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2012+ 7-year Calendar Proposal Options -- Proposal to Faculty Senate 4-2010 (UPDATED 4-17-10)
Charge: review the current 7-year academic calendar cycle (given in the 1998 document) and determine whether
any changes are warranted. Link to the specifics of the charge.
Betsy Morgan, Psychology
Chris Bakkum, Registrar
Jack Boll, Student Representative
Erik Kahl, Student President
Eric Kraemer, Philosophy
Nick Nicklaus, Director of University Housing
Renee Redman, Biology
Amy Servais, Financial Specialist 2, Physical
Plant
Jan Von Ruden, Associate Registrar
Janice Ward, IT Training & Support Services
Why is a new calendar being recommended? The last version of the calendar was adopted in 1989 when all
state schools started after Labor Day. More recent changes in state law will now allow for a 9/1 start date.
SURVEY RESULTS: A survey of faculty/IAS opinions regarding 4 calendars (+no change option) was
conducted.
4-13-10 SURVEY RESULTS
4-15-2010 -- The Ad-Hoc Calendar committee recommendations to Faculty Senate are shown below along
with the options.
The committee moved to put forward Option C as the recommended 7-year calendar based on the results from the survey (7-0-1 –
motion passed.)
The committee recommends a change to Option C in years where classes start prior to Labor Day – in order for there to be a “lab
launch” day earlier in the semester – the Friday of the first week of classes will be a special day (Friday = Monday) changing the
Wednesday of Thanksgiving week to a “Friday Classes” rather than the “Monday Classes” as shown (8-0-0; M/S/P).
The charge to the committee requested a recommendation regarding commencement day for Spring semesters. The committee moved
to request that commencement be on a Saturday if at all possible but for it to be permissible for commencement to be held on a Sunday
if needed (8-0-0; M/S/P).
Given the campus enthusiasm for the idea of a fall break but also understanding the need for full weeks from many of the lab science
courses, the committee recommends that Faculty Senate review the possibility of a 2-day fall in the seventh week IF the state
legislature were to allow classes to start prior to September 1st (8-0-0; M/S/P).
The committee recommends that Faculty Senate review the possibility of a 2-day fall in the seventh week IF sufficient lab space were
to become available in the future (7-1-0; M/S/P).
The committee recommends that a task force be created across the governance groups in the near future to investigate ways to reduce
mid-semester stress for students, faculty and staff (8-0-0; M/S/P).
INFORMATION REGARDING THE OPTIONS THAT WERE REVIEWED
OPTIONS A, B, C and D all involve calendars that start BEFORE Labor Day when possible - in
FOUR of the seven years. September 1st is the earliest start date allowed by state law.
All the calendars include 14 days for each day of the week & the number of class minutes does not
change.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is no longer a "Friday" unless there were no other options (to
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decrease numbers of students who leave campus "earlier" for Thanksgiving break).
When possible, commencement is held after Finals and on a Saturday rather than a Sunday.
A study day is provided between classes and Finals.
The Spring Calendar (and the J and summer intercessions) does not change.
All calendars provide a 7-year calendar cycle reflecting calendars representing Sept. 1st falling on each
of the seven days of the week.
Note: In contrast to previous UW-L calendars, in order to end as early as possible in December - some
of the calendars have finals occurring on Sundays.
OPTIONS (each link connects to a pdf document
with all seven years of the calendar mocked up)
Sample Year (2015) - all seven years
visible by following the links to pdf
files on the left side of the table.
"A" Version (recommended by the
committee) - Fall Semester with a
2-day M-T break in the 7th week
(11 or 12 full weeks each Fall)
(Last day "average" = Dec "20.8")
Note: to maximize "full weeks" for labs,
classes that meet only on Mondays will
meet twice during Thanksgiving week.
"B" Version - Fall Semester with
additional day(s) during
Thanksgiving week
(Note - the sample does not have an extra break day at
TG - but in 5 of the 7 years extra days are noted).
(12 or 13 full weeks each Fall)
(Last day "average" = Dec "20")
Note: to maximize "full weeks" for labs,
classes that meet only on Mondays will
meet twice during Thanksgiving week.
"C" Version - Fall semester with
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no break except the T/F of
Thanksgiving Week
(12 full weeks each Fall)
(Last day "average" = Dec "18.4")
Note: to maximize "full weeks" for labs,
classes that meet only on Mondays will
meet twice during Thanksgiving week
"D" Version (from SEC) - Fall
semester with a full week off at
Thanksgiving
(12 or 13 full weeks each Fall)
(Last day "average" = Dec "22")
Note: to maximize "full weeks" for labs,
classes that meet only on Mondays will
meet twice in one of the weeks (due to
Labor Day).
Was not recommended by ad-hoc
committee due to later end date and
preference for a Fall break earlier in the
semester.
"E" Version - NO change from the
current calendar - all start dates are Selected years available at
http://www.uwlax.edu/provost/pvchome/acad_cal.htm
after Labor Day.
(Last day "average" = Dec "21")
FAQs
Why is a new calendar being recommended? The last version of the calendar was adopted in 1989 when all
state schools started after Labor Day. More recent changes in state law will now allow for a 9/1 start date.
Are there any problems with starting before Labor Day? Starting before Labor Day increases the number of
"short" weeks (see concern below re: labs). The earlier start date moves Fall semester closer to the end of the
last summer session and provides the campus less time to prepare for Fall semester (e.g., IT preparing the
technology in classrooms) . Monday "only" classes will have an odd meeting schedule - and Monday
evening courses will be particularly impacted.
What was the reason for the proposed 7th week 2-day fall break? Known concerns? The committee
recommended the two-day fall break during the 7th week for several reasons. The primary reason was to
provide faculty, staff and students with a mid semester "breather" to catch up with work - a scenario that
became more doable with the possibility of starting earlier than the day after Labor Day in many of the
calendar years. This respite was seen as having professional, personal, and psychological benefits to the
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campus. In addition, in three of the years, commencement will occur after finals have been completed. When
vetting options with the various constituencies, Thanksgiving week was perceived as "too late" in the
semester to be helpful in terms of catching up. Many of the lab science courses have indicated profound
concerns about their curricular needs being disrupted by any "short" week - that is, a week that does not
contain a M, T, W, TH & F). Full week length stats are provided above - starting before Labor Day will
reduce the number of full weeks regardless of when and if additional fall breaks occur. Theatre has also
indicated concern regarding the impact of a 7th week break on their Fall schedule. Many individuals noted
concerns about the Fall semester stretching later into December; so, the "stats" provided above give the
average last day in Dec.
Why does the two-day break not correspond with the K-12 two day break later in October? The October
dates that correspond to the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Annual Convention are
extremely popular dates for Campus Close-Up visits. In addition, given that Thanksgiving break utilizes a
Th/Fr another Th/Fr break would wreck havoc on the ability to provide 14 meetings of each day per semester
without too many "special" days.
Did you think about....? Yes. !
Start dates for UW System schools - available online at: http://www.uwsa.edu/acss/calendar/09-10cals.htm
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