The Associated Students of Madison Study Break Committee held a press conference Monday to announce the victory of its study day campaign.
ASM has been working on implementing a study day in order to alleviate stress for students on campus since the beginning of the semester.
After the University Committee of the Faculty Senate heard the ASM proposal, it responded with a solution that would create a full study day per semester. The Committee agreed to implement a solution on a trial basis in the 2009-10 fall semester.
Committee co-chair and ASM Chair Dylan Rath said last semester he received many phone calls and e-mails from students asking ASM to do something about the absence of a study day.
""They seemed really stressed and we wanted to do something to help,"" he said.
This current spring semester has a study day included in the academic calendar, but it was not a conscious decision made by the university, according to Rath.
The integration of a permanent study day into the university's schedule will cause a small change in the academic calendar.
According to ASM intern Gideon Martin, the study day will be achieved by combining two exam periods to eliminate one exam block, thus creating a 24-hour period without any classes or exams.
UW-Madison currently is the only Big Ten university that begins the examination period the day following the end of classes. According to ASM intern Hannah Karn, the University of Michigan currently provides its students with three full study days between classes and examinations.
In addition to the elimination of classes or exams for one full 24-hour period, ASM has been working with Memorial Library to extend its hours during the study day, as well during the rest of finals week. This change will be in effect this current semester.
Karn stated that along with the obvious academic benefits, ASM foresees an increase in the general health of students, especially in areas of stress.
To contribute to a stress-free environment, ASM has worked with dormitories to create a possible day-long marathon of various academic activities, according to ASM statements. ASM members said they hope the combination of extended study time and voluntary stress-free activities will help students deal with stress during finals.
""ASM is grateful for the University Committee's student-friendly response, and willingness to change something to benefit students,"" Rath said.
Even though the University Committee of the Faculty Senate agreed to implement the study day on a trial basis, the ASM representatives said they hope the study day will become a permanent addition to the academic calendar.
""We want to continue to work with the Committee throughout the entire process to make sure we see positive results,"" Rath said.
