Some people contend that winter breaks at American colleges and universities should be shorter. Generally, they last about a month, but may continue as long as six weeks at some colleges. And the trend is toward extending breaks even longer. Faced with the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, many universities (including Ohio University but not Ohio State) reworked their schedules so students didn’t have to return to campus after the Thanksgiving break. However, before the pandemic upset the apple cart, some critics already were complaining that winter breaks at colleges were too long.
Prior to the ’70s, college winter break was more like public school breaks, two or three weeks long. But then in 1973 and again in 1979, crippling global energy crises struck the American economy, both related to oil shortages (though with radically different causes). To save energy and money, national leaders urged colleges to close for longer periods in the winter so they wouldn’t have to heat buildings and expend other energy related to the cold weather. Most complied.
At that time, the longer winter break made innovations possible such as mini-semesters, study abroad programs, and internship programs that could be completed within the break. Actually, the longer break hearkens back to Medieval times, when because of religious festivals, institutions of higher learning scheduled longer breaks.
Many students claim the break is too long. They say they lose momentum from being hard-pressed in the fall, to having to wind down for four weeks. They’d like to see a shorter break, with fall classes starting later in September like they used to do. However, other students say they prefer a longer winter break, since it gives them a better opportunity to snag temporary employment.
College Town Businesses Also Lose Out
It’s not just college students who are prone to complaining about the long winter/holiday break. Many businesses in college towns – including Athens – aren’t fans of a calendar that sends thousands of potential customers out of town for the pre-Christmas shopping season. That also means that a lot of off-campus rental housing in Athens and other college towns with lengthy holiday breaks remain empty for several weeks.
With the pandemic bolstering the rationale for scheduling longer winter breaks, it’s unlikely that colleges will go back to the shorter break. So if you don’t like it, plan a trip or work on finding something enriching to do, either back home or in your Athens Ohio rental apartment or house.