Academic Calendar Guidelines

 

  • A fall/spring semester should contain a minimum of 74 scheduled instructional days, plus a week for finals. The first half and second half of the fall and spring semesters should be of equal length.
  • Finals Week should begin on a Monday and close on a Friday.
  • Commencement should be schedule on the Friday of finals in the summer, fall and spring semesters, when possible.
  • The Spring Break should be in conjunction with the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Cedar Falls/Waterloo School systems. If Cedar Falls and Waterloo are not coordinated, Allen College should schedule Spring Break in conjunction with UNI. The Spring Break need not occur at mid-semester. 
  • The Thanksgiving Break should be for the full week in which Thanksgiving Day occurs. Classes should resume at 8:00 a.m. on the Monday following Thanksgiving.
  • The fall semester (including final examinations) should end no later than December 21. Commencement should be held no later than December 21.
  • The spring semester (including final examinations) should end no later than May 11. Commencement should be held no later than May 11.
  • The first instructional day of the spring semester is the second Monday in January.

Academic Calendars