Prior to the Civil War, final examinations at the end of a session were in the nature of a public exhibition to display the erudition of the students. The catalog of 1867–68 stated that at the close of each session, both written and oral examinations would be given. In 1878 the faculty established a final examination period of the last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of each 10-week session, and further required (1) that examinations (which could be written, oral, or both) could not be held at any other time without the permission of the faculty, and (2) that the examination grade would count one third of the term standing.