Examination conflicts

The university uses the following criteria to define conflicts:

1. Two or more exams scheduled at the same day and time
2. Three exams scheduled in consecutive time blocks, for example:
   • 9:00 am, 2:00 pm, 7:00 pm
   • 2:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 am
   • 7:00 pm, 9:00 am, 2:00 pm
3. An exam scheduled at the same time as a religious observance.
4. An exam scheduled at a time when an employer will deny time off.

For legitimate conflicts, you may write an alternate exam.  

The following are not considered exam conflicts:

• Two exams on the same day
• Three exams in 24 or 48 hours
• Personal travel plans

You must report an exam conflict to be granted an alternate exam. To report a conflict, go to your personal exam schedule before the deadline. To view your schedule, log in to the Student Hub with your netname and go to My CU Account > Academic > View exam schedule.

In many cases you will be able to select the exam to be written as an alternate, but sometimes you will have no choice. In general, alternates are scheduled for the first Sunday that follows the original exam date.

If you have two exams at the same date and time:

• Report the conflict
• Decide which exam you will write on the originally scheduled day and which one you will write on the alternate day
• If you don’t decide before the established deadline, the Examinations Office will choose for you.

If you have three exams in a row:

• Decide if you want to write them all at the date and time scheduled, or choose one to write an alternate
• Report your conflict and choice by the deadline
• If you don’t choose an alternate exam before the established deadline, the Examinations Office will not choose for you; you will have to write the exam at the originally schedule date and time.

Review the section, What happens after you report a conflict for more information.

If you have an exam conflict because of an employment matter or religious nature, report the conflict in your personal exam schedule. To view your schedule, log in to the Student Hub with your netname and go to My CU Account > Academic > View exam schedule. We may be able to resolve the conflict if an alternate exam is available.

If contacted by the Examinations Office, you may also have to submit documentation to support your conflict.

Please note that these types of conflicts cannot be predicted in advance, we are not always able to resolve them. If we can’t find a resolution you may have to apply for a deferred exam.

It is your responsibility to be available during the entire exam period. The range of Final Exam Dates is available online a year in advance.

After the deadline for reporting conflicts has passed, the Examinations Office closes the Conflict Reporting system. We review all the information and then finalize the time and location of the alternate examinations.

To find out if your application to write an alternate has been approved or refused, you must wait until after the deadline for conflict reporting has passed.

• If you are refused, you will receive an email.
• If you are approved, you will receive an email and then be able to see the day and time of the alternate schedule in your student exam schedule. You can also access your schedule by logging in to the Student Hub with your netname and going to My CU Account > Academic > View exam schedule.
  (Note that you will also still be able to see the details of your originally scheduled final exam, but you must attend the alternate as your professor has been advised.)

If you miss the deadline to report a conflict OR you are refused for any reason, you still have the option of applying for a deferral. (See: Missed exams and DEF notations)

If an alternate is not offered for an exam OR you cannot attend your final exam for eligible reasons, you still have the option of applying for a deferral. (See: Missed exams and DEF notations)