MacEwan University considering scrapping fall break

MacEwan University administration is considering discontinuing its week-long fall break, so it doesn't have to schedule final exams on Sundays. 

Both the faculty and students' associations stand united against the proposal, which will be voted on during a general faculties council meeting Monday. Most of the voters will be university executives and faculty, along with some student members.

The University isn't expected to comment until the results are in.

In a joint letter to the council, both associations urged voters to keep the break as is.

"We recognize that Fall Reading Break significantly impacts student mental health and general wellness," the letter reads, in part.  

"It is a crucial time for many students to do paid work, catch up on schoolwork, take care of themselves and manage the affordability crisis impacting our community."

The letter indicates that the students' association conducted a survey, and that the results suggested an overwhelming majority of students want the fall break to remain. 

"The fall reading week is very important," third-year biology student Semoya Branford said Friday. 

The week before the break, students have "a lot of midterms, lots of projects that are due." Students have midterm exams the week after, as well, Branford said. 

"We use that [break] to disconnect or prep for the school work," Branford said. 

The joint letter also posits that pitting Sunday exams against the break creates "a false dichotomy," suggesting they are "not guaranteed to disappear."  

"There are alternative solutions that could be explored to maintain a balance of student and faculty well-being, while ensuring there are enough instructional hours to meet program requirements," the letter says.

Darcy Hoogers, vice president academic of the Students' Association of MacEwan University, claims the university consulted minimally with students on the issue. 

"That break allows a little bit of pressure to be released," Hoogers said Friday, adding that, without it, the pressure builds.