Academic Calendar

We designed our 3-3 academic calendar to give our students both depth and flexibility in their academic pursuits.

In each of our three 10-week terms students take only three courses (hence the 3-3), giving them time and energy for a deeper level of study than what is often possible with a semester schedule. Each course is the equivalent of a semester's worth of work. Faculty members teach only two courses each term, giving them more time for one-on-one mentoring.

The long break between the fall and winter terms lets students engage in career and graduate school exploration, pursue an independent research project, take advantage of an internship, or pursue one of our off-campus study opportunities.

2026-2027 Academic Calendar
2027-2028 Academic Calendar

Fall Term 2026 

September 3, Thursday            
International students arrive.  

September 4-7, Friday-Monday            
International Pre-Orientation Program (IPOP)   

September 8, Tuesday            
New students arrive.  

September 8-13, Tuesday-Sunday
New student orientation.

September 12, Saturday
Residence halls open for returning students.

September 14, Monday
8:00 a.m. Classes begin
11:00 a.m. Opening Convocation

[Fall Advising / Winter Pre-enrollment - Oct. 12-Oct. 23] 

October 21, Wednesday
Fall Institute (no classes)

October 22-25, Thursday-Sunday 
Homecoming & Friends and Family Weekend

November 17, Tuesday
Classes end

November 18, Wednesday       
Reading Day I

November 19, Thursday
Reading Day II

November 20-22, Friday-Sunday         
Final examination period I

November 23, Monday        
Winter vacation begins.
Board ends with breakfast. Residence halls close.

Winter Term 2027 

January 2, Saturday
Residence halls open. 

January 4, Monday
Classes begin

January 18, Monday 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation 
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Harbach Theatre, Center for the Fine Arts

February 10, Wednesday
Day of Dialogue (no class meetings)

[Winter Advising / Spring Pre-enrollment - Feb. 8-Feb. 19] 

March 9, Tuesday
Classes end

March 10-11, Wednesday, Thursday 
Reading Days

March 12-14, Friday-Sunday
Final examination period

March 15, Monday
Vacation begins.
Board ends with breakfast. Residence halls close.

Spring Term 2027 

March 24, Wednesday
Classes begin

[Spring Advising / Fall Pre-enrollment - Apr. 26-May 7] 

May 27, Thursday
Classes end

May 28-29, Friday-Saturday
Reading Days

May 30- June 1, Sunday-Tuesday
Final examination period

June 2, Wednesday
Residence halls close and board ends with lunch except for seniors and those with permission from Dean of Students.

June 2, Wednesday
1:00 p.m. Senior grades due

June 6, Sunday
Commencement
Residence halls close. No meals served.

Summer Term 2027

June 9, Wednesday
Session I Classes begin

July 2, Friday
Session I Classes end; Final Examination

July 5, Monday
July 4th holiday (no class meetings)

July 6, Tuesday
Session II Classes begin

July 13, Tuesday
1:00 p.m. Session I grades due

July 29, Thursday
Session II Classes end; Final Examination

August 4, Wednesday
1:00 p.m. Session II grades due