I was struck by the seasonal flu last week, and boy did it hit me hard.  I was out of action for almost a whole week.  I did my best to give my teams as much attention as possible.  They have all chosen focus pieces for their games, and have started concepting.  This is a new thing we're trying with the art students, and we have several reasons. 
 
1)  It will motivate the students to continue to work on the game, having one piece that is definitely thier own.  Each artist will be involved in the base design, since they are concepting their own piece.  (Note that students are still encouraged to discuss style with each other, as well as share concept.  If another team member has a better concept than the one making the piece, they are encouraged to collaborate)
 
2)  As the Art Director, it will be easier to track each individual's progress through the project months.  All too often artists get an 'easy ride' through Final Project because other team members want to see the game succeed, and will cover for them.  It is very difficult to legitimize failing a student whose work is getting done according to documentation.  One can hope this isn't so much a problem in the industry.  
 
3)  It will give the artists' a piece that they will (hopefully) spend time on outside of Final Project.  We are encouraging them to turn their game "focal piece" into a portfolio piece that is of a quality the portfolio instructors expect (read: including a sculpted normal map and specular map for character and environment pieces).  
 
4)  Spending time on making a quality piece should encourage a higher level of quality from all their other game assets.  It would be really awkward and inconsistent to have six really nice pieces and the rest of the game looks like crap.  
 
Basically, I don't see any downside to asking the students to work on spotlight pieces.  They are beginning work on their asset lists, and we are finalizing their core milestone acceptances (msa).  Core will be due at the end of the month.  Unfortunately we can't ask the artists to make anything besides placeholders for core (due to grading), but they are welcome to get a head start on making their assets.