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The end of the semester is a stressful time for staff and students alike, but several OU organizations host events to support them during dead week.

Dead week, the week before finals week, is a designated time meant for students to prepare for their final exams. According to the final exam policies from the Office of the Registrar, pre-finals week is defined as the first seven days before the first day of finals. The handbook states “No assignments or projects may be due on the last two days of pre-finals week. Quizzes may be given during pre-finals week, but cannot account for more than 5% combined total of the final grade. Exams may not be given during pre-finals week.” 

Madeleine Hale, a third-year anthropology Ph.D. student and the current instructor of Anthropology 1113, said the week of preparation can be helpful but lacks consistency. 

“I think the main issue with dead week is a lack of consistency across campus,” Hale said. “I know that there are some students that I've talked to who still are having things assigned during dead week, where others are actually able to use that week to prepare for exams.” 

Hale said dead week can be stressful for both students and professors, and that her department has been doing a good job at giving students adequate time to prepare without adding unnecessary pressure. 

As both a student and instructor, Hale said she wishes more students recognized that their professors are also managing heavy workloads this time of year, and open communication with professors and office hours can help both parties.

"If you're feeling especially stressed out, make sure that you go to office hours, have an open dialogue with your professors, and if you don't feel comfortable doing that, make sure that you're going to someone who can help you through that process,” Hale said.

Amid the pressure of final exams, many campus organizations have expanded support and study opportunities to make the week more manageable. 

Study nights, dead week events:

  • Finals Survival Nights: Open 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday at the Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center. The center offers study supplies and space with free dinner served at 7 p.m.

  • Finals De-Stress: The Academic Success Center is hosting two sessions with therapy dogs, free coffee, food, coloring sheets, video games and prizes 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Wagner Hall.

  • Both PHYS 2424 and 2524 will have a study night at 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at the storm shelter in Walker Center.

  • BIOL 1124 will have a study night from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Nielson Hall 270. Tutors and study material will be provided.

  • A study night for ECON 1113 will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Wagner Hall 135/140/145.

  • Study for MATH 1005 from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the storm shelter in Walker Center. Review key course concepts, practice problems and answer questions, bring notes, a calculator and questions.

  • The student learning center will host a PSY 1113 study night 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the storm shelter in Walker Center.

  • Both CHEM 1315 and 1415 will have a study night from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the storm shelter in Walker Center.

Study Spots

Bizzell Library 

During dead week, Bizzell Memorial Library offers 24-hour access Monday through Thursday, and closes 9 p.m. Friday. During final exam week, the library is open from 7:30 a.m. until midnight Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Bookmark Cafe, located at Lower Level 1 of the library, is open until 8 p.m Monday through Thursday, and until 3 p.m. Friday. Other amenities are listed online.

Cate Center Two

Common areas near each elevator in Cate Center Two offer seating, and the building contains several large, often-empty rooms suitable for group study.

Gaylord Hall

Gaylord’s cozy atrium features long tables and festive decorations, including a Christmas tree. Additional study tables sit farther inside the atrium. The third floor has a small student lounge overlooking the practice field for a quieter study space.

Gould Hall

Outside seating overlooks the South Oval. Inside, the first floor has a café-style lounge with desks, couches and bar-height tables. The basement includes a dining area with a vending machine and microwave.

Finals begin Dec. 15. For more information on exam schedules and academic resources, visit OU final exam schedule. Because OU is hosting playoffs, all Friday final exams have been moved. More information on student resources can be found on the OU student resources page. 

This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Avery Avery and Kennedy Johnson copy edited this story.

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