Finals Week: Helping Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Students De-Stress Before Final Exams

Rensselaer campus hosts series of campus-wide programs, events, and study sessions for students

December 12, 2016

Image

Troy, N.Y. — It’s official! Classes are over for the fall semester. As students around the nation hunker down for final exams, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has kicked off a series of events and study programs to help students de-stress during the final exam reading days December 12-13.  

The “Late Night Breakfast” (in its sixth year) will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 9 to 10:30 p.m. on the Rensselaer campus in the Commons Dining Room. Students will have an opportunity to sample a menu that features a variety of choices and all-time breakfast favorites; including made-to-order omelets, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, French toast and waffles with toppings, a hot cocoa station, breakfast pizzas, a fresh fruit bar with yogurt and granola, a frost your won cinnamon roll station, and fresh homemade baked offerings. Last year, the event drew more than 1,000 students.

To make the event more festive, a Rensselaer student-led jazz group will provide music for the event. The “Late Night Breakfast” is hosted by Hospitality Services at Rensselaer. To support the event, several members of the campus, including administration, faculty, and staff volunteers, will help to serve the students. 

Beyond the breakfast event, several resident assistants will host a series of “Finals Food Breaks” in the residence halls to make sure that residents take time out to recharge, socialize, and relax before hitting the books again. For example, some activities include: a “Hall-iday” party with gingerbread cookies and hot cocoa, a gingerbread house decorating contest, an opportunity for residents to create their own stress balls, a gaming night event, a ping pong tournament, film screenings, and several study tips and stress release programs.

Additional programs include the long-standing “Study Days @ the Heffner Alumni House,” coordinated by Rensselaer Red & White Student Organization. The event is held at the Heffner Alumni House on campus. This year, Study Days will be Dec. 12 and 13 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the study days, Advising Learning Assistance Tutors and Math Mentors will be available to help students. Over the years, at peak times, more than 600 students have taken advantage of the program.

This year, the Wellness Institute at the Mueller Center will continue to offer its semi-annual “Stress Relief Days” activities. Sample activities include a range of free activities including fitness classes (zumba, yoga, turbokick, piyo, core and toning, etc.), chair massages, and biofeedback and relaxation sessions provided by the Counseling Center.

To further help with stress relief, students will be able to enjoy healthy smoothies or try their hands at a DIY quesadilla-making session with Kimberly Mayer, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Rensselaer Hospitality Services. In addition, students will also be able to get henna art tattoos or stop by the “learn to sew” workshop to make their own pillows or create ornaments and holiday decorations. A new offering will provide Rensselaer students with an opportunity to explore their creative side as they design holiday cards for hospitalized children that will be sent out just in time for the holiday season.  For more information about the Mueller Center offerings, visit: https://www.facebook.com/muellercenter.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is America’s first technological research university. For nearly 200 years, Rensselaer has been defining the scientific and technological advances of our world. Rensselaer faculty and alumni represent 84 members of the National Academy of Engineering, 17 members of the National Academy of Science, 25 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 8 members of the Institute of Medicine, 5 members of the National Academy of Inventors, and 4 members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, as well as a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With 7,000 students and nearly 100,000 living alumni, Rensselaer is addressing the global challenges facing the 21st century—to change lives, to advance society, and to change the world. For more information, please visit http://www.rpi.edu.  

Written By Jessica Otitigbe
Press Contact Jessica Otitigbe
Back to top