Guidelines for Determining Academic Calendar of Dates

The following are principles and guidelines either formally agreed upon by Senate or adopted as common practice in determining the dates for the academic year.

1.  That the practice of setting dates for each academic year continues to be an annual exercise.

2.  That there be no fewer than 60 teaching days (12 weeks) in a term. A clear rationale for fewer than 60 teaching days must be communicated to Senate at the time calendar dates are approved.  In calculating teaching days in a term, Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory or University holidays are excluded.

3.  That attention be given to balancing the number of meets in courses. Where an imbalance may occur because of statutory holidays, the class schedule for a day different than the calendar day can be used to balance the number of course meets.

4.  That Fall Convocation be the Friday and Saturday that fall in the third full week (beginning Sunday) of October.

5.  That Spring Convocation be the Tuesday to Saturday in the second full week (beginning Sunday) in June.

6. That the Reading Weeks occur in all Faculties and must begin on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving in October and the Tuesday following Family Day in February. 

7. That Fall Term classes in September begin on the Wednesday following the Labour Day holiday. Exception: The Fall Term begins on Tuesday, September 8^th when Labour Day is September 7^th.

8. That the start date for Winter Term be set as follows:

   1. If January 1^st is a Sunday, then start of classes is Wednesday, January 4^th.

   2. If January 1^st is a Monday, then start of classes is Wednesday, January 3^rd.

   3. If January 1^st is a Tuesday, then start of classes is Monday, January 7^th.

   4. If January 1^st is a Wednesday, then start of classes is Monday, January 6^th.

   5. If January 1^st is a Thursday, then start of classes is Monday, January 5^th.

   6. If January 1^st is a Friday, then start of classes is Tuesday, January 5^th.

   7. If January 1^st is a Saturday, then start of classes is Wednesday, January 5^th.

9. The start date for Spring Term be set as follows:

   1. If May 1^st is a Sunday, then start of classes is Monday, May 2^nd.

   2. If May 1^st is a Monday, then start of classes is Monday, May 1^st.

   3. If May 1^st is a Tuesday, then start of classes is Tuesday, May 1^st.

   4. If May 1^st is a Wednesday, then start of classes is Wednesday, May 1^st.

   5. If May 1^st is a Thursday, then start of classes is Monday, May 5^th.

   6. If May 1^st is a Friday, then start of classes is Monday, May 4^th.

   7. If May 1^st is a Saturday, then start of classes is Monday, May 3^rd.

10. That there be no fewer than one pre-examination study day and when possible, two pre-examination study days (excluding Saturday, Sunday, and holidays) between the end of classes and the beginning of examinations. A clear rationale for using fewer than 2 days or Saturday, Sunday, and holidays as pre-examination study days, must be communicated to Senate at the time calendar dates are approved.

11. That there be no fewer than 13 examination days in the Fall and Winter Terms, and 11 examination days in the Spring Term. In addition, one Emergency Day with no scheduled examinations is added to the end of the examination period. 

12. In calculating examination days, Saturdays which fall within the period are included, whereas Sundays and statutory or University holidays are excluded. Exceptions: Examinations will not be scheduled on the Saturday following Good Friday when that day falls within the examination schedule or the Saturday of the Civic Day weekend. The first Sunday within the examination period may be used when required to accommodate the prescribed number of examination days in the Fall Term.

13. That in the Fall Term no examinations be scheduled beyond December 22^nd. The Emergency Day cannot be scheduled beyond December 23^rd.

14. That Online Course Examination Days in each term be the first consecutive Friday and Saturday in the examination period.

15. Grades due dates for on campus courses are normally scheduled seven days from the date of the final examination. Grades for Online (Centre for Extended Learning) courses that have a scheduled final examination are due on the last day of the grades submission period. Grades for all courses without a scheduled final examination are normally due 14 days after the start of examinations.

16. Co-op work terms are expected to be 16 week in duration. Actual start and end dates may vary depending on employer or student requirements in consultation with Co-operative Education.