SUBJECT:

Reminder - U.S. Open and Spring Quarter Final Examinations

As you know, the U.S. Open Golf Tournament will be held at the Torrey Pines Golf Course the week of June 9 through June 15, the same week that Spring Quarter final examinations are scheduled. Detailed information about the U.S. Open and campus logistics can be found at http://usopen.ucsd.edu.

Last month, a campus notice affirming the Academic Senate's policies on final exams and Incomplete grades was distributed. This notice can be found at http://adminrecords.ucsd.edu/notices/2008/2008-4-21-1.html and contains links to Senate Regulations governing final examinations and grading policies.

At this point, I ask that you take any opportunity you might have to remind students that they will have to plan ahead carefully during final exam week in order to compensate for traffic impacts. An announcement in your class reiterating when the final exam will be given, and that Incomplete grades will NOT be given because of tardiness in arriving at the exam, would be very helpful. Specific advice to students on how much to alter their daily commutes, however, should be avoided. Any such estimates are arbitrary, since traffic impacts will vary substantially depending on the time of day, the day of the week, and where the student lives. Instead, it would be best to emphasize individual student responsibility in getting to campus on time.

On the positive side, you can also remind the students that free public transportation is being made available for the week of June 9-13 through an arrangement with the Metropolitan Transit System and the North County Transit District. Riders need only show a UC San Diego ID upon boarding a bus, the MTS Trolley, the NCTD Coaster, or Sprinter service to ride free.

Final exam week is always a stressful time for all involved, but with thoughtful advance planning, the UC San Diego community, working together, can prevent any disruption of our academic enterprise under these even more challenging circumstances. Your cooperation in this effort is important and greatly appreciated.

James W. Posakony, Chair Academic Senate, San Diego Division