The University of California, Davis, has adopted new academic calendars to start classes in sync with at least four of its sister UC campuses beginning in fall 2007.

The move will allow students to more easily take advantage of off-site programs -- such as Education Abroad and UC Washington programs -- and enroll in courses at other UC campuses as visiting students. In 2004, the UC Academic Senate suggested that campuses align their academic calendars.

UC Davis' new academic calendars will replace the previously established calendar for 2007-08 and govern the academic years through 2010-11. The changes apply to the fall, winter and spring quarters. Professional schools and summer instruction are not affected.

The new calendars eliminate the need for confusing make-up days when national holidays fall on a Monday, reduce final exam days from six to five and add another exam period each day, lengthen spring break from five days this year to eight days, move fall commencements from Sunday to Saturday and keep spring commencements from falling on Father's Day after 2007-08.

Four other campuses on the quarter system -- Irvine, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Diego -- are already on board with the plan. UC Davis Registrar Frank Wada said Berkeley and Merced are on semester systems and therefore will develop their own common start date.

Apart from the start of instruction, all other items on the academic calendar -- such as the beginning of the quarter, the last day of instruction, final exams and commencements -- remain at the discretion of each campus.

Fred Wood, interim vice provost for undergraduate studies at UC Davis, said campus planning included consultations with the Academic Senate, Undergraduate Council, faculty, students and representatives of each undergraduate college.

"It was a challenge for us to compress the academic year to be in alignment with the systemwide calendar," Wood said.

However, he added that one of the major benefits of the new UC Davis calendars is that students will complete the academic year a week earlier. "Students will have the option of beginning summer employment earlier," he said, "and many faculty and graduate students can turn their full attention to their research."

To view the complete calendars and a fact sheet, visit http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/html/academic_calendar.html.