UTC Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

UTC Academic Calendar 2026-2027 provides students, faculty, and university staff with the master schedule of critical dates and deadlines across the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Managed by the UTC Office of the Registrar, this central schedule outlines essential administrative milestones—including priority course registration, tuition fee payment deadlines, add/drop windows, university holidays, and commencement ceremonies.

Keeping track of the UTC academic calendar for 2026 and upcoming term dates ensures Mocs stay on target with degree progress while avoiding registration holds or late fee penalties.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga operates on a semester-based system consisting of a Fall semester, a Spring semester, and flexible Summer terms.

Standard terms span approximately 15 weeks of instruction divided into Full Term, Part of Term I (PT1), and Part of Term II (PT2) accelerated sessions.

To maintain full-time academic status, undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester—with 15 credit hours recommended per term for four-year degree completion—while graduate students generally require 9 credit hours for full-time standing.

Preparing for the UTC academic calendar for fall 2026 begins well before classes officially launch in late August. Early registration opens via the MyMocsNet student portal during the preceding spring semester, giving current and incoming students time to consult with academic advisors, finalize financial aid, and lock in their course loads before the official drop/add deadline.

The fall semester includes key pauses such as Labor Day, Fall Break in October, and Thanksgiving Break in late November, concluding with final exams in early December.

Transitioning into the new year, the UTC academic calendar for Spring 2027 picks back up in mid-January 2027 following MLK Jr. Day. Important spring dates include mid-semester progress reports, the week-long Spring Break in late March, and Spring Commencement in early May.

Additionally, campus operations follow the official UTC holiday calendar 2026, which details all formal university closures. Following the regular academic year, students can leverage the UTC academic calendar summer 2027 session modules to take extra credits or catch up on degree requirements.

UTC Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. The deadline to withdraw before fee obligation for Full Term and PT1 is on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
2. UTC Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, August 24, 2026. It is the first day of classes. Full Term and PT1 classes begin.
3. The late registration fee period begins on Monday, August 24, 2026.
4. The last day to change from credit to audit or audit to credit for Full Term courses is on Friday, August 28, 2026.
5. The last day to register for classes, including adding a section or changing sections, for Full Term courses is on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
6. Currently enrolled students may add contract courses, and currently enrolled seniors and graduate students may add sections from Monday, August 31, 2026, through Friday, September 4, 2026.
7. The last day to drop a Full Term class before a W (withdrawal) is recorded for one or more courses is on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
8. The Labor Day Holiday with no classes is on Monday, September 7, 2026.
9. UTC Fall Break 2026 with no classes for Full Term and PT2 takes place from Monday, October 12, 2026, through Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
10. Faculty must submit undergraduate mid-term grades for Full Term courses by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
11. The last day to withdraw from a course on a course-by-course basis with a grade of W for one or more Full Term courses is on Monday, October 26, 2026.
12. The Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Day with no classes for Full Term and PT2 is on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.
13. The Thanksgiving Holiday with no classes for Full Term and PT2 takes place from Thursday, November 26, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026.
14. The last day of classes for the Fall Semester for Full Term and PT2 is on Monday, November 30, 2026.
15. The last day to withdraw from the university with grades of W is on Monday, November 30, 2026.
16. Reading Day is on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
17. Full Term Final Examinations take place from Wednesday, December 2, 2026, through Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
18. The Commencement Ceremony for College of Arts & Sciences and College of Engineering & Computer Science undergraduate and graduate students takes place on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. EST at McKenzie Arena.
19. The December Degree Award Date is on Saturday, December 12, 2026.
20. The Commencement Ceremony for College of Health, Education and Professional Studies, College of Nursing, and Rollins College of Business undergraduate and graduate students takes place on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EST at McKenzie Arena.
21. The deadline for faculty to submit grade changes to the Registrar for Spring and Summer and submit final grades for Spring and Summer incomplete grades is Monday, December 14, 2026, by 9:00 a.m.
22. Full Term and PT2 faculty must submit grades by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, December 14, 2026.
23. Grades become available to students by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

UTC Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The deadline to pay Spring 2027 fees before cancellation for Full Term and Parts of Term is Thursday, January 7, 2027.
2. The deadline to withdraw before fee obligation for Full Term and PT1 is Monday, January 18, 2027.
3. The MLK Day Holiday with no classes is on Monday, January 18, 2027.
4. UTC Spring 2027 Full Term and PT1 classes start on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
5. The late registration fee period begins on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
6. The last day to change from credit to audit or audit to credit for Full Term courses is on Monday, January 25, 2027.
7. The last day to register for classes, including adding a section or changing sections, for Full Term courses is on Monday, January 25, 2027.
8. Currently enrolled students may add contract courses, and currently enrolled seniors and graduate students may add sections from Tuesday, January 26, 2027, through Monday, February 1, 2027.
9. The last day to drop a Full Term class before a W (withdrawal) is recorded for one or more courses is on Monday, February 1, 2027.
10. Faculty must submit undergraduate mid-term grades for Full Term courses by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
11. UTC Spring Break 2027, with no classes for Full Term and PT2, takes place from Monday, March 22, 2027, through Sunday, March 28, 2027.
12. The Holiday with no classes and university closure is on Friday, March 26, 2027.
13. The last day to withdraw from a course on a course-by-course basis with a grade of W for one or more Full Term courses is on Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
14. The last day of classes for the Spring Semester for Full Term and PT2 is on Monday, April 26, 2027.
15. The last day to withdraw from the university with grades of W is on Monday, April 26, 2027.
16. Reading Day is on Tuesday, April 27, 2027.
17. Full Term Final Examinations take place from Wednesday, April 28, 2027, through Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
18. Commencement Weekend takes place from Friday, May 7, 2027, through Saturday, May 8, 2027.
19. The Commencement Ceremony for College of Engineering & Computer Science and Rollins College of Business undergraduate and graduate students takes place on Friday, May 7, 2027, at 2:30 p.m. EDT at McKenzie Arena.
20. The Commencement Ceremony for College of Health, Education and Professional Studies and College of Nursing undergraduate and graduate students takes place on Saturday, May 8, 2027, at 9:00 a.m. EDT at McKenzie Arena.
21. The Commencement Ceremony for College of Arts & Sciences undergraduate and graduate students takes place on Saturday, May 8, 2027, at 2:00 p.m. EDT at McKenzie Arena.
22. The deadline for faculty to submit grade changes to the Registrar for Fall and submit final grades for Fall incomplete grades is Monday, May 10, 2027, by 9:00 a.m.
23. Full Term and PT2 faculty must submit grades by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 10, 2027.
24. Grades become available to students by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2027.

For more on the UTC Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Registrar website.