While Ball State University's academic calendar for 2006-07 has been set, it does not include the elimination of Saturday finals, which was supported by University Senate and the Student Government Association.
"We're in a bit of pickle with the calendar because we're aware of the need to address the Saturday finals issue," said Deb Balogh, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, "but you can't really address that without addressing the calendar more broadly."
The elimination of Saturday finals could not be ready for next year's calendar because there was not enough time to arrange it, Balogh said.
"We asked the Senate to take a comprehensive look at the calendar and make recommendations," she said.
Balogh said she hoped University Senate would discuss the up and down sides of each recommendation.
"I think that the bottom line for Academic Affairs is we don't cut instructional days," Balogh said. "Beyond that, I think that any kind of creative solution the group can come up with would be entertained."
The number of required instructional days is determined by several issues, including accreditation and the Board of Trustees' policy, Balogh said.
Any plan thought up by University Senate will need to consider the effects on different groups of students, she said.
"The Senate is very sensitive to students' concerns, so the student arm of the Senate might also be asked to weigh in on this," Balogh said.
SGA President Steve Geraci originally proposed moving Fall Break to the same week as Thanksgiving Break.
"The University Senate has asked us to look into the accreditation impact and come up with proposals," Geraci said, "but I think that's a step in the wrong direction. I came up with a good, strong proposal last year that was defeated without a good reason. It seems like they are going to start the process over again."
Geraci said the elimination of Saturday finals was the SGA administration's top priority for the remainder of the term.
"It's something we worked really hard on, and it seems like we are being held up by the administration," he said.
President Jo Ann Gora said she wasn't very involved in the calendar process; however, she was in support of the elimination of Saturday finals.
"It hasn't died, and we haven't forgotten about it," Gora said. "We just don't know how to do it."
The solution Gora prefers is to not have Fall Break and to add an instructional day to the Fall Semester, she said.
Balogh said she hoped University Senate will offer some solutions by the end of Spring Semester.
Geraci said he is doubtful.
"Nothing about this process has given me a reason to be optimistic about a time table since the first proposal was in 2001," he said.
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