Spring 2014: Finals Week by the numbers

by Jamie Gonzales | April 23, 2014

UAA is academic home to 20,354 students enrolled in 3,460 classes-the A to Z class schedule lists everything from Accounting to Women's Studies. That means Finals Week, April 28-May 3, is bursting with hundreds of blue books, the furious typing of thousands of fingers, frayed nerves, glorious moments of triumph and, at the end, sweet relief. Finals Week is also a great time to sponsor or find free food and social support on UAA's Anchorage campus.

Lyle Moore-Kroll wants you to relax and be well during finals. Philip Hall/University of Alaska Anchorage.

Last year, 2,800 students took advantage of tasty snacks and wellness offerings (Free chair massages! Strategies for managing test anxiety!) during Late Nights in your Student Union. And they're ready to do it again this year. At the helm is Lyle Moore-Kroll, himself a student, who began planning the 15th year of Late Nights back in January.

Have a tasty snack, scholar! Bombay Deluxe sponsored food during the first Late Nights at the Union event. Philip Hall/University of Alaska Anchorage.

This year, 9 community sponsors will make it possible for students to find free food-Bombay Deluxe, Humpy's, Flattop Pizza, UAA Catering, KRUA, Yak & Yeti, Student Health & Counseling Services, Student Activities, USUAA-in the Student Union Den at 6 p.m. Chair massages happen from 5-7 p.m. Have a special skill you can contribute to student wellness? They're always looking for Late Nights community volunteers since the events are planned and staffed primarily by students who would love to sneak away for a pre-exam cram session.

An unabashed library user, scholarship recipient Lottie Gottsche. Philip Hall/University of Alaska Anchorage.

UAA's Anchorage campus hub, the Student Union-home to Late Nights-is poised for the onslaught of students who will come through the doors during Finals Week, according to Dana Sample, operations coordinator. They hosted 48,000 student visitors during the last two weeks of the fall semester, double their normal traffic.

On average, 12,000 students per week make their way through the UAA/APU Consortium Library, which opens its doors from 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m. during finals week, providing 18.5 hours of potential study time. Fun fact: Library Dean Steve Rollins tried 24-hour library hours during finals week back in 2010, even taking on some of the wee-hour shifts himself, but found that usage between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. was so minimal, it made more sense to let his staff get some sleep.

This year, the library has another service on offer: 4 days of stress relief with 2 service dogs. Last year, Ashlee McDougall, a UAA biological sciences student and service dog trainer, spent a day at the library with her service dog Remi, a golden retriever. This year, they decided to bring in tail-wagging reinforcements and Remi will be joined by Charlie, a yellow Labrador retriever.

We're here to help. Charlie and Remi of Pinnacle Canine Services. Photo courtesy of Ashlee McDougall.

"Interacting with the dogs releases the hormones dopamine and oxytocin in the brain," said McDougall, a graduate of Bergin University of Canine Studies who runs Pinnacle Canine Services and is currently taking a wellness break from her studies at UAA. "It also decreases cortisol which is associated with stress. The dogs also offer some comfort to those who miss their pets that they may have had to leave behind at home to further their education. I wish this program was available when I was doing my finals!"

Good boy, Charlie. Smells meat, stays calm. Learn from him. Photo courtesy of Ashlee McDougall.

The final countdown is on. Just 1 more Monday until summer break. And just a few days until you can pet Remi and Charlie.

For details on Late Nights and service dog visits, please visit the Student Union Information Desk or call (907) 786-1204.

Bonus tip: the Student Union Gear Room just aired out their summer camping gear. Stop by and ask about tents and backpacks and plan your next snow-free adventure.