Getting ready for finals week, starting on May 6 at Saint Xavier University, students across campus are busily preparing for long study sessions, group projects, and the inevitable stress that signals the spring semester’s conclusion.
From students across different departments trying to catch up on vital deadlines and prepare adequately for final examinations, services at the university, such as the library, tutoring center, and counseling services, are going into high gear to help the Cougars excel academically.
The finals week is one of the most high-pressure times in the academic year, and this semester is no different. The college has offered extended library hours, wellness workshops, and complimentary coffee nights to relieve some of the stress that attends final semester craziness.
The Robert and Mary Rita Stump Library will open until 2 a.m. starting May 1 to better accommodate late-night study groups. Max White, a psychology major, said, “It’s a huge help.” He said, “I do most of my best work at night, so having a quiet spot to go to later than 10 p.m. makes a big difference.”
There will also be a “De-Stress Fest” on the weekend before finals, with therapy animals, chair massages, and snack stations. A collaborative effort by the Student Government Association and Campus Life also sponsors this program.
“Last semester, I got a chance to interact with therapy dogs”, which, as sophomore psychology major Alexis Sanchez put it, “was the best part of finals week”. She said, “Sometimes one just needs a break, maybe even just for ten minutes.”
Academic support services have also taken steps to prepare for an expected spike in requests.
The Center for Academic Support and Success (LSS) has expanded its hours for tutoring appointments and review group sessions. “We understand students have a great deal going on,” said Rachel Thompson, director of LSS.
“We want to assist them in feeling comfortable academically as they move toward those final tests.”
One of many students’ most significant difficulties is juggling deadlines for different courses. For many psychology students, the last week of the semester is filled with exams, presentations, and research paper submissions.
“It’s like running a marathon with every professor having a different finish line, “sophomore psychology major Lino Preze said. “You just have to keep track and pace yourself.”
Mental health has become a serious issue in society today. To take on this issue, Saint Xavier’s Counseling Center is offering drop-in mindfulness group sessions and 30-minute stress management seminars during finals weeks.
According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, over 70% of students report feeling overwhelmed during finals, and SXU is taking steps to curb this trend.
An SXU licensed counselor, Dr. Linda Greene, stated, “We want to make getting help normal, especially now.” She added, “Finals week does not have to be solitary.”
The campus dining hall will debut a “Brain Fuel” menu on May 4. The menu focuses on high-protein and energy-providing foods, including smoothie bowls, vegetable wraps, and peanut butter banana toast.
While other students study for all-nighters and long stretches, others follow a more scheduled routine. “I create a finals calendar every semester,” mentioned Alexis. “All—study sessions, breaks, even naps—are planned out. It is what keeps my sanity.”
Professors are also adjusting to pressures during finals week. Some have opted to have take-home or open-book tests as a way to reduce stress and improve mental performance.
“We’ve discovered that students perform better when they are not under this high-test-day stress,” Dr. Nina Patel, an associate professor of psychology, said. “We want to learn, not memorize.”
The final exam week undoubtedly inspires apprehension within students; simultaneously, it carries an intrinsic feeling of finality. For many students, this is an opportunity to prove themselves. “These courses were impossible at the beginning of the semester,” Max stated. “I feel like I finally get them now. It’s a great feeling.”
The campus prepares for its final academic push, with students and employees showing a fantastic level of resilience and support for one another.
From sharing coffee to interacting with service dogs, every little gesture is vital in supporting students through one of the most trying times of the year.
While the SXU finals week is standard for late nights and growing tension, it also means community, preparation, and perseverance.
While campus services lend a helping hand and students take on responsibility, they find strength in each other’s company; making it to summer break—challenging as it may be—is made more rewarding by support, perseverance, and Cougar pride.
By Rayna Hamayel