THE GROWING SEASON BEGINS IN LATE AUGUST.

Years ago, the new Calendar Year began on the first of April: perhaps that was supposed to coincide, more or less, with the spring equinox and the beginning of the growing season.  Sometime in the eighteenth century, the new (British and Colonial) Calendar Year began on the first of January: that makes for some interesting notations in genealogical records of those years, perhaps that was supposed to coincide, more or less, with the winter solstice, and that might be where the notion of April Fool arose.

In higher education, though, the new year begins when the students return after summer break.

The first day of classes, on the other hand, feels much different from the day before classes begin. The new academic year is pure potential.

This has always been my favorite time of year. When I was younger, it was a time of new beginnings and optimism, as well as new clothes, pens, pencils, books, and teachers. It’s still the best time of year – welcoming new and returning students, reconnecting with colleagues, and launching the new courses, programs, and initiatives we spent months (or years) planning.

In the academic calendar as currently understood, perhaps final examinations and job meetings coming concurrent with Christmas and New Years make that less than the most wonderful time of the year.

These days, though, that Brezhnev era joke seems fitting to the start of the academic year.  It's going to be average.  Worse than last, but better than next.