Students can be quizzed during no-test week
A clarification in the wording of the no-test policy allows faculty members to quiz students during the week prior to final exams.
There has been confusion over what constitutes a “test” because of a discrepancy in the language of the general catalog, which students read, and an e-mail sent to faculty from the Provost’s Office, said Karla Petty, academic vice president of the Associated Students of Utah State University.
Previously, the general catalog stated that “during no-test days, neither final examinations nor testing of any kind will be given” so students can concentrate on finishing final assignments and projects, as well as study for their final exam.
“Well, what is a test?” Petty said. “That’s pretty ambiguous.”
Petty said both quizzes and assignments could be considered “tests” since they “test your knowledge.”
But faculty members receive an e-mail each semester from the Provost’s Office asking them not to administer tests during the five days prior to finals week, except for regularly scheduled quizzes.
Petty said students seemed to be confusing “no-test week” with “dead week.”
“It’s a no-test week, not a dead week,” Petty said. “That’s what students need to understand.”
USU has never had a “dead week,” Petty said, in which class work of any kind is forbidden in the week before finals. In fact, the reading days initiative, which is similar to dead week, was “shot down” by faculty last year, she said.
The Academic Standards Subcommittee of the Faculty Senate, working with Petty, changed the wording of the general catalog policy to clear up the discrepancy.
“We wanted to make sure they were in harmony,” Petty said.
According to the new policy, “no major examinations, including finals” may be given during no-test week, suggesting that minor tests, such as regularly scheduled quizzes, are allowed. Petty said the new policy is purposely ambiguous because it is difficult to define “major” as a test that constitutes a certain percentage of a grade, or a has a certain number of questions.
Jeffrey Walters, chair of Academic Standards Subcommittee, said the decision to allow quizzes seemed a good compromise that was “more in line with reality.”
“The intent was that a quiz, something that counted for a very minor portion of a grade and was one of a multiple series throughout the semester, would not be precluded,” Walters said.
Petty said, “If students feel like they do have a major exam [scheduled during no-test week], they can call the teacher on that.”
It’s best if students first talk to their professor, and then to the department head if necessary, Petty said. If students are intimidated by confronting a professor or unsure what to do, they can contact Petty at kpetty@cc.usu.edu.
“If we could just keep faculty from giving midterms and finals, we probably achieved as much as we could in the practical sense,” Walters said. “Telling them they couldn’t give 10-minute quizzes would just be ignored.”
Petty said it’s important students look at their syllabus at the beginning of the semester so they have plenty of time to resolve any potential problems. If students have three or more finals scheduled for the same day, one of the professors must let them take the final a different day, Petty said – another reason to read the syllabus early and plan ahead.
-heidithue@cc.usu.edu