Graduate Students will need to view The Graduate School Academic Calendar
Note: UNC Pembroke reserves the right to make any necessary changes in the academic calendar.
2025-2026 Academic Year
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Fall 2025
Fall 2025
Event Date Semester Classes Begin August 18, 2025 Last day to add/drop courses August 22, 2025 Financial Aid Freeze Dates August 25, 2025 Roster Verification August 25-26, 2025
Census Date August 29, 2025 Labor Day (University closed, No classes) September 1, 2025 Last day to withdraw from 1st 8-week courses September 12, 2025 Immunization Deadline September 16, 2025 Deadline for Residency Determination Service (RDS) October 1, 2025
Fall Break (No classes) October 2-3, 2025
Registration opens for Seniors (90+ credits) & Priority Registration Groups, 9:00 p.m. October 6, 2025 Last day of 1st 8-week courses October 10, 2025 Registration opens for Juniors (60-89 credits), 9:00 p.m. October 13, 2025 Midterm grades due and 1st 8-week course grades due October 13, 2025 2nd 8-week courses begins October 13, 2025 Last day to add/drop for 2nd 8 week courses October 17, 2025 Last day to withdraw from regular session courses October 17, 2025 Grad Finale TBD Registration opens for Sophomores (30-59 credits), 9:00 p.m. October 20, 2025 Registration opens for Freshmen (less than 30 credits), 9:00 p.m. October 27, 2025 Undergraduate Graduation Application Deadline November 1, 2025 Last day to withdraw from 2nd 8-week courses November 7, 2025 Registration opens for all new students, 9:00 p.m. & Winter registration opens November 3, 2025 Thanksgiving Break (No classes) November 26-28, 2025
Classes end December 5, 2025
Final exams December 8-12, 2025
Commencement for The Graduate School December 12, 2025 Commencement for Undergraduate Students 9:00 a.m. December 13, 2025 Final Grades due December 15, 2025 -
Winter Session 2025
Winter 2025
Event Date Semester Classes Begin December 15, 2025 Last day to add/drop courses December 16, 2025 Roster Verification December 17-18, 2025 Deadline for Residency Determination Service (RDS) TBD Last day to withdraw from regular session courses December 19, 2025 Winter Break (Administrative Offices Closed) December 25, 2025 Classes end December 31, 2025 New Year's Day January 1, 2026 Final Grades due January 2, 2026 -
Spring 2026
Spring 2026
Event Date Semester Classes Begin January 12, 2026 Last day to add/drop courses January 16, 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (University closed, No classes) January 19, 2026 Financial Aid Freeze Dates January 20, 2026 Roster Verification January 20-21, 2026
Census Date January 26, 2026 Last day to withdraw from 1st 8-week courses February 6, 2026 Immunization Deadline February 10, 2026 Deadline for Residency Determination Service (RDS) TBD Registration for opens for Seniors (90+ credits) & Priority Registration Groups, 9:00 p.m. March 2, 2026 Last day of 1st 8-week courses March 6, 2026 Midterm grades due and 1st 8-week course grades due March 9, 2026 Spring Break (No classes) March 9-13, 2026
2nd 8-week courses begins March 16, 2026 Registration opens for Juniors (60-89 credits), 9:00 p.m. March 16, 2026 Last day to add/drop for 2nd 8 week courses March 20, 2026 Last day to withdraw from regular session courses March 20, 2026 Registration opens for Sophomores (30-59 credits), 9:00 p.m. March 23, 2026 Registration opens for Freshmen (less than 30 credits), 9:00 p.m. March 30, 2026 Grad Finale TBD Undergraduate Graduation Application Deadline April 1, 2025 Good Friday (University closed, No classes) April 3, 2026 Last day to withdraw from 2nd 8-week courses April 10, 2026 Registration opens for all new students, 9:00 p.m. & Winter registration opens April 6, 2026 Classes end May 1, 2026 Final exams May 4-8, 2026
Commencement for The Graduate School May 8, 2026 Commencement for Undergraduate Students 9:00 a.m. May 9, 2026 Final Grades due May 11, 2026 -
Maymester 2026
Maymester 2026
Event Date Semester Classes Begin May 11, 2026 Last day to add/drop courses May 12, 2026 Roster Verification May 13-14, 2026
Deadline for Residency Determination Service (RDS) TBD Last day to withdraw from regular session courses May 15, 2026 Classes end May 22, 2026 Final Grades due May 26, 2026 -
Summer I 2026
Summer I 2026
Event Date Memorial Day (University closed, No classes) May 25, 2026 Semester Classes Begin May 26, 2026 Last day to add/drop courses May 27, 2026 Financial Aid Freeze Dates Census Date May 28, 2026 Roster Verification May 28-29, 2026
Deadline for Residency Determination Service (RDS) TBD Last day to withdraw from regular session courses June 12, 2026 Classes end June 26, 2026 Final Grades due June 29, 2026 -
Summer II 2026
Summer II 2026
Event Date Independence Day, observed (University closed, No classes) July 3, 2026 Semester Classes Begin July 6, 2026 Last day to add/drop courses July 7, 2026 Financial Aid Freeze Dates Census Date July 8, 2026 Roster Verification July 8-9, 2026
Deadline for Residency Determination Service (RDS) TBD Last day to withdraw from regular session courses July 24, 2026 Classes end August 7, 2026 Final Grades due August 10, 2026
The Housing & Residence Life website provides dates for housing, room assignments, and residence life events.
The Student Accounts Academic Calendar includes dates for tuition, drop for nonpayment, and other related business policies.
University Exam Schedules
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2025 Exam Schedule
Spring 2025 Exam Schedule
HOUR Monday,
May 5Tuesday, May 6 Wednesday, May 7 Thursday, May 8 Friday, May 9 8:00
until
10:30Classes meeting on MWF at 8:00 Classes meeting on TR at 9:30 Classes meeting on MWF at 9:05 Classes meeting on TR at 8:00 Classes meeting on MWF at 11:15 10:45
until
1:15Classes meeting on MWF at 10:10 Classes meeting on TR at 12:30 Classes meeting on MWF at 12:20 Classes meeting on TR at 11:00 Classes meeting on MWF at 1:25 1:30
until
4 :00Classes meeting on MWF at 2:30 Classes meeting on TR at 2:00 Classes meeting on MWF at 3:30 Classes meeting on TR at 3:30 Open 4:15
until
6:45Classes meeting on MWF at 5:00 Classes meeting on TR at 5:00 Open Open Open 7:00
until
9:30Classes meeting on M at 6:30 Classes meeting on T at 6:30 Classes meeting on
W at 6:30Classes meeting on R at 6:30 Classes meeting on F at 6:30 Fall 2025 Exam Schedule
HOUR Monday,
December 8Tuesday, December 9 Wednesday, December 10 Thursday, December 11 Friday, December 12 8:00
until
10:30Classes meeting on MWF at 8:00 Classes meeting on TR at 9:30 Classes meeting on MWF at 9:05 Classes meeting on TR at 8:00 Classes meeting on MWF at 11:15 10:45
until
1:15Classes meeting on MWF at 10:10 Classes meeting on TR at 12:30 Classes meeting on MWF at 12:20 Classes meeting on TR at 11:00 Classes meeting on MWF at 1:25 1:30
until
4 :00Classes meeting on MWF at 2:30 Classes meeting on TR at 2:00 Classes meeting on MWF at 3:30 Classes meeting on TR at 3:30 Open 4:15
until
6:45Classes meeting on MWF at 5:00 Classes meeting on TR at 5:00 Open Open Open 7:00
until
9:30Classes meeting on M at 6:30 Classes meeting on T at 6:30 Classes meeting on
W at 6:30Classes meeting on R at 6:30 Classes meeting on F at 6:30 NOTE: If class time is not noted above, exam must be scheduled during one of the specified "open" time slots. Exams for all one credit hour Physical Education classes will be held on the last day of class. Exams for classes held on MW or MF will follow exam times for MWF. Any student who has three (3) exams within a 24 hour period or two exams scheduled at the same time may request permission from his/her Dean to have one exam rescheduled.
Academic Calendar Guiding Principles
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Academic Calendar Guiding Principles
Academic Calendar Guiding Principles
Effective Summer 2025
Length
- Per UNC System Office, 1 credit over 15 weeks must meet for 750 minutes. Equates to 2250 minutes for 3 credits.
- 42 sessions at 50 minutes each (MWF), plus 150 minutes of exam = 2250 meeting minutes in semester.
- 28 sessions at 75 minutes each (TR), plus 150 minutes of exam = 2250 meeting minutes in semester.
- Off-block and big block courses will need to adjust meeting schedule to satisfy minimum time expectations.
- The UNC Policy Manual 400.1.6: A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester of credit, to result in a minimum of 750- scheduled minutes of instructional time or the equivalent per credit hour…. The time may include required examination periods but may not include study days.
- Fall
- 16 weeks, plus 1 week of final exams
- 1st 8-weeks: 8 weeks
- 2nd 8-weeks: 8+ weeks (ends last day of finals)
- Spring
- 15 weeks, plus 1 week of final exams
- 1st 8-weeks: 8 weeks
- 2nd 8-weeks: 8 weeks (ends last day of finals)
- Maymester
- 2 weeks
- Winter Session
- About 3 weeks (historically 3 weeks, not factoring holiday dates)
- Summer semester
- The undergraduate calendar does not include an official semester in Summer. A summer course could be offered for 16-weeks, aligned with the Maymester-Summer II dates.
- Summer Sessions
- 5 weeks
- Intra sessions discontinued after 2024
Note: The term must fulfill week and minute requirements
Note: Do not count weeks that include no instructional time
Start & End Dates
- Terms will begin on Monday
- If the Monday is a holiday, the start date will be pushed to Tuesday.
- Terms will end on Friday, after appropriate number of weeks have elapsed (see section above).
- If the Friday is a holiday, the end date will be backed to Thursday.
- Winter Session is an exception.
- Fall semester
- Third Monday of August AND/OR a date where there will be a full week of instruction after Thanksgiving break (to avoid having final exams begin immediately after Thanksgiving break).
- Fall 1st 8-weeks
- Matches the start of Fall semester.
- Fall 2nd 8-weeks
- Starts the Monday immediately following 1st 8-weeks.
- Spring semester
- If MLK occurs on January 15th or earlier, classes will start on the Tuesday immediately after. If MLK occurs on January 16th or later, classes will start the Monday prior to the holiday.
- Spring 1st 8-weeks
- Matches the start of Spring semester.
- Spring 2nd 8-weeks
- Starts the Monday immediately following Spring Break
- Maymester
- Starts the Monday immediately following Spring final exams.
- Runs for 2-weeks.
- Winter Session
- Starts the Monday immediately following Fall final exams.
- Runs until the end of the calendar year.
- Summer semester
- Starts the Monday immediately following Spring final exams.
- Summer Sessions
- Summer I: Starts the Monday immediately following Maymester.
- Summer II: Starts Monday following Summer I, dependent on July 4th holiday.
- Adjust as needed to avoid starting the term the week of July 4th.
- Give a 1-2 week break before and a 1 week break after.
- Per federal financial aid regulations set by the Department of Education:
- Fall, Spring, and Summer cannot overlap.
- All terms must start and end within 14 calendar days of the Fall, Spring, Summer dates.
- The 14 days is shared between beginning and end of term variances.
- This applies to all degree levels.
- Summer begins with Maymester.
Note: If a term would start on a university closure holiday, push to next business day
Census Date
- Fall & Spring semesters
- 10th day of semester
- Typically, Monday of week 3
- Summer, Maymester & Winter Session
- 10% of instructional period
- Summer is typically 24-25 days, calculating 10% at 2.4-2.5 days. This will round, placing census on day 3.
- If this date is a university holiday/closure, push to the following business day.
- The UNC Policy Manual 400.1.8[R]: the census date is the 10th class day of the term. For summer sessions, degree credit extension courses, and any other degree-credit courses taught on an irregular calendar, the census date is the class day representing the passage of 10 percent of the instructional period.
Course Adjustment Period (Drop/Add)
- Semester: Ends Friday of week 1
- 1st 8-week: Ends Friday of week 1
- 2nd 8-week: Ends Friday of week 1
- 5-week: Ends Tuesday of week 1
- 2-3 week: Ends Tuesday of week 1
- The UNC Policy Manual 400.1.5[R]: both the drop and add periods must be concluded by the census date.
Financial Aid Freeze
- Occurs the next business day after drop/add deadline
Roster Verification
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Opens the day after drop/add for all parts of term, unless that day falls on a Friday. Then it opens the following Monday.
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Roster verification may be open Saturday and Sunday, but students will not be dropped from their registration until Monday due to athletic eligibility and competition. This has caused confusion so is not a recommended practice going forward.
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-
Open for 2 days for full parts of term
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This has been adjusted from 3 days to 2 days to eliminate the overlap with drop for non-payment. Discussing future drop for non-payment dates with Student Accounts.
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-
Open for 2 days for shorter parts of term
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If the shorter part of term falls on the same drop/add schedule as the full term (full term/1st 8 weeks), verification window will mirror the longer term.
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Withdraw
- Fall & Spring semester
- Friday of week 9
- Fall & Spring 8-weeks
- Friday of week 4
- Maymester & Winter Session
- Friday of week 1
- Summer 5-weeks
- Friday of week 3
- The UNC Policy Manual 400.1.5[R]: Constituent institution policies must include a deadline for such withdrawal at a date no later than the completion of 60 percent of the term….The calculation of this date should begin with the first day of classes and conclude on the last day of regular class meetings. It should exclude the reading day and exam period.
Note: If the deadline falls on a university closure holiday, push to next business day
Midterm Grades
- Due from faculty the Monday after the conclusion of week 8
Final Grades
- Due from faculty the next business day after Final Exams or the semester/term end date (if no Final Exam time).
- Consideration for extra days may be given if the term ends on a business day. Extension is not guaranteed.
Spring Break
- Occurs the week after week 8 of the Spring semester.
Note: Founders Day is March 7, prefer to have students on campus for events.
Fall Break
- Thursday and Friday of week 7 of the semester.
Thanksgiving Break
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of Thanksgiving week.
University Holidays
- See HR
Immunization
- 30 days from the start of semester
- Per NC Law, students are to be withdrawn 30 days after the first day of classes.
RDS
- In accordance with the UNC System Office, beginning Fall 2019, residency applications must be completed with a residency determination by RDS no later than the 45th day from the start date of the term for a fall/spring term (counting ALL days in a term) in order for the residency determination to apply in the current term. For Summer I or Summer II terms, the deadline is prorated based on the number of days in the term (typically set at 8 days).
- See Admissions for official date.
Final Exams
- Will take place during the 5 business days after the semester ending (Monday- Friday)
Commencement
- Graduate
- Last Friday of the semester (last day of Final Exams)
- Undergraduate
- Saturday after semester classes end (day after Final Exams)
Undergraduate Graduation Application Deadline
- April 1 & November 1
Registration
- Summer (all)
- Aligns to Fall registration dates
- Fall
- Begins Monday of week 8
- Spring
- Begins Monday of the week 8
- Winter
- Begins Monday after registration groups 1-4
- Will be the same week as Open registration
- Registration Groups
- Fall & Spring registration will release weekly, starting Monday at 9:00pm by group:
- 1 – Seniors (90+ credits) and Priority groups
- 2 – Juniors (60-89 credits)
- 3 – Sophomores (30-59 credits)
- 4 – Freshmen (less than 30 credits)
- Open – New starts & Other
- Winter registration will open when Open registration begins
- Skip the weeks of Spring & Fall Break
- Fall & Spring registration will release weekly, starting Monday at 9:00pm by group:
NOTE: The principles presented above do not account for the graduate academic calendar. Per federal regulations, the graduate calendar dates must be planned in consideration of the undergraduate dates.
- Per UNC System Office, 1 credit over 15 weeks must meet for 750 minutes. Equates to 2250 minutes for 3 credits.