Do you think this is fair? Week of lectures cancelled -> no study week

Oct 27, 2007
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So due to the recent earthquake my university has closed down for a week to repair and inspect damage. As a result, all lectures and assessments have been pushed back a week. The exception is the exam timetable, which has remained the same. Therefore we don't get our usual study week before exams. Immediately after lectures finish we go straight into an exam period.

Some of us are fighting this decision because we think it's completely unreasonable to expect us to prepare for our exams over the course of a single weekend. What are your thoughts?

Yes, we have a week to do extra preparation now, but we haven't even started the second term of the semester, so we have only had lectures on half of the material.
 

MJinZ

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2009
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I usually study for my finals about 4 hours before they happen. With a lot of energy drinks. Weeeeeeee
 

RKS

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Cramming isn't the best way to study anyway. You should be learning the material/studying/reviewing as you go.

OTOH, I'm so glad I'll never have to go to school again.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
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You've identified a problem. Has anyone approached the administration with a possible solution?
 
Oct 27, 2007
17,009
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Cramming isn't the best way to study anyway. You should be learning the material/studying/reviewing as you go.

OTOH, I'm so glad I'll never have to go to school again.
Using that week is hardly 'cramming'. And besides, everyone approaches things differently, and some people have great success with cramming.
 
Oct 27, 2007
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You've identified a problem. Has anyone approached the administration with a possible solution?
I think the best solution posed so far (and submitted to the administration) is to cut a small amount of material from the classes and end lectures on the Tuesday or Wednesday of the final week. This gives us a few days at least. This would likely be handled on a class by class basis. I am the class representative for one of my classes and I will be contacting the professor today to propose this to him, and will encourage other class reps to do the same.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
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I thought you were graduating and had a job waiting for you?


Oh, and you regularly have sexual relations with sheep.
 
Oct 27, 2007
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I thought you were graduating and had a job waiting for you?


Oh, and you regularly have sexual relations with sheep.
Provided I pass all of my papers then I am graduating and yes, I have a job waiting for me. But this is unfair on everyone, not just me. I am virtually guaranteed to pass this semester because I already know most of the content quite well, but that study break could be the difference between a B+ and an A for me. But for some students it could be the difference between a pass and a fail.
 

MJinZ

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2009
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Provided I pass all of my papers then I am graduating and yes, I have a job waiting for me. But this is unfair on everyone, not just me. I am virtually guaranteed to pass this semester because I already know most of the content quite well, but that study break could be the difference between a B+ and an A for me. But for some students it could be the difference between a pass and a fail.

Better study now than post here.
 
Oct 27, 2007
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Better study now than post here.
Actually I'm going to a party soon :D Aftershock party FTW. Like I said this is more about other students than myself (I am a class rep so I kind of have to represent my classmates) and I'm going to do OK anyway.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
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"Study week" was never study week until I started taking my graduate level technical diploma.

I see what the administration is getting at. However, I do agree it's unfair to cut exam prep time. The ideal solution would be to extend the semester by a week, thus the year would end one week later than normal. That's the usual procedure.
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
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Maybe you should pay attention in class instead of cramming at the last minute.

What were you doing during the week your school was closed? Fuckin off? Or studying?
 

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
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Cry moar, noob. This is a regular occurrence in many universities and colleges in the US affected by bad weather and major acts of nature. The dead week disappears. Poof, aaaaaand it's gone. Next, please.
 

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
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At Purdue we had a so-called 'dead week'. It was supposed to be a week where no exams or projects were administered to allow students a bit of a respite before final exams. Instead, every professor has kindly taken the opportunity to cram in every last minute assignment into dead week. 'Dead week' currently means you'll be dead by the end of the week, just in time for finals :)
 

newnameman

Platinum Member
Nov 20, 2002
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Suck it up, OP. At my school we had one day between the end of classes and the start of exams.
 

PhoKingGuy

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 2007
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We had a weekend between end of classes and finals week, some of the higher ed classes had a midterm or paper due that week as well, kinda retarded.
 
Oct 27, 2007
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Suck it up, OP. At my school we had one day between the end of classes and the start of exams.
Why are people telling me to "suck it up"? I was simply asking if people think it's fair, I'm not complaining. The university is not responsible for the circumstances and like I have said, I'm not too concerned with my own grade. I'll put you in the "yes, it's fair" camp, but there's no need to be a dick about it.
 

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
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I am a professor. In such a situation, I would make adjustments to the course to accommodate the unusual situation. Why not approach your teachers in the same manner?
 
Oct 27, 2007
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I am a professor. In such a situation, I would make adjustments to the course to accommodate the unusual situation. Why not approach your teachers in the same manner?
I have :) I'm waiting for email replies. I happen to have a great relationship with all of my lecturers and professors because I have represented my class four times in the past couple of years. I expect we will come to a workable compromise.