MU’s 2026 fall semester Stop Day at risk of getting cut for Veterans Day
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A traditional day off for students at the end of the fall semester is at risk of being eliminated next school year.
The University of Missouri is at the beginning stages of reviewing its academic calendar for next year to be in compliance with its mandated number of academic hours for classes that meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, according to an email from Director of Undergraduate Studies James Crozier.
The school could remove “Reading Day”, also known as “Stop Day” by students and alumni, for the fall 2026 semester because of a law signed earlier this year that would make Veterans Day a holiday for UM System employees, according to an email from a university spokesman.
At its meeting on Thursday afternoon, the MU Faculty Council voted to remove Stop Day from the fall 2026 calendar. Members had to suspend their traditional rules to take the vote immediately, since the decision must be finalized before fall enrollment begins.
Crozier told ABC 17 News in an email that the change would only affect the 2026 fall semester, and would not require cancelling the spring semester’s Stop Day, or any future Reading Day.
The university is required to have 29 academic days scheduled for Tuesday/Thursday classes and 43 for Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes. Crozier indicated that Veterans Day falling on a Wednesday in 2026 is what led to the discussion, but noted that Veterans Day could again impact future Stop Day schedules, depending on how the calendar falls. He said those decisions would be made on a year-to-year basis.
A statement attributed to MU spokesman Christopher Ave indicated after the Faculty Council votes to recommend removing the day from the academic calendar, it would then go to the chancellor and president for review. If UM System President Mun Choi also recommends the change, it would be submitted to the Board of Curators for final approval.
Stop Day has been a long-standing MU tradition that gives students a day off before finals to study and catch up on classwork. However, it’s also become widely known as a social day for students.
“What I’ve heard its a great time and I’m still looking forward to it,” MU freshman Brendan Cline told ABC 17 News.
“It would be kind of a bummer if it got taken away but it would also be nice to get the day off school,” MU freshman Joshua Fenter added. “I’m sure we would still be able to do some fun stuff at the end of the year.”
Last May, large crowds on East Campus brought an increased police presence, and Columbia police handed out flyers reminding students about the city’s nuisance ordinance. Despite the possible change, many students told ABC 17 News they expect some kind of replacement event to happen if Stop Day is canceled.
“Being replaced by Veterans Day is kind of a bummer as it is, but Veterans Day is Veterans Day. You always got to honor them, but not being able to have a stop day is kind of a negative point,” MU freshman Garen Simpkins said. “I will be highly shocked if students don’t participate in that given how big a culture there is around it, even if it is Veterans Day.”