Paul Smith’s College requires that a final assessment be administered in every course. The assessment, and the student’s preparation for them, provides an opportunity for a comprehensive review of subject material, thus promoting overall synthesis of the course by the student as well as improving long-term retention of the material. Exposure to a final assessment also helps prepare the student for their experiences in possible future endeavors and is required as part of the assessment cycle of the College.
The final course assessment will occur at the end of the semester as a normal part of the course. Arrangements may be made to give a traditional two-hour final assessment after the end of the classes if preapproved by the Department Chair two weeks before the beginning of the semester. Information about all final assessments must be clearly delineated on the syllabus which is to be distributed on the first day of classes.