The University of Wisconsin Faculty Senate is exploring the potential for a longer study period before finals and implementation of fall break.
In a series of approved revisions to the 2016 to 2021 five year academic calendar — mainly focused on eliminating Friday semester start dates and moving conflicting days set for commencement ceremonies, Faculty Senate entertained the idea of creating a committee to look into adding a fall break to the academic year, according to a Faculty Senate statement.
UW Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf and Chancellor Rebecca Blank appointed a work group who identified scheduling issues that existed on the calendar, Secretary of Faculty Steve Smith said.
Fall break was one idea of several brought up in discussion about possibly creating a second committee that would deal with more specific changes, Smith said.
More broadly, this work group boiled down the main conflicts around shifting spring commencement dates each year, Smith said.
The ceremony overlapped with final dates of the spring semester, Smith said. Though the registrar changed the finals schedule last semester so the two wouldn’t overlap, the group made permanent changes that would prevent the two from overlapping in the future.
Students had difficulty when they would try to start internships, jobs and other summer activities because the spring commencement date changed each year, Smith said.
From now on the second Saturday of May will permanently be host to commencement ceremonies.
The permanent movement of commencement allowed for the addition of a two week summer academic session before the normal eight week session begins. The extra session will provide for a better use of facilities on campus, as well as increase opportunities to students, Smith said.
“We really try to make a big deal about [the calendar] because it does change,” Smith said. “There was a change to the fall semester start time and several changes to the spring semester. It’s important to make sure everyone knows what the calendar is so they may plan out welcome week activities and a whole range of other things.”