ETSU Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

The ETSU academic calendar 2026-2027 serves as the primary operational blueprint for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across all campuses at East Tennessee State University.

East Tennessee State University operates on a traditional semester-based academic structure divided into Fall, Spring, and multi-session Summer terms.

Primary Fall and Spring semesters on the ETSU academic calendar 2026 and 2027 schedule feature 15 weeks of active instruction, followed by a dedicated final examination week.

To maintain full-time undergraduate standing for state scholarships, financial aid, and campus housing, students carry between 12 and 18 credit hours per semester, with 15 credits per term serving as the benchmark to graduate within four years.

ETSU also delivers accelerated 5-week, 7-week, and full 12-week Summer intersessions for students seeking to complete prerequisite coursework or speed up degree completion.

ETSU Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Registration by appointment only begins on Monday, April 6, 2026.
2. ETSU Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, August 24, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
3. The last day to register or add classes without a departmental permit through GoldLink is Sunday, August 30, 2026.
4. The last day to change to or from the audit grade option is Sunday, August 30, 2026.
5. The last day to submit a curriculum change for the current term, including a change of major, minor, concentration, Degree Works exception, or catalog year change, is Monday, August 31, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
6. The last day for graduate students to apply to graduate, submit committee forms, and submit doctoral candidacy forms for Spring 2027 graduation is Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
7. Census takes place on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
8. The last day to add classes without the Dean’s permission through GoldLink is Sunday, September 6, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
9. The last day to drop a course without receiving a W grade through GoldLink is Sunday, September 6, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
10. The Labor Day holiday is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and the university is closed.
11. Academic Alerts reporting in Navigate begins on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
12. Late add with the Dean’s permission only begins on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
13. Required attendance reporting, including online courses, takes place from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, through Monday, September 14, 2026.
14. The last day to submit Academic Alerts in Navigate is Sunday, September 27, 2026.
15. Early Semester Progress Reporting (ESPR/Mid-Term Grades) for undergraduate students begins on Monday, September 28, 2026.
16. The last day for Early Semester Progress Reporting (ESPR/Mid-Term Grades) for undergraduate students is Sunday, October 4, 2026.
17. The last day to withdraw from a course with a W grade without the Dean’s permission is Monday, October 12, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
18. ETSU Fall Break 2026 takes place from Monday, October 12, 2026, through Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and no classes are held.
19. The last day to submit the Notification of Oral Defense form to the Graduate School for December 2026 graduation is Monday, October 19, 2026.
20. The last day to complete the oral defense of a thesis or dissertation for December 2026 graduation is Monday, November 2, 2026.
21. The deadline to upload a committee-approved thesis or dissertation for December 2026 graduation is Monday, November 9, 2026.
22. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and the university is closed.
23. ETSU Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026, and the university is closed.
24. The last day to withdraw from the university, including Dean-approved late drops, is Tuesday, December 1, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
25. The last day of classes is Thursday, December 3, 2026.
26. Study Day takes place on Friday, December 4, 2026.
27. Final exams take place from Saturday, December 5, 2026, through Thursday, December 10, 2026.
28. The deadline for Dean approval of a thesis or dissertation for December 2026 graduation is Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
29. Commencement ceremonies take place on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
30. All grades are due on Monday, December 14, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

ETSU Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Registration by appointment only begins on Monday, November 2, 2026.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and the university is closed.
3. ETSU Spring 2027 classes begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
4. The last day to register or add classes without a departmental permit through GoldLink is Monday, January 25, 2027.
5. The last day to change to or from the audit grade option is Monday, January 25, 2027.
6. The last day to submit a curriculum change for the current term, including a change of major, minor, concentration, Degree Works exception, or catalog year change, is Tuesday, January 26, 2027, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
7. Census takes place on Monday, February 1, 2027.
8. Academic Alerts reporting in Navigate begins on Monday, February 1, 2027.
9. The last day to add classes without the Dean’s permission is Monday, February 1, 2027, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
10. The last day to drop a course without receiving a W grade is Monday, February 1, 2027, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
11. Late add with the Dean’s permission only begins on Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
12. Required attendance reporting, including online courses, takes place from Tuesday, February 2, 2027, through Monday, February 8, 2027.
13. The last day to submit Academic Alerts in Navigate is Sunday, February 21, 2027.
14. Early Semester Progress Reporting (ESPR/Mid-Term Grades) for undergraduate students begins on Tuesday, February 23, 2027.
15. The last day for graduate students to apply to graduate, submit committee forms, and submit doctoral candidacy forms for Summer 2027 or Fall 2027 graduation is Monday, March 1, 2027.
16. The last day for Early Semester Progress Reporting (ESPR/Mid-Term Grades) for undergraduate students is Monday, March 1, 2027.
17. The last day to withdraw from a course with a W grade without the Dean’s permission is Tuesday, March 9, 2027, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
18. ETSU Spring Break 2027 takes place from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Sunday, March 21, 2027, and no classes are held.
19. The last day to submit the Notification of Oral Defense form to the Graduate School for May 2027 graduation is Monday, March 15, 2027.
20. Good Friday is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027, and the university is closed.
21. The last day to complete the oral defense of a thesis or dissertation for May 2027 graduation is Monday, March 29, 2027.
22. The deadline to upload a committee-approved thesis or dissertation for May 2027 graduation is Monday, April 5, 2027.
23. The last day to withdraw from the university, including Dean-approved late drops, is Tuesday, April 27, 2027, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
24. The last day of classes is Thursday, April 29, 2027.
25. Study Day takes place on Friday, April 30, 2027.
26. Final exams take place from Saturday, May 1, 2027, through Thursday, May 6, 2027.
27. The deadline for Dean approval of a thesis or dissertation for May 2027 graduation is Wednesday, May 5, 2027.
28. Commencement ceremonies take place on Saturday, May 8, 2027.
29. All grades are due on Monday, May 10, 2027, by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

For more on the ETSU Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the East Tennessee State University Registrar website.