Not many schools have an academic calendar like the one Bowdoin has.
The school allocates a long four weeks for Winter Break and two weeks for Spring Break, but only a mere five days off for Thanksgiving, including the weekend.
While the calendar may seem odd to some students, the administration has the layout of the academic calendar down to a science.
In an e-mail to the Orient, Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster wrote that the primary concern of the administration is to create an equal balance of about 68 days of classes per semester.
For the fall semester, this means a two-day Fall Break that usually falls around Columbus Day and a three-day Thanksgiving Break, not including weekends.
For some students who live further away, this relatively short Thanksgiving Break poses problems for those who wish to go home, but whose traveling time sometimes takes an entire day each way.
"I come from upstate New York, and it takes me eight hours to get home," said Bryce Lednar '11. "Over four days I'll be driving 16 hours, so it's kind of a pain. It would be nice to have the whole week off."
Foster wrote that in order to keep the same number of class days, Thanksgiving break could only be lengthened by eliminating Fall Break.
"I'm not a supporter of this proposal," said Foster. "Thanksgiving occurs so late in the semester, and I believe students, faculty and staff benefit from a break before the end of November."
The Academic Calendar of Colby College follows a similar layout to Bowdoin's by providing a short Fall Break and a short Thanksgiving Break, while concluding the semester on the same date of December 21.
Colby College, however, has a shortened semester in January called the January Program, or Jan Plan, that allows students the choice of course work, independent study or an internship. Students must complete at least three January Programs before graduation.
Bates College has a similar program called Short Term at the end of their spring semester, and they must complete at least two Short Terms.
"In my 14 years at Bowdoin, there has never been any serious discussion about a 'Jan Plan' or short term. These short semesters are usually not of the same caliber or rigor," wrote Foster. "Colleges that have them frequently end up hiring adjunct faculty to teach the courses so their faculty can focus on research and other scholarly pursuits. I'm not going to name names, but I know several places with 'Jan Plans' that wish they didn't have them."
Some students said that the thought of a January semester intrigued them and might provide relief for those frustrated with the four-week long Winter Break.
Alex Hirshberg '10 said, "I think it would be interesting...I'm happy with how it is but I think it would be fun to have one in the spring just to end the school year that way."
"Winter Break is too long," said Shoshana Cohn '11. "It's too short for a job but too long to just hang around without a purpose. It gets old fast."
Winter Break, however, is so long for several reasons, according to Foster.
"The extended Winter Break is a critically important time for faculty to travel, conduct research, and meet with collaborators," wrote Foster. "I know many students use the break to conduct research, to work, or to participate in internships. Winter sport athletes compete and train during this time."
The break also allows the College to reduce its environmental impact lowering the heat in campus buildings.
The two-week Spring Break allows for a similar reduction in heat, and gives students a chance to escape the long Maine winter.
If Spring Break or Winter Break were a week shorter, it would force the College to either move up Commencement, or have an extra week between Senior Week and Commencement, in order to keep the traditional Commencement date.
Neither situation would be ideal, according to Foster. The College has a long-standing tradition of having Commencement over Memorial Day weekend, and moving the graduation ceremonies would disrupt a valued part of the College's history.
Having an extra week between Senior Week and Commencement would force some students who live far away or have economic concerns to stay on campus, while others who live nearby could return home.
"The formulation of the Academic Calendar is far more complicated and involved than it might appear at first glance," wrote Foster.