Academic Calendar 2026-2027
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Fall 2026 Academic Calendar
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Holidays, Breaks, and Special Events
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| Matriculation and Continuous Improvement Day - August 20 |
| Convocation - August 21 |
| New Student Orientation - August 21-23 |
Labor Day Holiday - September 7 (no classes, offices closed)
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Fall Break - October 15-16 (no classes, offices closed)
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Thanksgiving Break - November 23-27 (no classes, offices closed)
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Winter Break - December 21-January 1 (offices closed)
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Enrollment Dates
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| Spring Enrollment Opens for Seniors and Juniors - October 26 |
Spring Enrollment Opens for Sophomores and Freshmen - October 28
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| Graduation Deadlines |
| Last Day to Apply for Graduation & Receive Degree - October 14 |
Important Dates
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Fall In-Person
15-Week Term
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Fall A Online
7-Week Term
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Fall B Online
7-Week Term
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First Day of Classes
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August 24 |
August 24 |
October 12 |
Last Day to Add a Course
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August 31 |
August 31 |
October 19 |
Last Day to Drop a Course
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September 4 |
August 31 |
October 19 |
Midterm Grade Reports Due
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October 13, 8:00 am
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| Last Day to Withdraw (Automatic 'W') |
October 30 |
September 25 |
November 13 |
Last Day of Classes
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December 4 |
October 11 |
December 6 |
| Study Day - No Classes or Exams |
December 7 |
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Final Exams
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December 8-11 |
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Grades Due
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December 15, 8:00 am
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October 14, 8:00 am
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December 15, 8:00 am
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Spring 2027 Academic Calendar
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Holidays, Breaks and Special Events
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New Year's Day Holiday - January 1 (offices closed)
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| Continuous Improvement Day - January 6 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 18 (no classes, offices closed)
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Spring Break - March 15-19 (no classes), (offices closed March 18-19)
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| Spring Triad - April 1 |
Enrollment Dates
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| Summer and Fall Enrollment Opens for Seniors and Juniors - March 22 |
Summer and Fall Enrollment Opens for Sophomores and Freshmen - March 24
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| Graduation Deadlines |
| Last Day to Apply for Graduation & Receive Degree - March 5 |
Important Dates
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Spring In-Person
15-Week Term
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Spring A Online
7-Week Term
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Spring B Online
7-Week Term
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First Day of Classes
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January 7 |
January 11 |
March 1
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Last Day to Add a Course
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January 15 |
January 15 |
March 5 |
Last Day to Drop a Course
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January 20 |
January 15 |
March 5 |
Midterm Grade Reports Due
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February 25, 8:00 am
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| Last Day to Withdraw (Automatic 'W') |
March 12 |
February 12 |
April 2 |
Last Day of Classes
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April 16 |
February 28 |
April 18 |
| Study Day - No Classes or Exams |
April 19 |
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Final Exams
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April 20 - 23 |
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| Commencement |
April 24 |
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Grades Due
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April 27, 8:00 am
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March 3, 8:00 am
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April 27, 8:00 am
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Summer 2026 Academic Calendar
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Holidays, Breaks and Special Events
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| May 28 (no classes, offices closed) |
Memorial Day Holiday - May 31 (no classes, offices closed)
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June 4, 11, 18, 25 (no classes, offices closed)
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Juneteenth - June 18 (no classes, offices closed)
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July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (no classes, offices closed)
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Independence Day Holiday - July 1, 2, 5 (no classes), (offices closed July 2, 5)
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| Graduation Deadlines |
| Last Day to Apply for Graduation & Receive degree - June 17 |
Important Dates
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Summer In-Person Independent Study
3-Week Term
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Summer In-Person
10-Week Term
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Summer A Online
7-Week Term
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First Day of Classes
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May 3 |
May 24 |
May 24 |
| Last Day to Add a Course |
May 5 |
June 1 |
June 1
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| Last Day to Drop a Course |
May 5 |
June 1 |
June 1
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Midterm Grade Reports Due
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June 29, 8:00 am
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| Last Day to Withdraw (Automatic 'W') |
May 17 |
July 8 |
June 30
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Last Day of Classes
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May 21 |
July 22 |
July 11
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Final Exams
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July 26-28 |
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Grades Due
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May 26, 8:00 am
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August 2, 8:00 am
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July 14, 8:00 am |
Independent Study
The independent study period is the 3-Week Summer term in late April and May and offers Science & Arts students a unique chance to experience original, unconventional, and interdisciplinary projects. The term lasts five weeks, and students can earn five hours of upper division credit. Projects emphasize innovative educational approaches and individual creative learning, and many projects provide opportunities for intensive service-learning activities. Past projects have included tours of Europe, attending, and critiquing a series of Broadway plays in New York City, sponsoring Special Olympics competitions, writing and presenting poetry, building catapults from scratch to demonstrate principles of physics and engineering, camping in the Ozarks, following the trail of Lewis and Clark, constructing an elaborate kinetic sculpture, and producing documentary films. Topics and projects are limited only by the imaginations of students and faculty. Participation in Independent Study at USAO will almost assuredly produce insights beyond the classroom and memories for a lifetime. Grading for independent study projects is on a Pass/No-Pass basis. Independent Study cannot be used to fulfill major requirements.