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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. For the full WCL academic calendar, please go to: http://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, add/drop/withdrawal, grade change, and final grades schedule applies to all courses with a standard schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring). Refunds, adds/drops/withdrawals, and grade changes 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. Final grades are always due 72 hours after the official end date of the course. For more information, please go to: www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Refunds-for-Course-Drops-andWithdrawals.cfm. For Summer Registration and Refund Dates please go to:https://www.american.edu/summer/calendar.cfm
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2023 | Tue | Payment due for fall classes |
| 08/22/2023 - 08/27/2023 | Tue-Sun | All-American Welcome (Events begin with new student move-in and continue through the first two weeks of classes.) |
| 08/28/2023 | Mon | Fall classes begin |
| 09/04/2023 | Mon | Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 09/11/2023 | Mon | Last day to submit Health Insurance Waiver for 2023-2024 Annual charge |
| 09/11/2023 | Mon | Last day to add a fall course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 09/11/2023 | Mon | Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 09/12/2023 | Tue | Fall withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 09/18/2023 | Mon | Last day to withdraw from a fall course for a 50% refund |
| 09/25/2023 | Mon | Last day to withdraw from a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 10/02/2023 | Mon | Schedule of Classes for Spring and Winter Intersession published |
| 10/13/2023 | Fri | Fall Break; no classes, university offices open |
| 10/13/2023 - 10/15/2023 | Fri-Sun | AU Family Weekend |
| 10/23/2023 | Mon | Last day to apply for fall graduation |
| 10/23/2023 | Mon | Spring priority registration for graduate students begins |
| 10/23/2023 | Mon | Winter Intersession registration begins |
| 10/26/2023 | Thu | Spring priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 11/03/2023 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a fall course or change a grade option (end of the 10th week) |
| 11/10/2023 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for fall degree candidates |
| 11/21/2023 | Tue | Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet |
| 11/22/2023 - 11/26/2023 | Wed-Sun | Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday |
| 11/27/2023 | Mon | Health Insurance Waiver opens for incoming Spring 2024 students |
| 12/08/2023 | Fri | Fall classes end. Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for fall degree candidates |
| 12/09/2023 - 12/10/2023 | Sat-Sun | Fall Study Days; no classes |
| 12/11/2023 - 12/16/2023 | Mon-Sat | Fall final examinations |
| 12/17/2023 | Sun | Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December graduates |
| 12/21/2023 | Thu | All full-term fall classes final grades due |
| 12/23/2023 | Sat | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December diplomas; no event associated with this date) |
| 12/23/2023 - 01/01/2024 | Sat-Mon | Winter break; university offices closed |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 12/17/2023 | Sun | Winter Intersession classes begin |
| 1/15/2024 | Mon | Winter Intersession classes end |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 01/06/2024 | Sat | Payment due for spring classes |
| 01/15/2024 | Mon | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 01/16/2024 | Tue | Spring classes begin |
| 01/16/2024-01/19/2024 | Tue-Fri | Winter Welcome |
| 01/29/2024 | Mon | Last day to add a spring course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 01/29/2024 | Mon | Last day to drop a spring course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded |
| 01/30/2024 | Tue | Spring withdrawal period begins (withdraw recorded on record; 50% refund) |
| 01/31/2024 | Wed | Last day to submit Health Insurance Waiver for incoming Spring 2024 students |
| 02/06/2024 | Tue | Last day to withdraw from a spring course for a 50% refund |
| 02/13/2024 | Tue | Last day to withdraw from a spring course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date) |
| 03/04/2024 | Mon | Schedule of Classes for Summer and Fall published |
| 03/10/2024-03/17/2024 | Sun-Sun | Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday |
| 03/22/2024 | Fri | Last day to withdraw from a spring class or change a grade option (end of 10th week) |
| 03/25/2024 | Mon | Last day to apply for spring graduation |
| 03/25/2024 | Mon | Summer registration begins |
| 03/25/2024 | Mon | Fall priority registration for graduate students begins |
| 03/28/2024 | Thu | Fall priority registration for undergraduate students begins |
| 03/29/2024 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for spring degree candidates |
| 04/29/2024 | Mon | Spring classes end |
| 04/29/2024 | Mon | Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates |
| 04/30/2024 - 05/01/2024 | Tue-Wed | Spring StudyDays; no classes |
| 05/01/2024 | Wed | Payment due for summer classes |
| 05/02/2024 - 05/08/2024 | Thu-Wed | Spring final examinations |
| 05/10/2024 | Fri | All full-term spring classes final grades due |
| 05/10/2024-05/12/2024 | Fri-Sun | Commencement Weekend Activities (WCL excluded) |
| 05/12/2024 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date |
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 05/01/2024 | Wed | Payment due for summer classes |
| 05/13/2024 | Mon | Summer classes begin; 7-week (A) and Online Learning I (E) sessions begin |
| 05/14/2024 | Tue | Health Insurance Waiver for Annual charge 2024-2025 opens |
| 05/20/2024 | Mon | First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin |
| 05/24/2024 | Fri | Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project |
| 05/27/2024 | Mon | Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 06/08/2024 | Sat | 3-week (C) session ends |
| 06/19/2024 | Wed | Juneteenth; no classes, university offices closed |
| 06/29/2024 | Sat | 7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end |
| 07/01/2024 | Mon | Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) session begin |
| 07/04/2024 | Thu | Independence Day; no classes, university offices closed |
| 07/19/2024 | Fri | Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates |
| 08/01/2024 | Thu | Payment due for fall classes |
| 08/01/2024 | Thu | Last day to apply for summer graduation |
| 08/08/2024 | Thu | Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates |
| 08/10/2024 | Sat | Second 6-week (D) session ends |
| 08/17/2024 | Sat | Summer classes end; Online Learning II (F) session ends |
| 08/17/2024 | Sat | End of summer sessions |
| 08/25/2024 | Sun | Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associated with this date) |
