Students who were hoping this winter break would be as long as last year's are in for some disappointment.
Due to state regulations dictating the required length of the academic year, students may undergo long stretches of time before having a break from classes and recesses may be shortened.
Since 1979, the only religious holidays observed on the academic calendar are the Jewish high holy days Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, since the Jewish religion specifically prohibits working during these holidays.
Jewish Student Union President Rebecca Marinoff said Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most sacred to the Jewish community, unlike Hanukkah, which is less important.
"Those are the high holy days. You are not supposed to work on those days," she said.
According to Kerry Grant, vice provost for academic affairs, Christmas is also recognized by the academic calendar, but state law mandates that "an instructor is obligated to accommodate a request from a student to be absent for the purpose of religious observance for any recognized religion."
"The law is quite explicit that a student shall incur no harm as a result of utilizing their rights," Grant stated via e-mail.
However, Maureen Cavanaugh, a junior theater major, said holding classes during state holidays is unfair to students.
"If the state workers get the day off, then the state university employees should get the day off," said Cavanaugh.
Samantha McHugh, a freshman business major, agreed.
"There are national holidays for a reason, we celebrate for a reason," McHugh said. "Let's celebrate and be happy for our independence."
This year, winter recess is four weeks long, compared to last year's six-week break. According to Beth Delgenio, assistant vice provost for academic affairs, SUNY regulations dictate that a semester must have 15 weeks to be recognized as a complete academic semester and each academic year must have 30 weeks of instruction.
Differences in the academic calendar occur from year to year, depending on the way the year is structured and the number of teaching hours, as well as semester weeks needed to fulfill SUNY requirements.
Delgenio said that in accordance with state regulations, for a student to earn 15 credits, he or she must have undergone 2,250 minutes of instruction. When creating the calendar, she said, administrators must observe students' need for academic continuity.
"It would be difficult for you to attend calculus class if every two or three weeks you had a break," Delgenio said.
According to Delgenio, the beginning of the semester is formatted based on the dates of international and general orientations, whether the residence halls are ready for students, and a short break for summer session staff and students to prepare for the fall semester.
Spring semester ending dates are scheduled around three days allocated for commencement ceremonies, summer session orientation for international students, and the starting date for summer sessions to fulfill state regulated hours, she said.
UB inserts reading days for students' convenience between the end of semester classes and final examination days, another reason for semester extensions. Last year's reading days were cut to accommodate the last-minute changes made to meet the academic calendar requirements.
"Upon completion of the academic calendar, we bring it forward to the Faculty Senate," said Delgenio. If the Senate approves the calendar, it goes to the professional staff for discussion, and to Student Association President Christian Oliver, who can address students' comments or concerns.
"The Student Association is the students' voice," said Delgenio.
Although the calendar is brought to Oliver before it is finalized, he said the process behind its development is "very complicated" and there is not much change that could be done at that point.
