The document proposes adjusting Columbia University's fall academic calendar to end the semester earlier in years where Labor Day falls late in September. It found through a student survey that having exams and the semester end on December 23rd caused stress, interrupted travel plans, and inadequate preparation time. Looking at a 10-year period, only 4 years would require starting 1 week earlier to avoid ending on December 23rd. This proposal aims to alleviate stress for students while accommodating faculty constraints by only adjusting start dates in those specific years.

1. A Fair Fall for AllA Working Joint Proposal by the Undergraduate Student Councils on the Fall Academic CalendarRespectfully Submitted bySue YangPresident, Columbia College Student CouncilWhitney GreenPresident, Engineering Student CouncilKatie PalilloPresident, Barnard Student Government AssociationKatherine EdwardsPresident, General Studies Student Council Alex FroumanSenator, Columbia College

2. Why is this Important to Students?Impacts on Academics, Health, Family, and Travel

3. Students Voice ConcernsCouncil-Sponsored Survey745 responsesBy School74% CC16% SEAS8% GS2% BarnardBy Year17% Seniors26% Juniors28% Sophomores28% First-YearsStudent-Initiated Facebook PetitionLaunched independently by students, Dec. 2009As of 1/24/10: 2,414 members = 25% entire undergraduate population

4. Academic Impact“How many exams did you have on the following days?”RespondentsDates

5. Academic Impact“For how many final exams/papers did you feel you were NOT prepared?”Respondents# Final Exams / Papers

6. Academic Impact“If you had one more day to study (3 instead of 2), how would you have used the time?”

7. Health Impact“How would you rate your stress level during the following times of the year?”During Fall 2009 finals periodDuring semester, on averageDuring normal finals period

8. Travel Impact51% of students left campus on Wed. Dec. 23It cost more to travel this time for 52% of students surveyed51%19%15%

9. Travel Impact“To where were you traveling?”33%Travel internationalor to the West coast13%Travel international

10. Travel Impact“How much did you pay to travel home/away for winter break?”20%Paid Over $500.00

11. Family ImpactThe late conclusion of the semester interrupted family plans for 78% of students surveyed.

12. Including all StakeholdersStudents remain top priority for the undergraduate councils, but other stakeholders have also been included and taken into consideration.

13. Including StakeholdersInformation collected and funneled from various groups to understand needs, constraintsSome Faculty Senate Edu.Grad. AptsAthle-ticsHealth ServicsStudentsFaculty & Admin.Other CU MembersLogisticsMain Findings, Issues Raised

14. Clarifying the ProblemWith constraints and needs identified, areas of compression and flexibility can be better targeted in the calendar

15. Within a 1-Year FrameAugustSeptemberDecemberNovemberDecemberFIXEDThanksgivingWeek before Labor DayStudy Days / FinalsFall BreakFaculty proposal suggests removing Monday of this fall break. Students react with strong disagreement. All:Agree that we should try to end before 12/23. Students:87% of students surveyed would support starting before Labor Day Faculty: Starting before Labor Day is hard for those with childrenPROPOSED SOLUTION:Start a week earlier to end a week earlier in SOME years

16. BUT looking only at a 1-year time frame is incorrect and doesn’t allow for much flexibility to accommodate all stakeholders. It mistakenly assumes every year to be the exact same.A10-year outlookis truer to the situation, accounting for nuances from year to year.It becomes clear: the fall semester calendar is only a problem in some years.

17. 4 / 10 Years End on Dec 232 / 10 Years Especially Problematic20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020Fall semester ends on 12/23 in these years, according to the current planEspecially compressed: Additionally, 2 total days must be cut, either both from study period or 1 from study period and 1 from exam period

18. ProposalAdjust for years only in which Labor Day falls late in September.

19. Start one week earlier in just: 2011 2015 2016 2020

20. 2011-2020 Fall Academic CalendarsFall2012Fall2013Fall2014Fall 2011Fall2015Fall2017Fall2018Fall2019Fall2016Fall2020Shifting the fall calendar one week earlier in just these 4 years alleviates the compression that would otherwise be experienced at the end of these 4 fall terms.

21. Comparisons Against Current Cal.How Columbia’s Fall 2010 calendar (which we are not looking to change) compares with that of other Ivies and NYC Public Schools.

25. In Comparison with other Ivies(Princeton & Dartmouth are not included as they follow a trimester system)FALL 2010 AS EXAMPLE:SEPOCTNOVDECAUGCOLUMBIA71-225-2814-1516-23Brown611124-284-89-17Cornell2569-1224-295-88-17Harvard121126-294-1213-2161UPenn89-1224-2911-1415-22Yale19-293-106111-18ThanksgivingLabor DayStudy DaysDays Off During SemesterStart DateFinal Exam Period & End Date

26. In Comparison with NYC Public SchoolsFALL 2010, AS EXAMPLE: (again, we are not proposing to make any changes to this year)SEPOCTNOVDECAUG725-2814-1516-23COLUMBIA1-2Actual:What it would have looked like under the proposal:3025-2814-1516-23COLUMBIA1-26NYC Public9-1081121125-2823ThanksgivingLabor DayStudy DaysDays Off During SemesterStart DateFinal Exam Period & End DateFaculty with children would have needed childcare on 5 days (8/30, 8/31, 9/1, 9/2, 9/3). Columbia provides a Backup Care Program that helps subsidize up to 100 hours of family care each year beginning on July 1. According to the Work-Life Office, starting a week early would require more funding for this program or the creation of a day camp or childcare program for that week.

27. FLEXIBILITYexists if we consider the nuances from year to year over 10 years.A FAIRsolution for all can be achieved. Starting a week in advance just in the few years when Labor Day falls late (Sep. 5th or later, we have found), alleviates the compression at the end of the fall term, allows for an earlier conclusion, and does not require permanent compromises.TheFALLsemester can work for all by just adjusting the start dates for FOUR of the years.