I have read some debate on the upcoming academic calender.  I would
like to add my observations and opinions.  First of all, regarding spring
break.
I think the best time to offer spring break is during the Southern
Conference Basketball
Tournament.  During this time the men's and women's basketball teams must miss
three or four days of classes, along with the cheerleaders and band
members.  This
is also when the Southern Conference Wrestling Tournament is held.  Since the
basketball teams already miss some classes due to the schedule, why not
minimize
their absences due to the conference tournament?  And as Alice Tym pointed out,
it seems that almost all of the spring sports had to miss one, two or three
days of
school this past week.  So, by shifting the spring break to this time
period, it would
minimize the effect of missed classes on the athletes.  I do not think that
the student
body in general would mind.   And it would break the semester at a point
which is just
past half way through the semester.  Plus, earlier in March would probably
make it easier
to get rooms etc for beach or ski trips.

    Regarding the start of the spring semester, I would suggest that it
remain as it is right now.
The reason is that the overwhelming majority of students at UTC work.  If
they cannot or do
not, then they would not be in school.  One big advantage for them is that
they get done witih
the spring semester one, two or three weeks ahead of many other
schools.  So, from an
employers standpoint, they can start work earlier and usually work longer,
as most schools
start around the same time in August.  If they are competing with high
school students, then they
can work earlier in May, and later into August, so are in better position
to be hired.  And when
considering internships, then the longer summer break is also an advantage
for current UTC
students.  So, I would start as early as we have in the past in January,
because it is best for
the majority of students.

     As for the fall break, if we stayed with a Friday, Monday, Tuesday
time period, but one which
included a Friday, then I would say schedule it when the football team has
an away game, as then
the football players, and possible the band, do not need to miss a day of
Friday classes for a
game trip.

Robert