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Academic Calendar Guidelines

Charge and Membership

The Calendar Committee shall have responsibility for developing and recommending the college’s academic calendar for Board approval at least two years in advance of each academic year. The committee shall maintain projected calendars for the next seven years in collaboration with the Records Office.

The Calendar Committee will be composed of 18 representatives from the areas/departments listed below. All administrative representatives will be appointed by the Division Vice Presidents. The number of representatives per area/department is indicated in parenthesis. The quorum for the Calendar Committee meetings will be 10 members.

  • Academic Affairs Leadership* (1)
  • Clock Hour Programs* (1)
  • Academic Chair* (1)
  • Academic Centers (1)
  • Career Service Council President (1)
  • College Senate President (1)
  • Curriculum Scheduling (1)
  • Faculty (2, at least one of which has continuing contract)
  • High School Dual Enrollment (1)
  • Human Resources (1)
  • Student Affairs:
    • Academic Advising (1)
    • Admissions (1)
    • Financial Aid (1)
    • Student Life (1)
  • Student Financial Services (1)
  • Student Government Leader (1)
  • Veterans and Military Success Services VMSS (1)

* The representatives from Academic Affairs Leadership, Clock Hour Programs and Academic Chairs must be from different academic divisions (LAS, Health Sciences and CTE).

The Calendar Committee will be chaired by the College Registrar. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs may attend Calendar Committee meetings.

Committee members may designate up to two alternate members to attend the meetings and/or vote in their absence. Alternate designations must be shared with the committee Chair prior to the first meeting of the year.

The Calendar Committee will meet at least twice a month, on alternate weeks between January and April. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.

Calendar Development Process

  • An initial draft of the future calendar is developed by the Records Office using state rules, college policies, college guidelines and historical precedent data.
  • The draft calendar is shared with the Calendar Committee.
  • The Calendar Committee members share the draft with their constituents for feedback.
  • The Calendar Committee meets to discuss constituent feedback.
  • The Calendar Committee members suggest appropriate changes and vote on the calendar for recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Timeline for Developing and Approving the Academic Calendar
Period Key Activities
January
  • The Records Office creates the initial draft of the future calendar.
  • The Records Office schedules the Calendar Committee meetings.
February – April
  • Calendar review process.
  • The vote on the calendar for recommendation to the Board of Trustees should happen no later than the end of April.
May
  • The recommended calendar approved by the Calendar Committee is presented to President’s Cabinet for first reading.
June
  • The recommended calendar approved by the Calendar Committee is presented to President’s Cabinet for second reading.
  • The proposed academic calendar is submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval.
August
  • The calendar dates for the next year are entered on the Critical Dates screen on eSantaFe to allow admission applications for the next academic year.
January of the following year (eight months before the academic year begins)
  • The calendar is published on the college’s website.
June of the following year (two months before the academic year begins)
  • The calendar is submitted to the FLDOE for approval.

 

Fall Semester and Term Standards (Guides Only)
Standard Parent Term Fall A Fall B Fall G Notes
Target Number of Weeks (Not including finals) 16 weeks 8 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks Calendar will include 16 weeks for parent term to allow for Thanksgiving Break.
Target Number of instructional days* 72 36 36 58  
Preferred Start Day 3rd Monday in August 3rd Monday in August 9th Monday of the semester 6th Monday of the semester Begin classes on a Monday when possible.
Preferred End Day Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday End classes on a Saturday when possible.
Last Day to Add Classes 8th calendar day 4th calendar day 4th calendar day 8th calendar day  
Last Day to Drop Classes with No Record and Receive a Refund 8th calendar day 4th calendar day 4th calendar day 8th calendar day  
Fees Due 9th calendar day 9th calendar day

5th calendar day or later

Must be on a Tuesday to align with the weekly purge.

9th calendar day or later

Must be on a Tuesday to align with the weekly purge.

Should be the day after the last day to add and drop classes.

Move date to the next business day if it falls on a Friday, Saturday or holiday.

Finals 6 days (Monday-Saturday) 2 days (Monday and Tuesday if classes end on Saturday) 6 days (Monday-Saturday) 6 days (Monday-Saturday)  
Grades Due Monday after final exams Two business days after last day of final exams Monday after final exams Monday after final exams For A term, if final exams end on a Tuesday, grades will be due on Thursday.
Grades Post Day after grades are due Day after grades are due Day after grades are due Day after grades are due  
Spring Semester and Term Standards (Guides Only)
Standard Parent Term Spring A Spring B Spring G Notes
Target Number of Weeks (Not including finals) 16 weeks 8 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks Calendar will include 16 weeks for parent term to allow for Spring Break.
Target Number of instructional days* 72 36 36 58  
Preferred Start Day At least the third day after College opens in Spring At least the third day after College opens in Spring Wednesday of the 9th week of classes Monday of the 6th week of classes Begin classes on a Monday when possible. Start Spring B on a Wednesday to maximize the number of instructional days.
Preferred End Day Saturday Tuesday Saturday Saturday End classes on a Saturday when possible. End Spring A on a Tuesday to maximize the number of instructional days.
Last Day to Add Classes 8th calendar day 4th calendar day

4th calendar day

Move to the next Monday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday

8th calendar day  
Last Day to Drop Classes with No Record and Receive a Refund 8th calendar day 4th calendar day

4th calendar day

Move to the next Monday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday

8th calendar day  
Fees Due 9th calendar day 9th calendar day

5th calendar day or later

Must be on a Tuesday to align with the weekly purge.

9th calendar day or later

Must be on a Tuesday to align with the weekly purge.

Move date to the next business day if it falls on a Friday, Saturday or holiday.
Finals 6 days (Monday-Saturday) 2 days (Mon-Tue if classes end on Saturday) 6 days (Monday-Saturday) 6 days (Monday-Saturday)  
Grades Due Monday after final exams Two business days after last day of final exams Monday after final exams Monday after final exams For A term, if final exams end on a Tuesday, grades will be due on Thursday.
Grades Post Day after grades are due Day after grades are due Day after grades are due Day after grades are due  
Summer Semester and Term Standards (Guides Only)
Standard Parent Term Summer A Summer B Summer D Notes
Target Number of Weeks (Not including finals) 12 weeks 6 weeks 6 weeks 10 weeks  
Target Number of instructional days* 58 29 29 48  
Preferred Start Day Monday after Spring grades post Monday after Spring grades post Wednesday of the 7th week of Summer classes Monday after Spring grades post Begin classes on a Monday when possible. Start Summer B on a Wednesday to maximize the number of instructional days.
Preferred End Day Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday End classes on a Saturday when possible.
Last Day to Add Classes 8th calendar day 3rd calendar day

3rd calendar day

Move to the next Monday if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday

8th calendar day  
Last Day to Drop Classes with No Record and Receive a Refund 8th calendar day 3rd calendar day July 1 or later 8th calendar day For Parent, A and G terms: if classes start on a Monday, the last day to drop should be the next Monday.
Fees Due 9th calendar day 4th calendar day

The day after last day to drop.

Must be Mon-Fri, no later than the end of the second week of classes.

9th calendar day

Move date to the next business day if it falls on a Friday, Saturday or holiday for parent term.

If possible, set Summer B date on Tuesday to align with the weekly purge.

Finals 2 days (Monday-Tuesday) Wednesday through Saturday of the last week of classes 2 days (Monday-Tuesday) 2 days (Monday-Tuesday)  
Grades Due Two business days after last day of final exams Monday and Tuesday after final exams Two business days after last day of final exams Two business days after last day of final exams If Parent, B and D exams end on a Tuesday, Grades will be due on Thursday.
Grades Post Day after grades are due Day after grades are due Day after grades are due Day after grades are due  

State Guidelines:
In accordance with Rule 6A-10.019, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), the first calendar day of each semester will fall on or within each of the three periods listed below, unless an exception is granted:

State Guidelines: Common Entry Periods (Rule 6A-10.019, F.A.C.)
Semester Common Entry Period
Fall August 10 and August 31
Spring January 2 and January 11
Summer May 1 and May 16

College Guidelines

Faculty

  • At least 15-week semesters – Fall and Spring.
  • Equal terms/sessions.
  • Begin classes on Monday when possible. If not possible, begin classes on the same date as UF.
  • End classes on Saturday when possible.
  • Keep all final exam days consecutive.
  • Minimum of one weekday or weekend between last day of final exams and grades due date (Fall & Spring).

Students

  • Two days of study time prior to final exams.
  • No delayed Commencement date after final exam week.
  • Align Spring Break with UF.

Staff

  • Preserve compensated 10 weekday holiday break between Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Allow one week for end-of-term processing (grade posting, graduation, academic standing adjustments, Financial Aid).

Office of Finance

  • Never set the ‘last day to drop in Summer B’ prior to July 1 as this presents major financial discrepancies for the Office of Finance.

Financial Aid

  • Terms cannot overlap.

Clock Hour Programs (CHP)

  • CHP programs may continue classes during the final exams period to meet the minimum hour requirements.

Other

  • Board Rule requires consistency for all things that impact the College.
  • Standard flex session add and drop periods.

Other Dates Included on the Calendar Draft

Other Dates Included on the Calendar Draft
Date/Event Description
Winter Break Ten weekdays (Monday-Friday), beginning at least three business days after Fall grades post.
Spring Break The Spring Break should align with UF’s Spring Break when possible.
Fall Convocation Set to the Friday before Fall classes begin.
College Opens Date in January Set to the next business day after Winter Break ends.
Professional Development Day Last Friday of March. Move to the first Friday of April if it coincides with Good Friday.
Fall and Summer Graduation Ceremonies Set to Thursday and Friday of final exam week.
New Faculty Orientation Two business days before Fall Convocation
Faculty Planning Day One business day before Spring classes begin
Dates Added by the Records Office After Calendar Approval
Date Type Description
Preferred registration Beginning date must be set at least 2 weeks and 1 day after the last day to add classes for a B term. Set to the following Monday to make Preferred Registration run from Monday through Thursday.
Advanced registration Set to 2 business days prior to the preferred registration begin date (Thursday and Friday).
Open Registration Set to Friday after preferred registration ends.
Withdrawal Deadlines Set to 70% of instructional days within the term (round down).
Progress Reporting Dates (Added by Records Office After Approval)
Progress Reporting Type Description
Fall & Spring Parent Term Early Progress Reporting Start Date Beginning 14 calendar days from first day of class. Should not start on a weekend or holiday. If the date falls on a weekend or holiday, move to next workday.
Fall & Spring Parent Term Early Progress Reporting End Date Running for 14 calendar days from the early progress reporting start date (during weeks 3 and 4 of a parent term). Should not end on a weekend or holiday. Shorten the campaign period to the previous weekday if an adjustment needs to be made to end on a non-holiday or weekend.
Fall & Spring Parent Term Mid-Term Progress Reporting Start Date Beginning 28 calendar days prior to the withdrawal deadline. Should not start on a weekend or holiday. If the start date falls on a weekend or holiday, move to next workday. In Spring terms, exclude spring break week from count.
Fall & Spring Parent Term Mid-Term Progress Reporting End Date Running 14 calendar days from the mid-term reporting start date. In Spring terms, exclude spring break week from count. Shorten the campaign period to the previous weekday if an adjustment needs to be made to end on a non-holiday or weekend.
Fall & Spring A/B Session Progress Reporting Start Date Beginning 21 calendar days prior to the withdrawal deadline. Should not start on a weekend or holiday. Add one day (next business day) if an adjustment needs to be made to start or end on a non-holiday or weekend.
Fall & Spring A/B Session Progress Reporting - End Date Running for 7 calendar days from start date. Should not end on a weekend or holiday. Add one day (next business day) if an adjustment needs to be made to start or end on a non-holiday or weekend.
Fall & Spring G Progress Reporting - Start Date 3 weeks (21 calendar days) from the G term start date (4th Monday of term, including first calendar day).
Fall & Spring G Progress Reporting - End Date 2 business weeks (11-12 calendar days) from the G term Progress Reporting start date.
Summer & Summer D Progress Reporting Start Date Beginning 17 calendar days from first day of class. Should not start on holiday or weekend. Shorten the campaign period if adjustment needs to be made to end on a non-holiday
Summer & Summer D Progress Reporting End Date Running for 12 calendar days from the progress reporting begin date. Should not end on holiday or weekend. Shorten the campaign period if adjustment needs to be made to end on a non-holiday.
Summer A/B Session Progress Reporting Start Date Beginning 17 calendar days prior to W date. Should not start on holiday or weekend. Add one day to start if adjustment needs to be made to end on a non-holiday or weekend.
Summer A/B Session Progress Reporting - End Date Running 7 calendar days from the start date. Should not end on holiday or weekend. Add one day to start if adjustment needs to be made to end on a non-holiday.

Holidays

The college observes all state holidays. In addition, the college closes for Spring Break, Winter Holiday Break and additional college recognized days.

Changes

Proposals for changes to the Calendar Guidelines must be forwarded to the Calendar Committee Chair. All changes must be approved by the division Vice Presidents and the President’s Cabinet.


History

  • January 12, 2026