As students prepare for sleepless nights spent relearning a semester’s worth of class material, facilities throughout campus are making accommodations to help students make it through finals.
Campus buildings are staying open later, expecting more students and aiming to reduce stress for the next two weeks.
UT Libraries spokesman Travis Willmann said several libraries will be open for extended hours. Perry-Castaneda Library will stay open around the clock seven days a week instead of five through May 14.
Willmann said the Walter Geology Library in the Jackson Geological Sciences Building will expand hours and the Life Science Library will provide coffee and cookies during dead days and finals.
“In the final stretch of the academic semester, we recognize the increased need by students for space and access to the libraries and its resources,” Willmann said.
Willmann said staff members will work double-time to keep spaces orderly, while copier services will make extra rounds to ensure adequate toner and paper.
“We also have a new healthy food vending machine on the first floor of PCL for on-site munchies, and we’re working to organize another visit by the therapy dogs from Austin Dog Alliance on May 6 to help alleviate a bit of the crushing finals anxiety through some quality face time with man’s best friend,” Willmann said.
Crystal King, University Unions associate executive director, said the Student Activity Center will maintain its regular hours of 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., but all meeting rooms will be available to students as study space. The SAC will offer students free breakfast tacos at 11 p.m. on May 6 and free pancake breakfast at midnight on May 7.
“The purpose of these events are to support the four-year graduation rate efforts and provide additional study space for students during this very important time of year,” King said.
Texas Union will have a study break snack room in the Eastwoods room between 10 p.m. and midnight, serving kolaches and fruit May 6, breakfast tacos May 7, yogurt and fruit May 8 and grab bags at the hospitality desk May 9.
King said the Student Services Building will have meeting rooms available for studying through the night, although the doors will lock at midnight.
Even off-campus sites such as Jenn's Copy and Binding plan to be open on the first days of final exams, according to owner Jenn Hillhouse.
Facility Services spokeswoman Laurie Lentz said during the exam period, project management and construction services suspends building renovations. Lentz said landscape services decreases its use of noise-producing equipment from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. including blowers, mowers, trimmers and chainsaws. Solid waste and recycling will begin work at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. to reduce noise.
“This type of work is moved as much as possible to areas of campus not being heavily used by students,” Lentz said. “In the areas of facilities upkeep and renovation, we do take some steps during finals to help create a quiet environment.”
