During the first two semesters, students took more final examinations, in the same period of time as under the quarter system. Students were also required to review material delivered over 15 weeks as opposed to ten weeks for the quarter system. The resultant examination pressure has been diminished by lengthening the finals week for the second year of semesters. Instructors are placing more materials on reserve at the undergraduate library, and students are using those materials more. Also, general circulation is up, as is the use of reference services.
Grades are down.
Of all courses taken for letter grades, the percentage resulting in A's has declined by about two percentage points at the lower division course level and by one at the upper division and graduate levels. At the graduate course level the percentage of B's has increased by one percentage point. The percentage of C's, D's, and F's has increased at the undergraduate course level by less than one percentage point each. These changes are small but noteworthy, since grades tend to remain stable. Dismissals have also increased.