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INSIDE IOWA STATE
April 19, 2002


Senate approves 'Dead Week' guidelines

by Linda Charles
The Faculty Senate approved guidelines for "Dead Week" and called for a four-week break between fall and spring semesters during the April 9 meeting.

The Dead Week proposal originated with the Government of the Student Body. GSB has been working to formalize guidelines for Dead Week (the last week of classes before finals begin) and its proposal has gone through 25 revisions as students have worked with administrators, faculty and others.

Under the guidelines approved by the senate, mandatory finals could not be given during Dead Week (with a few exceptions), and course work would need to be assigned and due prior to Dead Week.

Several senators raised concerns about the proposed guidelines.

"We already have a policy in the (Faculty) Handbook," said Bill Woodman, sociology. "I don't see that this improves on that, and it may infringe on academic freedom. Just because most students start their term papers 72 hours before they're due does not mean we need a new policy."

Several senators warned that the guidelines would reduce by one week the amount of instruction students receive during a semester by not allowing professors to introduce new information during Dead Week.

Others, like Jim Hutter, political science, spoke in favor of the guidelines. "The real point is Dead Week is a time that a ton of stuff gets done. (The students) are trying to spread it out a little. They are just saying, when you write your syllabus, to make major topics due before Dead Week."


Four-week break supported
In a dj vu moment, the senate called for a four-week break between fall and spring semesters. The issue previously was discussed by the senate in March 2000, when the senate endorsed a four-week winter break. This time, the senate's motion is a "command," joked Hutter, who introduced the proposal.

Tom Weber, chair of the ad hoc calendar committee that sets the academic calendar, said the change to a three-week break between semesters occurred following the 1995-96 academic calendar.

He added that the three-week break has been continued through the 2005-2007 academic calendars and is favored by GSB.

Those favoring a four-week break say it would provide faculty time to prepare for spring semester, engage in scholarship and proposal writing, and attend professional meetings. It also would give students an additional week for winter study-abroad experiences, add an additional week of warm weather for those who teach field courses, and could save energy costs during the winter.

Those favoring a three-week break say it makes it easier to provide the required number of days of classes; gives the Registrar's Office staff the time needed between semesters and the two summer sessions to process grades and register students; and provides students an extra week during the summer to earn money and complete internships.

The final senate meeting of the academic year begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, in 260 Scheman.





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