Reading Days
Fall Reading Days are not treated the same as Spring Break at the University of Cincinnati. While traditional classes are not held, students may still be required by their colleges/departments to participate in co-curricular activities.
Inception of Reading Days
The two reading days comprise the University's response to student requests for "break days" within the fall semester. Given a variety of factors (e.g., Ohio Board of Regents regulations, college accreditation requirements, existing fall term holidays, etc.) it was just not practical or conducive to student learning for UC to remove two additional days fully from the fall academic calendar.
Therefore, the reading days were introduced beginning Fall Semester 2013 as a means for UC to be responsive to student governance input while allowing UC to meet its primary responsibility to students—which is to provide a quality educational experience.
Reading Days Policy
The reading days are not intended to be full "break days" such as during Spring Break. The reading days are not required to be or intended to be devoid of all academic activity for all students by default.
On Reading Days, UC will not hold its "standard" classes. Those structured class meetings will not take place. Yet the colleges/departments can and may require your attendance at or participation in co-curricular activities such as recitals, internships, clinicals, co-op, travel study, etc.
Not all colleges, departments, or classes will require such co-curricular activity. Doing so is at their discretion. If your college does not require your attendance or participation in these activities, then you are encouraged to use the "classes–free" days to read ahead in your classes, to study for upcoming exams, or to work on class projects.