Officially, ETSU does not have a “dead week,” but if you ask students they will tell you differently.
The week after classes is formally called pre-finals week, according to the ETSU Faculty Handbook. But among students the moniker “dead week” has persisted.
“By the time you get to that point in the semester, you’re pretty much dead,” said student Summer Peters.
“Dead week is usually the busiest week of the semester for me,” said Lucas Henry, a first- semester graduate student and alumnus from ETSU. “I think that they should call the week after finals dead week, because that is how my brain feels after it is all over.”
The pre-finals week policy states that activities pursued within the classroom during pre-finals week shall be at the instructor’s discretion within the guidelines set by the policy.
“The policy was passed by the academic counsel, Registrar Paul Hayes said. “All academic policies are drawn here.”
Tennessee Board of Regent’s regulations dictate that classes will continue to meet at their regularly scheduled time periods during the last week of formal classes
Hayes said that the biggest reason that classes are still held during this week is that there is a mandated 750 minutes of contact that is required between the professors and students according TBR. Also the Faculty Handbook states no final exams can be given during pre-finals week, except in laboratory classes.
“One of the driving factors that exams are not given early is contact,” Hayes said.
During pre-finals week at least some portion is dedicated to reviews, when appropriate, according to the policy. Instructors determine the scope and duration of the review.
The policy states, that there is to be communication between faculty and students since communication is the utmost important between faculty and students, faculty will strive to keep the students inform of their process throughout the semester and this will continue during the last week of school.
Also during pre-finals week, unscheduled tests, quizzes and other unscheduled work are to be avoided. This does not include make-up tests and other make-up assignments.
During finals week there is a two-hour time slot allotted for each exam. So there will be enough time to give a comprehensive exam if the instructor wishes to give one.
Hayes said that the format of the exam is left up to the instructor.

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