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    Mar 28, 2024  
American University Catalog 2020-2021 
    
American University Catalog 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Calendar for On-Campus Programs


The Academic Calendar for On-Campus Programs is divided into fall and spring semesters of approximately 15 weeks each and summer sessions of varying length. The last week of the fall and spring semesters is set aside for final examinations.

The holidays and vacations observed by the university are noted below. Spring break is the week following the spring semester midterm. Classes continue until 10:40 p.m. the evening before a holiday or vacation period.

The add/drop/withdrawal, refund, grade change, and final grades schedule applies to all courses with a standard schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring). Add/drop/withdrawal, refund, and grade change dates for courses on nonstandard schedules, as well as all summer session courses, are calculated proportionately, based on the percentage of the course completed. For more information, go to: www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Refunds-for-Course-Drops-and-Withdrawals.cfm. For Summer Registration and Refund Dates go to: www.american.edu/summer/calendar.cfm. Final grades are always due 72 hours after the official end date of the course.

The Academic Calendar for On-Campus Programs applies to all undergraduate programs and graduate programs not operating under a specific academic calendar for online programs.

Note: Per the American University Spring Plan 2021 announcement of October 26, 2020, the Academic Calendar for On-Campus Programs has been revised to reflect the Spring 2021 start date of January 19, 2021 (previously January 11, 2021), the cancellation of Spring Break (previously March 7-14, 2021), and related changes to add/drop/withdrawal, refund, and grade change dates.

 
Date(s) Day(s) Event Description
August 21 F Fall: Last day to register without a late fee
August 24 M Fall: Classes begin; Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
August 28 F Fall: Late registration ends
September 4 F Fall: Last day to add a course, internship, independent reading or research, or community service-learning project; Last day to drop a course for a 100% refund and without a “W” recorded
September 7 M Fall: Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed
September 14 M Fall: Last day to withdraw from a course for a 50% refund
September 21 M Fall: Last day to withdraw from a course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
October 9 F Fall Break; no classes, university offices open
October 30 F Fall: Last day to withdraw from a course or change a grade option (end of 10th week)
October 31 S Fall: Last day to apply for graduation
November 24 T Fall: Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet
November 25 W Fall: Thanksgiving holiday; no classes
November 26-27 Th-F Fall: Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed
November 28-29 S-Su Fall: Thanksgiving holiday; no classes
December 4 F Fall: Classes end. Theses and dissertations due in Registrar’s Office for degree candidates
December 7-12 M-S Fall: Final examinations
December 13 Su Fall: Commencement Ceremony for August and December graduates
December 17 Th Fall: All full-term classes final grades due
December 24-January 3 Th-Su Fall: Winter break; university offices closed
December 31 Th Fall: Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December diplomas; no event associated with this date)
January 15 F Spring: Last day to register without a late fee
January 18 M Spring: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed
January 19 T Spring: Classes begin
Spring: Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
January 20 W Spring: Inauguration Day; no classes, university offices closed
January 22 F Spring: Late registration ends
February 1 M Spring: Last day to add a course, internship, independent reading or research, or community service-learning project
Spring: Last day to drop a course for a 100% refund and without a “W” recorded
Spring: Last day to apply for graduation
February 8 M Spring: Last day to withdraw from a course for a 50% refund
February 15 M Spring: Last day to withdraw from a course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
March 26
F Spring: Last day to withdraw from a course or change a grade option (end of 10th week)
April 26 M Spring: Classes end
April 27 T Spring: Study day; no classes
April 28-May 4 W-T Spring: Final examinations
May 7 F Spring: All full-term classes final grades due
May 7-9 F-Su Spring: Commencement Weekend Activities
May 9 Su Spring: Official Degree Award Date
May 10 M Summer: 7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin
May 17 M Summer: First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin
May 21 F Summer: Last day to add an internship, independent reading or research, or community service-learning project
May 31 M Summer: Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed
June 1 T Summer: Last day to apply for graduation
June 5 S
Summer: 3-week (C) session ends
June 26 S Summer: 7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end
June 28 M Summer: Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) sessions begin
July 5 M Summer: Independence Day (observed); no classes, university offices closed
August 7 S Summer: Second 6-week (D) session ends
August 14 S Summer: Online Learning II (F) session ends
August 14 S Summer: End of summer sessions
August 29 Su Summer: Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associated with this date)