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Under what circumstances should university students be allowed to take their final exams before the scheduled date or after? Could a professor who denies a request get into trouble if a student complains?

"Ada" teaches history at a major West Coast university. She phoned our office, worried that two of her students in an online course were going to file a grievance against her.

"Mr. Beaver, I have read you in Kiplinger for years and need your help. My syllabus lists all exam dates and times, along with my policy on rescheduling an exam, which is the same as the university's." She included the policy, which states:

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