Week 10 of fall term always seems to be the most stressful time of year. With the holidays looming and finals a week away, many students on campus are feeling a little overwhelmed. And it’s no wonder, since many professors have decided to cheat students by scheduling final papers, projects and early finals during Dead Week.
No exam worth more than 20 percent of the final grade can be given during Dead Week, with the exception of makeups, according to legislation passed by the University Assembly. Professors are also required to specify Dead Week projects on the class syllabus within the first two weeks of the term. But many instructors break these rules and insist on holding Dead Week finals to get a jump-start on final grading and their winter break.
Although it is convenient and nice to start the winter vacation early, it is taking away valuable instruction time for students and professors. Also, many students stop absorbing new material during the last week of school because they’re preparing for the end of the quarter.
Dead Week isn’t really dead anymore. Dead Week used to be a week of studying in preparation for finals, and no classes were held. It was “dead” on campus because everyone was inside studying. Now students and professors are bustling around, tying up loose ends.
There is a designated week for professors to give finals. If professors don’t want to hold finals during week 11, the University should move to abolish the week altogether. That way the school won’t trick itself into thinking students are learning valuable new material up until the end of the term, and we can all go on vacation early with a clear conscience.