Next Labor Day, UNC-Chapel Hill students will have to forget about their usual barbecues and beach trips and focus on their books instead.
While holding classes on Labor Day is an uncommon occurrence at UNC-CH in recent history, the Academic Calendar Committee reached its decision to hold classes next Labor Day after much deliberation last March.
"It was a tough decision," said David Lanier, assistant provost and University registrar. "It was debated for months."
The committee - comprising students, faculty, administrators and staff - considers nine factors in creating the academic calendar each year. The calendar is then sent to the provost and the chancellor for final approval.
These factors include the need to hold December Commencement on a weekend not too close to Christmas; to spread out exams to allow for reading days; to start classes in late August so students and faculty can finish summer research or work; and to provide a Monday before the start of classes during which students can meet with advisers and new students can attend summer reading talks.
Another priority is to match UNC-CH's calendar with that of N.C. State University and, more importantly, that of Duke University.
The parallel schedules allow for faculty research and cross-campus programs to run smoothly and successfully.
The most well-known of these initiatives, such as the Robertson Scholars program, involve students with dual enrollment at UNC-CH and Duke.
Some students, however, view the decision with more distaste than apathy.
