Does someone have a Web site listing ISU campus myths? Such as, engineers don’t need to take labs in non-engineering courses because they have plenty of labs of their own; you don’t need to fill in the bubbles on your multiple-choice forms – just circling the answers on the test is adequate; you need at least a C-minus in Physics 221 to be able to take Physics 222; if you get a poor grade in a course you can wipe it out by testing out of the same course.

If not, there should be – with a whole section devoted to Dead Week myths. There never was a time that instructors were not supposed to hold classes, or introduce new material, or give tests, or hold labs during Dead Week. There is no implied contract between instructors and students to that effect, which has eroded over the years. There are no academic rules relating just to Dead Week. It’s just the last week of classes, nothing extraordinary.

The University Bulletin makes it clear that the term “Dead Week” is a GSB term, not an official university term. It refers to a week in which GSB-financed student organizations are not supposed to sponsor any activities. The bulletin adds, “For academic programs, however, the last week of classes is considered to be a normal week in the semester” (page 45).

Instructors are encouraged (by GSB, presumably) not to give major assignments and examinations that week. From experience I know that if an instructor gives an earlier deadline for major assignments – so students can have Dead Week free – most students will request an extension so they can also have Dead Week to work on them.

Here’s a little-known secret, folks – there is no rule forbidding students from finishing their work before Dead Week, if they want to have Dead Week free to study for their finals. If they don’t want to be thought of as showoffs, they can wait until the last day to turn the work in.

It is true, as one student was recently quoted saying, that Dead Week can be very stressful to students. Faculty have long recognized that students who haven’t kept up with their course readings and assignments find Dead and Final Exam Weeks extremely stressful. We regret this, of course, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.

To all the students who are hard-working and don’t ask for special favors, thank you, thank you, thank you. We know who you are and appreciate you. Keep up the good work.

Laurent Hodges

Professor

Physics