Dear Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education,
We the students of Appalachian State University have received your email regarding the changes to our exam schedules. For some I’m sure this is a blessing in that their exams are now online and can be taken in the comforts of their home. However, by taking away our reading day you seriously screwed with us. If you had made this change a week ahead of time we could have handled it, but we were guaranteed a full day in the middle of our week to study for exams as well as an entire weekend.
We have had this date set in our calendar since the beginning of the semester. For many, the night before is one used to let loose and relax. A reading day is like an exam. We all know its going to happen and we prepare for it in various ways. I, for one, was going to finish up the final touches on several projects and papers.
Due to your lack of timeliness we, the students, are floundering in all the work we have ahead of us. While we were preparing for our exams on Friday, we are now faced with an exam we had five days to study for. What’s more, some students were looking to these exams to bring up their final grades in class. Now, you subject us to the ghastly idea that without the time to make proper preparations, they could possibly bring their grade down.
I understand that something had to be done in regards to the weather and I agree with your first action — that exams would now be online. Teachers could easily handle that as they’ve already typed up their exams to be printed out.
You’ve also missed a crucial factor when making this decision. Student WORK! There are many who have been scheduled to be doing so on Thursday. A day that they were told by the university would be free of all classes. I’m sure you are aware that such obligations are almost impossible to get out of.
I know you think you are doing what is best, but you’ve seriously miscalculated the repercussions of your actions.
I hope you will take this letter into consideration and when it comes to reading day. Students have enough to deal with as is.
Thank you,
An Appalachian State Student
P.S. To any teachers who have changed the format of their exams to be online or have all together canceled them, Thank you. You obviously care about our welfare.