Steve,
I don't think this sort of thing is unusual. We do it here at Cortland, but there
is a pecking
order with regularly scheduled exams taking priority over the various specially
scheduled exams. If there are
three or more regularly scheduled exams, I think there is a negotiation to see who
changes. I do not think that it is
ever solely the up to the student.
I agree with you about the lack of toughness of today's students. But in today's
climate that is
a losing battle.
Mel
Stephen W Tuholski wrote:
> Hi Tipsters,
>
> I have a question for the group... I am on our university's faculty senate,
> and at our next meeting we are going to vote on a final exam scheduling issue.
>
> The motion is to allow students with more than 2 final exams on one day to
> reschedule one of their finals. My reading of the motion is that the
> affected faculty member will NOT have a say. So if little Johnny Undergrad
> has my final and 2 others, and he wants to reschedule mine, i must let him.
>
> The rationale that is offered for this change is that having more than 2
> final exams in one day is not consistent w/ spreading finals over a week's
> time.
>
> Personally, I think this is laughable for a few reasons.
>
> 1. The student knows at the time they REGISTER when their finals are... I
> think that 16 weeks is sufficient time to prepare.
>
> 2. Life's schedule isn't always convenient... are we not sending a bad
> message to the students by letting them re-schedule their finals?
>
> 3. This places unnecessary burden on the faculty member... that is, they
> may need to write 2 exams (i wouldn't let one person take an exam on
> monday, and then let the rest of the same class take the same exam a day or
> two later).
>
> 4. I am too young to say this, but back in my day this kind of thing
> happened to me... I dealt w/ it by preparing in advance, not by whining to
> the administration.
>
> Anyway, I am interested in your thoughts and feedback...
>
> Steve
>
> ****************************************************************
> Stephen W. Tuholski Ph.D.
> Asst. Professor
> Dept. of Psychology
> Southern Illinois U. at Edwardsville
> Edwardsville IL 62026
> Phone: 618 650 5391
> Fax: 618 650 5087
> http://www.siue.edu/~stuhols
>
> "Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so."
> - Bertrand Russell
> ***************************************************************
--
Melvyn B. King, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
State University of New York
Cortland, NY 13045
(607) 753-7872
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
