Fall Reading Break Stance

The Engineering Society supports the implementation of a Fall Reading Break by moving move-in day 7 days earlier, maintaining the current orientation week, and implementing a full-week break attached to thanksgiving weekend.

This stance is a result of the plebiscite question which was included on the executive and senator ballot. The two options on the plebiscite question were as follows:

Option 1

• Move in day is exactly 7 days earlier, on the Sunday 8 days prior to Labour Day
• Aside from being a week earlier, orientation week remains unchanged
• Classes begin on Tuesday after Labour Day
• A four-day fall break occurs, likely from the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to the Friday of that week. This would be a full week off

Option 2:

• Move-in-day occurs 1 day earlier (on Saturday)
• Faculty Orientation would be 4 days starting on the Sunday
• Classes run on the following Thursday and Friday
• Residence Orientation would run on the following weekend and on the night of move-in day
• Thursday and Friday classes are cancelled at some point around the middle of the year. This break may or may not be paired with Thanksgiving

 

Overwhelmingly, engineering students supported option 1 for the implementation of a fall reading break. 60% of students who voted (1209 students) favoured option 1, whereas 40% of students (806 students) supported option 2.

The Engineering Society plans to advocate on behalf of our students to the Fall Break Task Force and any other decision-making body involved, in support of option 1.

Sincerely,

Taylor Sawadsky, Engineering Society President

A PDF version of this statement can be found here