The University Senate proposes that the following principles be used to determine the University's
academic calendar.
Fall semester classes normally shall start the Tuesday after Labor Day, but when Labor Day falls
on September 6 or 7, classes shall begin the Monday before Labor Day.
Further fall semester guidelines:
- Labor Day is a holiday for those years when classes begin before Labor Day.
- Classes will be dismissed for K-Day the afternoon of the Friday following Labor Day.
- Thanksgiving break will be the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of Thanksgiving week.
- The last day of classes will be the Tuesday that falls on December 7 through 13.
- One Reading Day will be on Wednesday after the last day of classes. No formal campus
activities or events will be scheduled. No classes will be held, no papers will be due, nor
exams given. The Reading Day is for review, study, and student-faculty consultation.
- Final Exams will be scheduled on the Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
after the Reading Day.
- Fall Commencement will be held on the Saturday after the last day of classes.
Spring semester will begin on the Monday 26 days after the last day of Final Exams of the fall
semester.
Further spring semester guidelines:
- Classes will be dismissed for the afternoon of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
- Classes will be dismissed for the Thursday and Friday of Winter Carnival, beginning 11 days
before Presidents' Day.
- Spring break will be for one week following the eighth week of the semester.
- The last day of classes will be the Friday that falls on April 22 through 28.
- Final Exams will be scheduled for Monday through Friday of the week following the last day
of classes.
- Spring Commencement will be held on the Saturday following Final Exams.
Summer sessions will consist of a fourteen-week term beginning Monday, nine days after Spring
Commencement.
Further summer semester guidelines:
- Courses may be offered for the full fourteen weeks, or during two sequential seven-week
sessions.
- The seven-week sessions normally shall have Final Exams on the Friday and Saturday of
the seventh week. Courses offered for the full fourteen weeks shall have Final Exams
scheduled simultaneously with those of the second seven-week session.
- Classes will be dismissed for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July holiday.
- In exceptional cases, some summer courses such as intensive field courses may follow
alternative schedules.
The Senate will review this calendar after two years of operation.
Adopted by Senate: 15 January 2003
Referendum Results (Academic Faculty)
396 ballots sent
331 ballots returned (84%)
268 Yes votes (81% of returned ballots; 68% of eligible voters)
63 No votes (19% of returned ballots; 16% of eligible voters)
Approved by President: 24 February 2003