By Kiley Petracek
TAMPA, Fla. –– The University of Tampa is adjusting the 2026 spring break dates to reflect the Hillsborough County Public Schools’ schedule, which lies on March 15–22.
It will now be a week later than annually planned.
This decision has been discussed within the Faculty Senate since last year.
The Faculty Senate sent a motion in which the administration raised concerns about how this change would affect seven-week spring courses. Later, senior university administration concluded this change makes sense for the university community.
Faculty Senate president and professor of sociology Ryan Cragun said this decision is in the best interest of faculty with children.
“When a faculty member’s kids are on spring break, the faculty member has to find childcare (or bring them to class),” said Cragun. “There is also the issue of not being able to spend time with one’s kids since the kids are on break when the faculty member is working and the faculty member is on break when the kids are back in school. The result is not a family-friendly work environment.”
The other primary factor for this decision is its impact on student’s internship experiences.
“The students don’t want to intern during their spring break when Hillsborough County schools are still in session, and the students can’t intern when Hillsborough County schools are on spring break,” said Cragun.
The Faculty Senate also voted to approve the motion for a fall break adjustment in November, requesting to take the entirety of Thanksgiving week off. This motion is now waiting for administration consideration.
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Madeira Beach in St. Petersburg circa March 2018. Photo courtesy of Kiley Petracek