Frequently-Asked Questions Regarding the Changes to the Winter 2008 Academic Calendar
Can instructors decide to hold their Friday classes as regularly scheduled?
No, Friday classes will not meet during the first week. Having a Friday class meet would likely create room conflicts or schedule conflicts for students who also have a Monday class meeting.
Will offices that normally have evening hours on Monday be open late on the first Friday?
That decision is left up to each administrative office. There is no expectation that offices will remain open that Friday evening. Please check with individual offices for more information.
Will classes meet on Martin Luther King Day?
No, classes will not meet and university offices will be closed as scheduled.
Will the waitlist still shut down on the first Friday?
Yes, the automated waitlist registration process will end on the first Friday (January 4th), as scheduled. This will also be the end of the open add/drop process. Adding classes during the second week of the term still requires permission from the instructor.
Will the change in the beginning of the quarter affect refund dates?
Yes, the 100% refund period has been extended until Monday, January 7th in recognition of the adjusted schedule.
Won’t this mean that we miss a Friday class session?
With this schedule, there are 9 regular class sessions for Monday classes and 9 regular class sessions for Friday classes.
Will Monday evening classes be held on Friday?
Yes, the expectation is that all Monday classes will meet on Friday, January 4th.
Are all campuses expected to follow the calendar?
Yes, students at all campuses are expected to attend their Monday classes on Friday, January 4th.
If I don’t attend my Monday classes on the first Friday, will I be excused?
This will be determined by individual instructors but there is an expectation that students will attend all Monday classes on Friday, January 4th.
If OSU plays in the BCS National Championship Game, will the schedule change or will classes be cancelled?
No, regardless of any bowl game in which OSU plays, the schedule will remain the same and classes will be held as usual.
Why was this change made?
If normal calendar guidelines were followed for 2008, Winter quarter commencement would have fallen on Easter Sunday and Summer commencement would have occurred on Labor Day weekend. In order to adjust the schedule for the year, Winter quarter was adjusted to 9 weeks, plus two days. With the Martin Luther King holiday on a Monday, and an acknowledgement that Friday is our least utilized instructional day, the decision was made to exchange classes on Friday, January 4th with the typical Monday schedule of classes. This evens out the number of Friday and Monday class sessions for the quarter.
Who made this decision?
The proposal was considered and reviewed by various levels of institutional governance including the Council on Academic Affairs, Council on Enrollment and Student Progress, Faculty Council and President’s Council.
When will Winter Quarter commencement be held?
Winter commencement will be held on Sunday, March 16th.
What are other key calendar dates for 2008?
Key dates are listed below. You can also view complete calendar details for 2008 and beyond.
| Winter Quarter 2008 |
First day of classes |
Thursday, January 3 |
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First day of Monday classes (no Friday classes meet) |
Friday, January 4 |
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Regular schedule of classes resume |
Monday, January 7 |
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Last day of classes |
Friday, March 7 |
| |
Commencement |
Sunday, March 16 |
| Spring Quarter 2008 |
First day of classes |
Monday, March 24 |
| |
Last day of classes |
Friday, May 30 |
| |
Commencement |
Sunday, June 8 |
| Summer Quarter 2008 |
First day of classes: Su/1st Term(FT) |
Monday, June 16 |
| |
Last day of classes (FT) |
Wednesday, July 16 |
| |
First day of classes: 2nd Term (ST) |
Monday, July 21 |
| |
Last day of classes (Su/ST) |
Friday, August 15 |
| |
Commencement |
Sunday, August 24 |
| Autumn Quarter 2008 |
First day of classes |
Wednesday, September 24 |
| |
Last day of classes |
Friday, December 5 |
| |
Commencement |
Sunday, December 14 |