Establishment of the academic calendar for the University of Wisconsin-Madison falls within the authority of the faculty as set forth in Faculty Policies and Procedures. Construction of the academic calendar is subject to various rules and guidelines prescribed by the Board of Regents, the Faculty Senate, and State of Wisconsin legislation. For additional dates and deadlines for students, see the Office of the Registrar’s pages.
UW-Madison COVID-19 Response
The university has adopted new measures to enhance the safety of the campus community during the spring semester.
If you have been unable to find information you are looking for either in the COVID-19 Response site, the instructional continuity website, or in discussions with your chair or dean, feel free to pass along questions to the Secretary of the Faculty
- 2020-2021
- 2021-2022
- 2022-2023
- 2023-2024
- 2024-2025
- 2025-2026
- Religious Observances
- Print versions and historical data
- Contact
- Commencement information
- Final exams/submitting grades
Faculty contract year begins | Aug 17, 2020 (Monday) |
Fall semester instruction begins | Sep 2, 2020 (Wednesday) |
Labor Day | Sep 7, 2020 (Monday) |
Thanksgiving recess | Nov 26-Nov 29, 2020 |
All classes move to virtual format for the remainder of the semester | Nov 30-Dec 18, 2020 |
Last class day | Dec 10, 2020 (Thursday) |
Study day | Dec 11, 2020 (Friday) |
Exams | Dec 12 (Saturday)-Dec 18 (Friday), 2020 |
Commencement (no exams) | Dec 13, 2020 (Sunday) |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 18, 2021 (Monday) |
Spring semester instruction begins | Jan 25, 2021 (Monday) |
No classes | Mar 27, 2021 (Saturday) |
No classes | April 2 (Friday) – April 3 (Saturday), 2021 |
Classes resume | Apr 5, 2021 (Monday) |
Last class day | Apr 30, 2021 (Friday) |
Study day | May 1, 2021 (Saturday) |
Exams | May 2 (Sunday)-May 7 (Friday) 2021 |
Commencement: Doctoral & Medical Professional | May 7, 2021 (Friday) |
Commencement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Law | May 8, 2021 (Saturday) |
Faculty contract year ends | May 16, 2021 (Sunday) |
4-week session | May 17-Jun 11, 2021 |
3-week summer session | May 24-Jun 11, 2021 |
Memorial Day observed | May 31, 2021 (Monday) |
8-week summer session | Jun 14-Aug 6, 2021 |
Independence Day observed | Jul 5, 2021 (Monday) |
Faculty contract year begins | Aug 23 2021 (Monday) |
Fall semester instruction begins | Sep 8, 2021 (Wednesday) |
Labor Day | Sep 6, 2021 (Monday) |
Thanksgiving recess | Nov 25-Nov 28, 2021 |
Last class day | Dec 15, 2021 (Wednesday) |
Study day | Dec 16, 2021 (Thursday) |
Exams | Dec 17 (Friday)-Dec 23 (Thursday), 2021 |
Commencement (no exams) | Dec 19, 2021 (Sunday) |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 17, 2022 (Monday) |
Spring semester instruction begins | Jan 25, 2022 (Tuesday) |
Spring recess | Mar 12-Mar 20, 2022 |
Classes resume | Mar 21, 2022 (Monday) |
Last class day | May 6, 2022 (Friday) |
Study day | May 7, 2022 (Saturday) |
Exams | May 8 (Saturday)-May 13 (Friday) 2022 |
Commencement: Doctoral & Medical Professional | May 13, 2022 (Friday) |
Commencement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Law | May 14, 2022 (Saturday) |
Faculty contract year ends | May 22, 2022 (Sunday) |
4-week session | May 23-Jun 17, 2022 |
3-week summer session |
May 31-Jun 17, 2022 |
Memorial Day observed | May 30, 2022 (Monday) |
8-week summer session |
Jun 20-Aug 12 2022 |
Independence Day observed | July 4, 2022 (Monday) |
Faculty contract year begins | Aug 22, 2022 (Monday) |
Fall semester instruction begins | Sep 7, 2022 (Wednesday) |
Labor Day | Sep 5, 2022 (Monday) |
Thanksgiving recess | Nov 24-Nov 27, 2022 |
Last class day | Dec 14, 2022 (Wednesday) |
Study day | Dec 15, 2022 (Thursday) |
Exams | Dec 16 (Friday)-Dec 22 (Thursday), 2022 |
Commencement (no exams) | Dec 18, 2022 (Sunday) |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 16, 2023 (Monday) |
Spring semester instruction begins | Jan 24, 2023 (Tuesday) |
Spring recess | Mar 11-Mar 19, 2023 |
Classes resume | Mar 20, 2023 (Monday) |
Last class day | May 5, 2023 (Friday) |
Study day | May 6, 2023 (Saturday) |
Exams | May 7 (Sunday)-May 12 (Friday) 2023 |
Commencement: Doctoral & Medical Professional | May 12, 2023 (Friday) |
Commencement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Law | May 13, 2023 (Saturday) |
Faculty contract year ends | May 21, 2023 (Sunday) |
4-week session | May 22-Jun 16, 2023 |
3-week summer session |
May 30-Jun 16, 2023 |
Memorial Day observed | May 29, 2023 (Monday) |
8-week summer session |
Jun 19-Aug 11, 2023 |
Independence Day observed | Jul 4, 2023 (Tuesday) |
Faculty contract year begins | Aug 21, 2023 (Monday) |
Fall semester instruction begins | Sep 6, 2023 (Wednesday) |
Labor Day | Sep 4, 2023 (Monday) |
Thanksgiving recess | Nov 23-Nov 26, 2023 |
Last class day | Dec 13, 2023 (Wednesday) |
Study day | Dec 14, 2023 (Thursday) |
Exams | Dec 15 (Friday)-Dec 21 (Thursday), 2023 |
Commencement (no exams) | Dec 17, 2023 (Sunday) |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 15, 2024 (Monday) |
Spring semester instruction begins | Jan 23, 2024 (Tuesday) |
Spring recess | Mar 23-Mar 31, 2024 |
Classes resume | Apr 1, 2024 (Monday) |
Last class day | May 3, 2024 (Friday) |
Study day | May 4, 2024 (Saturday) |
Exams | May 5 (Sunday)-May 10 (Friday) 2024 |
Commencement: Doctoral & Medical Professional | May 10, 2024 (Friday) |
Commencement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Law | May 11, 2024 (Saturday) |
Faculty contract year ends | May 19, 2024 (Sunday) |
4-week session | May 20-Jun 14, 2024 |
3-week summer session |
May 28-Jun 14, 2024 |
Memorial Day observed | May 27, 2024 (Monday) |
8-week summer session |
Jun 17-Aug 9, 2024 |
Independence Day observed | Jul 4, 2024 (Thursday) |
Faculty contract year begins | Aug 19, 2024 (M) |
Fall semester instruction begins | Sep 4, 2024 (W) |
Labor Day | Sep 2, 2024 (M) |
Thanksgiving recess | Nov 28-Dec 1, 2024 |
Last class day | Dec 11, 2024 (W) |
Study day | Dec 12, 2024 (R) |
Exams | Dec 13 (F)-Dec 19 (R), 2024 |
Commencement (no exams) | Dec 15, 2024 (N) |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 20, 2025 (M) |
Spring semester instruction begins | Jan 21, 2025 (T) |
Spring recess | Mar 15-Mar 23, 2025 |
Classes resume | Mar 24, 2025 (M) |
Last class day | May 2, 2025 (F) |
Study day | May 3, 2025 (S) |
Exams | May 4 (N)-May 9 (F) 2025 |
Commencement: Doctoral & Medical Professional | May 9, 2025 (F) |
Commencement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Law | May 10, 2025 (S) |
Faculty contract year ends | May 18, 2025 (N) |
4-week session | May 19-Jun 13, 2025 |
3-week summer session |
May 27-Jun 13, 2025 |
Memorial Day observed | May 26, 2025 (M) |
8-week summer session |
Jun 16-Aug 8, 2025 |
Independence Day observed | Jul 4, 2025 (F) |
Faculty contract year begins | Aug 18, 2025 (M) |
Fall semester instruction begins | Sep 3, 2025 (W) |
Labor Day | Sep 1, 2025 (M) |
Thanksgiving recess | Nov 27-Nov 30, 2025 |
Last class day | Dec 10, 2025 (W) |
Study day | Dec 11, 2025 (R) |
Exams | Dec 12 (F)-Dec 18 (R), 2025 |
Commencement (no exams) | Dec 14, 2025 (N) |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Jan 19, 2026 (M) |
Spring semester instruction begins | Jan 20, 2026 (T) |
Spring recess | Mar 28-Apr 5, 2026 |
Classes resume | Apr 6, 2026 (M) |
Last class day | May 1, 2026 (F) |
Study day | May 2, 2026 (S) |
Exams | May 3 (N)-May 8 (F) 2026 |
Commencement: Doctoral & Medical Professional | May 8, 2026 (F) |
Commencement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Law | May 9, 2026 (S) |
Faculty contract year ends | May 17, 2026 (N) |
4-week session | May 18-Jun 12, 2026 |
3-week summer session |
May 26-Jun 12, 2026 |
Memorial Day observed | May 25, 2026 (M) |
8-week summer session |
Jun 15-Aug 7, 2026 |
Independence Day observed | Jul 4, 2026 (S) |
January 13, 2021
TO: Deans, Directors, Faculty, and Instructional Academic Staff
CC: Facilities and Administrative Unit Directors, Teaching Assistants
FROM: John Karl Scholz, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Lori Reesor, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty
RE: Religious Observances
Please do not schedule exams and other mandatory academic requirements on days when religious observances may cause substantial numbers of students to be absent. Despite a long-standing faculty policy to avoid such conflicts and to make reasonable accommodations for individual cases, students continue to report conflicts in our courses that have not been addressed. Refer to the policy or this memo in your syllabus or use the syllabus template (currently posted on the Instructional Continuity website, under “Course Design & Tools”), where the language regarding religious observances is already included along with additional guidance for students regarding COVID-19. Please advise your teaching assistants to adhere to this policy.
Note that Muslim students who observe Ramadan will fast from dawn to sunset during the most stressful time of the academic year, including finals week Spring 2021. Please extend all possible flexibility to these students
Note as well the removal of spring break from the spring academic calendar and any subsequent changes in the relationship of Passover and Easter to the scheduling of midterm examinations and other assessments.
As in the fall, many courses will be held online or as hybrid courses this semester as we maintain physical distancing to combat COVID-19. Online and remote schedules do not diminish the importance of this policy, and all reasonable accommodations should continue to be made. Please also note that many of our students may be different time zones this semester and accommodations should take this into consideration.
State law mandates that any student with a conflict between an academic requirement and any religious observance must be given an alternative for meeting the academic requirement. The law also stipulates that students be given a mechanism by which they can conveniently and confidentially notify an instructor of the conflict. A student’s claim of a religious conflict, which may include travel time, should be accepted at face value. A great variety of valid claims exist for religious groups, and there is no practical, dignified, and legal means to assess the validity of individual claims.
The following three guidelines that have been developed to provide clarity for both students and instructors:
(1) Announce early in the semester that your students must notify you within the first two weeks of class of the specific days or dates on which they request relief. Including this information on your course syllabus is encouraged, to make sure your students are informed of the policy. (2) Make‑ups may be scheduled before or after the regularly scheduled requirements. (3) It is understood that instructors may set reasonable limits on the total number of days claimed by any one student. Occasionally, students may not fully understand the necessity for prior notice, and under these circumstances we urge you to be as flexible as possible. Our policy seeks to be sensitive to the needs of individual students.
Some religions mark observances over multiple days, which may begin at sunset on the day preceding the posted date(s) of the holiday. See interfaith-calendar.org for a listing, though not exhaustive, of religious holidays. Please refer to the calendar below or at secfac.wisc.edu/academic-calendar/ to compare with the UW-Madison academic calendar.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
Heather Daniels, Secretary of the Faculty, 608-262-3958, sof@secfac.wisc.edu
John Zumbrunnen, Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, 608-262-5701, zumbrunnen@wisc.edu
Christina Olstad, Dean of Students, 608-262-1451, dean@studentlife.wisc.edu
CALENDAR FOR SPRING SEMESTER 2021
Martin Luther King Jr Day | 18 January (Mon) |
Last day to cancel enrollment without transcript record | 24 January (Sun) |
Instruction begins | 25 January (Mon) |
Last day to drop courses or withdraw without notation on transcript | 3 February (Wed) |
Last day to add courses or enroll without department/dean permission | 5 February (Fri) |
Last day for 100% tuition adjustment on dropped classes | 5 February (Fri) |
Ash Wednesday* | 17 February (Wed) |
Last day for 50% tuition adjustment on dropped classes | 19 February (Fri) |
Last day to apply for pass/fail or convert from credit to audit (undergrad) | 19 February (Fri) |
Purim* | 26 February (Fri)** |
Magha Puja Day* | 26 February (Fri) |
Last day to drop courses | 26 March (Fri) |
Last day to apply for pass/fail or convert from credit to audit (grad) | 26 March (Fri) |
No classes | 27 March (Sat) |
Passover (Pesach)* | 28 March-4 April ** |
Holi* | 28-29 March (Sun-Mon) |
Good Friday* | 2 April (Fri) |
No classes | 2-3 April (Fri-Sat) |
Easter* | 4 April (Sun) |
Classes resume | 5 April (Mon) |
Ramadan* | 12 April-May 12*** |
Last day to withdraw without academic penalty (undergrad, prof., special) | 16 April (Fri) |
Mahavir Jayanti* | 25 April (Sun) |
Last day to withdraw without academic penalty (grad) | 30 April (Fri) |
Last class day | 30 April (Fri) |
Beltane* | 1 May (Sat) |
Study day | 1 May (Sat) |
Exam (summary) period | 2-7 May (Sun-Fri) |
Commencement ceremony: doctoral and MFA candidates | 7 May (Fri)**** |
Commencement ceremony: undergraduate and master’s degree candidates | 8 May (Sat)**** |
Last day grades in | 10 May (Mon) |
Eid al Fitr (end of Ramadan)* | 12-13 May (Wed-Thu)*** |
Ascension Day* | 13 May (Thu) |
Faculty contract year ends | 16 May (Sun) |
Spring 2021 Key Deadlines:
registrar.wisc.edu/dates/
Please contact the Office of the Registrar for the Apply to Graduate deadline.
Note that Ramadan falls on April 12-May 12 this year, which includes finals week Spring 2021. More information on making accommodations for religious fasting:
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/05/14/colleges-try-accommodate-muslim-students-fasting-ramadan
* In accordance with regent and faculty policy, faculty are asked not to schedule mandatory exercises on days when religious observances may cause substantial numbers of students to be absent from the university.
** Observances of Jewish holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding that which is listed as the holiday.
*** Islamic holidays are based on the lunar cycle and dates may vary by one day from those listed.
**** The official date of degree conferral on the diploma will be 9 May 2021.
Calendar 2021-2026 (Fac doc 2795, Feb 2019) (PDF)
2021-2026 Academic Calendar TR-MWF
Jane Richard
Office of the Secretary of the Faculty
University of Wisconsin – Madison
129 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1380
jane.richard@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-3958
For questions about commencement, see: commencement.wisc.edu/
or email your questions to: commence@chancellor.wisc.edu
Apply to graduate deadline for Spring 2020 will be Friday, April 3, 2020
Final grades are due to the Office of the Registrar 72 hours after the last final exam day, regardless of whether or not a two-hour summary block exam was held. This is the deadline approved by the Faculty Senate.. For questions about final exams or submitting grades, please see the Office of the Registrar’s pages: Office of the Registrar’s pages.
