The College recommends that students not make travel plans until the final exam schedule is released a few weeks into the semester by the registrar's office. Professors should follow the same procedure. However, we understand that there are situations which make it impractical for a given professor to schedule a final during finals period. In this case, it makes sense for a professor to spread out assignments over the semester so that students are not trying to complete the course reading at the same time as they are taking a final, turning in a paper and keeping up with their other courses.
Students are not only keeping up with work during the last few weeks of school, but they are juggling extracurricular activities and athletics, which are hitting their peaks. People anticipate dedicating themselves to work during finals period, and therefore they need the last two weeks of the semester to take care of their other commitments. For example, spring weekend is one of the highlights of the year, but many students need to work hard to ensure that the weekend is a success. The community spirit that is encouraged during this weekend is not something to take lightly. It is the very fact that students take their academics so seriously that jeopardizes the celebration of what in many cases is a semester's worth of work on an extracurricular project or athletic season.
Additionally, the school's facilities are not prepared to deal with finals-type work during the remaining weeks of school. The library and computer center have not yet extended their hours, preventing night owls from having adequate working facilities outside of their dorm rooms.
We urge professors to take these concerns into account when planning final assessments in future semesters. We're anxious to begin our summers too-please allow us do so with a feeling of accomplishment by allowing us to keep our commitment to regular coursework and extracurriculars before we plunge into finals.