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[pigletissima]

I'm in my first year teaching literature at a large public research university, teaching large classes. I've just given my first mid-term exam here. In the hours afterward, three students have come forward asking when the make-up is.

Well, I haven't prepared one. My previous experience has consisted of vap work at SLACs, where students have been more motivated, as well as less encumbered by extracurricular concerns such as jobs and families. Of course, I've made a note to self about putting a clause on the syllabus about make-ups.

The problem, however, is that I've given the other students their exam to use as a study guide for the final, and so I can't just give the late students the same exam. The extra work involved in making up an alternate exam notwithstanding, it is impossible to create an equivalent exam. I want my students to do well, so the questions are pretty obvious. The makeup would have to be drawn from the rejected, less-obvious questions. And then the midterm just isn't worth that much of their grade.

Plus, each of these students has a failing grade so far, having missed many other assignments. It is not impossible for them to pass: they'd have to ace the rest of the semester. But if they've been missing so much work, what chance have they at passing a make-up exam that is more difficult than the one their peers took?

My questions to you are: 1) should I make up a make-up?
2) should I let these students take a make-up?

Part of me feels that doing so would be a waste of everyone's time. It's unlikely that all of them could take the make-up at the same time, and so I'd have to block off three separate hours to schlep to campus to hang out while they take their exam.

Thanks for any advice. Believe me, I've learned my lesson.

[dr_stones]

May not help you now, but for the future, in your syllabus try one of the following:

1. All makeup exams will be given during the final exam period of finals week, or at some other time during that week.
 
2. Any missed exam will not be made up. Instead, the final exam counts for the missed exam (works best with comprehensive final). 

I've used the second policy for ten years and it works for me and the students.  I don't care why they miss.  The only rule is, once you start the midterm you must complete it.

[yemaya]

Unless they have a legitimate documented excuse (hospitalization, death in the family, etc), I would not give them a make-up exam.  If they chose to blow off the midterm, it's not your problem.  College-aged students are old enough to know that it is important to get themselves to an exam and to approach the professor in advance or as soon thereafter as possible if there is a problem.  Moreover, the onus is on them to complete any and all assignments as described on the syllabus, when they are due/scheduled - you are under no obligation to work around their schedule. Any reasonable dept. chair or adminstration will back you on this.  

If you offer a make-up on this, they'll push you for make-ups and extentions for on other assignments.  They'll no doubt whine and complain, but you're not doing them any favors if you don't hold them accountable.

[crazybatlady]

What is your absence and late-paper policy?

If you allow absences and late papers, I think it's only logical for students to assume you also allow make ups.  I say let them take the make up midterm at the final exam time (after they have finished the final), but warn them that they need be very prepared and might not have enough time. 

And I wouldn't create a new exam, at least not entirely.  You might shuffle the questions around and ask new ones (especially on the first page), but don't create a new exam.

Now, if you have a strict absence policy and a no-late-paper-policy, I'd say no make up at all.

You might ask them why they thought there would be one when there is a no-late-paper policy, in fact. 

Just my 2 cents.

[zharkov]

I also schedule all make ups during the final, and actually the same day as the final.  Especially for intro level classes, I have a total of 3 to 5 exams, including the final, and drop the lowest grade. So if a students misses an exam, I tell him or her to consider it the dropped exam. (This is also a bit of a reward for the students who do well on the in-class exams and get to skip the final, if they so choose.)  If a student asks for a make up, then documentation,  such as a doctor's note, is required. 

As others have mentioned, your make up policy needs to be spelled out in your syllabus.

[pigletissima]

Wow! Thanks for the advice.

I think the clauses in drstones's are excellent, and will definitely adapt them. I'm inclined to tell those seeking a make-up that their final will count as their midterm, but I'm worried that they might see this reprieve as license to continue as they have been doing, and I'd be delaying their failure, which I hate to think of as inevitable.

crazybatlady, I don't take attendance, as it's a large lecture, and I don't want anyone there who doesn't want to be there. I do have a no-late-papers clause, which no one has violated.

As for clauses on our syllabi, is it just me, or are syllabi getting longer and longer?

[crazybatlady]

If you don't accept late papers, why would you accept a "late" midterm?

[dr_stones]

One more caution, if you use the "final as midterm makeup" . . .

 . . . the collection of little-would-be-lawyers will try to get their final substituted for their midterm if they did poorly, becaue "they might as well have not taken it."

Tell them to go hoist themselves on their own petard.

[larryc]

The nice thing about scheduling the makeup during finals week is that none of them will show up to take it. Though have something ready just in case.

[dogstar]

If you don't accept late papers, why would you accept a "late" midterm?

  Yeah, what she said!

   I have a strict "no late work, period," policy, and the only exceptions I make are for documented emergencies or the handful of other excuses that either the university or I consider appropriate (for example, if I haven't consulted a calendar beforehand and have given the midterm on someone's religious holiday).

  The policy is clearly spelled out in the syllabus, and usually on the first day of class I give them examples of excuses I don't accept for missing the midterm. I also tell them if they know already that they have a conflict on one of the days an exam is scheduled, to please drop the class rather than ask me to reschedule their midterm to accomodate, say, a ski trip or family vacation.

[prytania3]

These students didn't call you beforehand to tell you they wouldn't be at the exam?

If that's the case, not only wouldn't I give them a make-up exam, but I'd laugh and laugh at them.

[eternal_adjunct]

For my face-to-face classes, I have a longer, harder take-home version that those who miss the midterm can do.  It comes with a penalty (20% off the top), which is the price for disrupting my schedule.  The penalty is spelled out in the syllabus.  The reason is articulated in class.

I've found that it makes my life easier to be both upfront with the students about the late policy and uninterested in why they missed an exam or were late with a paper.  And so far, most of them have appreciated it, too (after all, they're all just as busy, don't like their time being intruded on, etc).

The only time when this becomes a problem is at the end of the semester.  Then, I just tell them when the drop-dead date is and stick to it.  This might not make some of them happy, but again, it corresponds to a lot of their own work experiences, anyway.

I'm not sure how well all fo this would translate to a traditional, residential population, though.  But if it's a large urban university, like the OP said, then it might do okay.

[fym22]

I do give makeup exams, but subject to the following constraints:

1. I determine when the makeup is given, not the student. I give them plenty of advance notice so they can adjust their schedule accordingly.

2. A student gets one chance. If they miss the makeup exam date, too bad.

3. I determine when the makeup is given, not the student. That means I don't negotiate on the date.

3. My makeup exams are always harder than the original exam.

[csguy]

These students didn't call you beforehand to tell you they wouldn't be at the exam?

If that's the case, not only wouldn't I give them a make-up exam, but I'd laugh and laugh at them.

I do a make up. Writing it involves black candles, a pentagram, incantations ...

Seriously, you need a policy. I also warn students that I've already used up all the good questions.

[rowan1]

My Make up exam policy is clear in the syllabus - and I learned the hard way that it had to be, just as you are. 

I do not give make ups unless they have been scheduled with me prior to the exam - no exceptions.  Also, make up exams are at my discretion. 

It is in the syllabus, gives me room to be flexible for those life emergencies that can and do come up, and since I adopted this policy I have had no problems and have only had legitimate reasons offered, in advance for make ups.

Make ups are a pain,  and cheating or at least informed hints are impossible to stop.