Making the fall reading break a reality

SUS VP external Ashley Mcdougall talks about an autumn reprieve

RACHEL TAIT

For years, there has never been a fall reading break at UFV — but in the fall 2023 semester, that will change; a fall reading break has been scheduled from Nov. 11-15, 2023. Ashley McDougall, Student Union Society (SUS) vice president (VP) external, has been working since the beginning of her first term in 2021 to make the fall reading break become a reality.

“I took it on as a way of supporting students' mental health, ultimately,” said McDougall about her inspiration to advocate for the additional break for students. “We have one in the winter semester that's super helpful for people, and there's definitely a need for one in the fall as well.”

After all, mental health and having a rest from studies is good for both faculty and students alike; but the benefits go beyond a chance to rest and recuperate. McDougall explained that faculty members have already said that an additional reading break “will help them in their marking in the fall semester.”

McDougall recalled that when she began her job as VP external back in 2021, she heard that former students in her position were unsuccessful in having one implemented at the university. “It’s to do with the number of instructional days in the fall semester,” said McDougall, stating that the fall semester has always had a “very tight schedule.” There is already a two week break between the fall and winter semesters. This has made it a challenge to fit a reading break into the fall semester while maintaining the required number of instructional days.

But in the fall 2021 semester, the university was able to adjust to the week that “pushed the semester out” just fine, and that gave McDougall the encouragement she needed. She spoke to a former vice president external, and did research to help advocate and prepare the proposal. McDougall first presented it to the Senate during their monthly public meeting back in November 2022.

“David Johnson, the registrar, was essentially tasked with figuring out how and if a fall reading break can fit into the academic calendar which he did and brought that back in February,” said McDougall regarding the process of getting the reading break approved. Eventually, the university was able to find room in the calendar, and the proposal was voted on by the members of the board during the Feb. 10, 2023 Senate meeting.

The vote, unanimously in favour of a fall reading break, was in some ways a culmination of all of McDougall’s hard work and advocacy. This was “probably my main advocacy project as VP external, so to see all of that work that I put into advocating for a fall reading break come to fruition was really amazing,” said McDougall. “I'm really happy to see the Senate listen to the voice of students by including the fall reading break in the next fall semester.”

McDougall hopes to continue working at SUS and is running for president in the upcoming election. She wants to continue focusing on creating more engagement within the UFV community. “I think it's just very essential and important to have those kinds of connections on campus.”

Emmaline Spencer — Opinion Editor