Extend Winter Break for UVic Students

Due to the unique challenges of this year presented by COVID-19, many Canadian universities are giving students a longer winter break. Students at UVic would also benefit from this. It would help students begin the new semester rested and ready to learn after a tough year of adjusting to online school and life during a pandemic. This would also give many students the opportunity to quarantine properly after visiting families without missing school, thereby protecting the UVic community. Further, a longer break give faculty more time to prepare for the new term. As classes are meant to start January 6, 2021, which is a Wednesday, we propose that UVic push this date back until at least January 11, 2021.