University of Iowa Academic Calendar Principles

The University of Iowa has established certain guidelines that determine the start/end date and length of each session.

Policy effective fall 2021. Any adjustments or exceptions to the Academic Calendar Principles requires prior approval.  

Fall Semester

  • Must have 15 weeks of instructional time
  • Start fall semester on the latest day possible given the following constraints:
    • No classes on Labor Day
    • A full week for Fall Break. Fall Break/Thanksgiving will begin the 4th Sunday in November and run Sunday to Sunday.
    • The last date of the final exam period is no later than December 20

Winter Session

  • Must occur during the four weeks between the end of the fall semester and the beginning of spring
  • There cannot be more than four weeks between end of fall and beginning of spring

Spring Semester

  • Must have 15 weeks of instructional time
  • No classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Must start four weeks from the end of the fall semester (should start the 5th week after the close of finals)
  • A full week for Spring Break.  Spring Break will begin the 11th Monday of the calendar year and run Sunday to Sunday.
  • The last date of the final exam period is no later than May 17.

Summer Session (subsessions)

  • Must have 12 weeks of instructional time
  • No classes on Memorial Day
  • No classes in observance of Independence Day (adjustments made if it falls on a weekend)
  • Subsessions:
    • 4, 6 week I, and 12 week subsessions will start the first Monday after spring commencement weekend
    • 8 week will begin the Monday after the 4 week subsession ends
    • 6 week II will begin the Monday after the 6 week I subsession ends
    • Close of Subsessions on Thursdays; Final Exam Days on Friday

Archived Academic Calendar Principles prior to fall 2021