Christmas break shorter to compromise department schedules, timed breaks
Seven days fewer for Christmas break this year; possible decrease next year
Mary Petrides
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: News
This year's Christmas break will be seven days shorter than last year's in order to compromise many different departments' schedules. A committee led by the provost's office and various faculty offices approved the schedule a year ago, registrar Douglas McArthur said.
Provost Robert Blackstock said the committee tries to create a calendar that includes a 15-week semester with well-timed breaks and "lends itself to good academic work."
The college calendar affects all college constituencies, including students, faculty, fundraising, Center for Constructive Alternatives speakers, guest lecturers, Parent Weekend, athletics, theater and music.
"Whatever calendar we come up with turns out to be a compromise between all these groups," Dean of Faculty Mark Kalthoff said.
Variable and fixed dates of Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas contributed to scheduling.
Last year, Labor Day was Sept. 3 and classes began Aug. 22.
This year, Labor Day was Sept. 1. McArthur said the committee thought Aug. 20 too early to begin classes; classes began a week later.
In order to retain the appropriate semester length, the semester will extend later into December.
Christmas break could not extend further into January because the semester must be completed before commencement, which traditionally falls the second weekend in May. Later, commencement would interfere with summer schedules; earlier, weather is unpredictable.
Kalthoff said the committee has been working to create a template calendar in order to set the calendar several years in advance. The committee has researched other colleges and conducted surveys.
By state law, colleges receiving state funding must begin classes after Labor Day, and While Hillsdale does not fall into this category, Kalthoff said Hillsdale is trying to move toward starting classes after the holiday.
About ten years ago, Associate Professor of History Thomas Conner surveyed students to find out if they preferred a longer Christmas or summer break.
Provost Robert Blackstock said the committee tries to create a calendar that includes a 15-week semester with well-timed breaks and "lends itself to good academic work."
The college calendar affects all college constituencies, including students, faculty, fundraising, Center for Constructive Alternatives speakers, guest lecturers, Parent Weekend, athletics, theater and music.
"Whatever calendar we come up with turns out to be a compromise between all these groups," Dean of Faculty Mark Kalthoff said.
Variable and fixed dates of Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas contributed to scheduling.
Last year, Labor Day was Sept. 3 and classes began Aug. 22.
This year, Labor Day was Sept. 1. McArthur said the committee thought Aug. 20 too early to begin classes; classes began a week later.
In order to retain the appropriate semester length, the semester will extend later into December.
Christmas break could not extend further into January because the semester must be completed before commencement, which traditionally falls the second weekend in May. Later, commencement would interfere with summer schedules; earlier, weather is unpredictable.
Kalthoff said the committee has been working to create a template calendar in order to set the calendar several years in advance. The committee has researched other colleges and conducted surveys.
By state law, colleges receiving state funding must begin classes after Labor Day, and While Hillsdale does not fall into this category, Kalthoff said Hillsdale is trying to move toward starting classes after the holiday.
About ten years ago, Associate Professor of History Thomas Conner surveyed students to find out if they preferred a longer Christmas or summer break.
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