MSU Provost Kim Wilcox said freshmen and transfer students would begin moving into the dorms Sunday and returning students would move in Monday. Classes would begin Wednesday.

But Willis, a nursing junior, said Welcome Week isn’t all about parties. After coming to MSU as a sophomore transfer student, he said the time before classes begin is a valuable transition time. His sister is an MSU freshman this year, and he said he took some of the time to show her around campus in the fall.

Wilcox said although the academic calendar is set by the administration, they intend to make an informed decision after consulting many different bodies on campus.

“It’s been interesting to me that everyone we’ve talked with has taken the question very seriously and everyone has endorsed the idea,” he said. “People clearly see the benefits.

“Some students may regret losing some of the freedoms, but for most returning students, they’ll move back when they want to anyway.”

Caitlin Costello, a social relations and policy and journalism junior, said it was nice having a few days before classes started to get acclimated to the university, but she can see why administrators are concerned.

“People definitely get out of control at times, but there’s not much that can actually be done about it,” she said.

Wilcox said he sees the entire fall semester as a time of transition for new students.

“One of the potential benefits of starting classes on a Wednesday is that (it) would help provide structure in the days and lives of students new to campus earlier than in the past,” he said.

The university break for Labor Day, which comes shortly after classes begin in the fall, would give students a taste of their classes before they go home and reorient themselves with their families, Wilcox said.

ASMSU Student Assembly Chairperson Mike Leahy said a reduced Welcome Week would leave a short time for students to move in, find out where their classes are and get situated.

“This really affects students very directly,” he said. “I hope the administration pays serious attention to the voice of students.”

For international students who arrive on campus before domestic students, the time before classes is used as an orientation and information session.

Ravi Ammigan, assistant director for the Office for International Students and Scholars, said the orientation takes place during four to five days and is meant to give students as much information as possible before the academic year begins.

“The International Student Orientation is designed to provide special services to help introduce new international students to the campus and the East Lansing community,” he said. “Our staff is aware of the challenges associated with studying in another country and we do our best every year to welcome our students.”

International students would continue to move in before domestic students, Wilcox said.

At Tuesday’s Executive Committee of Academic Council meeting, June Youatt, senior associate provost, said the later move-in date will not affect those students who arrange to move in early because of work, marching band or other circumstances.

The proposed changes to the academic year start date also impact the issue of creating a fall break because two days will be lost during the fall semester. ASMSU has been advocating for a fall break, Leahy said.

The changes will reduce the fall semester by two days, setting it at 72 days. Spring semester would remain 74 days.

“By moving the date, school starts later, it makes that plan pretty much impossible,” he said. “It’s something that could really benefit students, but unfortunately it could be a casualty at this point.”

Tom Wibert, East Lansing’s police chief, said the weekend before classes begin is the busiest of the year and he would welcome a reduced Welcome Week.

“Really, most of the problem with Welcome Week are people with no vested interest with East Lansing or the university coming and basically ruining the reputation of students,” he said.

A shortened time could reduce the chance of people from out of town coming and causing problems, he said.

Of the almost 600 alcohol-related citations given during Welcome Week last fall, 58 percent were for people with no university affiliation.

The Department of Student Life, along with university organizations, puts on a slew of Welcome Week activities for students including Spartan Spirit, Midnight Madness, U-Fest, Sparticipation and student engagement sessions.

Mark Dobson, Residence Halls Association president, said some of the programs might change with the reduced time.

“There’s an element of tradition and some things we won’t lose at all,” he said. “What some people view as fillers are genuinely good opportunities for students.”

Angela Brown, director of University Housing, said residence hall mentors and university staff would make arrangements to ensure that things are ready on move-in days.

But Dobson said the Sunday move-in date could result in a bigger cost in order to pay for the overtime of University Housing employees.

The proposal also includes the potential for cost cuts. If the residence halls are open for a shorter period of time, utilities such as electricity and water will be used less. Meal plan and housing costs also could be potentially reduced to reflect the decrease in the number of academic calendar days.

“Our whole forecast of expenses is based on the number of days students are in the residence halls,” Brown said. “If there are less days, it will be adjusted.”

Depending on what the university decides, Brown said they might look at adjusting the move-in schedule by coordinating times for an alphabetical move-in, in an effort to best suit everyone.

Prior to the proposal, the Department of Residence Life was looking to make changes to the move-in process, such as streamlining the paperwork process, she said.

“We’re putting a lot of the competition of paperwork online,” Brown said. “It’s one less thing for students to do when they arrive on campus.”

With a shorter period between move in and the beginning of classes, Leahy said there will be less time for things such as trips to Meijer and the MSU Computer Store, building lofts and academic advising appointments.

“It’s already a madhouse out there,” Leahy said. “How to make it run smoothly needs to be addressed.”