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The following guidelines are used in creating the Academic Calendar, University Calendar, or Campus Calendar each year.

Academic Calendar Guidelines – Final 2018.04.20 

Overall Guidelines

  1. The Valparaiso University academic calendar is comprised of fall, spring, and summer terms.
  2. The fall and spring terms shall be 17 calendar weeks in length, including a week break and the final exam period. This allows for 42 MWF instruction periods, plus a 2 hour (100 minute) final exam period for each three-credit course.
  3. The fall, spring, and summer terms shall span at least 16 instructional weeks. An instructional week is one containing at least one day of classes or exams.
  4. The first day of class in the fall and spring terms (a Wednesday) will be treated as if it were a Monday.
  5. Each term shall contain two mini-terms. During the fall and spring, the mini-terms will contain 21 MWF instructional days, and during the summer they will be six calendar weeks long. The final exam for any mini-term course will scheduled during the last regular period of the term.  (i.e. there will be no dedicated final exam sessions.)
  6. Final exams will be scheduled over four days, Monday through Thursday.


Fall Term Guidelines

  1. The fall term shall generally begin the Wednesday a week and a half before Labor Day.
  2. The Opening Convocation will be held on the Tuesday afternoon before classes begin.
  3. Classes shall not meet on Labor Day, which will also be a university holiday.
  4. There shall be a two-day fall break, typically a Thursday and Friday, immediately after the end of the Fall 1 mini-term (which will end on a Wednesday.)
  5. There shall be a one-week Thanksgiving break, Monday through Friday of Thanksgiving week.
  6. The last day for the fall final examination period shall be no later than December 18th.
  7. Fall commencement shall be held the Saturday or Sunday after the final examination period.


Spring Term Guidelines

  1. The spring term shall begin on a Wednesday no earlier than January 8th, ensuring a minimum three-week break after the fall term ends.
  2. Classes shall not meet on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Although attendance at events may be required of students, it is not counted as an academic day.  This day is not a university holiday.
  3. There shall be a two-week spring break, beginning the Monday immediately after the end of the Spring 1 mini-term (which ends on a Wednesday).
  4. Classes shall not meet on Good Friday, which is currently a university holiday.
  5. The last day of the spring final examination period shall be no later than May 10th.
  6. Spring commencement shall be held the Saturday or Sunday after the final examination period.


Summer Term Guidelines

  1. The summer term shall generally begin on or before the Thursday after Spring Commencement.
  2. Classes shall not meet on Memorial Day, which is currently a university holiday.
  3. There shall be a two-day academic break during the week containing Independence Day; there is no full week academic break during the summer term. July 4 will continue to be a university holiday.
  4. If desired, summer commencement may be held the Saturday or Sunday after the end of classes.

From the Faculty Handbook

3.2.3 Reporting Grades

Midterm grades are required for all freshmen and athletes (athletes regardless of class level). These students are noted in the online grading module found through the faculty portal in DataVU. These midterm grades are due approximately one week before mid-semester. Mid-semester is also the end of the first 7-week period as noted in the Academic Calendar.

Final grades are due within 48 hours after the finals are given for a course.

It is very important to meet the grade deadline since many offices are waiting for that information to start additional processing. Late grades can also delay a student’s graduation from the University. Final Grades should be considered to be final and should only be changed in extreme circumstances. 

3.4.1.2 Examination During Final Week of Classes

In order to give students adequate opportunity to prepare for final examinations, no tests may be given in courses of three (3) credits or more within seven (7) days before the beginning of the final examination period.

3.4.1.3 Final Examinations

A final examination is required in all courses of three (3) credits or more. Exceptions may be made for such courses as independent studies, practica and internships, performance, studio, and activity courses. Final examinations are held at the close of each semester and, for courses of three (3)  credits or more, must be given according to the Final Examination Schedule published by the Office of the Registrar. In courses of less than three (3) credits, final examinations are conducted during the regularly scheduled class periods. Any deviation from this policy must be approved by the dean of the college in which the course is offered.

3.4.2.1 The Grade of “Incomplete”

The grade of incomplete (I) may, at the discretion of the instructor, be given to a student whose completed work in a course, at the course withdrawal deadline, would merit a passing grade and circumstances for not completing the course are beyond the student’s control. A faculty member must supply the list of students to whom they gave an incomplete grade to their dean or department chair, as appropriate, by the grading deadline.

An ‘I’ received in one semester or summer session must be removed by the beginning of the official examination period of the next semester or it will automatically become an ‘F’. The student’s deadline for submitting the outstanding work to the instructor shall be one (1) week prior to that date.


3.4.2.2 The Grade of “Withdraw”

The grade of Withdraw (W) is given either when a student withdraws from the University or when permission is granted to withdraw from a course. Course changes and additions for regular courses may be transacted during the first six (6) class days of a semester. After this period, no additions may be made to a student’s schedule, but a grade of W can be authorized until the end of the ninth week. A student wishing to drop a course with a W after the ninth week must submit a petition, signed by the instructor concerned and the student’s advisor, to the office of the dean. The Committee on Academic and Professional Standards thereupon may authorize a grade of W. Only in exceptional cases, such as prolonged or serious illness, will a student be permitted to withdraw from a course without a grade of F after the end of the ninth week of the semester.


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