Members

Raymond P. Heath, Chair, Patricia Ann Matthews, I.H.M., Patricia Dunleavy, Mary Anne Fedrick, Ronald Bulbulian, Lois Draina, Louis Furmanski, Devorah Namm, Bernadette Russell, Ann Boland-Chase, Robert Reese, Joann Verduce,Virginia Haskett, Margaret Gannon, I.H.M., Irene Balli, Meredith Force and Kevin Moran

Meetings

The Calendar Committee met on November 14, 2003.

General

In response to the recommendation of the Faculty Senate and to assure effective annual planning and smooth operation of the many University activities, the Calendar Committee was reestablished (2003) as a University Standing Committee responsible for recommending the general framework of the calendar three years in advance.

The following procedures guide the Committee:

• Starting and ending dates of classes each semester, Commencement, breaks and holidays will be proposed by the Registrar each October;
• In consultation with departments directly involved (i.e. Admissions, Special Events, College Offices, Faculty Senate, the Student Government Association and the Graduate Student Council, Human Resources, Performing Arts, Student Life Division, Alumni Office, etc.) dates of University-wide events will be recommended;
• The Committee will review the general framework of the Calendar and recommend its acceptance of to the President; and,
• Upon approval, final scheduling of college, departmental and organizational events will be coordinated by the Offices of the Vice Presidents for Academic and Student Affairs and published in the annual edition of the University Calendar/Student Handbook.

Activity - 2003-2004

The Committee reviewed its charge and proposed minor suggestions to amend the statement of purpose and membership of the re-established standing committee. Ms. Ann Boland-Chase confirmed the proposed academic related items for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Based on the University's agreement with the Wachovia Arena for Commencement, the first day of classes for each spring semester was rescheduled to begin one week earlier than in previous years. For the foreseeable future, classes for the fall semester will begin on the last Monday of August and Commencement will be held on the second Sunday in May. Also, the Committee recommended to the President of the University that the closing of administrative offices between Christmas Day and New Year's Day be scheduled for the 2004-2005 year. Additional suggestions proposed included: extending the calendars recommended to the Cabinet to 3 - 5 years rather than the 2 requested initially; including major accreditation teams' visit dates on the draft calendars; and, to continue the pattern of selecting the final dates of key fall activities (i.e. Family Weekend, Alumni Weekend, Tree Lighting, etc.) after further discussion early in the semester. Following this meeting, the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 draft calendars were endorsed and sent to the President of the University for final review and acceptance.

Conclusions

The Committee is pleased with its accomplishments during 2003 - 2004. Its suggestions were implemented in the 2004 - 2005 Calendar. Committee members will request feedback on the revised calendar and the reactions will be discussed and recommendations proposed for further modifications will be considered at its annual meeting in October, 2004.

Submitted for the Committee

Raymond P. Heath, Chair
July, 2004