Student Assembly

Dear Natalie,

Thank you for sharing the SA Resolution 47 — the Undergraduate Student Body Denouncement of the Calendar Committee’s Proposal and for communicating your concerns over the proposed changes to the academic calendar. We understand your concerns and very much recognize that differing opinions remain on the issues raised by the changes.

The major goals of the proposed new calendar are to help alleviate student stress and to address staff and faculty work-life issues. Implementation of the calendar, if approved, would occur in a process yet to be determined by the Provost. No changes, however, are envisioned for the next academic year. However, any changes to the academic calendar that might eventually occur would be closely evaluated to determine if some aspects of the calendar are ineffective, so the proper adjustments can be made.

We have clearly heard the concerns of many in our undergraduate student body, including the resolution passed by the Student Assembly. At the same time, we have heard the perspectives of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly and the faculty, including the recent affirmative vote of the Faculty Senate and the commentary on the process used to arrive at the recommended changes, written by Professors Jeff Doyle and Kate Walsh, co-chairs of the Academic Calendar Committee:

http://www.cornellsun.com/section/opinion/content/2012/05/04/new-perspective-calendar-changes

We are currently considering all of these and other considerations and appreciate all the input we have received.

Sincerely,

David Skorton