given in class. Athletes should schedule their anticipated make-up exam dates with the Testing Center as early in the semester as possible (like now!).
FAQ 2: “I noticed that one of the exam dates listed on the lecture schedule falls on a day I will not be on campus due to [fill in the blank]. It is less than 7 days before the said exam. What do I do?”
E-mail the instructor about your future absence and check with them if it meets the criteria for being an excused absence. Once your absence for that day has been approved, and you have been granted a make-up exam in writing by the instructor (e-mail), you MUST CALL the Testing Center at 919-684-1601 immediately and schedule a make-up exam within 7 days of the day and time when the exam is given in class (this includes weekend days in the count). If you are unable to get a person on the line, leave a message, and keep trying. You MAY NOT take the exam before it is given in class.
FAQ 3: “It’s the morning of exam day and I think I am [fill in the blank] and won’t be able to take the exam. What do I do?”
E-mail the instructor immediately and notify them of your situation, then fill out an “Incapacitation Form“, also see here. Once your absence for that day has been approved, and you have been granted a make-up exam in writing by the instructor (e-mail), you MUST CALL the Testing Center at 919-684-1601 and schedule a make-up exam within 7 days of the day and time when the exam is given in class (this includes weekend days in the count). If you are unable to get a person on the line, leave a message, and keep trying.
FAQ 4: “Walking over to the Testing Center is a pain-in-the-ass. Can I take my exam in a private session with the TA or instructor, instead?”
No. This is how we used to be able to handle make-up requests. However, we are no longer able to do so.
IMPORTANT: Missing a scheduled Duke Testing Center exam appointment without a valid excuse results in an exam score of zero.
