Document No. I-04-04

 

PROPOSAL TO THE ACADEMIC SENATE

 

TITLE:             Final Tests Schedule

 

SUBMITTED BY:       Student Academic Policies Committee

 

DATE:                         April 23, 2004

 

ACTION:                    Legislative

 

Introduction

 

            Final tests for day classes are scheduled for 110 minutes, starting on the even hour.  Final tests for evening classes are scheduled for 75 minutes or more, and are given at the regular class period time.  See Table 1.

 

Table 1: Schedule of final tests – present system

 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

A.* 10:00 – 11:50

10:00 – 11:50 Block

B. 10:00 – 11:50

C. 10:00 – 11:50

D. 10:00 – 11:50

E. 12:00 – 1:50

F. 12:00 – 1:50

G. 12:00 – 1:50

H. 12:00 – 1:50

I. 12:00 – 1:50

J. 2:00 – 3:50

K. 2:00 – 3:50

L. 2:00 – 3:50

M. 2:00 – 3:50

 

N. 4:30 – 5:45 (MW)

Twice/wk courses

O. 4:30 – 5:45 (TTh)

Twice/wk courses

 

 

 

P. 5:50 – 7:05 (MW)

Twice/wk courses

Q. 5:50 – 7:05 (TTh)

Twice/wk courses

 

 

 

R. 7:10 – 8:25 (MW)

Twice/wk courses

S. 7:10 – 8:25 (TTh)

Twice/wk courses

 

 

 

T. 4:30 – 7:05 (M)

Once/wk courses

U. 4:30 – 7:05 (T)

Once/wk courses

V. 4:30 – 7:05 (W)

Once/wk courses

W. 4:30 – 7:05 (Th)

Once/wk courses

 

X. 5:50 or later (M)

Once/wk courses

Y. 5:50 or later (T)

Once/wk courses

Z. 5:50 or later (W)

Once/wk courses

AA. 5:50 or later (Th)

Once/wk courses

 

* The capital letters in front of the time periods in Tables 1 and 2 correspond to the same

   testing periods.

 

Problems with present final tests schedule

 

1.   There is a lack of parity in final testing periods between day classes (110 minutes) versus twice/week evening classes (75 minutes).

 

2.   There is only 10 minutes between day final test periods and 5 minutes between evening final test periods.  Typically, students are often trying to finish a test while other students are anxious to get into the room to prepare for the their test.

     

3.   Students who have two consecutive final tests must hurry to finish their first test and rush to their second test, with little time to “come down off the wall.”

 

4.   Faculty may tend to make the final test easier (shorter) so that the problems associated with the 10 or 5 minutes between tests are lessened.

 

Possible alternative final tests schedules

 

            There are a wide variety of alternative final tests schedules that would alleviate the problems itemized above.  While considering these alternatives, both the length of the tests (90 to 120 minutes) and the time between tests (15 to 45minutes) were laid out in tables similar to Table 1.  Longer testing times and/or longer time between tests would not fit into the hours available in the five days.  Shorter testing times would weaken the integrity of the final tests.  Therefore, a compromise was arrived at.

 

Proposal

 

            It is proposed that the final tests be schedule for the same length of time for all courses – 110 minutes, and that the time between tests be increased to 20 minutes for day tests and 10 minutes for evening tests.

 

Table 2:  Schedule of final tests -- proposed system

 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

8:00 – 9:50 Block

A.* 10:10 – 12:00

10:10 – 12:00 Block

B. 10:10 – 12:00

C. 10:10 – 12:00

D. 10:10 – 12:00

E. 12:20 – 2:10

F. 12:20 – 2:10

G. 12:20 – 2:10

H. 12:20 – 2:10

I. 12:20 – 2:10

J.  2:30 – 4:20

K. 2:30 – 4:20

L. 2:30 – 4:20

M. 2:30 – 4:20

 

N. 4:30 – 6:20 (MW)

Twice/wk courses

O. 4:30 – 6:20 (TTh)

Twice/wk courses

 

 

 

R. 6:30 – 8:20 (MW)

Twice/wk courses

S. 6:30 – 8:20 (TTh)

Twice/wk courses

P. 5:50 – 7:40 (MW)

Twice/wk courses

Q. 5:50 – 7:40 (TTh)

Twice/wk courses

 

T. 4:30 – 6:20 (M)

Once/wk courses

U. 4:30 – 6:20 (T)

Once/wk courses

V. 4:30 – 6:20 (W)

Once/wk courses

W. 4:30 – 6:20 (Th)

Once/wk courses

 

X. 6:30 – 8:20 (M)

Once/wk courses

Y. 6:30 – 8:20 (T)

Once/wk courses

Z. 6:30 – 8:20 (W)

Once/wk courses

AA. 6:30 – 8:20 (Th)

Once/wk courses

 

* The capital letters in front of the time periods in Tables 1 and 2 correspond to the same

   testing periods.

 

Advantages of proposed system compared to present system

 

1.      There is parity in the day and evening testing periods, 110 minutes.

 

2.   It provides 20 minutes and 10 minutes between day and evening tests,

      respectively.

 

3.   There would be less reason for faculty to shorten their final test because there

      is another test scheduled shortly in the same room.

4.       The evening 4:30 and 5:50, twice/week classes (N, O, P, and Q) have their final tests start at 4:30 and 5:50, respectively – same as the present schedule.

The evening 4:30, once/week classes (T, U, V, and W) have their final tests

      start at 4:30 – same as the present system.

 

5.   The evening 7:10, twice/week classes (R and S), have their final tests start

earlier - 6:30, but end at about the same time as the normal class time.  The

evening 5:50 or later, once per week classes (X, Y, Z, AA), have their final

tests start later - 6:30, but end at about the same time as the normal class time.

 

Disadvantages of proposed system compared to present system

 

1.         Day tests do not start on the hour.

 

2.    The 5:50 evening classes have their final tests on Wednesday and Thursday

       instead of Monday and Tuesday.

 

3.    Evening tests start earlier and/or end later than the present system.

 

4.        There is only a 10-minute break between the day test period from 2:30 – 4:20

 and the evening test  period from 4:30 – 6:20.

 

            To make sure that the proposed system (Table 2) would work, the examination schedule for the winter semester, 2004 is laid out.

 

Table 3.  Examination schedule as would be shown for Winter 2004 semester

 

Exam                       Apr. 26                   Apr. 27                   Apr. 28                   Apr. 29                   Apr. 30

Time                     Monday               Tuesday            Wednesday             Thursday                    Friday

8:00-9:50 Block                       Block                      Block                      Block                    Block

                           9:00-10:15                12:00-12:50   Block                  9:00-9:50           8:00-8:50

10:10-12:00          TTH                            MWF                                                      MWF                 MWF

                          10:00-10:50             1:00-1:50            12:00-1:15           11:00-11:50       10:30-11:45

12:20-2:10               MWF                     MWF                       TTH                         MWF                 TTH

                           3:00-4:15                   3:00-4:15                    2:00-2:50 1:30-2:45

2:30-4:20 MW                          TTH                         MWF                      TTH__

                           4:30-5:45                   4:30-5:45

4:30-6:20 MW                        TTH_________________________________

                                                                                                5:50-7:05              5:50-7:05

5:50-7:40                                                                                  MW                         TTH__

                           7:10-8:25                      7:10-8:25

6:30-8:20 MW                              TTH

          4:30-7:05                       4:30-7:05                4:30-7:05 4:30-7:05

4:30-6:20                   M                                  T                           W                            TH___

                         5:50 or later   5:50 or later            5:50 or later            5:50 or later

6:30-8:20                M                                     T                            W                            TH___

 

Effective starting date

 

Per a request from the registrar, this final tests schedule will take effect in the fall 2005.