We are happy to announce that after weeks of advocacy and campaigning to keep Fall Reading Break, the General Faculties Council voted last night to keep your break!
The MacEwan University General Faculties Council proposed the removal of Fall Reading Break starting in the 2025 – 2026 academic calendar in an attempt to remove Sunday exams. Your elected representatives at SAMU opposed this proposal, as Fall Reading Break is an essential mental health break for students. Within these last few weeks, SAMU has advocated on your behalf by partnering with the Grant MacEwan University Faculty Association (GMUFA) to take a joint stance against the removal of Fall Reading Break. SAMU’s advocacy also included a campaign that saw over 4,500 responses to our Fall Reading Break survey, with over 87% of responses in favour of keeping Fall Reading Break and 450 letters written to the General Faculties Council expressing this sentiment.
During the General Faculties Council meeting to decide this issue, the motion to remove Fall Reading Break failed and the motion to keep Fall Reading Break carried. This means that Fall Reading Break remains!
We thank GMUFA for partnering with us on a joint statement which united faculty and students on the importance of maintaining Fall Reading Break.
We also thank you, the students, for mobilizing and supporting the advocacy of your executives, and for making your voices heard on this important issue!
