Written By Lexx Thornton
Benedict College is proudly celebrating the fifth consecutive year of its forward-thinking fall academic calendar, an approach that ensures students receive a full semester of instruction while allowing them to depart for home following the Thanksgiving break. The model, praised for its efficiency and student-centered design, eliminates the traditional December return and reduces student travel from two moves to one, creating a more economical and stress-free transition for students and families.
“Our academic calendar reflects both thoughtful planning and a deep understanding of what our students and families need. By ensuring a full, rigorous semester while giving students the ability to return home after Thanksgiving, we honor our commitment to academic excellence, efficiency, and care,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “This schedule has proven itself year after year, because it works.”
Parents and students have consistently expressed gratitude for the streamlined schedule, which remains rooted in policies first crafted during the unprecedented challenges of 2020. That year, Benedict College made national headlines for honoring its promise to the Class of 2020 by holding Spring Commencement in August, an act of commitment by President Artis that contributed to her being named President of the Year by Higher Ed Dive.
Amid global uncertainty, Benedict reshaped its academic calendar to comply with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requirement of 45 days of instruction, a limited fall break, and minor holidays to preserve the full academic experience. This innovation helped maintain the integrity of instruction while allowing students to remain home after Thanksgiving without returning for final exams.
The approach, often referred to as part of the “Benedict Bubble,” was praised for its remarkably low COVID-19 incident rate and was highlighted in the Greenville News and discussed on national PBS platforms.
At present, many peer institutions, including Claflin University, Voorhees University, South Carolina State University, Philander Smith University, Wiley University, Norfolk State University, and Tennessee State University, have adopted similar common-sense schedules. Of course, exceptions are made for student athletes competing over the break, including men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s track and field. Additionally, this year, Benedict’s football team will remain on campus as they advance in the Division II playoffs after their stunning upset of rival Wingate University last Saturday.
