In recent months, student government leaders at Oklahoma City University have reached a remarkable milestone for the student body.
Following a nearly two-year commitment spanning over two administrations, the OCU Student Government Association has partnered with several faculty to deliver students a much-needed break before Finals Week.
The newly established Inquiry Day will take effect next fall, allowing students to better prepare for finals week.
Bustamante says, “This day is the Monday of finals week, meaning finals won’t start until Tuesday. On this Monday students are not required to go to class.”
Although, during this time, professors are encouraged to hold office hours.
Last year, under the Shaw-Gonzalez administration, the Student Senate passed a measure calling for a “Dead Week” on campus.
Similar to other institutions regionally and abroad, this effort would have afforded students a few more days to study and work with professors before finals week.
Unfortunately, after several attempts to reach an agreement with faculty leadership, the measure did not go far, disappointing the SGA leaders.
However, their momentum never diminished, and they continued their efforts under the next administration.
Veteran senators Maya Bustamante, Kyah Alexander, Katelyn Murphy and newcomer senator Fares Maarouf have each worked diligently together, continuing negotiations with the Faculty Senate.
With help from Student Body President Anthony Carranza and Dr. Mohammed Daadaoui, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Senate member, they called to tweak the concept.
Bustamante shared, “During the Shaw-Gonzalez administration, they tried to push for a “Dead Week” which then turned into a “Reading Week.” Once the Carranza-Smithheart administration picked it up, we changed it completely to ‘Inquiry Day.’ We realized that many faculty seemed exhausted with another try at “Reading Week,” so we decided we needed to “rebrand” this idea.”
Their call for a rebranding seemingly worked, as the student leaders managed to reach an agreement with the Faculty Senate.
Amongst faculty leaders pleased with this decision was Dr. Tracy Floreani, Professor of English.
“I never supported an entire “dead week” but always supported some sort of designated time for final exams preparation… I’ve taught at two other colleges, and it’s a common practice to have some sort of designated time for final exam preparation,” shared Floreani.
Floreani adds that she has worked behind the scenes, supporting the Student Government Association’s push for some form of a “dead day” all year, sharing that she had never been formally involved with something like this before, but found herself “on the new university-wide Curriculum Committee and saw the opportunity.”
Additionally, she credits her collegiate experience as the driving force for her advocacy in the project.
She praises the students for their push for more “than just getting a day off.”
Kyah Alexander is a staff writer for MediaOCU. Alexander had no part in the creation or editing of this piece.
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