Academic Calendar

Fall and spring terms are 16 weeks in length: The Fall term starts in late August or early September and goes through mid December. Spring starts in early January and goes through mid-May. Summer sessions vary in length from 4 weeks to 12 weeks, May through August, with classes typically meeting Monday through Friday.

If you are looking for a holiday and break calendar, please see the SD BOR Academic Calendar.

Summer 2018 Schedule

May 14 (Mon) - Full 12-week and first 6-week sessions begin
May 17 (Thur) - Census date for first 6-week session
- Last day to add a class or drop a 6-week class with full refund
May 21 (Mon) - Census date for full 12-week session
- Last day to add a class or drop a 12-week class with full refund
May 28 (Mon) - Memorial Day - no classes
May 30 (Wed) - Last day to withdraw from all first 6-week session classes and receive a prorated refund
June 11 (Mon) - Last day to withdraw with a “W” from first 6-week session - no refund
June 22 (Fri) - First 6-week session ends
- Last day to withdraw from all full 12-week session classes and receive a prorated refund
June 25 (Mon) - Second 6-week session begins
June 28 (Thur) - Census date for second 6-week session
- Last day to add a class or drop a class with full refund
July 4 (Wed) - Independence Day - no classes
July 11 (Wed) - Last day to withdraw with a “W” from full 12-week session - no refund
- Last day to withdraw from all second 6-week session classes and receive a prorated refund
July 23 (Mon) - Last day to withdraw with a “W” for second 6-week session - no refund
Aug 3 (Fri) - Full 12 week and second 6-week sessions end

Fall 2018 Schedule

Aug. 17 (Fri) - 8:00 a.m. Residence Halls open for First Year Students only. New Student Orientation Activities begin
Aug. 18-19 (Sat-Sun) - 8:00 a.m. Residence Halls open for all students
Aug. 20 (Mon) - 8:00 a.m. Classes begin
Aug. 30 (Thur) - CENSUS DAY
- Last day to register for any fall class to determine financial aid eligibility
- Last day to add a full semester class
- Last day to drop a full semester class and receive 100% refund
Aug. 31 (Fri) - Tuition and Fees - Deadline for payment or payment plan to avoid cancellation of registration and late fee assessment
Sept. 3 (Mon) - Labor Day – no classes
Sept. 28 (Fri) - Last day to apply for Fall 2018 graduation
Oct. 8 (Mon) - Native American Day – no classes
Oct. 12 (Fri) - Last day of first half semester classes
Oct. 17 (Wed) - Mid-term deficiency grades due
Oct. 24 (Wed) - Last day a student may withdraw from the University and be eligible for a partial refund of University charges based on federal regulations and Board of Regents policy.
Nov. 2 (Fri) - Last day to withdraw from a full semester course or school
Nov. 12 (Mon) - Veterans Day holiday observed – no classes
Nov. 21- Nov. 25 (Wed-Sun) - Thanksgiving holiday – no classes - Please note: Tuesday, Nov. 20, evening classes will be held
Nov. 26 (Mon) - Classes Resume
Dec. 5 (Wed) - No Classes
Dec. 6-12 (Th-Wed) - Final Examination Period
Dec. 8 (Sat) - Master's Hooding Ceremony, Dakota Prairie Playhouse, 9 a.m.; Commencement Ceremony, Fieldhouse, 10:30 a.m.
Dec. 12 (Wed) - Semester Ends
- Residence Halls Close – 5:00 p.m.
Dec. 17 (Mon) - Final grades due

Note: Dates and events are subject to change. Changes will be communicated to campus via email, campus newspaper, or other means as appropriate.

Spring 2019 Schedule

Jan. 5 (Sat) - 8:00 a.m. Residence halls open for all students
Jan. 7 (Mon) - 8:00 a.m. Classes begin
Jan. 16 (Wed) - CENSUS DAY
- Last day to register for any spring class to determine financial aid eligibility
- Last day to add a full semester class; Last day to drop a full semester class and receive 100% refund
Jan. 17 (Thurs) - Tuition and fees - deadline for payment or payment plan to avoid cancellation of registration and late fee assessment
Jan. 21 (Mon) - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - no classes
Jan. 30 (Wed) - Last day to apply for Spring 2019 and Summer 19 graduation
Feb. 18 (Mon) - President’s Day - no classes
Mar. 1 (Fri) - Last day of first half semester classes
Mar. 2-10 (Sat-Sun) - Spring Break; Residence Halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1 and reopen 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10
Mar. 14 (Thurs) - Mid-term deficient grades due
Mar. 18-April 8 (Mon-Mon) - Tentative - Continuing student pre-registration for Fall and Summer 2019 and Spring 2020
Mar. 20 (Wed) - Last day a student can withdraw from the university and be eligible for a refund of university charges based on federal regulations and Board of Regents policy
April 2 (Tue) - Last day to withdraw from a full semester class or school
April 19-21 (Fri-Sun) - Easter Holiday - Please note Easter holiday begins 5:00 p.m. on April 18
April 21 (Mon) - Classes resume
April 29-May 3 (Mon-Fri) - Final examination period; semester ends; residence halls close at 3:00 p.m.
May 4 (Sat) - Commencement, Fieldhouse, 10:30 a.m.
May 8 (Wed) - Final grades due

Summer 2019 Schedule

May 13 (Mon) - Full 12-week and first 6-week sessions begin
May 16 (Thur) - Census date for first 6-week session
- Last day to add a class or drop a 6-week class with full refund
May 20 (Mon) - Census date for full 12-week session
- Last day to add a class or drop a 12-week class with full refund
May 27 (Mon) - Memorial Day - no classes
May 29 (Wed) - Last day to withdraw from all first 6-week session classes and receive a prorated refund
June 10 (Mon) - Last day to withdraw with a “W” from first 6-week session - no refund
June 21 (Fri) - First 6-week session ends
- Last day to withdraw from all full 12-week session classes and receive a prorated refund
June 24 (Mon) - Second 6-week session begins
June 27 (Thur) - Census date for second 6-week session
- Last day to add a class or drop a class with full refund
July 4 (Thur) - Independence Day - no classes
July 10 (Wed) - Last day to withdraw with a “W” from full 12-week session - no refund
- Last day to withdraw from all second 6-week session classes and receive a prorated refund
July 22 (Mon) - Last day to withdraw with a “W” for second 6-week session - no refund
Aug 2 (Fri) - Full 12 week and second 6-week sessions end