RWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates and Deadlines

RWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027 is the official schedule that Roger Williams University students, faculty, and staff rely on to plan the coming school year — from the first day of Fall 2026 classes through Commencement in Spring 2027.

Like most American universities, RWU runs on a semester-based academic calendar rather than a quarter system, splitting the year into a Fall and a Spring semester, with an optional Winter (January) intersession and a Summer session for students who want to accelerate their degree or catch up on credits.

Full-time undergraduate students typically carry between 12 and 19 credits per semester, while full-time graduate students are defined as those enrolled in 9 or more credits per term (part-time is 8 credits or fewer, and half-time is 4.5 credits or more for financial aid purposes).

This credit structure shapes everything from tuition billing to financial aid eligibility, so understanding it alongside the calendar dates is worth doing early.

On this page, you’ll find the full breakdown of the RWU academic calendar 26-27, including registration windows, orientation dates, the last day to add or drop a course, holiday closures (Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving break, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day), reading days, final exam periods, and Commencement.

If you’re specifically looking ahead to the second half of the year, we’ve also outlined the RWU academic calendar for spring 2027, covering when Spring classes begin, midterm and withdrawal deadlines, and the final exam schedule leading into May.

It’s also worth noting that Roger Williams University maintains a separate academic calendar for its law school. If you’re a JD student or applicant, the RWU Law academic calendar follows its own registration, orientation, and exam timeline — distinct from the undergraduate and graduate calendar covered here — so be sure you’re referencing the right one for your program.

RWU Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. August and International Orientation takes place on Thursday, August 20, 2026, and Friday, August 21, 2026.
2. New Student Move-In Day takes place on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
3. Residence halls open for returning students from Sunday, August 23, 2026, through Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
4. New Student Convocation takes place on Monday, August 24, 2026.
5. The Fall Faculty Conference takes place on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
6. RWU Fall 2026 classes start on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
7. The last day to add a course without an instructor’s permission is Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
8. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026. No classes are held, and all university offices are closed.
9. The last day to add a course with an instructor’s permission is Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
10. The last day to make meal plan changes or deletions is Wednesday, September 9, 2026, by 4:00 p.m.
11. The last day to drop a course without receiving a W grade is Friday, September 25, 2026.
12. RWU Fall Break 2026 takes place on Monday, October 12, 2026. No classes are held, and all university offices remain open.
13. Tuesday classes follow a Monday schedule on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
14. Midterm grades are due to the Registrar’s Office on Friday, October 16, 2026.
15. The advisement period for Winter and Spring begins on Monday, October 19, 2026.
16. The last day to drop a course with a W grade is Friday, October 23, 2026.
17. Registration for Winter and Spring begins on Monday, November 2, 2026.
18. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. No classes are held, and all university offices are closed.
19. RWU Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026. No classes are held, and all university offices are closed. Classes resume on Monday, November 30, 2026.
20. The last day of Fall classes is Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
21. Reading Day takes place on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
22. Final examinations take place on Friday, December 4, 2026, and from Monday, December 7, 2026, through Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
23. Residence halls close on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
24. Final grades are due to the Registrar’s Office on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, by 12:00 p.m.
25. Incomplete grades from the Spring and Summer terms convert to F grades on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

RWU Academic Calendar Winter 2027

1. New Year’s Day is observed on Friday, January 1, 2027. All university offices are closed.
2. The first day of Winter classes is Monday, January 4, 2027.
3. The last day to add a course without an instructor’s permission is Monday, January 11, 2027.
4. The last day to add a course with an instructor’s permission is Monday, January 11, 2027.
5. The last day of Winter classes and all final examinations take place on Friday, January 22, 2027.
6. Final grades are due to the Registrar’s Office on Tuesday, January 26, 2027.

RWU Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027.
2. Residence halls open for all students on Sunday, January 24, 2027.
3. January New Student Orientation takes place on Monday, January 25, 2027, and Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
4. The first day of Spring 2027 classes is Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
5. The last day to add a course without an instructor’s permission is Wednesday, February 3, 2027.
6. The last day to add a course with an instructor’s permission is Wednesday, February 10, 2027.
7. The last day to make meal plan changes or deletions is Wednesday, February 10, 2027, by 4:00 p.m.
8. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027. No classes are held, and all university offices are closed.
9. Monday classes meet on Tuesday, February 16, 2027.
10. The last day to drop a course without receiving a W grade is Friday, March 12, 2027.
11. RWU Spring Break 2027 takes place from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Friday, March 19, 2027. Residence halls close on Friday, March 12, 2027, at 5:00 p.m, and reopen on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 9:00 a.m. Classes resume on Monday, March 22, 2027.
12. The advisement period for Summer and Fall begins on Monday, March 22, 2027.
13. Degree applications are due in the Registrar’s Office for juniors graduating the following Spring on Thursday, March 25, 2027.
14. Warning grades are due to the Registrar’s Office on Thursday, March 25, 2027.
15. The university holiday is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027. No classes are held, and all university offices are closed.
16. Registration for Summer Sessions and the Fall semester begins on Monday, April 5, 2027.
17. Student Academic Showcase and Honors (SASH) takes place on Wednesday, April 14, 2027, and no classes are held. Undergraduate courses meeting once a week on Wednesday evenings follow faculty guidance for class meetings.
18. The last day of classes is Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
19. Reading Day takes place on Thursday, May 6, 2027.
20. Final examinations take place on Friday, May 7, 2027, and from Monday, May 10, 2027, through Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
21. Residence halls close for non-graduating students on Wednesday, May 12, 2027, at 5:00 p.m.
22. Senior Rehearsal and BBQ takes place on Thursday, May 13, 2027.
23. All University Commencement takes place on Friday, May 14, 2027.
24. Residence halls close for graduating students on Friday, May 14, 2027, at 5:00 p.m.
25. Final grades are due to the Registrar’s Office on Wednesday, May 19, 2027, by 5:00 p.m.
26. Incomplete grades from the Winter and Fall terms convert to F grades on Wednesday, May 19, 2027.

RWU Law Academic Calendar 2026-2027

RWU Law Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Registration for returning students opens from Monday, April 6, 2026, through Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
2. Orientation and registration for first-year students take place from Wednesday, August 12, 2026, through Monday, August 17, 2026.
3. Clinic Orientation takes place on Monday, August 17, 2026.
4. Orientation for returning students takes place on Monday, August 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom and is required.
5. The first day of classes for RWU Law students is Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
6. The last day for returning students to register is Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
7. The last day to drop or add classes is Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
8. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and no classes are held.
9. A make-up day following the Monday schedule takes place on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
10. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on Monday, October 12, 2026, and no classes are held.
11. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and no classes are held.
12. The last day of regularly scheduled classes, following the Monday schedule, is Thursday, November 19, 2026.
13. Class make-up days and review or reading days take place from Friday, November 20, 2026, through Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
14. The Thanksgiving holiday takes place from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026, and no classes are held.
15. Final examinations take place from Monday, November 30, 2026, through Friday, December 11, 2026.

RWU Law Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Registration for Spring 2027 opens from Monday, October 19, 2026, through Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
2. Clinic Orientation takes place on Monday, January 11, 2027.
3. The first day of classes is Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and no classes are held.
5. A make-up day following the Monday schedule takes place on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
6. The last day to drop or add classes is Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
7. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027, and no classes are held.
8. RWU Law Spring Break 2027 takes place from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Friday, March 19, 2027, and no classes are held.
9. A make-up day following the Monday schedule takes place on Wednesday, April 21, 2027.
10. The last day of regularly scheduled classes, following the Friday schedule, is Thursday, April 22, 2027.
11. Reading and make-up days, if necessary, take place on Friday, April 23, 2027.
12. Final examinations take place from Monday, April 26, 2027, through Friday, May 7, 2027.
13. Commencement is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2027, tentatively.

RWU Law Academic Calendar Summer 2027

1. Registration for Summer 2027 opens from Monday, March 22, 2027, through Wednesday, March 24, 2027.
2. Summer classes begin on Monday, May 17, 2027.
3. The last day to drop or add classes is Monday, May 24, 2027.
4. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31, 2027, and no classes are held.
5. Juneteenth is observed on Monday, June 21, 2027, and no classes are held.
6. The Independence Day holiday is observed on Monday, July 5, 2027, and no classes are held.
7. Make-up days following the Monday schedule take place on Tuesday, July 20, 2027, and Wednesday, July 21, 2027.
8. The last day of regularly scheduled classes is Wednesday, July 21, 2027.
9. The reading period and make-up days, if necessary, take place on Thursday, July 22, 2027, and Friday, July 23, 2027.
10. Final examinations take place from Monday, July 26, 2027, through Friday, July 30, 2027.

For more on the RWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Roger Williams University calendar website.