UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK – For a considerable time, fall break at the University of Maryland has been held on the week of Thanksgiving, raising complaints from students about its proximity to Winter Break. Detractors have claimed this timing leads to an intense crunch in the last couple weeks of classes and that it gives little time to relax during the rest of the semester. 

In a recent statement, University President Darryll Pines has shared his new vision for solving this controversy: fall break will now be held on January 28th.

“The spirit of our previous policy was always a desire for our students to share as much time with their families during the holidays as possible,” Pines explained to interviewers. “This policy would be the next logical step. By placing fall break on the 28th, we maximize the time off our Terps have for the winter holidays. We’d also be completely removing the stress of having only two weeks left after the semester break. It’s perfect!”

When asked how this would deal with the mid-semester stress fall breaks are normally intended to combat, Pines simply told interviewers to “stay fearless.”

Proponents of the new plan pointed out that moving fall break to January 28th, 2026, would give students time to celebrate key holidays, like Data Privacy Day or the time of the birthstone garnet. 

Pines also noted that if the new policy is met with success, he might explore other, later options for a break. These options included dates like February 29th, the spring semester spring break, and the time when the poet’s soul is lifted from the raven’s shadow. When asked when he would decide which of these options would be used in future semesters, Pines said he’d make something of a “game day decision” and that he’d give professors “at least 48 hours’ notice of the change” so they could alter their schedules accordingly.

Happy holidays!

Image Credits: Kenlynn Ingham