"If you wants to get everything over beforeChristmas, you have to start before Labor Day,"Green said. "And starting before Labor Day createsa number of problems for faculty, staff and forsome students actually."

Green said that if the academic year startedearlier, faculty members who have young childrenmight have difficulty finding child care. Andstudents might have leave their summer employmentearlier than they would like, he added.

Green noted that the faculty will consider thestudents views on the issue, but presented apessimistic outlook for the near future.

"I don't see it coming immediately," he said.

Garofalo responded that starting the fallsemester earlier could be accompanied by furthermodifications in the spring semester.

The calendar that was approved by the councilon march 6 places the last exam just a few daysearlier than it occurs now.

But, since the spring semester the council'sproposed calendar is "tentative," the end of examscould be moved up, Garofalo said.

He said the possibility of anticipating examsdepends on how long the administration is willingto allow seniors to stay on campus beforeCommencement.

The possibility of moving up Commencement aswell has also been discussed, Garofalo said,although that move would require a modification ofthe University charter.

"I do think this is a setback," Garofalo saidof the administrators," comments, "But I thinkwe're still early in the process. We're going tohave more papers proposals and advertisements toeducate."

Elizabeth T Bangs and Sarah E. ScroginContributed to this story.