Sanjeev Agarwal, associate professor of marketing, said he would prefer four weeks. He said there are many things to do over break, such as organizing study abroad programs and going to faculty development programs. Korsching said everyone he talked to in the sociology department wants a four-week break. Finishing up the details of the semester, the activity of the holidays and getting ready for the next semester take up the entire break. Palmer Holden, professor of animal science, said a longer break allows student groups taking tours for credit an extra week to travel.
Some faculty members have their national meetings over break, as well.
However, Thomas Barta, professor in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, said he believes three weeks is better. I think most students would rather get out earlier in the summer so they can go to work. Gregory Palermo, associate professor in architecture, said he can see both sides of the issue. A three-week break gives students a week off in the summer, so they have an advantage in the job market, he said. It also has subtle advantages, such as avoiding the loss of the first day of Monday classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.