Whereas, the Academic Senate acknowledges while BP 4010 states that “The Chancellor or his or her designee shall negotiate with the Ventura County Federation of College Teachers AFT Local 1828 to develop the terms and conditions of an academic calendar,” and; 

Whereas, the Academic Senate notes the paramount importance of including faculty during the creation of any changes to the instructional calendar when those changes will affect “Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success,” and;

Whereas, the Academic Senate agrees that the two hour block scheduling of Finals Weeks allows for students to focus on their final exams without fear of having their final spread out over multiple class sessions or having all their final exams on the same day, and;

Whereas, the Academic Senate notes that a separate Finals Week schedule is a common practice at institutions where our students transfer, such as UCLA, UCSB, CUSCI, and even UC Santa Cruz and by maintaining a block Finals Weeks schedule, we, as an institution, are aiding in the transfer preparation of students to those institutions, and;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Academic Senate strongly believes that the administration should maintain a separate block scheduling of classes during Finals Week that ensures: that all class days/times are presented within said Finals Week, that students will never have more than two (2) finals on a given day (other than for students who take both day and evening / Distance Education classes), that aids in the preparation of students to transfer institutions. 

First draft developed by Peter H. Sezzi Nov. 1, 2010; Revised by Senate Exec Nov. 2, 2010; Revised after consult with the other Senate Presidents in the District, Nov. 4, 2010; Presented to the Senate Council for First Reading Nov. 4, 2010; Adopted as presented without a Second Reading Nov. 4, 2010.