Changes to Spring Academic Calendar and Commencement Timing in 2020 and Beyond (Graduate student letter)

April 18, 2019
Ian A. Waitz, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education | Mary Callahan, Senior Associate Dean and Registrar |

Dear students,

You may recall that we wrote to you in January to ask for input on potential changes to the academic calendar, including moving the timing of our Hooding and Commencement ceremonies to the end of May in most years. We write today to let you know that the faculty approved a proposal that your input helped to shape. The changes will go into effect beginning next spring.

The Class of 2020 Hooding and Commencement ceremonies will take place on May 28 and May 29, 2020, respectively. The projected dates for ceremonies that occur in 2021 through 2025 are available here.

We were motivated by two primary objectives as we sought to collect input about, and build support for, this change:

  1. Provide a longer summer break for students and faculty; and
  2. Address concerns we’ve heard about students delaying internships or employment opportunities, or being forced to extend housing rental agreements, to accommodate graduation events that currently take place in early June.

To enable earlier Commencement ceremonies, you should be aware that the academic calendar will change in the following ways beginning next spring:

  1. The timing of Independent Activities Period (IAP) will remain the same but Spring Registration Day will occur on the last day of IAP (Friday).
  2. The first day of spring classes will be on a Monday, and the last day of classes will be on a Tuesday. The number of spring term teaching days will remain at 65.
  3. The Patriots’ Day student holiday will be reduced from four days to a three-day-weekend.
  4.  Finals will occur over four days that straddle a weekend, and an additional reading day will be added. The resulting format will include two reading days, one exam day (Friday), two reading days, three exam days (Monday–Wednesday).

Our office is working alongside colleagues in the Division of Student Life, Institute Events, academic departments, the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life, DAPER, and other offices to help ensure for a smooth implementation process. We are also developing different accommodation strategies for graduating students and their families who may face conflicts with religious holidays or athletic schedules as a result of the new ceremony date. You can learn more about this entire effort in these Frequently Asked Questions.

Many students completed the online feedback form we shared in January (and some attended the forum we held). Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your opinions and insights on the best ways to enhance the academic calendar. It made a difference.

Sincerely,

Ian A. Waitz, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education
Mary Callahan, Senior Associate Dean and Registrar