Lawrence University operates on a three-term calendar system. Each standard session is ten weeks long. In addition to the fall, winter, and spring terms, a two-week optional December term is also offered.

The Lawrence University Faculty approved the 2026-27 Academic Calendar in the spring of the 2024-25 academic year.

2026-2027 Academic Calendar 

Fall Term (Term I) - 2026

*Labor Day- Monday, September 7; *Rosh Hashanah Friday, September 11-Sunday, September 13
Date Weekday Event
September 8 Tuesday Welcome Week commences
September 8 Tuesday Residence halls open for new students (8 am)
September 11 Friday First class meeting of First Year Studies
September 12 Saturday Residence halls open for returning students
September 14 Monday First day of fall term classes
September 18 Friday Last day to make class changes or select S/U for fall
October 22-25 Thursday-Sunday Mid-term Reading Period
November 6 Friday Last day to withdraw from fall term classes
November 19 Thursday Last day of fall term classes
November 20-21 Friday-Saturday Reading Period
November 22-24 Sunday-Tuesday Final Examinations
November 25 Wednesday Residence halls close (noon)

December Term (D-Term) – 2026

Date Weekday Event
November 29 Sunday Residence halls open (9 am)
November 30 Monday First day of D-Term classes
November 30 Monday Last day to make class changes or select S/U for D-Term
December 9 Wednesday Last day to withdraw from a D-Term class
December 11 Friday Last day of D-Term classes and final examinations
December 12-13 Saturday-Sunday Closing event if one is scheduled for the class
December 13 Sunday Residence halls close (6 pm)

Winter Term (Term II) – 2027

*University Holiday - January 1
Date Weekday Event
January 3 Sunday Residence halls open (9 am)
January 4 Monday First day of winter term classes
January 8 Friday Last day to make class changes or select S/U for winter
January 18 Monday Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no classes)
February 11-14 Thursday-Sunday Mid-term Reading Period
February 26 Friday Last day to withdraw from winter term classes
March 12 Friday Last day of winter term classes
March 13-14 Saturday-Sunday Reading Period
March 15-17 Monday-Wednesday Final Examinations
March 18 Thursday Residence halls close (noon)

Spring Term (Term III) – 2027

Date Weekday Event
March 28 Sunday Residence halls open (9 am)
March 29 Monday First day of spring term classes
April 2 Friday Last day to make class changes or select S/U for spring
May 6-9 Thursday-Sunday Mid-term Reading Period
May 21 Friday Last day to withdraw from spring term classes
May 31 Monday Memorial Day (no classes)
June 4 Friday Last day of spring term classes
June 5-6 Saturday-Sunday Reading Period
June 7-9 Monday-Wednesday Final examinations
June 10 Thursday Residence halls close for underclassmen (noon)
June 13 Sunday Commencement
June 13 Sunday Residence halls close for seniors (6 pm)