Although AU students come from different backgrounds, different parts of the country and even different corners of the world, they must all adhere to the same calendar, only getting days and holidays off that the university delineates. AU's academic and holiday schedule goes through an involved process before it becomes the university's legitimate annual calendar.
The Faculty Senate, which consists of professors from each of AU's schools and the Washington College of Law and other groups, determines which days to close the university, which is a long process. Members of the body discuss the topic of the school calendar and choose which holidays or special occasions it thinks merit a university closing. They vote and send the consensus to University Registrar Linda Bolden-Pitcher for additional approval. The decision is then published in AU's Academic Regulations. The last time this matter was dealt with was in 1976, according to Bolden-Pitcher.
The code also establishes the lengths of semester sessions and when final exams occur.
The university's academic regulations do not address other days AU has off, such as fall break, which the student body determines.
"Students decided about three, maybe four years ago, that they preferred to end the semester a day or two earlier rather than have a two-day fall break," Bolden-Pitcher said.
Katie Shankle, a junior in the School of International Service, said she agrees that fall break is probably long enough, but wishes Thanksgiving break could be extended.
"Most students don't attend classes that week anyway, so the professors don't teach serious classes," she said.
The annual academic calendar itself requires about three months of processing before it becomes final, according to Bolden-Pitcher. A draft is prepared by the Office of the Registrar and is then passed on throughout other AU offices, including the Offices of the President, Campus Life and Financial Aid. After all suggestions and corrections come in, the draft goes to the Faculty Senate and then the provost for approval.
Currently, the calendar states that AU has Inauguration Day off, but not Election Day. Josh Loigman, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, said he does not agree with this decision.
"People should have the day off to go out and vote, whereas during Inauguration Day most people don't do anything," he said. "I am generally concerned about a university that prioritizes Inauguration Day over Election Day in considering when we should and should not be in class."
Katie Shankle said she thinks Inauguration Day is important, but not as important as Election Day, which she considers more historic.
"If [AU] wants to promote political responsibility, we should have Election Day off and encourage students to vote," she said.
If the AU community decided that it would like to change the Academic Regulations regarding its school calendar, a proposal would have to be sent to the provost for consideration, voted upon by the Faculty Senate and approved by the provost.
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