Our view: Midwestern State University needs to institute a fall break. Students and faculty endure 61 consecutive class days in the fall while the longest uninterrupted stretch in spring is only 39 days. We should balance the semesters out and reduce fall burnout.

November is a time to be a thankful, and we couldn’t be more thankful for a break from school by the time Thanksgiving comes around because the 61-day stretch between Labor Day and Thanksgiving break is simply too long.

University administrators may be hesitant to change the calendar around, but we think most would be OK with starting classes two days early if it meant getting a four-day weekend in the break-free month of October.

Students and faculty could use the time to catch up on work before finals, or take part in service projects like students at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee did this year.

No matter how it’s used, a short break would go a long way in helping students and faculty make it through the fall semester.

Read More: Despite 61-day marathon, fall break not part of MSU culture