Please see instructions and policies below regarding important updates to the exam needs submission process, including the new options for exam durations. Please note that instructors requesting a final exam now must provide an exam duration (the exam duration options are 60, 80, or 120 minutes); more information below.

It is time to review the course sections for which your department is administrative home and submit any requested final exam assignment needs. Each department is responsible for submitting its own courses' final exam assignment needs, including both undergraduate and graduate level courses. Please submit final exam needs for ALL course sections.

IMPORTANT: You MUST submit final exam needs for all undergraduate sections. If a course section does not require a final exam assignment, please indicate No Exam Assignment Needed on the Exam Needs form. If you do not indicate that no exam assignment is needed, an exam assignment will be created for all undergraduate sections.

Fall 2025 Final Exam Dates

Final exam week is Dec.15–19, 2025.

Submission and Deadline

Final exam needs are submitted online via the "Exam Needs" submission application in MAUI. Departments must submit their requests no later than Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025.

Final Exam Schedule Publication

The fall 2025 final exam schedule will be published on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

Instructions and Policies

Final Exam Scheduling Policies

Final Exam Submission Needs Instructions

Important Notes:

• NEW FOR FALL 2025: The university is introducing new options for exam durations/lengths starting in fall 2025. This initiative aims to better align exam lengths with course requirements and improve the overall student experience. Instructors will now choose from one of three exam duration options: 60, 80, or 120 minutes. Previously, all final exams were scheduled for 120 minutes by default.
• If faculty intend to schedule their exam through Distance and Online Education, please indicate "No Exam Assignment Needed" in the Exam Needs tool.
• If no information is submitted for an undergraduate-level course, a final exam date and time with single seating will be automatically assigned. Please indicate that no exam assignment is needed if the course will not hold a final exam.
• Final exam time preferences are only given consideration under special extenuating circumstances that may require DEO/dean's office approval.
• Instructors and students are expected to be available for ALL of finals week until the schedule has been officially published. Please note in the comments section of the Exam Needs tool any special scheduling needs. While we cannot guarantee that any special requests can be fulfilled, we will take them into consideration.

Incomplete and Late Submissions

Please be aware that by submitting incomplete or no information, you may be tying up exam resources which are needed by others. If no information is submitted for an undergraduate-level course, a final exam date and time with single seating will be automatically assigned. Please indicate that no exam assignment is needed if the course will not hold a final exam. 

Requests made after the schedule has been published will require written approval from the chair/DEO and the dean of the department responsible for the course. All requests must include the curricular justification for the late addition or release. Course sections granted final exam assignments after the schedule has been published are responsible for administering makeup final exams regardless of exam precedence rules.

Faculty Review Period

Faculty will be able to review their final exam assignments before the schedule is published. The faculty review period is Sept. 12–17, 2025.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email reg-exams@uiowa.edu. Thank you!

Note: this memo was also published on June 25 and July 9, 2025.