Ball State University students will not have to worry about having Saturday finals beginning Fall 2006 if two resolutions pass the University Senate.
The University Senate Academic Policy Council passed two resolutions Thursday supporting the Undergraduate Education Committee proposal to eliminate Saturday finals, as well as to move Fall Break from earlier in the semester to the Monday and Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving Break. This will allow students an entire week for Thanksgiving Break instead of the Wednesday through Sunday they have, Sen. Asher Lisec, the resolution's author, said.
"Technically, Fall Break was only Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and this way they will get a whole week plus the weekend," Lisec said. "And if they want to take a vacation with their family, they can."
Moving Fall Break will eliminate Saturday finals by allowing students to have final exams Monday through Friday instead of Tuesday through Saturday, with graduation being moved from Sunday to Saturday.
"You want your week of finals to be done on Friday and not to continue to the weekend," Ben Tietz, former president of the Student Government Association, said.
The resolution will go to the University Senate Agenda Committee on Monday and then to the University Senate meeting Thursday, where it will either die or go to the interim provost for approval, Lisec said.
Lisec said she often heard students complain about faculty not showing up to issue the Saturday final exams, classrooms being locked and the hassle of having to stay an extra day on campus. The late finals also force dining services to remain open longer than necessary.
"Saturday finals have been difficult for the whole university -- faculty, staff and students -- as far as it has existed," she said.
Moving Fall Break won't affect the Mid-American Conference schedule because break will be during the same week each year, which will allow the MAC to schedule around it and even allow faculty to schedule classes more consistently, Lisec said.
SGA has worked since 2001 to change finals week to a Monday through Friday schedule.
Student Senate passed a resolution in November 2001 asking University Senate to consider eliminating Saturday finals, and the issue was sent to the Academic Policy Council. The council gave it to the Undergraduate Education Committee, and then it returned to the council again. After a proposal was approved by the committee Feb. 28, Student Senate passed legislation late last month supporting the proposal.
"There was overwhelming faculty support today in the Academic Policy Council," Lisec said. "The Academic Policy Council only holds two student seats, so this was passed by faculty."
Tietz is looking forward to the elimination of Saturday finals, he said.
"It's an issue that students have been pursuing close to four years, and I think it's an important issue," Tietz said. "There's a benefit to Saturday finals being eliminated."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
