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Academic Calendar 2019-2020

The academic calendar is divided into fall and spring semesters of approximately 15 weeks each and summer sessions of varying length. The last week of the fall and spring semesters is set aside for final examinations. The academic calendar for the Washington College of Law (WCL) of American University varies from this general schedule, and its key dates are noted below in italics. For the full WCL academic calendar, please go to: http://www.wcl.american.edu/registrar/

The holidays and vacations observed by the university are noted below. Spring break is the week following the spring semester midterm. Classes continue until 10:40 p.m. the evening before a holiday or vacation period.

Note: The refund, add/drop/withdrawal, grade change, and final grades schedule applies to all courses with a standard schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring). Refunds, adds/drops/withdrawals, and grade changes for courses on nonstandard schedules (including MBA modules), as well as all summer session courses, are calculated proportionately, based on the percentage of the course completed. Final grades are always due 72 hours after the official end date of the course. For more information, please go to: www.american.edu/finance/studentaccounts/Refunds-for-Course-Drops-andWithdrawals.cfm. For Summer Registration and Refund Dates please go to: https://www.american.edu/summer/calendar.cfm 

2019 Fall Semester Calendar
Date Day Event
8/1/2019 Thu Payment due for fall classes
8/16/2019 Fri WCL: Fall classes begin (Friday classes meet.)
8/20/2019 - 9/6/2019 Tues All-American Welcome (Events begin with new student move-in and continue through the first two weeks of classes.)
8/23/2019 Fri Last day to register for fall without a late fee
8/26/2019 Mon Fall classes begin
8/26/2019 Mon Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
8/30/2019 Fri Late registration for fall ends
9/2/2019 Mon Labor Day; no classes, university offices closed
9/9/2019 Mon Last day to add a fall course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
9/9/2019 Mon Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
9/16/2019 Mon Last day to drop a fall course for a 50% refund
9/23/2019 Mon Last day to drop a fall course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
9/30/2019 Mon Early warning notices due in Registrar's Office
10/4/2019 - 10/6/2019 Fri-Sun All-American Weekend
10/7/2019 Mon Schedule of Classes for Spring published.
10/11/2019 Fri Fall Break; no classes, university offices open
10/28/2019 Mon Spring priority registration for graduate students begins.
10/31/2019 Thu Last day to apply for fall graduation
11/1/2019 Fri Last day to drop a fall course or change a grade option (end of the 10th week)
11/4/2019 Mon Spring priority registration for undergraduate students begins.
11/8/2019 Fri Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for fall degree candidates
11/26/2019 Tue Tuesday classes cancelled; Friday classes meet.
11/26/2019 Tues WCL: Fall classes end (Includes make-up for holiday)
11/27/2019 - 12/1/2019 Wed Thanksgiving holiday; no classes; university offices closed Thursday and Friday
12/3/2019 Tue WCL: Examinations begin
12/6/2019 Fri Fall classes end. Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for fall degree candidates
12/7/2019 - 12/8/2019 Sat-Sun Fall Study Days
12/9/2019 - 12/14/2019 Mon-Sat Fall final examinations
12/14/2019 Sat WCL: Examinations end
12/15/2019 Sun Fall Commencement Ceremony for August and December graduates
12/19/2019 Thu All full-term fall classes final grades due.
12/20/2019 Fri WCL: Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December diplomas; no event associated with this date)
12/23/2019 - 1/1/2020 Mon-Wed Winter break; university offices closed
12/31/2019 Tue Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on December diplomas; no event associated with this date)
2020 Spring Semester Calendar
Date Day Event
1/8/2020 Wed WCL: Spring classes begin
1/9/2020 - 1/12/2020 Thu-Sun Winter Welcome
1/10/2020 Fri Last day to register for spring without a late fee
1/13/2020 Mon Spring classes begin
1/13/2020 Mon Late registration (with $100 fee) begins
1/17/2020 Fri Late registration for spring ends
1/20/2020 Mon Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes, university offices closed
1/27/2020 Mon Last day to add a spring course, internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
1/27/2020 Mon Last day to drop a spring course for a 100% refund and without a "W" recorded
2/1/2020 Sat Last day to apply for spring graduation
2/3/2020 Mon Last day to drop a spring course for a 50% refund
2/10/2020 Mon Last day to drop a spring course for a 25% refund (no refunds after this date)
2/17/2020 Mon Early warning notices due in Registrar’s Office
3/8/2020-3/15/2020 Sun-Sun Spring break; no classes, university offices open Monday through Friday
3/9/2020 Mon Schedule of Classes for Summer and Fall published.
3/20/2020 Fri Last day to change a grade option (end of 10th week)
3/27/2020 Fri Theses and dissertations due in deans’ offices for spring degree candidates
4/6/2020 Mon Summer registration begins.
4/7/2020 Tue Fall priority registration for Graduate students begins.
4/9/2020 Thu Fall priority registration for Undergraduate students begins.
4/22/2020 Wed WCL: Last day of classes (includes make-ups for holidays)
4/27/2020 Mon Last day to drop a spring class
4/27/2020 Mon Spring classes end
4/27/2020 Mon Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for spring degree candidates
4/28/2020 Tue Spring study day; no classes
4/28/2020 Tue WCL: Examinations begin
4/29/2020 - 5/5/2020 Wed-Tue Spring final examinations
5/8/2020 Fri All full-term spring classes final grades due.
5/8/2020 - 5/10/2020 Fri-Sun Commencement Weekend Activities
5/8/2020 Fri WCL: Examinations end
5/10/2020 Sun Official Degree Award Date
5/17/2020 Sun WCL: Spring Commencement Ceremony
5/17/2020 Sun WCL: Official Degree Award Date
2020 Summer Sessions
Date Day Event
5/11/2020 Mon 7-week (A), Online Learning I (E) sessions begin, and standard in-person sessions begin
5/18/2020 Mon First 6-week (B) and 3-week (C) sessions begin
5/22/2020 Fri Last day to add a summer internship, Independent Reading or Research, or Community Service-Learning project
5/25/2020 Mon Memorial Day; no classes, university offices closed
5/26/2020 Tue WCL: First day of classes
6/1/2020 Mon Payment due for summer classes, Last day to apply for summer graduation
6/6/2020 Sat 3-week (C) session ends
6/27/2020 Sat 7-week (A), first 6-week (B), and Online Learning I (E) sessions end
6/29/2020 Mon Second 6-week (D) and Online Learning II (F) session begin
7/3/2020 Fri Independence Day(observed); no classes, university offices closed
7/17/2020 Fri Theses and dissertations due in deans' offices for summer degree candidates
7/27/2020 Mon WCL: Last day of classes
7/31/2020 Fri WCL: Examinations begin
8/1/2020 Sat Payment due for fall classes
8/5/2020 Wed WCL: Examinations end
8/6/2020 Thu Theses and dissertations due in Registrar's Office for summer degree candidates
8/8/2020 Sat Second 6-week (D) session ends
8/15/2020 Sat Online Learning II (F) session and standard in-person sessions end
8/20/2020 Thu WCL: Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associate with this date)
8/23/2020 Sun Official Degree Award Date (date that appears on August diplomas; no event associated with this date)