By Ashlyn Grace Brothers
Students and faculty prepare for finals as the 2019 fall semester comes to a close. The University of Arkansas has worked diligently with Pat Walker Health Center and various RSOs across campus to cultivate a helpful atmosphere for scholars who prepare for test week. December 2 marks the last full week of classes before Dead Day which is set for Friday, Dec. 13. Finals are scheduled for Dec. 16-19 with makeup exams and accommodations scheduled for that Friday. Justin Nogy, sophomore majoring in graphic design, said teachers lack communication between one another.
“The professors don’t interact with each other,” said Nogy. “So a professor can seemingly be giving a student a completely decent workload, but when you add it onto every other class that’s also giving the same amount work it becomes not decent.”
There are many resources students can use to stay organized even if teachers don’t lighten the load. To find your finals schedule you can visit the “Manage Classes” tab on UAConnect, select “View My Exam Schedule” and choose the “Fall 2019 term.” According to the University of Arkansas Final Examination Policy, students with two conflicting exams can take a copy of their class schedule to their teachers and request time conflict accommodations. The policy states students with more than two exams in one day must submit a written request for a new test date with a copy of their class schedule to their instructor. If the professors of the conflicting exam times don’t voluntarily accommodate then the instructor with the lowest enrollment must offer alternative test times for the student.
The campus offers several study spaces for students during finals. Mullins Library and the Arkansas Union will be open 24 hours from Dec. 15-18. The Associated Student Government also plans to help out hogs on Dec. 15 from 10 p.m. to midnight. ASG representatives will be passing out scantrons, blue books, cookies, coffee, Emergen-C, highlighters, Ramen and more. The following day students can take part in the “Donut” Stress event in Hotz Hall from 10-11 p.m. for free donuts. Scantrons and school supplies are available in vending machines, the Union, and Club Red.
Professors urge students to utilize office hours if they have any questions concerning course material. For independent studying, a lot of scholars turn to Quizlet study sets. According to Quizlet’s website, 335,784,000 study sets have been created. Over 90% of students who use Quizlet report higher grades. Quizlet allows students to create flashcards and mock quizzes. Arkansas also offers a free tutoring service through CLASS+. Students can choose between four services. They can schedule a 50-minute in-person appointment through razortrack, show up at Mullins or Gregson Hall for a 20-minute drop-in appointment, schedule an online meeting or engage in the online chat page. According to CLASS+, during the 2018-2019 academic year employees of the tutoring services averaged a 3.85 GPA. The service also reported that over 2,300 writing assignments were reviewed by tutors and 6,542 tutoring, writing support, and coaching appointments were made.
Test week can bring about unwarranted stress but there are steps students can take to ease their mind. Health professionals recommend that you take breaks, stay organized, build a study schedule and listen to music while studying. A Stanford Medicine study found that music engages areas of the brain involving paying attention, making a prediction and updating events in your memory. Health professionals suggest students maintain a healthy, balanced diet, a proper sleep schedule, and exercise routinely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, decreased academic performance is associated with skipping breakfast, nutrient deficits, a lack of fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake, and low caloric intake. Nogy said he struggles to lead that balanced lifestyle.
“The studio is my second home. Umm if I’m not in the studio maybe I’ll run and grab like a can of soup between classes to something, but for the most part, I’m there during lunch, dinner, breakfast. So, yeah I’d say that it impacts my eating schedule,” Nogy said.
The CDC also states students should get seven to nine hours of sleep to help them focus, improve concentration and improve academic performance.
“I think I speak for most of the art department, if we get any sleep at all, it’s very minimal that last week before final critiques,” Nogy said.
According to the CDC, students who are more physically active tend to have better grades, attendance, classroom behavior, and cognitive performance.
Nogy said the phrase “noise of distress” comes to mind when he thinks of finals.
Pat Walker is offering options for students with anxiety.
Zac Brown, assistant director of communications for Pat Walker, said symptoms of stress include irritability, sleep deprivation, experiencing spats of anger, and feelings of anxiety and depression. Brown said there are many ways to relieve stress both on and off campus.
“I think there’s a lot of anxiety that comes with social media, so taking a step back from technology is a really good plan. Taking a walk. It may just be calling your friend from home and just having a quick conversation. Taking a quick nap. Umm, but of course yeah, eating healthy is definitely one of those things you want to make sure you’re doing. The Health and Wellness Department offers, you know, free yoga classes weekly, so students can take advantage of those.”
Pat Walker is also putting on the semester annual Play Day on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Union Connections Lounge. The event includes various activities designed to relieve stress and provide a tool for students to use on their own. Play Day also hosts shelter dogs for students to play with.
The UofA’s Counseling and Psychological Services opened the Relaxation Room at the end of spring 2019. The room is available to all students on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Relaxation Room includes things like massage chairs, yoga mats, large bean bags, various different activities, coloring books,” Brown said.
Brown told UATV several students visit the room daily.
CAPS is also extending “Let’s Talk” hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays in Gearhart Hall.
“Generally, throughout the semester we see an increase of students coming in and trying to get in with CAPS. Especially toward the end of the semester,” Brown said.
Students who want to find out what they need on their final exam to attain a certain grade can calculate that percentage using the formula below.
- F – Final exam grade
- G – Grade you want
- W – Weight of final exam in decimal form
- C – Current grade in the class