Starting this year, USC will give students two days off from classes mid-semester, and some students said they are looking forward to the university’s first fall break.
The new fall recess, which is scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18, is “part of our ongoing efforts to support wellness and to promote an environment that provides the best opportunities for success at USC,” according to a message to the USC community from Michael Quick, the former Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The break falls around the eighth week of the semester and it is not in the University of California (UC) system academic calendars. USC will be joining the ranks of other private colleges such as Pomona College, Occidental College and Harvey Mudd College that already utilize similar time off for students to stay refreshed and refocused. The campus will remain open during the break.
The decision was announced last year to give students a short vacation mid-semester after the Undergraduate Student Government advocated for it. Students, faculty, and staff reviewed the proposal before it was ratified.
Amy Xiao, a junior studying pharmacology and drug development, thinks the implementation of the break would cause professors to panic and “it would be even more stressful than without the break.” However, she also believes that the administration “really tried to make an effort to make the break more relaxing for students.”
“Normally when there is a break, professors like to cram everything in right before. Because of the timing and the week that they put it all, the midterms were before so this is more of a relaxed week and I can enjoy my break,” Xiao said.
Xiao also believes the break might be unnecessary for freshmen, but she appreciates it more during heavy workloads as an upperclassman. “I think this year is one of my busiest semesters and I really appreciate the break. Last year, I would have really liked it as well,” she said.
Lance Azusada, a senior studying choral music, said he is supportive of USC adding a break that already exists at other universities.
“Word was going around that this was something the students advocated for. It’s cool that we were able to say something, and then something happens institutionally,” Azusada said. “Me and another person are going traveling. It’s nice to be able to get away from the campus for a couple of days.”