U of S helps students stress less during exams
SASKATOON - It's the most wonderful time of the year, but also one of the most stressful times for University of Saskatchewan (U of S) students.
By James Shewaga
With the holiday season just around the corner, U of S students are busy taking final examinations over the next two weeks to wrap up the fall semester. To help deal with the anxiety and demands of exams, the university has created a number of initiatives to support scholars across campus.
Among the Stress Less initiatives is the always-popular therapy dogs program that provides canine comfort for stressed students, as well as massages, mindful meditation drop-in sessions and even an improv comedy hour. In addition, libraries across campus are hosting stress-reducing study breaks for students to enjoy snacks, games and puzzles every day for the next two weeks.
"Final exams can be a very stressful time for students and we strive to provide them with a wide range of support services to help deal with those challenges at this time of the year," said Rita Hanoski, health education co-ordinator with Student Health Services at the U of S.
This month, 22,192 U of S students—some writing more than one final—are collectively sitting down 53,034 times to write 1,152 final examinations in direct entry colleges and schools across campus. This semester's largest exam is Chemistry 112, with 1,013 students writing the final.
Organizing the exam schedule is a massive undertaking requiring months of preparation and planning, said University Registrar Russell Isinger.
"Booking more than a thousand exams over two weeks can be a monumental task and a significant logistical challenge," said Isinger. "It takes multiple staff members and dedicated software programming to carefully co-ordinate exam schedules to ensure that no student is double-booked or is forced to write more than two exams in one 24-hour period."
The last of the final exams wrap up on Dec. 23, with students returning to the U of S campus on Jan. 4 to begin the winter term.
For more information, contact:
James Shewaga
Media Relations Specialist
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-1851
james.shewaga@usask.ca
Meghan Sired
Communications Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-6068
meghan.sired@usask.ca
Among the Stress Less initiatives is the always-popular therapy dogs program that provides canine comfort for stressed students, as well as massages, mindful meditation drop-in sessions and even an improv comedy hour. In addition, libraries across campus are hosting stress-reducing study breaks for students to enjoy snacks, games and puzzles every day for the next two weeks.
"Final exams can be a very stressful time for students and we strive to provide them with a wide range of support services to help deal with those challenges at this time of the year," said Rita Hanoski, health education co-ordinator with Student Health Services at the U of S.
This month, 22,192 U of S students—some writing more than one final—are collectively sitting down 53,034 times to write 1,152 final examinations in direct entry colleges and schools across campus. This semester's largest exam is Chemistry 112, with 1,013 students writing the final.
Organizing the exam schedule is a massive undertaking requiring months of preparation and planning, said University Registrar Russell Isinger.
"Booking more than a thousand exams over two weeks can be a monumental task and a significant logistical challenge," said Isinger. "It takes multiple staff members and dedicated software programming to carefully co-ordinate exam schedules to ensure that no student is double-booked or is forced to write more than two exams in one 24-hour period."
The last of the final exams wrap up on Dec. 23, with students returning to the U of S campus on Jan. 4 to begin the winter term.
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For more information, contact:
James Shewaga
Media Relations Specialist
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-1851
james.shewaga@usask.ca
Meghan Sired
Communications Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
306-966-6068
meghan.sired@usask.ca