This semester will be the third during which final exams or projects worth more than 10 percent of a student's final grade cannot be given or due the week before finals, according to university policies.

And although the University Faculty Senate passed the policy in December 2007, some students said they didn't even know it exists.

"I never heard that," Jeff Dierling (junior-political science) said. "It kinda sucks they're all in the same five days. No chance of spreading the work around."

But Dierling isn't the only one, as a number of students -- and even some professors -- aren't aware of the policy.

Dierling said his African American studies professor scheduled the final exam for the week before finals. But in mid-March, he said the professor learned of the policy and changed the date of the final to the Tuesday of finals week.

Though not surprised "at all" by his professor's ignorance of the policy, Dierling said he was disappointed because he'd rather get the test over with early.

Eric Rutenbar (sophomore-civil engineering) also had never heard of the policy, and is split on whether or not he supports it.

"In one way it's nice, but it sucks having six finals in one week," Rutenbar said. "Maybe if they split it up instead."

Though torn on the policy, Rutenbar said that teachers deciding when they want to give a test "isn't a bad thing."

Carrie Jackson, assistant professor of German and linguistics, said she came from the University of Wisconsin where the policy was in place for years, adding that she supports the policy and believes it's important.

"Too often we try to cram too much into the last two weeks," Jackson said. "I feel, sometimes, it diminishes the quality of work students turn in."

For her intermediate conversational and compositional German class, Jackson is giving an oral exam during finals week.

However, some students said it doesn't seem like all professors abide by the policy.

Sheryl Hosler (freshman-English) was surprised to learn of the policy because she has a Jewish studies exam worth more than 10 percent of her grade during the last week of classes.

Though it is open notebook, Hosler, who has two exams and three papers during the same week, said it's still a "hassle."

"The university should help professors with more guidance, making sure they balance it out," Hosler said.

Some students view the policy as a necessary rule for a university of Penn State's size.

Abbey Erdlen (junior-political science) attended Washington & Jefferson College, which enrolls less than 2,000 students, for her first two years of college, and said students were given choices for when they took finals.

"In a university this big, they have to do it," Erdlen said.

"Coming from a smaller school, they have more options than here," she added.