Student and faculty misunderstandings about the interpretation and enforcement of Dead Week policies has caused frustration on campus, said the Government of the Student Body president.

“A lot of people are confused as to what the policy states and that confusion is leading to problems,” said Mike Banasiak, GSB president. “The biggest problem I think students are facing are tests and projects being assigned during a time that should be used for studying for finals.

“This is where we need to create a policy that can allow for both of those instances, and the longer we wait, the more problems we might come up against.”

Students have argued the policy mandates professors adhere to the policy; some instructors argue the policy is only a recommendation open to interpretation.

Howard Shapiro, vice provost, said the policy is only a guideline for faculty.

“[Dead Week is] not a policy of the [university] administration, but a set of approved guidelines the faculty and Government of the Student Body have approved,” Shapiro said. “It’s totally up to the faculty to interpret them and there is no stipulation saying faculty have to adhere to the guidelines.”

He said the university cannot make an enforceable Dead Week policy because it is up to the faculty to prepare curriculum.

“It would never be able to be enforced, because the faculty would never accept the idea of being told or required not to do certain instructional activities during that week,” Shaprio said.

Jack Girton, president of the Faculty Senate, said the policy has to be purely advisory.

“No matter how you write a requirement, it’s going to infringe upon academic freedom because it would restrict faculty from doing new and creative things, which is what they’re here for,” Girton said. “We realize we can ask too much of students and burden them, but you have to maintain a balance between that academic freedom and our responsibility to treat students responsibly. This policy is in place to create that balance.”

He said it the best approach would be to encourage faculty to be reasonable in assigning new material, projects and course changes during Dead Week, which he says is the intent of the policy.

“[The policy] clarifies what expectations are of faculty during this week — it’s made them more concrete by clearly laying out guidelines,” Shapiro said. “It’s having a positive effect, and it’s pushed us a step further in helping students to prepare and review for finals.”

He said faculty not adhering to the guidelines are few and far between. The policy does allow students to raise questions and concerns about faculty’s compliance, he said.

Laura Doering, associate registrar, said if a student is unhappy because a faculty member is not complying with the policy, there is an appeal process in place the Registrar’s Office facilitates.

“The appeal process would be to go to that faculty member’s department chair and voice concerns; from there it goes to the college dean and then to the Provost’s Office,” Doering said. “I’ve only received one call so far about problems with Dead Week policy. In general, faculty are adhering to the policy.”

Banasiak said GSB has been working with the Provost’s Office to clarify the policy and make it more than a recommendation, but said the policy has been a good step in helping students prepare for finals.