In an unusual move for this academic year, the University of Southern Mississippi has combined Mardi Gras and Spring Break into a single week, leaving some students disappointed but offering the potential benefit of an earlier semester end.
Typically, Mardi Gras and Spring Break fall on separate weeks, providing students with two distinct opportunities to relax during the spring semester. However, for the 2024 academic year, both breaks have been condensed into one. This decision was made during a calendar committee meeting, where the proposed academic schedule was revised to accommodate university standards and federal guidelines.
The University Registrar's office submits a draft of the academic calendar each year to the calendar committee. The committee, in turn, reviews the draft and makes adjustments to align the schedule with both the U.S. Department of Education's requirements and the university's own academic policies.
Mardi Gras break traditionally falls in late February, while Spring Break occurs the week after the second Sunday in March. This year, with the breaks landing just one week apart, the committee and the Registrar’s office decided to merge them into a single week, resulting in students finishing the semester earlier than usual.
“Consolidating the Mardi Gras and Spring Break week allows us to meet our contact minutes or come within the framework of our contact minutes,” said Greg Pierce, University Registrar. "This change lets us finish up the second week of May, approximately May 9.”
While this adjustment may allow for a slightly shorter spring semester, not all students are pleased with the change. Octavia Adams, a USM student, expressed disappointment in the loss of separate breaks, especially since she had hoped to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans for the first time.
“It’s just like a regular Spring Break, nothing special,” Adams said. “I can’t have two breaks, sadly.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether this scheduling adjustment will become a regular practice or if it will be re-evaluated in the future. The Registrar’s office has yet to announce whether the combined break will continue in upcoming academic years.