ASUSU votes to restrict graded assignments in no-test week

By Lisa Rose Woodworth

April 11, 2008 | ASUSU passed a recommendation Monday that could make dead week more peaceful for students.

With a vote of 6-1, Academic Senate recommended an amendment to the No-Test Days policy, part of the Academic Policies and Procedures Manual. This policy states that no major exams can be given so that students can "concentrate on classwork," during the week before finals, also known as dead week.

According to this policy, professors are currently allowed to assign projects, quizzes and papers that can be a large percentage of a student's grade. The legislation passed by the Senate recommends that no more than 10 percent of a student's grade be due during dead week.

The resolution was presented to President Stan Albrecht, Provost Ray Coward and others on Wednesday for discussion.

"I am very much in support of this," Coward said. "I think this is just what we need. The only problem would be enforcing, but that's our job to figure out as administrators."

This proposal still needs to pass through several other committees before students will be able to benefit from it, explained co-sponsor Nick West, senator for the college of humanities, art, and social science.

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