Winter Break 2025

This page provides important guidance for faculty teaching in the 11/17/25 and 12/15/25 module starts during Winter Break (December 22–28, 2025). It includes instructions for adjusting due dates, setting up Yellowdig, managing grading timelines, and responding to student communication after the break.

⭐Faculty Expectations

➡️Communication Expectations

Faculty are not expected to respond to student messages via Canvas or SMS during Winter Break (December 22–28, 2025). However, students may still reach out during this time, and it’s important to set clear expectations with them in advance.

Please plan to:

Let students know that you will be unavailable during the break.
Respond to all student messages received during the break by Tuesday, December 30 at 11:59 PM Pacific.
Share this information with students via an announcement, Canvas inbox, or SMS before the break begins.

This helps maintain transparency and ensures students are aware of when to expect a response.

Grading and Feedback Expectations

Faculty are not required to provide grading or feedback during Winter Break (December 22–28, 2025). While assignments may still be due just before the break, the standard four-day grading window is adjusted to accommodate the holiday.

Please note:

For assignments due on December 21, feedback and grades should be provided within four working days after the break. Since January 1 is a holiday, we are extending the timeline slightly — grades and feedback will be due no later than Friday, January 2, 2026, effectively giving you five days instead of four.
This applies to:
- Week 5 of the 11/17/25 module
- Week 1 of the 12/15/25 module

Be sure to inform students of this adjusted timeline so they understand when to expect feedback and grades after the break.

Due Date Adjustments

Winter Break is December 22-28, 2025. Nothing is due between Monday, December 22 through Sunday, December 28, 2025. All due dates in this frame and subsequent weeks will need to be MANUALLY adjusted to ONE WEEK LATER.

Watch the following video to learn how to change due dates in Canvas.

➡️11/17/25 Module Start

During the 11/17/25 module start, winter break occurs between Week 5 and 6. *** denotes an adjustment needs to be made. It is still a good practice to double check all due dates in Canvas to ensure they align accordingly.

The weeks should end as follows:

Week 1 ends Nov. 23

Week 2 ends Nov. 30

Week 3 ends Dec. 7

Week 4 ends Dec. 14

Week 5 ends Dec. 21

Week 6 ends Jan 4***

Week 7 ends Jan 11***

Week 8 ends Jan 16 (Final grades due Friday, Jan. 16)***

12/15/25 Module Start

During the 12/15/25 module start, winter break occurs between Week 1 and 2. *** denotes an adjustment needs to be made. It is still a good practice to double check all due dates in Canvas to ensure they align accordingly.

The weeks should end as follows:

Week 1 ends Dec. 21

Week 2 ends Jan 4***

Week 3 ends Jan 11***

Week 4 ends Jan. 18***

Week 5 ends Jan. 25***

Week 6 ends Feb. 1***

Week 7 ends Feb. 8***

Week 8 ends Feb. 13 (Final grades due Friday, Feb. 13)***

Yellowdig Adjustments

If you are using Yellowdig in the 11/17/25 or 12/15/25 module starts, you’ll need to adjust the earning windows to account for Winter Break (December 22–28, 2025). Please follow the following steps.

➡️11/17/25 Module Start

Step 1:

Instead of 8 earning periods, change the earning periods to 9.
- Go to Settings
- Select Point System
- First Day to Earn Points:11/17/24 Mon-12:00AM- Start of Day
- Last Day to Earn Points: 1/18/25 Sun-11:59PM-Midnight as the end time.

Step 2:

Select View/Edit Periods.

Step 3:

Select Edit Periods

Step 4:

Select Week 5 and Week 6 to merge.

Click Merge Periods

Note: Once the periods are merged, you should now see a total of 8 earning periods with 8000 points possible. Week 5 earning window will start Monday, Dec 15 and Week 6 will start Dec. 29.