As Iowa State University students gear up for fall finals, several important academic dates and updated testing center procedures will be in effect during the week of finals.
According to ISU’s academic calendar, final exam week runs Monday through Thursday. The fall semester officially ends Friday, followed by two commencement ceremonies.
The Graduate College University commencement ceremony will be held Friday, and the Undergraduate University commencement ceremony will take place Saturday.
Faculty must submit final grades by 3 p.m. Dec. 22, and grades will be available to students Dec. 23.
Testing center hours and procedures
During finals week, all testing centers will operate under extended or modified hours, with walk-up registration only at Carver 0060, Hixson-Lied 2242, Gilman 2552 and Gilman 2272.
A limited number of appointments will be available through RegisterBlast at Carver 0250.
Testing center hours for finals week are:
Sunday
- Open: Noon
- Doors close: 9:30 p.m.
- Final closing: 10 p.m.
Monday to Wednesday
- Open: 8 a.m.
- Doors close: 9:30 p.m.
- Final closing: 10 p.m.
Thursday
- Open: 8 a.m.
- Doors close: 4:30 p.m.
- Final closing: 5 p.m.
According to testing center policy, no exams may begin after doors close, and all testing must be completed by the posted closing time.
Longer wait during peak hours
The testing centers also remind students that finals week brings heavier traffic. A “walk-up approximate wait times” feature is available on the Testing Centers website, providing real-time updates for each location.
General busy-time patterns show that midday to late afternoon tends to see the longest wait times, while mornings and early evenings typically move faster.
Students who want to avoid delays are encouraged to plan testing sessions outside peak hours and arrive early with their student ID.
Students who are unsure of their exam times can access the full fall final exam schedule through the Office of the Registrar.
The schedule includes course-by-course exam assignments, room locations and any special testing instructions.