This form is brought to you by the Undergraduate Association Public Affairs Committee (UAPA) and MITvote, and will inform our discussions with MIT administration relating to
getting Election Day as a Student/Institute Holiday by starting the Fall semester one day early. Please read the following background before answering the survey question:
The first week of Fall semester is currently organized like this: Labor Day is on Monday, a day dedicated to non-first year registration is on Tuesday, then first day of classes is on Wednesday. Data does not exist on what percentage of students' registration occurs after in-person meetings with their advisor; however, we do know that over 50% (53.4%) of non-first year registrations are approved by academic advisors on Registration Day itself.
By starting classes the day after Labor Day (Tuesday), there would no longer be a dedicated day for registration for most non-first year students, similar to how Spring registration already currently is. Some schedules for pre-semester events (e.g. at the department or residential level) may be affected as well. Besides starting one day earlier and getting Election Day-- the Tuesday within November 2 to November 8-- as a Student/Institute Holiday, the rest of the Fall semester's schedule would remain unchanged.
Currently, faculty are encouraged to be flexible in their classes as they see fit on Election Day, but by no means is it required. Although many faculty offer flexibility, mandatory attendance may still be enforced, lectures do not have to be recorded, and major assignments (midterms, projects, presentations, essays) can still be due on Election Day.
