If you’ve been feeling more stressed than usual this semester, you’re not crazy. The University of North Georgia adjusted the dates for the 2024-2025 academic year, impacting both the start and end of the semester. For reference, the Fall 2024 semester began a week earlier, running from Aug. 12-16, and will end a week earlier, from Dec. 2-6, compared to last year.

Some students are feeling the pressure from the earlier start. “It did start very early this semester, it was very rushed and now we are doing midterms and I don’t even feel prepared. I think each week there is so many assignments that teachers give us and making it so much packed together,” said Caroline Mouchet, junior digital marketing major.

“I feel like it’s a bit rushed. You have a shorter amount of time to get done with all your assignments. I also feel like it takes away from Thanksgiving break,” said Aiden Coker, freshman business major.

On the flip side, some students are digging the new schedule. “I like starting earlier because I like being busy and my summer camp ended the week before I had to be back at school so it was perfect,” said Lily O’Donnell, sophomore elementary education major.

“I liked starting earlier cause I miss being back on campus and getting involved in the community. With this fall, we had our sorority recruitment this semester and I think it led to a better turn out,” said Valentina Coral, junior digital marketing major.

Even with different opinions, UNG officials say a lot of thought went into these changes. UNG found several good benefits with the new schedule. “First, the academic calendar is now aligned with other USG institutions and better aligned with eCampus, which delivers eCore.  Second, the revision allows for both the retention of the week-long fall break over the Thanksgiving holiday as well as the addition of an Academic Review day designed for exam preparation.  In addition, the new academic calendar provides a number of operational improvements, including offering reasonable time for staff to complete end-of-term processing and allowing staff availability to assist with student concerns after the term ends and before the extended university closure over the winter break,” said Steven Lloyd, vice provost of academic affairs.

“SGA has been really working with getting our events lined up with the change in the academic semester. Just really working to smooth out the changes within the different academic semesters and make it easier for students to adjust,” said Olivia Holm, junior political science major.

What many students don’t know is that the semester length didn’t actually get shorter; it just got shifted. “Moving those dates is a big task for faculty and students so unless there’s a compelling reason it will stay in place for some time,” said Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

But hey, all’s well that ends well, right?

“I like ending earlier because there’s more time at home,” said O’Donnell.

“It’s nice ending earlier cause it makes for a long break,” said Mouchet.

“The earlier we end, the better,” said Peter Vahanian, junior criminal justice major.