May 4, 2012

It is a busy time here at the RTIP! Without a doubt, this week and the past one or two are the busiest times of the year, along with the few weeks leading up to our annual Symposium in December.

This week is the end of classes for the spring semester and the beginning of finals week.

I am sure any of our alum out there reading this remember the agony of the “matrix” project which I just finished grading. For those of you that don’t know, the students in Ans 342 (Organization and Administration of the Racing Department) must design the stake and purse structure, as well as layout the entire race schedule, for a 32-day race meet. Needless to say, there are always a few students that do not heed the warning to "start early" on this project and not "wait until the last few days before it is due." There were a few students that stumbled in to class the morning it was due looking like they had not slept in 48 hours.

I am busy writing my finals now after finishing the grading of all of the end of semester projects. The students, in the meantime, are recovering from the grueling completion of their projects and I know they are looking forward to the last day of class today (Wednesday May 2.)

By the time I post again the students will have finished finals and be off to their summer jobs, internships or home. Check back to get a report on the post mortem on finals and see what’s in store for the summer at the RTIP.