Fall and spring terms are 16 weeks in length: Fall starts around late August or early September and goes through mid December. Spring starts around early January and goes through mid-May. Summer sessions vary in length from 4 weeks to 12 weeks, May through August, with classes typically meeting Monday through Friday.
Courses are available on the main campus in Madison, Sioux Falls and distance through the Office of Online Education.
Note: Dates and events are subject to change. Changes will be communicated to campus via email, campus newspaper or other means as appropriate.
Fall 2018 Academic Calendar
Aug. 17 (Fri) |
8:00 a.m. Residence Halls open for First Year Students only; New Student Orientation Activities begin |
Aug. 18-19 (Sat-Sun) |
8:00 a.m. Residence Halls open for all students |
Aug. 20 (Mon) |
8:00 a.m. Classes begin |
Aug. 30 (Thur) |
CENSUS DAY; Last day to register for any fall class to determine financial aid eligibility; Last day to add a full semester class; Last day to drop a full semester class and receive 100% refund
|
Aug. 31 (Fri) |
Tuition and Fees - Deadline for payment or payment plan to avoid cancellation of registration and late fee assessment |
Sept. 3 (Mon) |
Labor Day - no classes |
Sept. 28 (Fri) |
Last day to apply for Fall 2018 graduation |
Oct. 8 (Mon) |
Native American Day - no classes |
Oct. 12 (Fri) |
Last day of first half semester classes |
Oct. 17 (Wed) |
Mid-term deficiency grades due |
Oct. 24 (Wed) |
Last day a student may withdraw from the university and be eligible for a partial refund of university charges based on federal regulations and Board of Regents policy |
Nov. 2 (Fri) |
Last day to withdraw from a full semester course or school |
Nov. 12 (Mon) |
Veterans Day holiday observed - no classes |
Nov. 21-25 (Wed-Sun) |
Thanksgiving holiday - no classes; Please note: Tuesday, Nov. 20, evening classes will be held. |
Nov. 26 (Mon) |
Classes resume |
Dec. 5 (Wed) |
No classes |
Dec. 6-12 (Thur-Wed) |
Final examination period |
Dec. 8 (Sat) |
Master’s Hooding Ceremony, DPP, 9:00 a.m.
Commencement Ceremony, Fieldhouse, 10:30 a.m. |
Dec. 12 (Wed) |
Semester ends; Residence Hall Close at 5:00 p.m. |
Dec. 17 (Mon) |
Final grades due |
December 6-12, 2018 (Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)
Schedule for Classes Meeting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday Combinations
(MWF, M, W, MW, WF, MTWTh, MTWF, MTWThF, F)
|
Time class begins |
Day of Final |
Date of Final |
Time of Final |
8:00 AM |
Monday |
December 10 |
8:00 - 10:00 |
9:00 AM |
Friday |
December 7 |
8:00 - 10:00 |
10:00 AM |
Monday |
December 10 |
10:30 - 12:30 |
11:00 AM |
Friday |
December 7 |
10:30 - 12:30 |
12:00 PM |
Friday |
December 7 |
3:30 - 5:30 |
1:00 PM |
Monday |
December 10 |
1:00 - 3:00 |
2:00 PM |
Friday |
December 7 |
1:00 - 3:00 |
3:00 PM |
Monday |
December 10 |
3:30 - 5:30 |
4:00 PM |
Wednesday |
December 12 |
8:00 - 10:00 |
Schedule for Classes Meeting on Tuesday and Thursday Combination
(TTh, T, Th) |
Time classes begin |
Day of Final |
Date of Final |
Time of Final |
8:00 AM |
Tuesday |
December 11 |
8:00 - 10:00 |
9:30 AM |
Tuesday |
December 11 |
10:30 - 12:30 |
11:00 AM |
Thursday |
December 6 |
10:30 - 12:30 |
12:00 AM |
Tuesday |
December 11 |
1:00 - 3:00 |
1:00 PM |
Thursday |
December 6 |
1:00 - 3:00 |
2:30 PM |
Tuesday |
December 11 |
3:30 - 5:30 |
4:00 PM |
Thursday |
December 6 |
3:30 - 5:30 |
Courses beginning 5:00 pm and later will be held during their regular scheduled times. |
Spring 2019 Academic Calendar
Jan. 5 (Sat) |
8:00 a.m. Residence halls open for all students |
Jan. 7 (Mon) |
8:00 a.m. Classes begin |
Jan. 16 (Wed) |
CENSUS DAY
Last day to register for any spring class to determine financial aid eligibility
Last day to add a full semester class; Last day to drop a full semester class and receive 100% refund |
Jan. 17 (Thurs) |
Tuition and fees - deadline for payment or payment plan to avoid cancellation of registration and late fee assessment |
Jan. 21 (Mon) |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - no classes |
Jan. 30 (Wed) |
Last day to apply for Spring 2019 and Summer 19 graduation |
Feb. 18 (Mon) |
President’s Day - no classes |
Mar. 1 (Fri) |
Last day of first half semester classes |
Mar. 2-10 (Sat-Sun) |
Spring Break; Residence Halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1 and reopen 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10 |
Mar. 14 (Thurs) |
Mid-term deficient grades due |
Mar. 18-April 8 (Mon-Mon) |
Tentative - Continuing student pre-registration for Fall and Summer 2019 and Spring 2020 |
Mar. 20 (Wed) |
Last day a student can withdraw from the university and be eligible for a refund of university charges based on federal regulations and Board of Regents policy |
April 2 (Tue) |
Last day to withdraw from a full semester class or school |
April 19-21
(Fri-Sun) |
Easter Holiday - Please note Easter holiday begins 5:00 p.m. on April 18 |
April 22 (Mon) |
Classes resume |
April 29-May 3 (Mon-Fri) |
Final examination period; semester ends; residence halls close at 3:00 p.m. |
May 4 (Sat) |
Master’s Hooding Ceremony, DPP, 9:00 a.m.
Commencement, Fieldhouse, 10:30 a.m. |
May 8 (Wed) |
Final grades due |
April 29-May 2, 2019
Schedule for Classes Meeting on Monday, Wednesday and Friday Combinations
(MWF, M, W, MW, WF, MTWTh, MTWF, MTWThF, F) |
Time class begins |
Day of Final |
Date of Final |
Time of Final |
8:00 A.M. |
Monday |
April 29 |
8:00 - 10:00 A.M. |
9:00 A.M. |
Wednesday |
May 1 |
8:00 - 10:00 A.M. |
10:00 A.M. |
Monday |
April 29 |
10:30 - 12:30 P.M. |
11:00 A.M. |
Wednesday |
May 1 |
10:30 - 12:30 P.M. |
12:00 P.M. |
Friday |
May 3 |
8:00 10:00 A.M. |
1:00 P.M. |
Monday |
April 29 |
1:00 - 3:00 P.M. |
2:00 P.M. |
Wednesday |
May 1 |
1:00 - 3:00 P.M. |
3:00 P.M. |
Monday |
April 29 |
3:30 - 5:30 P.M. |
4:00 P.M. |
Wednesday |
May 1 |
3:30 - 5:30 P.M. |
Schedule for Classes Meeting on Tuesday and Thursday Combinations
(TTh, T, Th) |
Time class begins |
Day of Final |
Date of Final |
Time of Final |
8:00 A.M. |
Tuesday |
April 30 |
8:00 - 10:00 A.M. |
9:30 A.M. |
Tuesday |
April 30 |
10:30 - 12:30 P.M. |
11:00 A.M. |
Thursday |
May 2 |
10:30 - 12:30 P.M. |
12:00 P.M. |
Tuesday |
April 30 |
1:00 - 3:00 P.M. |
1:00 P.M. |
Thursday |
May 2 |
1:00 - 3:00 P.M. |
2:30 P.M. |
Tuesday |
April 30 |
3:30 - 5:30 P.M. |
4:00 P.M. |
Thursday |
May 2 |
3:30 - 5:30 P.M. |
Courses beginning at 5:00 P.M. or later will be held during their regular scheduled time. |
May 13 (Mon) |
Full 12-week and first 6-week sessions begin |
May 16 (Thur) |
Census date for first 6-week session
Last day to add a class or drop a 6-week class with full refund |
May 20 (Mon) |
Census date for full 12-week session
Last day to add a class or drop a 12-week class with full refund |
May 27 (Mon) |
Memorial Day - no classes |
May 29 (Wed) |
Last day to withdraw from all first 6-week session classes and
receive a prorated refund |
June 10 (Mon |
Last day to withdraw with a “W” from first 6-week session - no refund |
June 21 (Fri) |
First 6-week session ends
Last day to withdraw from all full 12-week session classes and receive
a prorated refund |
June 24 (Mon) |
Second 6-week session begins |
June 27 (Thur) |
Census date for second 6-week session
Last day to add a class or drop a class with full refund |
July 4 (Thur) |
Independence Day - no classes |
July 10 (Wed) |
Last day to withdraw with a “W” from full 12-week session - no refund
Last day to withdraw from all second 6-week session classes and receive a prorated refund |
July 22 (Mon) |
Last day to withdraw with a “W” for second 6-week session - no refund |
Aug 2 (Fri) |
Full 12 week and second 6-week sessions end |
Note: No student will be required to participate in more than three evaluative activities on any one day of the final exam week. Permission to reschedule a final evaluative activity should be sought before mid-semester if at all possible. The student, after consulting with or advisor, should petition the dean responsible for the activity to be changed by completing the “Final Week” form which is available on the DSU portal. The dean will coordinate and approve the necessary rescheduling. Any changes or deviations in the schedule for an individual student must have advance approval of the dean in which the college the course is taught. |
Fall 2019 Academic Calendar
Aug. 23 (Fri) |
8:00 a.m Residence Halls open for First Year Students only
New student orientation activities begin |
Aug. 24-25 (Sat-Sun) |
8:00 a.m. Residence Halls open for all students |
Aug. 26 (Mon) |
8:00 a.m. Classes begin |
Sept. 2 (Mon) |
Labor Day - no classes |
Sept. 5 (Thur) |
Census Day - Last day to register for any fall class to determine financial aid eligibility
Last day to add a full semester class; Last day to drop a full semester class and receive 100% refund |
Sept. 6 (Fri) |
Tuition and Fees - deadline for payment or payment plan to avoid cancellation of registration and late fee assessment. |
Sept. 30 (Mon) |
Last day to apply for Fall 2019 graduation. |
Oct. 11 (Fri) |
Last day of First half semester classes |
Oct. 14 (Mon) |
Native American Day - no classes |
Oct. 16 (Wed) |
Mid-term deficiency grades due |
Oct. 21-Nov. 8 |
Tentative dates for continuing students pre-registration for Spring & Fall 2020. |
Oct. 30 (Wed) |
Last day a student may withdraw from the University (all courses) and be eligible for a partial refund of University charges based on federal regulations and Board of Regents policy. |
Nov. 8 (Fri) |
Last day to withdraw from a full semester course or withdraw from the University entirely with no refund of University charges. |
Nov. 11 (Mon) |
Veterans Day holidy observed - no classes |
Nov. 27-Dec 1 (Wed-Sun) |
Thanksgiving holidy - no classes; Please note: Tuesday, November 26, evening classes will be held. |
Dec. 2 (Mon) |
Classes resume |
Dec. 11 (Wed) |
No classes |
Dec. 12-18 (Thur-Wed) |
Final Examination Period |
Dec. 14 (Sat) |
Commencement - Fieldhouse - 10:30 a.m. |
Dec. 18 (Wed) |
Semester ends; Residence Halls close at 5:00 p.m. |
Dec. 23 (Mon) |
Final grades due |
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