Academic Calendars

General Guidelines

• Maintain 15 weeks of instruction during each semester, with no fewer than 74 days, plus one week of final exams for fall and spring semesters.
• Schedule holidays in accordance with the university's holiday policy and Iowa Code Section.

Fall Semester

• Start fall semester on the Monday two weeks prior to Labor Day, and with the following constraints observed:
  • No earlier than August 18 and no later than August 24, which is in alignment with the Iowa State Fair calendar principles,
  • Have a full week break for fall break,
    • Fall break will begin on the fourth Sunday in November encompassing the Thanksgiving holiday.
  • Hold the last day of final exams no later than December 20.

Winter Session

• Schedule a 4-week winter session.
• Begin winter session following the end of fall semester (i.e. after final exams conclude).

Spring Semester

• Begin classes on the fifth week after the end of fall semester (i.e. after finals conclude).
  • Note: Generally, classes for spring semester would begin on the third Tuesday of the calendar year (i.e. the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day); however, in years when winter session ends two weeks prior to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, spring semester classes will have to begin on the second Monday of the calendar year.
• Schedule spring break the week of the eleventh Monday of the calendar year.
• Hold last day of final exams no later than May 17.

Summer Semester

• Begin summer term the Monday immediately following the end of spring semester (i.e. after final exams conclude).

Calendar Principles Approval Review Cycle

• Principles shall be reviewed by the Registrars of the three universities every five years.
  • Note: The next review of the Calendar Principles will take place in Summer 2029.

Reviewed and approved February, 2026.