2008 Woodie Awards
Fall break foreign to many students
Webster schedule helps students rest, finish term projects
By: Trish Wallace
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
After a full week off from classes, undergraduate students are now back in full swing. While most universities only allow students to take at most one or two days off after midterms, Webster offers an extended break to its students.
Ted Hoef, dean of students, attributes the week-long break to Webster's academic schedule.
"The semester is divided into Fall I and Fall II terms. Because of that, a week separating the two allows students time to finish one term before moving on," Hoef said.
Hoef said he believes fall break gives international students a great opportunity to experience the St. Louis area and not just campus life.
Graduate students however, do not get time off for fall break. Terms for graduate students continue for nine weeks while undergraduate terms last for eight. In addition to no break, graduate classes begin earlier than undergraduate classes. This year, the graduate semester began on Aug. 15.
According to Hoef, giving graduate students a fall break would mean either starting their classes one week earlier or ending them one week later. Running later would compromise holiday plans, while starting earlier would cut into summer vacation and work schedules for students.
"It seems to work better for most to have a longer summer and not get a week off during the fall," Hoef said.
Just because most students are off campus during fall break, does not mean the campus is vacant. Hoef said sometimes faculty and staff have meetings. Some faculty get their grading completed and recorded while other staff members have the chance to catch up on work. Occasionally, faculty will sponsor conferences for colleagues from other schools because parking and facilities are more available.
"It's much quieter on campus with so many fewer people here," Hoef said.
Fall break presents the chance for faculty and students to travel to visit family or for simple leisure, but not all students were able to get away.
Sophomore Maddie Findley, an English major, is one student who took the opportunity just to relax. She said she was thankful to get caught up on sleep.
"I slept," Findley said. "In October I've worked 35 to 40 hours a week and am taking 18 credit hours."
Ted Hoef, dean of students, attributes the week-long break to Webster's academic schedule.
"The semester is divided into Fall I and Fall II terms. Because of that, a week separating the two allows students time to finish one term before moving on," Hoef said.
Hoef said he believes fall break gives international students a great opportunity to experience the St. Louis area and not just campus life.
Graduate students however, do not get time off for fall break. Terms for graduate students continue for nine weeks while undergraduate terms last for eight. In addition to no break, graduate classes begin earlier than undergraduate classes. This year, the graduate semester began on Aug. 15.
According to Hoef, giving graduate students a fall break would mean either starting their classes one week earlier or ending them one week later. Running later would compromise holiday plans, while starting earlier would cut into summer vacation and work schedules for students.
"It seems to work better for most to have a longer summer and not get a week off during the fall," Hoef said.
Just because most students are off campus during fall break, does not mean the campus is vacant. Hoef said sometimes faculty and staff have meetings. Some faculty get their grading completed and recorded while other staff members have the chance to catch up on work. Occasionally, faculty will sponsor conferences for colleagues from other schools because parking and facilities are more available.
"It's much quieter on campus with so many fewer people here," Hoef said.
Fall break presents the chance for faculty and students to travel to visit family or for simple leisure, but not all students were able to get away.
Sophomore Maddie Findley, an English major, is one student who took the opportunity just to relax. She said she was thankful to get caught up on sleep.
"I slept," Findley said. "In October I've worked 35 to 40 hours a week and am taking 18 credit hours."