Exams… the Final Frontier

Posted on Friday, December 14th, 2012

Dave Donaldson, Dean of the School of Business and Kent MacDonald, President of Algonquin College

For the past week, students in the School of Business have lined up anxiously outside of classrooms, lecture halls and the gymnasium to begin 2 – 3 hours of exams on a wide variety of subjects. Writing exams can be a daunting and rewarding experience. Rewarding with that phenomenal rush after the exam as you huddle with classmates and begin to realize how your answers match theirs and that you did better than you expected.

Daunting if the reverse happens during the exam reviews. For some students, it can be even more more so than others. During my MBA studies, one of my classmates was brilliant … in his assignments, group work, case studies but froze during exams. He would sit looking at a blank exam booklet for the entire time and then leave the room, suddenly remembering all the answers. Back then, there were few options. He eventually withdrew from the program and ended his studies.

Things have certainly changed. The Counselling Department at Algonquin College provides workshops and guidance on preparing for exams and dealing with anxiety. The College has a sophisticated process where the Centre for Students with Disabilities, in close co-operation with faculty, provides options for students who need more time or a quieter environment. If my colleague from back then had been an Algonquin student, he would be one of our alumni now.

As the students complete their exams for this semester, and some complete their programs, the faculty begin the arduous task of marking the exams and tabulating final grades. For the next week, professors and staff will be working diligently to make sure grades are recorded in a timely fashion so that students can receive their final results.

Only once this is completed can faculty and staff begin to earn a well deserved break before the beginning of the new term on January 7.

Hopefully, all students did well during the exam period and thanks to their professors and the staff in the School of Business for all their hard work this semester. All deserve a happy and healthy (and relaxing) break. To all who celebrate this holiday season – Season’s Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël.

Dean Dave Donaldson
School of Business, Algonquin College

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