UCA Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates and Deadlines

The UCA academic calendar 2026-2027 serves as the primary operational roadmap for undergraduate, graduate, and online students across the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway.

Whether you are an incoming freshman preparing for Welcome Week and Opening Convocation, checking your my uca schedule in the student portal, or a graduating senior tracking degree audit clearance, following the official uca calendar of events ensures you hit critical course enrollment windows, 100% tuition refund cutoffs, and administrative deadlines without penalty.

The University of Central Arkansas operates on a traditional semester-based academic structure divided into Fall and Spring terms, supplemented by an intensive May Intersession and flexible multi-track Summer intersessions.

Primary Fall and Spring terms feature 15 weeks of active classroom instruction, concluding with a dedicated final examination week.

To maintain full-time undergraduate standing for federal financial aid, institutional merit awards, state aid (including the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship), and campus housing, students register for 12 to 18 credit hours per semester, with 15 credits per term serving as the benchmark to complete a 120-credit bachelor’s degree in four years.

Course enrollment, schedule verification, and academic record management are processed directly through the myUCA portal and Self-Service Banner.

UCA Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Welcome Week takes place from Sunday, August 16, 2026, through Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
2. Opening Freshman Convocation takes place on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
3. Payment for Fall 2026 classes is due on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
4. UCA Fall 2026 classes start on Thursday, August 20, 2026. It is the first day of day and evening classes.
5. The final date to drop August 20, 2026, to October 9, 2026, or August 20, 2026, to September 25, 2026, classes and receive a 100% refund is Friday, August 21, 2026.
6. The change-of-course period ends on Friday, August 21, 2026, for August 20, 2026, to October 9, 2026, and August 20, 2026, to September 25, 2026, classes.
7. The final date to register, add classes, change from credit to audit or audit to credit, and change to Arkansas residency is Friday, August 21, 2026.
8. Instruction begins for Saturday classes on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
9. The change-of-course period ends on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, for August 20, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes.
10. The final date to register and add classes for August 20, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
11. The final date to change from credit to audit or audit to credit for August 20, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
12. The final date to drop August 20, 2026, to October 9, 2026, or August 20, 2026, to September 25, 2026, classes and receive a 75% refund is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
13. The final date to drop August 20, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes and receive a 100% refund is Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
14. The non-attendance reporting deadline is Thursday, August 27, 2026, at noon.
15. Labor Day Holiday is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and the university is closed.
16. Excess aid direct deposits become available on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
17. Checks are mailed on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
18. The final date to drop August 20, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes and receive a 75% refund is Thursday, September 10, 2026. No refunds are available after this date.
19. Graduate School graduates must submit degree applications for December graduation by Friday, September 11, 2026.
20. The registration class schedule for Spring 2027 is due to the Registrar on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
21. The Spring 2027 registration class schedule becomes viewable in Self-Service on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
22. The final date to officially withdraw from August 20, 2026, to September 25, 2026, classes with a W grade is Thursday, September 17, 2026, unless the course was already dropped for non-attendance.
23. The progress reporting period opens on Friday, September 18, 2026.
24. The final date to officially withdraw from August 20, 2026, to October 9, 2026, classes with a W grade is Monday, September 28, 2026, unless the course was already dropped for non-attendance.
25. Progress reporting closes, and all progress reports are due on Monday, September 28, 2026.
26. Final grade reports for First 5-Week Fall Term classes from August 20, 2026, to September 25, 2026, are due on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at noon.
27. The final date to drop September 28, 2026, to October 30, 2026, classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
28. The change-of-course period ends on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for September 28, 2026, to October 30, 2026, classes.
29. The last day to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for September 28, 2026, to October 30, 2026, classes is Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
30. The final date to drop September 28, 2026, to October 30, 2026, classes and receive a 75% refund is Friday, October 2, 2026. No refunds are available after this date.
31. Undergraduate graduating seniors must submit degree applications for December graduation and be included in the commencement program by Friday, October 2, 2026.
32. Instruction begins for the Second-Half Term on Monday, October 12, 2026.
33. Final grade reports for First 8-Week Fall Term classes from August 20, 2026, to October 9, 2026, are due on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at noon.
34. The final date to drop October 12, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
35. The change-of-course period ends on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, for October 12, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes.
36. The last day to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for October 12, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes is Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
37. UCA Fall Break 2026 takes place from Thursday, October 15, 2026, through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
38. The final date to pay at least 60% of the bill before being dropped from classes is Monday, October 19, 2026.
39. The final date to drop October 12, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes and receive a 75% refund is Tuesday, October 20, 2026. No refunds are available after this date.
40. The final date to officially withdraw from September 28, 2026, to October 30, 2026, classes with a W grade is Friday, October 23, 2026.
41. Priority and advance registration for Spring 2027 takes place from Wednesday, October 28, 2026, through Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
42. Final grade reports for Second 5-Week Fall Term classes from September 28, 2026, to October 30, 2026, are due on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at noon.
43. The final date to drop November 2, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
44. The change-of-course period ends on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for November 2, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes.
45. The last day to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for November 2, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
46. The final date to officially withdraw from August 20, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes or the university with a W grade is Friday, November 6, 2026.
47. The final date to drop November 2, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes and receive a 75% refund is Friday, November 6, 2026. No refunds are available after this date.
48. The final date to officially withdraw from October 12, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes with a W grade is Friday, November 20, 2026.
49. UCA Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, with no classes, while university offices remain open. The Thanksgiving Holiday takes place from Thursday, November 26, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, and the university is closed.
50. The final date to officially withdraw from November 2, 2026, to December 11, 2026, classes or the university with a W grade is Monday, November 30, 2026.
51. Undergraduate graduating seniors must submit degree applications for December graduation by Tuesday, December 1, 2026, to have their names included in the commencement program.
52. Study Day is Friday, December 4, 2026.
53. Final Examinations take place on Saturday, December 5, 2026.
54. Final Examinations continue from Monday, December 7, 2026, through Thursday, December 10, 2026.
55. Winter Commencement for Graduate Ceremonies takes place on Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
56. Winter Commencement for Undergraduate Ceremonies takes place on Friday, December 11, 2026.
57. The College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and the College of Business undergraduate commencement ceremonies take place at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11, 2026.
58. The College of Education, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and College of Science and Engineering undergraduate commencement ceremonies take place at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, December 11, 2026.
59. Final grade reports are due on Monday, December 14, 2026, at noon.

UCA Academic Calendar Winter Intersession 2026

1. Instruction begins for Winter Intersession on Monday, December 14, 2026.
2. The final date to drop Winter Intersession classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
3. The change-of-course period ends on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
4. The final date to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for Winter Intersession is Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
5. The final date to drop Winter Intersession classes and receive a 75% refund is Friday, December 18, 2026. No refunds are available after this date.
6. The final date to officially withdraw from a class or the university with a W grade is Monday, December 28, 2026, unless the class was already dropped for non-attendance.
7. Final Examinations for Winter Intersession take place on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
8. The Winter Intersession final grade report is due on Tuesday, January 5, 2027, at noon.

UCA Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Payment for Spring 2027 classes is due on Wednesday, January 13, 2027.
2. Instruction for day and evening classes begins on Thursday, January 14, 2027.
3. The final date to drop January 14, 2027, to March 5, 2027, or January 14, 2027, to February 19, 2027, classes and receive a 100% refund is Friday, January 15, 2027.
4. The change-of-course period for January 14, 2027, to March 5, 2027, and January 14, 2027, to February 19, 2027, classes ends on Friday, January 15, 2027.
5. The final date to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for these classes is Friday, January 15, 2027.
6. Instruction for Saturday classes begins on Saturday, January 16, 2027.
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and the university is closed.
8. The change-of-course period for January 14, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes ends on Thursday, January 21, 2027.
9. The final date to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for January 14, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes is Thursday, January 21, 2027.
10. The final date to change to Arkansas residency is Thursday, January 21, 2027.
11. The final date to drop January 14, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes and receive a 100% refund is Thursday, January 21, 2027.
12. The final date to drop January 14, 2027, to March 5, 2027, or January 14, 2027, to February 19, 2027, classes and receive a 75% refund is Thursday, January 21, 2027. No refunds are available after this date.
13. The non-attendance reporting deadline is Friday, January 22, 2027.
14. Excess aid direct deposits become available on Monday, February 1, 2027.
15. Checks are mailed on Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
16. The final date to drop January 14, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes and receive a 75% refund is Thursday, February 4, 2027. No refunds are available after this date.
17. Graduate School graduates must submit degree applications for May graduation by Friday, February 5, 2027.
18. The final date to officially withdraw from January 14, 2027, to February 19, 2027, classes with a W grade is Wednesday, February 10, 2027, unless the classes were already dropped for non-attendance.
19. The progress reporting period opens on Friday, February 12, 2027.
20. The final date to officially withdraw from January 14, 2027, to March 5, 2027, classes with a W grade is Monday, February 22, 2027, unless the classes were already dropped for non-attendance.
21. Progress reporting closes on Monday, February 22, 2027.
22. Final grade reports for First 5-Week Spring Term classes from January 14, 2027, to February 19, 2027, are due on Tuesday, February 23, 2027.
23. The final date to drop February 22, 2027, to April 2, 2027, classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, February 23, 2027.
24. The change-of-course period for February 22, 2027, to April 2, 2027, classes ends on Tuesday, February 23, 2027.
25. The final date to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for February 22, 2027, to April 2, 2027, classes is Tuesday, February 23, 2027.
26. The Fall 2027 registration class schedule is due to the Registrar on Wednesday, February 24, 2027.
27. The Fall 2027 registration class schedule becomes viewable in Self-Service on Thursday, February 25, 2027.
28. The final date to drop February 22, 2027, to April 2, 2027, classes and receive a 75% refund is Friday, February 26, 2027. No refunds are available after this date.
29. Undergraduate graduating seniors must submit degree applications for May graduation to be included in the commencement program by Friday, February 26, 2027.
30. Final grade reports for First 8-Week Spring Term classes from January 14, 2027, to March 5, 2027, are due by noon on Tuesday, March 9, 2027.
31. The final date to drop March 8, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, March 9, 2027.
32. The change-of-course period for March 8, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes ends on Tuesday, March 9, 2027.
33. The final date to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for March 8, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes is Tuesday, March 9, 2027.
34. The final date to drop March 8, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes and receive a 75% refund is Friday, March 12, 2027. No refunds are available after this date.
35. The final date to pay at least 60% of the bill before being dropped from classes is Monday, March 15, 2027.
36. The final date to officially withdraw from February 22, 2027, to April 2, 2027, classes with a W grade is Wednesday, March 17, 2027, unless the classes were already dropped for non-attendance.
37. UCA Spring Break 2027 takes place from Sunday, March 21, 2027, through Sunday, March 28, 2027.
38. Final grade reports for Second 5-Week Spring Term classes from February 22, 2027, to April 2, 2027, are due by noon on Tuesday, April 6, 2027.
39. The final date to drop April 5, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes and receive a 100% refund is Tuesday, April 6, 2027.
40. The change-of-course period for April 5, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes ends on Tuesday, April 6, 2027.
41. The final date to register, add classes, and change from credit to audit or audit to credit for April 5, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes is Tuesday, April 6, 2027.
42. Priority and Advance Registration for Summer and Fall 2027 takes place from Wednesday, April 7, 2027, through Thursday, April 22, 2027.
43. The final date to officially withdraw from January 14, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes with a W grade is Friday, April 9, 2027, unless the classes were already dropped for non-attendance.
44. The final date to drop March 29, 2027, to April 30, 2027, classes and receive a 75% refund is Friday, April 9, 2027. No refunds are available after this date.
45. The final date to officially withdraw from March 8, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes with a W grade is Friday, April 23, 2027, unless the classes were already dropped for non-attendance.
46. The final date to officially withdraw from April 5, 2027, to May 6, 2027, classes with a W grade is Wednesday, April 28, 2027, unless the classes were already dropped for non-attendance.
47. Undergraduate graduating seniors must submit degree applications for May graduation by Wednesday, April 28, 2027. Applications submitted by this deadline do not result in the student’s name being included in the commencement program.
48. Study Day is Friday, April 30, 2027.
49. Final Examinations take place on Saturday, May 1, 2027.
50. Final Examinations continue from Monday, May 3, 2027, through Thursday, May 6, 2027.
51. The Spring Commencement Graduate Ceremony takes place on Thursday, May 6, 2027.
52. The Spring Commencement Undergraduate Ceremonies take place on Friday, May 7, 2027.
53. The final grade report is due by noon on Tuesday, May 11, 2027.

For more on the UCA Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of Central Arkansas Registrar website.