Dear Rams:

It’s your final sprint before you complete the semester, and we want you to know we are on the sidelines cheering you on!

Finals week is an emotional endurance test as well as an examination of all you’ve learned. We encourage you to remind yourself of your successes and accomplishments, and all you have risen above to get here. Be mindful, keep your focus, and give it all you’ve got. We believe in you.

Here are some simple tips that can make a big difference for you during finals:

• Buddy up.
  Study with a friend or small group to quiz each other, work on study guides and test your knowledge.
• Study smart and don’t cram for exams.
  Get plenty of sleep – research shows that pulling an all-nighter for an exam can diminish recall and performance during test-taking.
• Get good nutrition.
  If you are experiencing food insecurity, don’t forget about the food pantry located in the General Services Building (1251 Mason Street). The Rams Against Hunger Program offers a menu of services to support students, faculty and staff including the food pantry.
• Spend some time outside (not just going to and from exams).
  Exercise to help manage stress, even if it is a brief outing to get some of our fresh Colorado air.
• Lean on your Ram Community.
  Reach out to your network of faculty, advisors, and friends for support.
• Ask for help, if you feel overwhelmed.
  Seek out CSU student resources, if you feel stressed or anxious – it’s ok to ask for help, and that’s why these resources are available (www.studentsupport.colostate.edu)

For those of you graduating, congratulations! We look forward to celebrating you at commencement in a few days with your instructors and others at CSU who have supported your academic journey. We know your loved ones are as deeply proud of you as we are. For those of you returning this spring, we wish you a wonderful Winter Break, and we can’t wait to have you back in January.

Fight on stalwart Rams and crush this week. We are cheering you on!

Sincerely,

Janice Nerger, PhD
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Blanche Hughes, PhD
Vice President for Student Affairs