January at Duke 101

Winter Forum, fresh new Spring classes, the possibilities of drop-add period, prime basketball season, tenting galore, Tech Connect, the Career and Summer Opportunities Fair, thoughts of studying abroad and so much more. With Spring semester underway and a week’s worth of classes under our belts, we evaluate the January Term model of some universities that places a January academic term between the Fall and Spring semesters against Duke’s current system with its short three and a half week winter break and long 16 week summer break.

January terms often have condensed classes that are typically four to five weeks long and offer a potentially wide range of enriching activities to increase wintertime productivity. For example, MIT’s four-week Independent Activities Period (IAP) offers students technical courses and seminars for credit or non-credit, hosts departmental open houses and lecture series, and has IAP coordinators for departments, labs, offices and student groups who design contributions for each year’s IAP roster. For students who choose to spend their break otherwise—jobs, internships and more time-intensive research positions—are enabled by breaks that are as long as a month and a half depending on the university. Some regional companies even create internship positions knowing that nearby universities provide a pool of applicants every winter. The chance to take classes not normally considered for regular terms and the special programs offered in January terms confirm that the January term model encourages and enables productivity.

Yet in spite of these tempting advantages, Duke’s shorter winter break and lengthier summer break still appear to be the best calendar arrangement. Cutting down our four month summer would come at no small cost. From a productivity standpoint, an early release in May is desirable as students can opt to start early for internships or jobs—an arrangement that can make them more competitive candidates. But more importantly, the long summer allows students to comfortably work an internship or job, go abroad to a DukeEngage or study abroad program, or any of the myriad typical summer occupations and still have time at home and with family to recharge.

Additionally, winter break is currently short enough that students cannot reasonably expect themselves to compete for internships or work a job, and long enough between finals and the mid-week start of spring semester to allow for rejuvenating reading, writing, sleeping and socializing with friends and family. Time off should be an opportunity to guiltlessly unplug without any pressure to fill time with activities or apply to a month of programs with plenty of time for that during the academic year and summer break.

Personal time is important and tends to get pushed to the wayside during the year with all that goes on, even during the shorter breaks with schoolwork or exams never far from our thoughts. The pressure to always be busy and not waste time (read: relax) is a dangerous one that Duke does not need more of given the existing opportunities for engagement. Remember to relax once in a while and really mentally unwind.