nstimack@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

With the three-year calendar coming to an end next fall, CMU’s calendar committee seeks student and faculty opinion on potential changes to semester breaks.

Since fall 2010, CMU’s academic calendar has given students two days off for Fall Break in mid-October and three days off for Thanksgiving Break in November.

Some suggestions would eliminate Fall Break and lengthen Thanksgiving Break, giving students and faculty an entire week off for Thanksgiving.

“I feel like they keep cutting our breaks shorter and shorter,” Junior Holly Moon said. “We don’t get Labor Day or President’s Day off, and it feels like we’re barely getting any days off anymore. I like having two breaks in the fall.”

Another suggestion is allowing students and faculty a two week break before the summer semester starts, and two weeks after the summer semester ends, compared to having one week off before the summer semester and three weeks off before the fall semester.

One reason for this discussed change is to match schedules with District 51 schools. CMU has many non-traditional students with kids, or students who have family members within District 51 schools. By syncing the breaks together, local students will be able to enjoy the same holidays and days off together. Another incentive is to allow students more time to travel home for Thanksgiving, since faculty members have reported many of their students missing class leading up to breaks.

The calendar committee meets several times within the next month to discuss whether or not CMU should go forth with any suggested changes. Faculty, staff and student representatives will attend each meeting to discuss input from students and faculty until a final decision is reached.

ASG President Justin Kawcak will attend the meetings, representing the voice of the students.

“The nice part about this for myself is that I’m graduating and I can come in and listen to both sides without really being impacted by it in any manner,” Kawcak said. “At this point, I’m willing to listen to all sides and present whatever the majority feels to the calendar committees.”

Faculty and students can leave comments on the ASG Facebook page or can contact Kawcak directly at jkawcak@mavs.coloradomesa.edu or 248-1707.