Academic Calendar

Download the Academic Calendar in Microsoft Excel format.

2026-2027 Academic Calendar (.xlsx)

If changes occur, the linked documents will be updated.

Summer 2026 Session

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
May	TBD	TBD	Residence & Dining Halls Closed 5pm EST
May	TBD	TBD	Department/Program Assessment and Planning
May	TBD	TBD	Faculty Clearance
May	18	Monday	Formal Classes Begin for Summer-I
May	20	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course for Summer-I (without a grade of W)
May	22	Friday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
May	25	Monday	Holiday-Memorial Day (University Closed)
May	26	Tuesday	Classes Resume
May	TBD	TBD	Summer Academy Institute (SAI)
May	TBD	TBD	Summer Academy Institute (SAI)
May	5	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due for Summer-I
May	5	Friday	Withdraw from Course for Summer-I (Grade of W) Deadline
June	19	Friday	Holiday-Juneteenth (University Closed)
June	22	Monday	Classes Resume
June	22	Monday	Withdrawal from the University (No Refund) Deadline
June	22	Monday	Reading Day
June	22-24	Monday-Wednesday	Final Exams Begin for Summer-I
June	26	Friday	Summer-I Term Ends
June	29	Monday	Final Grades for Summer-I (ALL Students) Deadline
June	29	Monday	Formal Classes Begin for Summer-II
July	01	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course for Summer-I (without a grade of W)
July	03	Friday	Holiday-July 4th (University Closed)
July	06	Monday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
July	06	Monday	Classes Resume
July	17	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due for Summer-II
July	24	Friday	Withdraw from a Course for Summer-II (Grade of W) Deadline
July	24	Friday	Withdrawal from the University (No Refund) Deadline
July	TBD	TBD	New Student Orientation
July	31	Friday	Reading Day
July	03-06	Monday-Wednesday	Final Exams Begin for Summer-II
August	07	Friday	Summer-II Term Ends
August	10	Monday	Final Grades for Summer-II (ALL Students) Deadline

Summer 2026 Term II

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
June	29	Monday	Formal Classes Begin for Summer-II
July	01	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course for Summer-I (without a grade of W)
July	03	Friday	Holiday-July 4th (University Closed)
July	06	Monday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
July	06	Monday	Classes Resume
July	17	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due for Summer-I
July	17	Friday	Withdraw from a Course for Summer-II (Grade of W) Deadline
July	24	Friday	Withdrawal from the University (No Refund) Deadline
July	TBD	TBD	New Student Orientation
July	31	Friday	Reading Day
August	03-05	Monday-Wednesday	Final Exams Begin for Summer-II
August	07	Friday	Summer-II Term Ends
August	10	Monday	Final Grades for Summer-II (ALL Students) Deadline

Fall 2026 Traditional

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
August	1	Saturday	Residence Staff Report To Work
August	2	Sunday	Move in for Resident Advisors, Student Leaders, and Peer Orientation Mentors
August	3	Monday	Move in for Football and Band
August	4	Tuesday	Move in for Cross Country, Volleyball, and Cheer
August	5	Wednesday	Move in for Soccer
August	5	Wednesday	Faculty Report to Work
August	5	Wednesday	Event: Faculty & Staff Opening Institute
August	7	Friday	New & Transfer Students Report to Campus
August	7	Friday	Event: New Student Orientation (Undergraduates)
August	10-12	Monday-Wednesday	Move in & Clearance for Returning Students – 10am-3pm (No Weekend Move-Ins)
August	12	Wednesday	Formal Classes Begin
August	19	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
August	20	Thursday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
August	26	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported Due to Registrar
September	7	Monday	Holiday: Labor Day
September	8	Tuesday	Event: Opening Convocation
September	10	Thursday	Census Date
September	17	Thursday	Event: Constitution Day Observance
September	25	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Spring 2025
September	30	Wednesday	Degree Conferral Date – Summer 2025 Graduates
October	1-2	Thursday-Friday	Event: Bessie Boyd-Holman Lecture Series
October	9	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due (ALL Students)
October	12	Monday	Wellness Day
October	23	Friday	Course Evaluations Begin
October	25	Sunday	Event: Homecoming Week Begins
October	25	Sunday	Event: Homecoming Opening Worship Service
October	26	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins for Spring
October	30	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
October	30	Friday	Event: Founder’s Day Convocation
October	31	Saturday	Event: Homecoming Game
November	1	Sunday	Event: Homecoming Closing Worship Service
November	13	Friday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
November	13	Friday	Reading Day
November	16	Monday	Final Exams Begin
November	19	Thursday	Final Exams End (All Students)
November	20	Friday	Final Exams End
November	20	Friday	Fall I Session Ends
November	20	Friday	Residence Halls Close 5pm EST
November	24	Tuesday	Final Grades Due (ALL Students) By 5pm EST
November	25-27	Wednesday-Thursday	Holiday: Thanksgiving (University Closed)
December	2-4	Wednesday-Friday	Department/Program Assessment and Planning
December	4	Friday	Faculty Clearance
December	TBD	TBD	Holiday: Christmas (University Closed)

Fall 2026 Accelerated Term I

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Event
August	5	Wednesday	Faculty Report to Campus
August	5	Wednesday	Event: Faculty & Staff Opening Institute
August	7	Thursday	Event: New Student Orientation (Adult Degree Students)
August	10	Monday	Fall-I Begins
August	12	Wednesday	Formal Classes Begin
August	17	Monday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
August	17	Monday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
August	19	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
August	31	Monday	Census Date
August	31	Monday	Mid-Term Grades Due
September	2	Tuesday	Event: Opening Convocation
September	7	Monday	Holiday: Labor Day (University Closed)
September	8	Tuesday	Classes Resume
September	11	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
September	15	Tuesday	Event: Constitution Day Observance
September	18	Friday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
September	25	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Spring 2026
September	28	Monday	Final Exams Begin
September	30	Wednesday	Degree Conferral Date – Summer 2026 – All Graduates
October	5	Monday	Final Exams End
October	5	Monday	Fall-I Session Ends
October	12	Monday	Final Grades Due

Fall 2026 Accelerated Term II

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Event
September	7	Monday	Holiday: Labor Day (University Closed)
September	8	Tuesday	Classes Resume
September	18	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Spring 2026 (6 wks)
September	28	Monday	Fall-II Begin
September	30	Wednesday	Degree Conferral Date – Summer 2023 Graduates
October	5	Monday	Add/drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
October	7	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
October	TBD	TBD	Course Evaluations Begin
October	26	Monday	Academic Advisement & Spring Course Registration Begins
October	27	Monday	Mid Term Grades Due (All Students) By 5:00 pm
October	30	Friday	Withdraw From Course Deadline (Grade/W)
November	16	Monday	Final Exams Begin
November	23	Monday	Final Exams End
November	23	Monday	Fall-II Session Ends
November	25-27	Wednesday-Friday	Holiday: Thanksgiving (University Closed)
November	30	Monday	Final Grades Due (ALL Students)By 5:00 pm

Spring 2027 Traditional

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
January	1	Friday	New Years day (University Closed)
January	4	Monday	University Campus Reopens/Staff Report to Work
January	6	Wednesday	Faculty Report to Work
January	7	Thursday	Faculty Research Symposium
January	7	Thursday	New Student Orientation (Adult Degree Students)
January	7	Thursday	Residence & Dining Halls Open
January	7	Thursday	Resident Advisors, Student Leaders, Peer Orientation Mentors Move In
January	8	Friday	New and Transfer Student Orientation (Undergraduates)
January	9	Saturday	Shaw University School of Divinity Orientation (Virtual)
January	11-12	Monday-Tuesday	Returning Students Report to Campus (No Weekend Move-Ins)
January	13	Wednesday	Formal Classes Begin
January	14	Thursday	Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
January	18	Monday	Holiday: MLK, Jr. Birthday Observance (University Closed)
January	19	Tuesday	Classes Resume
January	20	Wednesday	Add/Drop Deadline (w/o grade of W)
January	20	Wednesday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
January	26-30	Tuesday – Saturday	Religious Emphasis Week
January	27	Wednesday	Never Reported Due to Registrar
January	29	Friday	Degree Conferral (Fall 2024 Graduates)
February	5	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
February	8	Friday	Census Date
February	19	Friday	Incomplete/Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Fall 2024
March	1	Monday	Final Exams Begin
March	5	Friday	Final Exams End
March	5	Friday	Mid-term Grades Due (By 5:00 pm)
March	5	Friday	Spring I Session Ends
March	8-12	Mon-Fri	Spring Break (Students and Faculty only)
March	TBD	TBD	National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
March	15	Monday	Academic Advisement Course Registration Begins for Fall/Summer
March	26	Friday	Holiday Good Friday (University Closed)
March	29	Monday	Holiday: Easter Monday (University Closed)
March	30	Tuesday	Classes Resume
March	TBD	TBD	Alexander-Pegues Minister’s Conference
March	31	Wednesday	Course Evaluations Begin (SmartEval)
April	TBD	TBD	Area Concentration Achievement Tests (ACAT)
April	TBD	TBD	Major Field Test (MFT)
April	9	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
April	15	Thursday	Awards Day
April	19	Monday	Final Exams Begin (Prospective Graduates)
April	23	Friday	Final Exams Ends (Prospective Graduates)
April	26	Monday	Final Grades Due (Graduates)
April	29	Tuesday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
April	30	Friday	Reading Day
May	3	Monday	Final Exams Begin (All Students)
May	6	Thursday	Final Exams End (All Students)
May	7	Friday	Residence and Dining Halls Close at 5 pm EST
May	7	Friday	Spring Semester Ends
May	7	Friday	Baccalaureate Service
May	7	Friday	Commencement Rehearsal
May	8	Saturday	Commencement Ceremony
May	10	Monday	Final Grades Due (All Students)
May	11-13	Tuesday – Thursday	Department/Program Assessment and Planning
May	14	Friday	Event: Faculty & Staff Appreciation
May	14	Friday	Faculty Clearance

Spring 2027 Accelerated Term I

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
January	TBD	TBD	Event: New Student Orientation (Adult Degree Students)
January	11	Monday	Spring-I Session Begins
January	11	Monday	Late Registration
January	18	Monday	Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
January	18	Monday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
January	18	Monday	Holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday Observed (University Closed)
January	20	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
January	30	Saturday	Degree Conferral Date for Fall 2025 Graduates
February	5	Friday	Census Date
February	5	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
February	8	Monday	Mid-Term Grades Due
February	15	Monday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Fall 2026
March	1	Monday	Final Exams Begin
March	5	Friday	Final Exams End
March	5	Friday	Spring-I Session Ends
March	8	Monday	Final Grades Due (ALL Students)
March	15	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins (Fall/Summer)

Spring 2027 Accelerated Term II

Month	Day	Day of Week	Event
March	8	Monday	Spring II Session Begins
March	15	Monday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
March	15	Monday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
March	15	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins for Fall/Summer
March	17	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
March	26	Friday	Holiday: Good Friday (University Closed)
March	28	Sunday	Holiday: Easter Sunday (University Closed)
March	29	Monday	Holiday: Easter Monday (University Closed)
April	16	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
April	22	Thursday	University Awards Day
April	26	Monday	Final Exams Begin
April	30	Friday	Final Exams End
April	30	Friday	Spring II Session Ends
May	2	Sunday	Event: Senior Sunday Service
May	3	Monday	Final Grades Due
May	7	Friday	Event: Baccalaureate Service
May	7	Friday	Commencement Rehearsal
May	8	Saturday	Event: Commencement Exercise
May	11–13	Tuesday–Thursday	Department/Program Assessment and Planning

Summer 2026 Term I

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
May	TBD	TBD	Residence & Dining Halls Closed 5pm EST
May	TBD	TBD	Department/Program Assessment and Planning
May	TBD	TBD	Faculty Clearance
May	18	Monday	Formal Classes Begin for Summer-I
May	20	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course for Summer-I (without a grade of W)
May	22	Friday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
May	25	Monday	Holiday-Memorial Day (University Closed)
May	26	Tuesday	Classes Resume
May	TBD	TBD	Summer Academy Institute (SAI)
June	05	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due for Summer-I
June	05	Friday	Withdraw from Course for Summer-I (Grade of W) Deadline
June	19	Thursday	Holiday-Juneteenth (University Closed)
June	22	Monday	Classes Resume
June	22-24	Monday-Wednesday	Final Exams Begin for Summer-I
June	25	Thursday	Withdrawal from the University (No Refund) Deadline
June	26	Friday	Reading Day
June	26	Friday	Summer-I Term Ends
June	29	Monday	Final Grades for Summer-I (ALL Students) Deadline

Spring 2026 Traditional

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
January	01	Thursday	Holiday: New Year’s Day (University Closed)
January	02	Friday	University Campus Reopens / Staff Report to Work
January	07	Wednesday	Faculty Report To Work
January	08	Thursday	Residence & Dining Halls Open
January	08	Thursday	Resident Advisors, Student Leaders, Peer Orientation Mentors Move-In
January	08	Thursday	New Student Orientation (Adult Degree Students)
January	08	Thursday	Faculty Research Symposium
January	09-10	Friday and Saturday	New Student Orientation (Undergraduates)
January	12-13	Monday and Tuesday	Returning Students Report to Campus
January	14	Wednesday	Formal Classes Begin
January	14	Wednesday	Late Registration
January	15	Thursday	Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
January	19	Monday	Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Observed (University Closed)
January	20	Tuesday	Classes Resume
January	21	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
January	21	Wednesday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
January	28	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
January	30	Friday	Degree Conferral Date for Fall 2024 Graduates
February	06	Friday	Census Date
February	20	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Fall 2024
March	TBD	TBD	National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
March	06	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due (By 5:00 pm)
March	09-13	Monday-Friday	Spring Break (students and teaching faculty only)
March	16	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins for Fall/Summer
April	01	Wednesday	Course Evaluations Begin (SmartEval)
April	03	Friday	Holiday: Good Friday (University Closed)
April	TBD	TBD	Area Concentration Achievement Tests (ACAT)
April	TBD	TBD	Major Field Test (MFT)
April	06	Monday	Holiday: Easter Monday (University Closed)
April	07	Tuesday	Classes Resume
April	10	Friday	Withdraw From Course Deadline (Grade of W)
April	15-17	Wednesday-Friday	Alexander-Pegues Minister’s Conference
April	16	Thursday	University Awards Day
April	20	Monday	Final Exams Begin (Prospective Graduates)
April	24	Friday	Final Exams Ends (Prospective Graduates)
April	27	Monday	Final Grades Due (Graduates)
April	30	Thursday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
May	01	Friday	Reading Day (Non-Graduates)
May	01	Friday	Final Exams Begin (All Students)
May	03	Sunday	Senior Sunday Service
May	08	Friday	Residence & Dining halls Closed 5 pm EST Spring Semester Ends
May	08	Friday	Baccalaureate Service Commencement Rehearsal
May	09	Saturday	Commencement Exercise
May	11	Monday	Final Grades Due (All Students)
May	12-14	Tuesday-Thursday	Department/Program Assessment and Planning
May	15	Friday	Event: Faculty & Staff Appreciation
May	15	Friday	Faculty Clearance

Spring 2026 Accelerated Term I

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
January	TBD	TBD	Event: New Student Orientation (Adult Degree Students)
January	12	Monday	Spring-I Session Begins
January	12	Monday	Late Registration
January	19	Monday	Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
January	19	Monday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
January	19	Monday	Holiday: Martin Luther King
January	21	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
January	30	Friday	Degree Conferral Date for Fall2024 Graduates
Feburary	09	Monday	Mid-Term Grades Due
Feburary	06	Friday	Census Date
Feburary	06	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
Feburary	20	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Fall 2024
March	02	Monday	Final Exams Begin
March	06	Friday	Final Exams End
March	06	Friday	Spring-I Session Ends
March	09	Monday	Final Grades Due (ALL Students)
March	16	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins Fall/Summer

Spring 2026 Accelerated Term II

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
March	09	Monday	Spring II Session Begins
March	16	Monday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
March	16	Monday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
March	16	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins for Fall/Summer
March	18	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
April	TBD	TBD	Course Evaluations Begin (SmartEval)
April	02-04	Wednesday-Friday	Event: Alexander-Pegues Minister’s Conference
April	06	Monday	Mid-Term Grades Due
April	10	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
April	18	Friday	Holiday: Good Friday (University Closed)
April	20	Sunday	Holiday: Easter (University Closed)
April	21	Monday	Holiday: Easter Monday (University Closed)
April	27	Monday	Final Exams Begin
April	24	Thursday	University Awards Day
April	24	Thursday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
May	01	Friday	Final Exams End
May	01	Friday	Spring II Session Ends
May	03	Sunday	Event: Senior Sunday Service
May	04	Monday	Final Grades Due
May	08	Friday	Event: Baccalaureate Service
May	08	Friday	Commencement Rehearsal
May	09	Saturday	Event: Commencement Exercise
May	12-14	Tuesday-Thursday	Department/Program Assessment and Planning

Fall 2025 Traditional

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
August	01	Friday	Athletes & Band Members & Resident Advisors Arrive to Campus & Move In
August	03	Sunday	Student Leaders & Peer Orientation Mentors
August	06	Wednesday	Faculty Report to Work
August	06	Wednesday	Event: Faculty & Staff Opening Institute
August	07	Thursday	New & Transfer Students Report to Campus
August	07-11	Thursday-Monday	New Student Orientation (Undergraduates)
August	11-12	Monday-Tuesday	Returning Students Report to Campus (No Weekend Move-Ins)
August	13	Wednesday	Formal Classes Begin
August	13	Wednesday	Late Registration
August	20	Wednesday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
August	20	Wednesday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
August	27	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
September	01	Monday	Holiday: Labor Day (University Closed)
September	02	Tuesday	Classes Resume
September	09	Tuesday	Event: Opening Convocation
September	10	Wednesday	Census Date
September	16	Tuesday	Event: Constitution Day Observance
September	26	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Spring 2024
September	30	Tuesday	Degree Conferral Date – Summer 2024 Graduates
October	10	Friday	Mid-Term Grades Due (ALL Students)
October	12	Sunday	Event: Homecoming Week Begins
October	12	Sunday	Event: Homecoming Opening Worship Service
October	13	Monday	Wellness Day
October	17	Friday	Event: Founder’s Day Convocation
October	18	Saturday	Event: Homecoming Football Game
October	19	Sunday	Event: Homecoming Closing Worship Service
October	23	Thursday	Course Evaluations Begin
October	27	Monday	Academic Advisement & Course Registration Begins for Spring
October	31	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
November	13	Thursday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
November	14	Friday	Reading Day
November	15	Saturday	Final Exams Begin
November	21	Friday	Final Exams End
November	21	Friday	Fall Session Ends
November	21	Friday	Residence Halls Close 5pm EST
November	24	Monday	Final Grades Due (ALL Students) By 5pm EST
November	26-28	Wednesday-Friday	Holiday: Thanksgiving (University Closed)
December	2-4	Tuesday-Thursday	Department/Program Assessment and Planning
December	05	Friday	Faculty Clearance
December	TBD	Monday – Friday	Holiday: Christmas (University Closed)

Fall 2025 Accelerated Term I

Month	Date(s)	Day(s)	Entry
August	04	Monday	Formal Classes Begin
August	06	Wednesday	Faculty Report to Campus
August	06	Wednesday	Event: Faculty & Staff Opening Institute
August	06	Wednesday	Refund of Tuition/Fees Deadline (100%)
August	07	Thursday	Event: New Student Orientation (Adult Degree Students)
August	11	Monday	Fall-I Begins
August	18	Monday	Add/Drop a Course Deadline (without grade of W)
August	20	Wednesday	NR (Never Reported) Due to Registrar
September	01	Monday	Holiday: Labor Day (University Closed)
September	02	Tuesday	Classes Resume
September	03	Wednesday	Census Date
September	08	Monday	Mid-Term Grades Due
September	09	Tuesday	Event: Opening Convocation
September	12	Friday	Withdraw from Course Deadline (Grade of W)
September	16	Tuesday	Event: Constitution Day Observance
September	19	Friday	Withdrawal from University Deadline (No Refund)
September	22	Monday	Final Exams Begin
September	26	Friday	Final Exams End
September	26	Friday	Incomplete Grade Removal/Conversion Deadline from Spring 2024
September	26	Friday	Fall-I Session Ends
September	29	Monday	Final Grades Due (ALL Students)
September	30	Tuesday	Degree Conferral Date – Summer 2024 Graduates

Fall 2025 Term II

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Academic Calendar

2026 – Summer Session

2026 – Fall Semester

2027 – Spring Semester

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