Office of the President
May 2, 1957

CHIEF LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS:

This letter is to remind of the memeorandum I sent you on July 22, 1954, concerning the desirability of an academic and social "dead week" before final examinations each semester. The problem has once more been called to my attention by the chapters of the California Club, representing the students on the Davis, Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Riverside campuses. Student leaders of these campuses feel that too many faculty members ignore the policy of observing a "dead week" before final examinations and continue to assign reports, term papers, and mid-term or make-up examinations in the final week of instruction.

I am reproducing below my memorandum of July 22, 1954, in the hope that you will once more discuss the problem with the members of your faculty and encourage them to cooperate.

At the meeting of the President's Administrative Advisory Council held on May 14, 1954, one of the topics discussed concerned the desirability of devoting the last week of instruction in each semester to review and study for final examinations. You will recall that the subject was introduced at the request of the California Club, whose members...felt that assigning mid-term or make-up examinations, terms perpaers, special reports, etc., to the last week of instruction is a needless burden on the students who should be starting their preparation for final examinations.

The consensus of the PAAC was that it would be desirable educationally to keep the last week of instruction free from special assignments and distracting events, and that the giving of examinations during the last week of instruction and the scheduling of social functions duing that week by the various student body organizations should be discouraged.

This consensus has my approval. May I suggest, therefore, that the administrative heads of the several campuses bring it to the attention of their respective faculties, with their endorsement as expressed at the meeting of the PAAC and with due regard for the fact that the organization and conduct of courses are the responsiblity of individual faculty members.

Robert G. Sproul