No Midterm Break at Halloween

Dancer1991

I'm wondering what people think about classes going ahead as normal during the week of October 28th? Will there be a boycott or will the students just accept it? I know many people need that week to catch up on assignments and study and I also know a good few people have holidays booked for that week

athlonelad

Dancer1991 wrote: »

I'm wondering what people think about classes going ahead as normal during the week of October 28th? Will there be a boycott or will the students just accept it? I know many people need that week to catch up on assignments and study and I also know a good few people have holidays booked for that week

Its all a smokescreen. Doubt it will be going ahead, unless the college wants to refund people who had holidys booked

zoeenya

I have only heard this from others, I have not been informed formally. So I dont know where this information is coming from.

GreenWolfe

zoeenya wrote: »

I have only heard this from others, I have not been informed formally. So I dont know where this information is coming from.

Check your student email.

sahara24

There's been no official email sent to students and the academic calendar on the website still includes the mid term break. However in saying that, on our timetable you'll see small numbers for each class ie: 1-8, 10-13 but this is now changed to 1-13...week 9 was the week of the 28 October. Looks like we might not get a mid term break...

wesf

I don't think it will go ahead, there will be some form of boycott at least! A lot of chinese students in my class have flights booked to various destinations, not to mention people with kids who will be off school for the week.

Uberbeamerman

athlonelad wrote: »

Its all a smokescreen. Doubt it will be going ahead, unless the college wants to refund people who had holidys booked

I really do hope the college refund me for the week long trip I was thinking of taking.......to the Four Seasons.....in the Bahamas :rolleyes:

athlonelad

All inclusive package id presume!
But on a serious note...alot of the Chinese and other international students do have flights home booked

paul9mm

This is the email that was sent to all students last week from registration@ait.ie:

Change to the Academic Calendar for 2013-2014 – an important message for all students

Due to the Haddington road agreement the mid-term break scheduled to commence on the 28th October 2013 will be a regular teaching week, and all classes, practicals, and tutorials will continue as normal. Please watch your student email over the coming days for confirmation of this change. An updated academic calendar will be issued by the Registrar over the coming days, and can be viewed on the Athlone I.T webpage.

The information contained in this email is confidential and is designated solely for the attention of the intended recipient(s). If you have received this email in error, please do not use or transmit it for any purpose but rather notify us immediately and delete all copies of this email from your computer system(s). Unless otherwise specifically agreed by our authorised representative, the views expressed in this email are those of the author only and shall not represent the view of or otherwise bind Athlone Institute of Technology. Contact administrator@ait.ie or telephone 090 6468000.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

So you have 13 weeks instead of 12. Big deal. They aren't exactly asking you to go mine salt in Siberia.

BadmanRiddim

Terrible carry on!

One Life

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

So you have 13 weeks instead of 12. Big deal. They aren't exactly asking you to go mine salt in Siberia.

Not much notice though for those with plans!

wesf

Jolie Microscopic Velvet wrote: »

So you have 13 weeks instead of 12. Big deal. They aren't exactly asking you to go mine salt in Siberia.

People with flights booked home, people with children who will be off school that week, very short notice. It's not just having an extra week.

paul9mm

In case anyone's email is still not active, just got this email from AIT SU:

" Hello Everyone,

Firstly apologies for not been in touch sooner in relation to the issue over midterm break. AITSU has been doing work behind the scenes to get the facts of the email which was sent to students last Thursday. AITSU found out at 11 o clock last Thursday and this was the first time we had been notified on the matter. I am sure you are all aware from the email that was sent to all students stating that the Lecturers signed an agreement called Haddington Road which means lecturers have to do 78 extra working hours. A decision was taken by head management to implement these hours into the mid term break (29thOct-1st Nov)The background on mid term break is that back several years ago an agreement was made that all of lecturers religious holidays were put into the last week in October. Under Haddington Road all religious holidays for academic staff are abolished. I met with the president of the college last Friday requesting that this week be a tutorial week and explained how many students would be effected if this change was implemented especially as the academic calendar was all ready in play and many of our students had all ready made plans. He told me that there was nothing that he could do and that the matter was out of his hands. However AIT have effectively jumped the gun as a letter from the Department of Education to say when the Haddington Road agreement will commence is yet to be issued. The situation is up in the air at the minute as if this letter is not issued before mid term or if it is issued and does not state that Haddington Road comes into effect before the 29th of October then lecturers will not have to put on class. I would appreciate if anyone who would be effected by this change would email me on the reason why and i will make sure the president is made aware of the impact this change will have. All i can say is that AITSU is monitoring the situation and will keep students up to date on the matter but we are hopeful that it will be resolved internally over the next week. Any further questions dont hesitate in dropping me a mail.

Kind Regards,

Daniel Coulter"

Smarmy

We have asked most of our lecturers about this and they say that if it does happen they will not be covering anything new that week, so if anyone does not come in they won't miss anything

kellz1

will we still get the bank holiday monday then?

Uberbeamerman

kellz1 wrote: »

will we still get the bank holiday monday then?

Yes the Bank Holiday remains

dobman88

I cant believe Adults in their late teens+ are complaining about a mid term break. You are not 10 years old anymore. Will ye be asking yer future employers for Halloween off too?? Ridiculous

wesf

dobman88 wrote: »

I cant believe Adults in their late teens+ are complaining about a mid term break. You are not 10 years old anymore. Will ye be asking yer future employers for Halloween off too?? Ridiculous

What part of it's more than just asking for time off didn't you understand?!

dobman88

wesf wrote: »

What part of it's more than just asking for time off didn't you understand?!

Ah you were the person who either has flight booked to China or has the kids off school? I will ask the same question again, would you ask your future employer for Halloween off just because the kids are off and it isn't short notice, you have 3 weeks to either cancel/re schedule the flights or get a babysitter

wesf

No I am neither of those things, but I think about the situation, something you seem incapable of.
Your comparison doesn't apply. Obviously someone wouldn't book something before checking with an employer. But if your employer gave you a week off, you go book holidays, then they come back to you at short notice telling you "hey you know what, that week off is cancelled". Is that easier to understand?!

dobman88

wesf wrote: »

No I am neither of those things, but I think about the situation, something you seem incapable of.
Your comparison doesn't apply. Obviously someone wouldn't book something before checking with an employer. But if your employer gave you a week off, you go book holidays, then they come back to you at short notice telling you "hey you know what, that week off is cancelled". Is that easier to understand?!

Yes, and I would still go, employer cant fire you for that, they might not like it but c'est la vie. Students can choose whether or not to go and get their precious mid term without the fear of a boss having a go at them. Students are too well looked after in this country anyway, aren't ye just back from summer holidays?

SilverScreen

The idea of a mid-term break always appeals to me in theory. But I've always found myself using that week to study and do projects and assignments, so I don't get away from college anyway. Mid-term break or not probably won't make much difference to me.

thegreatgonzo

dobman88 wrote: »

I cant believe Adults in their late teens+ are complaining about a mid term break. You are not 10 years old anymore. Will ye be asking yer future employers for Halloween off too?? Ridiculous

I have arranged to go home to look after my elderly dad who has a degenerative illness so my mum who is a full time carer can have a few days off. I know I'm not the only one who has family responsibilities who will be inconvenienced by this. I never miss a lecture even if I'm sick myself so I think I'm justifiably annoyed by this prospect.

Uberbeamerman

I don't know are people taking into consideration graduation (which means people will be getting the Thursday and Friday of the preceding week off) and that the following Monday is a Bank Holiday...

You will still get a (very) long weekend to study/holiday...essentially there will be 3 and a half days of lectures (nothing really gets done on a Friday afternoon anyway).

Dmartin22196

Get off your high horse dobman88

athlonelad

dobman88 wrote: »

. Students are too well looked after in this country anyway, aren't ye just back from summer holidays?

How exactly are students too well looked after? My bet is you never went to college and deep down you resent this

10wry

dobman88 wrote: »

Students are too well looked after in this country anyway, aren't ye just back from summer holidays?

Because third level education is free isn't it? By the sounds of it you're one of those people who slog through a medial job for peanuts, angry at the world for your misfortune.

Grow up.

zoeenya

Well looked after haha! With the college fees rising and our own incomes diminishing. Who is this person!!!????