Published: Dec. 20, 2023

Chancellor Phil DiStefano has announced a revised academic calendar that is focused on student academic preparedness and promotes health and well-being. The revised calendar goes into effect in the fall 2025 semester.

“The recommendations for revising the academic calendar are positive and in direct response to the accumulated feedback we’ve gathered from deans, faculty, staff, students and our shared governance,” DiStefano said. 

“I am grateful to all those who participated in this deliberative process and especially to the Boulder Faculty Assembly,” DiStefano said. “Your input and careful consideration are a testament to the confidence you have generated in our shared governance structure.”

Revisions to the current academic calendar

  • Adjusting the Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday class meeting patterns so they both have the same number of instructional days.
  • Moving the first day of classes each semester earlier to Thursday rather than the following Monday.
  • Creating a mid-semester reading day for each semester.
  • Adding another reading day before the final exam period at the end of each semester.
  • Moving spring break one week earlier to encourage alignment with Boulder Valley School District’s and St. Vrain Valley School District’s spring breaks.

Other differences from the current academic calendar

  • The mid-semester reading day will fall on the eighth Thursday of the semester.
  • The Friday of the last week of classes will operate as a Monday to equalize Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday instructional days.
  • The last day of classes each semester will fall on a Friday; final exam reading days will be on Saturday–Sunday; and the final exam period will be Monday–Friday, ending at 4 p.m. Friday.
  • Friday afternoon after the end of the final exam period (4 p.m.) will be available for residential hall move out.
  • Spring commencement, which is held on the day after the final exam period, will fall on a Saturday.
  • CU Boulder’s commencement will take place one weekend before the Friday/Saturday commencement ceremonies of CU Denver and UCCS, allowing the CU president and members of the Board of Regents to attend all four CU system commencements.

Next steps: Working with departments, local school districts

DiStefano recognized the endorsements for the revised calendar by Provost Russell Moore and Chief Operating Officer Patrick O’Rourke and agreed with their specific recommendation for Academic Affairs to work closely with the departments that expressed concerns regarding the revised calendar. 

CU Boulder plans to work with the Boulder Valley School District and the St. Vrain Valley School District to facilitate alignment of the spring breaks.

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