2015–2016 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The academic calendar 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 academic calendar for the Washington College of Law (WCL) of
American University varies from this general schedule, and its key dates are noted below in italics. For the full WCL academic calendar, please go
to: www.wcl.american.edu/registrar/.
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.
Note: The refund/withdrawal schedule applies to all courses with a standard schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring).
Refunds/withdrawals for courses on nonstandard schedules (including MBA modules), as well as all summer session courses, are calculated
proportionately, based on the percentage of the course completed. For more information, please go to:
www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Refunds-for-Course-Drops-and-Withdrawals.cfm.
FALL SEMESTER 2015
August 1
August 22-30
August 24
August 28
August 31
S
S–Su
M
F
M
September 1
September 4
September 7
September 9
September 14
T
F
M
W
M
September 21
September 28
M
M
October 1
October 9
October 16
October 16–18
October 24
October 26
October 31
November 1
November 5
November 6
November 15
November 24
November 25–29
December 3
December 4
Th
F
F
F-Su
S
M
S
Su
Th
F
Su
T
W–Su
Th
F
December 7–8
December 8
December 9
December 10–12
December 10–17
December 14
December 16
December 17
December 19
December 21
December 24–
January 3
M–T
T
W
Th–S
Th–Th
M
W
Th
S
M
Th-Su
Payment due for fall 2015
Welcome Week
WCL: First day of classes
Last day to register for fall without a late fee
Fall classes begin
Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
Undergraduate transfer spring 2016 semester admission application deadline for students living outside the U.S.
Late registration for fall ends
Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed
Mathematics Equivalency Examination
Last day to add a fall course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Last day to drop a fall course for a 50% refund
Last day to drop a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
Early warning notices due in Registrar's Office
Freshman spring 2016 semester admission application deadline
Fall Break; no classes, university offices open
Last day to drop a fall course or change a grade option (mid-term)
All-American Weekend
Writing Proficiency Examination
Spring 2016 priority registration for graduate students begins. Payment due January 6, 2016.
Last day to apply for fall graduation
Undergraduate transfer spring 2016 semester admission application deadline for students living in the United States
Spring 2016 priority registration for undergraduate students begins. Payment due January 6, 2016.
Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates
Early Decision I freshman fall 2016 semester admission and financial aid application deadline
Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet.
Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday
WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-ups for holidays)
Fall classes end
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for fall degree candidates
Fall final examinations
WCL: Examinations begin
Fall study day; no classes
Fall final examinations
Fall final grades due
Fall final examinations (for Wednesday classes)
Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December 2015 graduates (1:00 p.m.)
Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December 2015 diplomas; no event associated with this date)
WCL: Examinations end
WCL: Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December 2015 diplomas; no event associated with this date)
Winter break; university offices closed
SPRING SEMESTER 2016
January 6
January 7-10
January 8
January 11
W
Th-Su
F
M
January 15
F
January 18
January 20
January 25
M
W
M
January 30
February 1
S
M
February 8
February 15
March 1
M
M
T
March 4
March 6–13
March 19
March 21
March 28
F
Su–Su
S
M
M
March 30
March 31
April 1
April 25
April 25
W
Th
F
M
M
April 26
April 27-May 3
April 30–May 6
May 1
T
W–T
S–F
Su
May 2
May 6
May 7
M
F
S
May 8
Su
May 8
May 14
May 22
Su
S
Su
Payment due for spring 2016 priority registration
Winter Welcome
Last day to register for spring 2016 without a late fee
Spring classes begin
Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
WCL: First day of classes
Late registration for spring ends
Regular Decision freshman fall 2016 semester admission application deadline
Early Decision II freshman fall 2016 semester admission and financial aid application deadline
Early Decision I candidate reply date
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed
Mathematics Equivalency Examination
Last day to add a spring course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
Last day to drop a spring course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
Writing Proficiency Examination
Last day to drop a spring course for a 50% refund
Freshman fall 2016 semester financial aid application deadline
Last day to drop a spring course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
Early warning notices due in Registrar’s Office
Undergraduate transfer student admission and financial aid priority application deadline for fall 2016 semester
Early Decision II candidate reply date
Last day to drop a spring class or change a grade option (mid-term)
Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday
Writing Proficiency Examination
Summer 2016 registration begins. Payment is due May 1, 2016
Fall 2016 priority registration for graduate students begins. Payment due August 1, 2016
Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates
Fall 2016 priority registration for undergraduate students begins. Payment is due August 1, 2016
Last day to apply for spring graduation
Summer admission application deadline for students living in the United States
WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-ups for holidays)
Spring classes end
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates
Spring study day; no classes
Spring final examinations
Spring final grades due
Financial aid application deadline for fall 2016 continuing undergraduate students
Undergraduate transfer fall 2016 semester admission application deadline for students living outside the United States
Candidates' reply date for Regular Decision freshmen
Payment due for summer sessions 2016
WCL: Examinations begin
Commencement Weekend Activities
Commencement Ceremonies:
9 am
School of Communication Ceremony
2 pm
Kogod School of Businesses Ceremony
7 pm
School of International Service Ceremony
Commencement Ceremonies:
10 am
School of Public Affairs Ceremony
3 pm
College of Arts and Sciences Ceremony
Official Degree Award Date
WCL: Examinations end
WCL Spring Commencement Ceremony
WCL: Official Degree Award Date
SUMMER SESSIONS 2016 (Dates subject to change)
For Summer 2016 Add/Drop, Withdrawal, and Refund dates, see www.american.edu/summer/index.cfm.
May 9
May 16
May 20
May 30
May 31
June 1
June 2
June 4
June 23
June 27
July 1
July 4
July 15
July 28
August 1
M
M
F
M
T
W
Th
S
Th
M
F
M
F
Th
M
August 4
Th
August 5
August 11
F
Th
August 18
Th
7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin
First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin
Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed
WCL: First day of classes
Last day to apply for summer graduation
3-week (C) session ends
Writing Proficiency Examination
7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end
Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) session begin
Undergraduate transfer fall 2016 semester admission application deadline for students living in the United States
Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed
Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates
WCL: Last day of classes
Payment due for fall 2016 priority registration
WCL: Examinations begin
Second 6-week (D) session ends
Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates
WCL: Examinations end
Online Learning II (F) session ends; end of summer sessions
Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August 2016 diplomas; no event associated with this date)
WCL: Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August 2016 diplomas; no event associate with this date)
Rev. OUR 4/9/2015; OUR 8/26/2015; OUR 9/17/2015; OUR 10/29/2015; OUR 12/14/2015; OUR 12/22/2015