“Given the concerns, and I appreciate the most recent round of feedback from (the University Committee on Academic Policy), we’ve been working and looking at ways to do this and still be respectful of the winter break season and the holidays,” Wilcox told the members.

Wilcox was out of the state.

The Academic Governance system is consulted before any significant changes impacting the university’s academic programs are made, said June Youatt, senior associate provost. Those councils can weigh in on issues, but final decisions rest with the provost’s office.

Although a final decision won’t come until late September, Youatt said the 2009 exam-week schedule could remain intact if a compromise is reached.

“If we were willing to sacrifice the two days, we could maintain the same final exam schedule,” she said. “If faculty feel there could be a compromise on that without compromising the real integrity of the semester, that change isn’t necessary.”

Michael Bryant, a human biology sophomore, said holding an exam on the weekend would complicate travel plans for students.

“I think it would be a distraction,” Bryant said. “I look forward to going home and seeing my family. I wouldn’t want to stay here on a weekend studying and taking a final.”

The shift is a result of a proposed university plan to begin classes the Wednesday of Welcome Week.

The UCAP stated it would not support shortening the fall semester earlier this week.

Sekhar Chivukula, chairman of UCAP, said in an e-mail that although UCAP didn’t review the proposed four-day exam schedule, he believed it could work at MSU.

“I have taken courses as a student and taught as an instructor at institutions that did hold some exams on Saturday,” he said. “With planning, I believe this could be accommodated.”

Trustee Melanie Foster said the proposed changes to the academic year, including final exams, didn’t need approval from the MSU Board of Trustees.

“I haven’t heard anything about it,” she said. “I know they’ve been working on reconfiguring the calendar, but I haven’t seen any recommendations from the provost’s office.”

Jon Sticklen, an at-large member of ECAC, said pushing final exams back could pose problems for students and faculty. It could create scheduling conflicts and add stress because people would have less studying time.

“I’m just not sure of all the ramifications of that,” Sticklen said.

Bryant said he wouldn’t want to be the student stuck on campus for a Saturday exam.

“I think it would actually make students do worse,” he said. “Students don’t want to take a final on a weekend.”