A motion to keep the fall break of Friday, Oct. 4, passed at the University Senate meeting Monday.
Senator Richard Boyum said he believed the date of Oct. 4 is too early in the semester.
By Oct. 4, students will be on campus for five weeks, Senator Mitchell Freymiller said.
He said incoming freshmen would benefit from the Oct. 4 break. It gives them an opportunity to reconnect with their family and hometown.
“Let’s do it one year,” Freymiller said.
Student Body President Justin Hentges said he thinks a break scheduled for Oct. 4 is a good idea. He said five to six weeks into the semester is usually very stressful for students.
Hentges said Senate should consider the break before or after midterms.
“I think we need to try it for the benefit of our students,” Hentges said.
Senator Jodi Thesing-Ritter said the Oct. 4 fall break Friday goes against trying to keep students on campus for the first six weeks.
Chair Susan Harrison then said if there were no further comments by any of the Senate members, the Oct. 4 fall break stands.
University Senate also acknowledged a new senator, Vicky Reed, who is representing University Recreation.
The Senate also held an election for the at-large University Academic staff senator vacancy.
Harrison said every department or unit has a senator. The remaining openings are for at-large members, for which anyone can run. She said Senate members are usually elected in the spring. Elections are only held when there is a vacancy during the year.
David Fleitas of the American Ethnic Coordinating Office and Linda Spaeth from the Academic Skills Center were nominated for the position by the University Academic Staff Nominating Committee, Harrison said.
Spaeth was chosen for the at-large University Academic staff senator position.
The next University Senate meeting is March 13 in the Tamarack Room of Davies Center.