Resolution EXEC 23-03 W* Fall Recess Taskforce

RESOLVED: That a joint task force of the Academic Senate of California State University, Dominguez Hills and the Office of Faculty Affairs & Development be formed to research and provide guidance regarding California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) academic calendar; and be it further,

RESOLVED: That the task force gather and evaluate information relevant to evaluating the current practice of a four-day weekend for Thanksgiving versus other potential configurations which might be more appropriate; and be it further,

RESOLVED: That the Chair of the Academic Calendar Working Group co-chair the task force; and be it further,

RESOLVED: That a member of the Senate Executive Committee be appointed to serve as the other co-chair; and be it further,

RESOLVED: That the task force include:

A. One representative from each of the following:

Central Academic Affairs (The Provost’s Office)

A staff person representing Academic Programs

The Registrar’s Office

The Financial Aid Office

Associated Students Inc.

College of Continuing and Professional Education

B. Two Faculty representatives elected by the Academic Senate

RESOLVED: That non-tenure track faculty who serve on the task force receive a stipend for their service; and be it further,

RESOLVED: That the task force prepare a written memo to present to the Academic Calendar Working Group with its findings and recommendations by the end of the Spring Semester, 2023; and be it further,

RESOLVED: That the task force convene before March 01, 2023, give the final report and recommendations to the Academic Senate by the regular meeting on May 10, 2023.

Rationale: The Academic Calendar for CSUDH traditionally has a four-day weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday. While many of our sister campuses do the same, some have a full week “fall recess” including Thanksgiving. Most of the local K12 districts around CSUDH have the week off. Some faculty find that there would be pedagogical advantages to using the “fall recess,” and see this as an equity issue for students and faculty who care for children in the local school districts.

It would be a rather significant change to go from one model to the other as the Academic Calendar takes input from many sources, external requirements and guidelines set by the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

A full report explaining the information considered and the reasoning behind the final recommendation, along with any notes the task force finds regarding the calendar production process can guide the committee in its production of future academic calendars.