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University Policy Manual

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Effective: August 15, 2024

Purpose: To outline the requirements for the yearly academic calendar.

Scope: This policy applies to the University campus wide.

Responsible Office: Academic Affairs

Policy Statement: Days designated during final exam week may not be counted as teaching days. Furthermore, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Labor Day are State of Kansas and national holidays. Veteran’s Day is a State of Kansas holiday, and the Board of Regents set the Wednesday before Thanksgiving as an academic holiday. To accomplish the creation of a calendar under these conditions it was determined that the academic calendar should be changed as follows:

  • An academic calendar is created by allotting a minimum of seventy-three (73) teaching days in each of two (2) semesters.
  • Veteran’s Day is a holiday.
  • Final exams will be held on five (5) consecutive days (Monday through Friday) of the last week of the semester after the completion of at least seventy-three (73) teaching days.
  • A Thursday-Friday Fall Break will be held in October.
  • Fall/Thanksgiving Break will be held on three (3) consecutive days (Wednesday through Friday) of the week that contains Thanksgiving Day.
  • The start date for the fall semester must be such that grades are due at noon on the Tuesday that follows final exam week and that Tuesday must be on or before December 22.
  • Spring Break will be held on five (5) consecutive days (Monday through Friday) during a week in March.
  • No days will be designated as study days or dead days.
  • The week immediately preceding final exam week in the fall and spring semester is designated as non-activity week. Faculty are urged to avoid examinations or major assignments, if possible. Student activities will also be permitted only with the permission of the dean of the appropriate college/school.

Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in another University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.

Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Academic Affairs. 

[Academic Affairs - coming soon]

Related Policy Information: [coming soon]

History and Revisions

Adoption Date:
04/02/1991 [FSB 91001 approved by President and included in UPM as Policy 4E.16]
Revision Date:
04/25/1999 [FSB 98020 approved by President revising Policy 4E.16]
04/04/2005 [FSB 04006 approved by President 4E.16]
10/20/2006 [FSB 06001 approved by President 4E.16]
03/21/2011 [FSB 10006 approved by President 4E.16]
08/15/2024 [Policies 4E.16 and 4E.1602 combined as part of UPM Revision]