What is program evaluation?
Program evaluation is a systematic way of critically analyzing the value and impact of a program. The Fall Break Project was evaluated during the first three-year pilot (2016-2018).
Goals of the Fall Break project program evaluation
- Provide Senate, administrators, faculty, staff and students with additional information to help them make an informed decision about whether the Fall Break will continue after the three-year pilot.
- Inform service and program improvement initiatives to promote student success before, during, and after the Fall Break.
Fall Break program evaluation will answer
- What does a ‘good’ break look like and are we facilitating the conditions of a ‘good’ break?
- How is the Fall Break being used and what are students’ perceptions around the usefulness and value of the Fall Break?
- Is the current time and length of Fall Break meeting student needs?
Consulted groups
| Campus Wellness | CUPE Local 793 | Custodial and Ground Services |
| Faculty Association | Federation of Students (Feds) | Food Services |
| Graduate Student Association (GSA) | Graduate Student Relations Committee (GSRC) | Leadership Forum |
| Orientation advisors | Residences (including affiliated colleges and universities) | Staff Association |
| Undergraduate Student Relations Committee (USRC) | 507 faculty members | 667 students (78% undergraduate, 22% graduate) |
| 4 student consultation group sessions |
Environmental scan
The task force also conducted an environmental scan and found that all other Ontario universities have implemented a break in the fall term with 80% of those breaks being four or five days.
