Fresh off spring break, Ohio University students received news they’ll get another — albeit shorter — reprieve from classes midway through next Fall Semester.
OU will have a fall reading day for students Friday, Oct. 3 of the 2014-15 academic year, said Jenny Hall-Jones, dean of students.
The reading day will occur during week six of the semester and give students the day off from classes, but university operations such as the dining halls, Baker University Center, Alden Library, Ping Center and administrative offices would remain open, Hall-Jones said.
Because the university will remain open, student workers will still be required to attend their shifts if they work for the university, Hall-Jones said.
“We had done reading days before when we were on the quarter system and because the university is still open, offices are still open, students are still living in the residence halls. … Everything is still functioning,” she said. “Everything would be open and so therefore because so much of those operations do have students working, students would still have to go to work that day.”
The decision was made by the Office of the Provost.
“We have considered input from across campus about the value of a small break during the Fall Semester and the optimal placement of that break to allow faculty and students to catch up and recharge,” Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit said in a university press release.
OU’s Student Senate conducted a survey asking students when they would prefer the day to be to help the university decide when the reading day would take place. As of March 3, Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi said he planned to use the results of the survey along with other feedback the university had received from students and faculty to make a decision.
“I think it just became apparent from students and faculty that it would be welcomed,” Lombardi said as to why the university decided to give students a day off.
Only 97 students responded to the survey, and 35 students indicated they would prefer the reading day take place on a Friday, but most students preferred a Monday reading day.
“I think that Fall Semester can be very stressful for many students,” said Mary Kate Gallagher, vice president of senate. “I think the break will come as a welcome respite in a busy semester.”
Ryan MacMillan, a junior studying finance, said he would use the day for relaxation and thought having a reading day was a good idea.
“I think it will be totally awesome, greatest thing the university has done in 10 years,” he said.
md781510@ohiou.edu
@MariaDeVito13
