University of Illinois classes starting later than usual
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URBANA, Ill. (AP) - University of Illinois students and professors will have extra vacation time next month as classes will start almost a week later than usual.
The Aug. 28 start will push final exams closer to Christmas, The News-Gazette reported . The university's governing calendar requires that the semester last 14 weeks and that it not start before Aug. 22. The stipulation is because academic employees don't start getting paid until Aug. 16.
The policy aims to give new graduate students and instructors about a week to go through orientation and prep for their teaching responsibilities before classes start.
The policy pushes the start of classes closer to the end of August every five or six years. In 2012, classes began Aug. 27.
"Nobody's ever going to grumble about a late start. They'll grumble about the late end," said professor Bettina Francis, chair of the Senate Executive Committee.
The university's final exams will extend through Dec. 21. The university will also schedule finals on a Saturday, which the campus usually avoids.
Student Dy'Min Davis said she's happy to have the extra time to enjoy her "last summer as an undergraduate student."
The campus Academic Senate updated the policy regulating the academic calendar in 2005. The changes took effect in 2008.
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Information from: The News-Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com