Apr 30, 2014 By Nick Farrell executive Editor 5 min read

According to Mary Cummings, executive vice president for Student Services, the university has elected to not offer activities for students during the days between the conclusion of finals week on May 8 and commencement on May 18. Cummings said this decision is based on a data analysis of student participation in planned activities over the last few years, which she said was relatively low.

She said parents who filed complaints were often upset that their son or daughter did not return home to start working after their education concluded.

“The change to the academic calendar was really driven by the academic side, but I did give input about the fact that I had received parent calls,” said Cummings, who noted the new academic calendar will give graduates an additional two weeks of summer to start their careers or spend time with family.

“If there’s going to be a week, that week in October really gives us some possibilities,” said Cummings. “It’s not a peak travel time, and learning opportunities and service opportunities can be folded into that week, as well as a well-needed rest for students. That, to me, is the more logical place to put a week of downtime, not the week after graduation.”

“We put the form out there to say ‘if you need to stay, fill out a form and tell us why you need to stay,'” said Cummings. “Some students who are staying are already involved in an activity, so they don’t need other activities.”

“We thought we would make the decision based on need, rather than putting the activities out there and then trying to fill the activities,” said Cummings. “We wanted to find who needs to stay, for what purpose and then if their need to be activities for that, do it, but otherwise, it’s a good year to transition away from it since it won’t happen next year.”

Students who received clearance to remain in residence halls until commencement are reminded that no food services are available after finals week.