Resolution to Propose an October Fall Break at IU Indianapolis
IN-POL-TC10
About This Policy
- Effective Date:
- 04-07-2009
- Date of Last Review/Update:
- 03-18-2026
- Responsible Campus Administrator:
IU Indianapolis Faculty Council
Academic Affairs Committee
Undergraduate Student Government
- Policy Contact:
IU Indianapolis Faculty Council, ude[dot]ui[at]licnuocf
Office of the IU Indianapolis Provost, ude[dot]ui[at]tsvrp
Policy Statement
Preamble:
We the students and faculty at IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) feel that a Fall Break should be instituted into the calendar such that it will be recognized as an academic recess. This recess will result in no loss of teaching days, as it calls for the fall semester to begin on a Monday rather than a Wednesday. This will allow for the first week of classes to be a full week to benefit students and instructors as well as gain an extra week of laboratory sessions in some departments. In doing so, fall semester will still be in accordance with the established IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) Academic Calendar guidelines. This academic recess shall fall in October between the 8-week class end date (1st 8 week) and start date (2nd 8 week). It will also coincide with the National “Fall Alternative Break” movement seen as a time to serve others in a new community. Introducing this Fall Break in October will reduce high stress at this predictable time in the semester for students, faculty, and staff, serving as a time to re-charge academically and prepare for the remainder of the semester.
Procedures
Resolution:
WHEREAS, there is no break between the Labor Day holiday and the Thanksgiving holiday in the Fall Semester, and
WHEREAS, this long stretch of classes causes high stress at a predictable time in semester, and
WHEREAS, a mid-semester October Fall Break would allow students and faculty time to re-charge academically and prepare for the remainder of the semester
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) Faculty Council, that a Fall Break be implemented to divide up the semester, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this break will occur on a consecutive Monday and Tuesday in mid-October, but
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this proposal can be subject to review at a later date when and if the IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) or IU system calendar is later reviewed and revised.
Implementation Guidelines:
- This policy will become effective in Fall 2010.
- The fall semester will start 2 days earlier in August, on a Monday rather than a Wednesday.
- The proposed Fall Break will be considered "Non-instruction days" for staff similar to Spring Break; staff wishing to take time off would use their Accrued Time.