It is common knowledge around campus that Loras is the only school in Dubuque, and one of the few schools around the tri-state area, that doesn’t officially let out for the summer until May 22. While this fact disgruntles some students, the school maintains that there are some specific reasons as to why this is the case, and that there is another side to the coin.

The fact that other schools get out earlier than Loras is not a happy thought to some students here on campus, especially for the seniors, who are behind the curve  when it comes to finding summer or post-graduation jobs. The Clarke College and the University of Dubuque semesters already ended on May 8. Coe College’s school year ended May 9. Central College and St. Ambrose College students get out May 15.  But Dr. Cheryl Jacobsen, provost of Loras, says that there are a few key factors that come into play when determining the date that school gets out for the summer.

According to Jacobson, the Easter holiday plays a big part in deciding a commencement date. The date on which Easter falls during the year determines the length of spring break, and that in turn helps determine the date of commencement. If spring break is shorter, like it was this year, summer comes sooner. If spring break runs longer, then commencement is adjusted accordingly.

But Easter is not the only factor that leads to Loras getting out as far as two weeks later than the other schools.  Another is the addition of the January Term requirement in 2007, which pushed the start of the second semester back three whole weeks. But Jacobsen says that just because the January Term forces the commencement date back, it’s no reason to ignore the benefits of J-term itself.

“Students have trouble living through the academic vigor,” she said of the J-Term requirement. “You ask students to work hard and provide resources (for) them.” She explained how the addition of J-Term has improved the student mindset of hard work and dedication to academics. Some students may think of J-Term as being a vacation, but many programs offered during the period are challenging and time consuming, while at the same time, highly interesting and rewarding.

But since it seems that J-Term is here to stay, commencement is always going to happen a few weeks later than most schools. And, of course, Easter fluctuates, so that is always a variable when determining the end of the academic year.