Resolution 74

A RESOLUTION TO BE ENTILED AN ACT TO REVISE CURRENT DEAD WEEK POLICY

Short Title: Dead Week Policy Revision Act

Sponsors: Senator Joyner

Signatories:

Referred to:                        

Version: As introduced

First Reading: January 16, 2008                                             Second Reading:

WHEREAS,   the University has set forth in its Policies, Regulations and Rules REG02.20.14, Section II that:

Lab tests and semester project reports and presentations are permissible during the final week of classes. Papers and homework may have a due date during the final week of classes only if scheduled in the syllabus. However, in order for students to prepare for final examinations, faculty members may not assign other tests, quizzes or additional papers during the final week of classes. Assignments should not have a due date during the final exam period unless the assignment constitutes a part of the final exam. Exceptions to this policy must be approved in advance by the department head and the dean of the college involved. Students should contact the appropriate instructor or department head if they believe an assignment is not in compliance with this regulation.

WHEREAS,   this policy was designed to limit students’ workload during the final week of classes in order to allow for adequate review of materials in preparation for final examinations; and,

WHEREAS,   the current “Dead Week” proposal was formulated in December 2004 and since that time has not been adequately followed or enforced, and, as a result, students have continued to spend the final week of classes completing final papers and projects and learning new material rather than preparing for final examinations; and,

WHEREAS,   on March 14, 2007, the North Carolina State University Student Senate passed a resolution calling for the review, clarification and revision of the Dead Week regulation, and since that time no such revision has taken place; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED,  by the NC State University Student Senate that REG02.20.14 of the University’s Policies, Regulations, and Rules be revised as follows:

Dead Week shall be designated the final week of undergraduate classes in the fall and spring semesters.  In developing their course schedules and syllabi, faculty shall consider the following Dead Week policies:

1. Final examinations for any course other than laboratory courses and classes for which there is no scheduled exam period during final exam week may not be made mandatory during the Dead Week period.

2. All major course assignments, including research projects, papers, tests, quizzes, etc. constituting more than 10 percent of a student’s semester grade should be due no later than the Friday preceding Dead Week.  Other homework and quiz assignments worth less than 10 percent may be given only if scheduled so in the syllabus.  Exceptions may be made in the case of class presentations, semester-long projects in lieu of a final exam, and deadline extensions for individual students upon request.

3. Faculty are encouraged to utilize Dead Week as a time for review of course material in preparation for the final examination.  As such, material to be covered on the final exam should not be introduced during Dead Week.

4. Exceptions to these guidelines may be made only with advance approval by the faculty’s department head and college dean and with adequate notification given to students.

Students should contact the appropriate department head or college dean if they believe an assignment is not in compliance with these regulations.  In dealing with issues of Dead Week violations as reported by students, these individuals must keep the identity of the complainant anonymous while dealing with the involved faculty member.

 and be it further,

RESOLVED, that the NC State Student Senate request an immediate consideration of these proposed guidelines by both faculty and administration that a final, enforceable policy be formulated and enacted for the Fall 2008 semester.          .