How Professors Spend Spring Break

By Steven-Ross Bugayung | Published February 25, 2023

When it comes to Spring Break, some students plan to vacation, hang out with friends or relax. For others, it means a week’s getaway from the daily responsibility of schoolwork. 

At Kean, the 2023 spring break from March 4-12 brings a sigh of relief to students and staff as the semester hits the midway point. 

There have been conversations about students traveling out of state and out of the country, returning home to their family and friends, or even traveling to Atlantic City. 

What’s hardly talked about, though,  is what does the faculty do during Spring Break? Will they join the student’s sentiments of enjoying the week off, or are they doing something completely different and possibly boring? 

Suzanne Schwab, a communication professor who’s been teaching at Kean for 10 years, says spring break is a time to refresh and reflect.

“I’m using this spring break to prepare for the rest of the semester while also working on the new sport’s minor that will be available soon to students at Kean,” Schwab said. 

Dr. Joshua Guitar, a communication professor who is in his second semester at Kean, is taking a family trip for spring break.

“I’m going on a family trip to North Carolina,” Guitar said. “However, I will still be working on my commute grading papers, but I will have some family time—worky work busy bee.” 

Meanwhile, Professor Courtney Atkins hopes to follow Dr. Guitars’ sentiment while balancing their obligations as professors and enjoying their breaks by attending some of the St. Patrick’s Day events.

“I’ll spend Spring Break grading assignments, reviewing honors society applications, and planning for upcoming registration,” Atkins said. “On the weekends, I plan to attend some local town St. Patrick’s Day parade events.”

Atkins said she plans to visit her favorite bakery for St. Joseph pastries, a seasonal treat that is available in March. 

“They were my Grandma’s favorite, and I like to celebrate her memory this time of year,” Atkins said. “She always said the saying, ‘March rolls in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.’” 

Unlike some of the tenured professors here at Kean, some adjunct professors will spend the spring break teaching at other schools while keeping up with the theme of grading schoolwork.

Dan Bergsagel, an adjunct professor, who has been teaching at the Michael Graves College of Design for almost two years, says he is using the spring break to work his other jobs.

But with a whole week of no classes, it’s hard to believe that most professors will work the entire spring break. There is no break for some professors, but to others, it’s all about balance.

Dr. Allison Edgley, a communication professor, says she has yet to make definite plans for spring break but states that grading never stops, and she hopes to make the best of her time during spring break.

“For the most part, I am going to be relaxing, grading, going to the gym and maybe hanging out in the Poconos, and going to a water park,” Edgley said.

Most students get stressed out with the workload throughout the semester, but spring break is a time away from that. Like students, the professor can also succumb to the semester’s stress. Even though work doesn’t stop for them, one can hope they can also find time to relax and enjoy spring break.

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