Spelman Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

Spelman Academic Calendar 2026-2027 serves as the essential planning roadmap for undergraduate students, faculty, alumnae, and the broader Atlanta University Center (AUC) community.

Designed to support academic excellence and balanced student life, this comprehensive schedule provides key dates for course registration, term start and end dates, campus holidays, and graduation ceremonies throughout the entire academic year.

Whether you are an incoming student preparing for New Student Orientation or a senior preparing for degree completion, staying aligned with the official schedule ensures a seamless transition through every academic milestone.

Operating on a traditional two-semester system (Fall and Spring), the Spelman College academic calendar structure features approximately 15 to 16 weeks of instruction per standard term, complemented by an accelerated Wintermester and optional Summer Sessions I & II.

Full-time students typically enroll in 12 to 18 semester credit hours each term, working toward the standard 120+ credit hour requirement for degree completion.

This structural timeline incorporates dedicated reading periods before assessments, structured midterm examination windows, and aligned cross-registration opportunities across neighboring Atlanta University Center institutions.

Navigating the Spelman academic calendar for the fall 2026 term requires close attention to early campus benchmarks. The Spelman first day of classes 2026 officially launches the autumn term on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following New Student Orientation and main registration deadlines.

Throughout the semester, students can plan around the official Spelman holiday schedule, which includes campus closures for Labor Day (September 7), Fall Break (October 5–6), and Thanksgiving Break (November 26–27), before wrapping up instruction on December 2 and heading into final examinations.

Looking ahead to the Spelman academic calendar 2027 schedule, the Spring semester commences on January 13, 2027, punctuated by Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Spring Break in March.

Students preparing for end-of-year assessments can consult the Spelman final exam schedule for Spring 2027, which runs from May 3 through May 7, 2027, immediately following designated reading days.

The academic year culminates in the highly anticipated Spelman College graduation 2027 events, featuring Baccalaureate Services on May 15 and Commencement Services on Sunday, May 16, 2027.

Spelman Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. New Student Orientation takes place from Wednesday, August 12, 2026, through Sunday, August 16, 2026.
2. Registration ends on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
3. The first day of classes for fall 2026 is Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
4. Late registration begins on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
5. Late registration ends on Friday, August 28, 2026.
6. The Labor Day holiday is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and the campus is closed.
7. Spring 2027 schedule revisions (1st Draft) are due from Department Heads on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
8. Summer School transcripts are due on Friday, September 18, 2026.
9. Mid-semester examinations take place from Thursday, September 24, 2026, through Friday, September 25, 2026.
10. Spelman College Fall Break 2026 takes place from Monday, October 5, 2026, through Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and no Spelman classes are held.
11. The last day to make up incompletes (I) for Spring 2026 and missing grades is Friday, October 9, 2026.
12. Mid-semester grades are due on Friday, October 9, 2026.
13. Major/Minor verification forms are due from Department Heads for December 2026 degree candidates on Monday, October 12, 2026.
14. Advisement for Spring 2027 begins on Monday, October 12, 2026.
15. The last day to withdraw from a course is Monday, October 12, 2026.
16. The Graduation Application deadline for December 2026 is Friday, October 16, 2026.
17. Registration for Spring 2027 begins on Monday, November 2, 2026.
18. Fall 2027 schedule (1st Draft) projections are due from Department Heads on Monday, November 2, 2026.
19. Spelman College Thanksgiving Break 2026 is observed from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026, and the College is closed with no classes.
20. The Graduation Application deadline for May 2027 candidates is Monday, November 30, 2026.
21. The last day of classes is Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
22. Major/Minor verification forms are due from Department Heads for May 2027 degree candidates on Friday, December 4, 2026.
23. The Reading Period takes place from Thursday, December 3, 2026, through Friday, December 4, 2026.
24. Final examinations take place from Monday, December 7, 2026, through Friday, December 11, 2026.
25. The Fall semester ends on Friday, December 11, 2026.
26. All grades are due in the Registrar’s Office by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

Spelman Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The College reopens on a date to be announced.
2. Registration ends on Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
3. Classes begin on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.
4. Late registration begins on Thursday, January 14, 2027.
5. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and the campus is closed with no classes.
6. Late registration ends on Friday, January 22, 2027.
7. Summer School applications become available on Friday, January 29, 2027.
8. Fall 2027 schedule revisions (1st Draft) are due from Department Heads on Friday, February 12, 2027.
9. Mid-semester examinations take place from Thursday, March 4, 2027, through Friday, March 5, 2027.
10. Spelman Spring Break 2027 takes place from Monday, March 8, 2027, through Friday, March 12, 2027; the College is open, but no classes are held.
11. The last day to make up incompletes (I) and missing grades for Fall 2026 is Friday, March 19, 2027.
12. Mid-semester grades are due on Friday, March 19, 2027.
13. The last day to withdraw from a course is Monday, March 22, 2027.
14. Advisement for Fall 2028 begins on Monday, March 22, 2027.
15. May degree candidates must have incompletes and other deficiencies corrected by Friday, March 26, 2027.
16. Fall 2027 schedule revisions (2nd Draft) are due from Department Heads on Friday, March 26, 2027.
17. Good Friday is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027, and the College is closed.
18. Registration for Fall 2028 begins on Monday, April 5, 2027.
19. Founders Day is observed on Thursday, April 8, 2027.
20. Research Day is held on Friday, April 16, 2027, and no classes are held.
21. Summer School applications are due on Friday, April 23, 2027.
22. The last day of classes is Wednesday, April 28, 2027.
23. The Reading Period takes place from Thursday, April 29, 2027, through Friday, April 30, 2027.
24. Final examinations take place from Monday, May 3, 2027, through Friday, May 7, 2027.
25. The Spring semester ends on Friday, May 7, 2027.
26. Final grades are due by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2027.
27. Baccalaureate Services are held on Saturday, May 15, 2027.
28. Commencement Services are held on Sunday, May 16, 2027.
29. The Graduation Application becomes available for December 2027 and May 2028 degree candidates on Monday, May 17, 2027.

For more on the Spelman Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Spelman College Registrar website.