The academic year consists of two semesters, each containing fourteen weeks of instruction and a fifteenth week devoted to examinations. The first semester begins in late August and ends in mid-December; the second semester begins in January and ends in early May. Summer course offerings consist of two 5 week sessions as well as various academic study programs offered across the curriculum. A detailed calendar including dates of recesses and special academic days is included in the catalogue, and may be found elsewhere on the website.
| 2020-2021 Academic Calendar | |
| Fall Semester 2020 | |
| Opening Faculty Meeting | August 19, Wednesday |
| Orientation for New Students | August 20-25, Thursday - Tuesday |
| Opening Convocation *Formal Academic Occasion* | August 22, Saturday |
| Classes Begin | August 26, Wednesday |
| Drop/Add Period Ends | September 1, Tuesday |
| Enrollment Clearance Ends | September 1, Tuesday |
| Pass/Fail Option Ends | October 30, Friday 5 p.m. |
| Extended Drop Period Ends | September 15, Tuesday, 5 p.m. |
| Withdraw Period Begins | September 16, Wednesday |
| Last Day to Remove Conditional Grades | September 23, Wednesday |
| End of First Seven Weeks | October 14, Wednesday |
| Mid-Term Grades Due | October 16, Friday, 5 p.m. |
| Fall Recess - No Travel * | October 21, Wednesday |
| Classes Resume | October 22, Thursday |
| Spring 2021 Registration Begins | October 28, Wednesday |
| Withdraw Period and Pass/Fail Option End | October 30, Friday 5 p.m. |
| Thanksgiving Recess Begins-Students Return Home | November 24, Tuesday, 10 p.m. |
| Classes Resume Remotely | November 30, Monday |
| Classes End | December 4, Friday, 10 p.m. |
| Reading Days | December 5-6, Saturday-Sunday |
| Final Examinations | December 7 - 11, Monday - Friday |
| End of Fall Semester | December 11, Friday |
| Final Grades Due | December 14, Monday, 9 a.m. |
| Spring Semester 2021, Revised Calendar | |
| Orientation for New Students Begins | January 21, Thursday |
| Classes Begin | January 27, Wednesday |
| Enrollment Clearance Ends | February 2, Tuesday, 5 p.m. |
| Last Day to Add a Class | February 2, Tuesday, 5 p.m. |
| Extended Drop Period Begins | February 3, Wednesday |
| Pass/Fail Option Ends | February 16, Tuesday, 5 p.m. |
| Extended Drop Period Ends | February 16, Tuesday, 5 p.m. |
| Withdraw Period Begins | February 17, Wednesday |
| Last Day to Remove Conditional Grade | February 23, Tuesday |
| Spring Break | March 1-2, Monday-Tuesday |
| End of First Seven Weeks | March 16, Tuesday |
| Mid-Term Grades Due | March 18, Thursday, 5 p.m. |
| Spring/Easter Recess Begins | March 31, Wednesday, 10 p.m. |
| Spring/Easter Recess Ends | April 5, Monday, 8 a.m. |
| Fall 2021 Pre-Registration Opens | April 7, Wednesday |
| Withdraw Period Ends | April 9, Friday, 5 p.m. |
| Awards Convocation *Formal Academic Occasion* | April 30, Friday |
| Rhodes Symposium | |
| Classes End | April 30, Friday, 10 p.m. |
| Final Examinations Begin | May 3, Monday |
| Reading Day | May 6, Thursday |
| Final Examinations End/End of Semester | May 8, Saturday |
| Final Grades Due | May 10, Monday, 9 a.m. |
| Baccalaureate | May 14, Friday |
| Commencement | May 15, Saturday |
| Summer 2021 Term | |
| Summer Session I | |
| Classes Begin | May 17, Monday |
| Last Day to add | May 18, Tuesday |
| Drop and Pass/Fail End | May 21, Friday |
| Memorial Day Holiday/No Classes | May 31, Monday |
| Withdraw Period Ends | June 4, Friday |
| Classes End | June 18, Friday |
| Final Exams | June 19, Saturday |
| Final Grades Due | June 21, Monday, NOON |
| Summer Session II | |
| Classes Begin | Wednesday, June 23 |
| Add Period Ends | June 24, Thursday |
| Drop and Pass/Fail End | June 29, Tuesday |
| Independence Day Holiday/No Classes | July 5, Monday |
| Withdraw Ends | July 13, Tuesday |
| Classes End | July 27, Tuesday |
| Final Exams | Wednesday, July 28 |
| Final Grades Due | July 30, Friday, NOON |
| Full Summer Session Final Grades Due | August 6, Friday, 5 p.m. |
| Pre-Mester 2021 | |
| Student Move-In | July 25, Sunday |
| First Day of Class | July 26, Monday |
| End of Pre-Mester Term | August 13, Friday |