The new policy limiting the coursework instructors are allowed to assign during dead week was signed by the provost Tuesday after being passed by Faculty Senate and Student Government Senate.
The old policy allowed teachers to give assignments worth up to 10 percent of a final grade with the exception of class projects, which could be worth more, said Jeffrey Wale, SG director of academics. The new policy allows for assignments worth 5 percent, with the exception of class projects.
Under the old policy, some instructors were labeling tests and quizzes as class projects because they had been on the syllabus within the first two weeks.
“The old policy allowed for flexibility,” Wale said.
Wale said the new policy covers finals week stress levels and loopholes in the old policy.
“The new policy takes away any confusion,” Wale said.
Wale said SG originally proposed the new policy be a complete dead week with no assignments, but members of Faculty Senate disagreed. He said they voiced concerns regarding class attendance and class reading assignments.
“Faculty Senate wanted to make sure they are learning the material and going to class during the last week,” Wale said.
Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope said the new policy allows for a reasonable amount of work but won’t interfere with the time needed to prepare for finals.
“The policy is a reasonable compromise,” Cope said.
Jeremy Baumgartner, undeclared junior, said students can go into finals with “cool heads” now that tests aren’t allowed during dead week.
“Five percent is a little better than 10 percent,” Baumgartner said of the new policy.
Abby Gogarty, kinesiology sophomore, said the policy allows for more time to study for finals.
 
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Contact Celeste Ansley at [email protected]