Rather than wait until the middle of the term for their final exam schedule, students and faculty may now plan for the end of term far in advance using a new scheduling system based on the course timetables.
Finals for most classes occurring during a given class period will now take place at the same time, with specials slots reserved for mathematics, economics and language finals. Classes currently meeting during the 10A slot, for example, will all take their final exams on Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. this fall.
The Registrar's Office drew up the new final exam schedule -- available on its website -- after receiving many complaints about inconvenience with the old system.
"The only difference is that the exam schedule is available before the term," Registrar Polly Griffin said. The schedule has been available online for about a month now.
In the past, the Registrar's Office would have to wait to schedule exams until students' schedules were set, after the two-week add/drop period.
Previously, Griffin explained, "We had to wait to know which faculty were giving exams, and then proceed to set the exam schedule. There were many, many pieces to fit together."
The change was brought about by a request from the Committee on Instruction, which worked for several months on the proposal and officially requested the action in early April. The Faculty Committee of Chairs approved the change April 29.
Griffin said the "increasing needs of the students and faculty to know before the fourth week of the term" were the major push for the move.
The basic policy for scheduling exams remains the same: exams are two hours in length, common examinations are allowed for multi-section courses and students must speak to a professor individually if they have two exams in conflict or three on one day.
Griffin said she expects no more scheduling conflicts under this new schedule than there were under the previous one. "There are actually more exam slots." The exam period is still four days long, with two days break for reading period beforehand.
Many faculty members and students were supportive of the change, mostly for convenience. Some professors, who give take-home exams, don't have to change their routine at all; others will be able to take advantage of the schedule to plan and notify their students earlier.
Kori Yee Litt '05 said, "Last year, I had to wait to figure out flights. The price went up." She anticipates having an easier time scheduling this year.
"What's important," said Richard Heck, a staff member in the Dean of the College office, "is that it helps students plan better. I'm all for trying anything that helps students."
Griffin leaves open the option of returning to the old timing of the schedule, but is confident about the shift. "It seems to be a very welcome change," she said.
