2026-2027 Academic Calendar1
The academic calendar reflects important dates for all Vanguard academic programs. It is based on a 16 week semester term (15 weeks of classes and one week of finals) with two, 8-week and three, 5-week sub-terms therein. This calendar is subject to change by the University Administration. Questions, contact the Registrar's Office at (714) 662-5200 or via email at records.support@vanguard.edu
This calendar is accurate as of the date of publication. For more dynamic semester calendars, visit the Office of the Registrar webpage.
FALL SEMESTER, 2026
Calendar
| Month |
Date |
Event |
| Aug. |
27-30 |
New Student Orientation (Traditional Undergraduates) |
|
31 |
Academic Term Begins, Monday |
|
31 |
Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One |
| Sept. |
1 |
Convocation, Tuesday |
|
2 |
Labor Day Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday |
|
4 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week, Session One |
|
7 |
Labor Day |
|
7 |
Labor Day Observed (Professional Education Only - Class in Session, Offices Closed) |
|
11 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session |
|
11 |
Last Day to Drop Courses Without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week Session One |
|
18 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week, Session One |
|
25 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week, Session One |
| Oct. |
3 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week, Session Two |
|
4 |
5-Week Session One End |
|
5 |
5-Week Session Two Start |
|
16 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week, Session Two |
|
23 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 16-Week Session and 5-Week Session Two |
|
25 |
8-Week Session One End |
|
26 |
8-Week Session Two Start |
|
30 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week, Session Two |
| Nov. |
6 |
Last Day to Drop a Course without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week, Session Two |
|
8 |
5-Week Session Two End |
|
9 |
5-Week Session Three Start |
|
13 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week, Session Three |
|
16-20 |
Academic Registration for All Continuing Students |
|
20 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three |
|
20 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session 2 |
|
25-27 |
Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes, Offices Closed) |
|
27 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session Three |
| Dec. |
13 |
5-Week Session Three End |
|
15-18 |
Final Examinations, Tuesday-Friday |
|
18 |
Residence Hall Closed by 7PM for non-graduating students |
|
19 |
Residence Hall Closed by 12PM for graduating students |
|
20 |
Last Day of Fall Term, 16-Week Session and 8-Week Session Two End |
|
24- Jan. 10 |
Christmas Holiday Break (University Offices Closed) |
SPRING SEMESTER, 2027
Calendar
| Month |
Date |
Event |
| Jan. |
4 |
University Offices Re-Open |
|
8-10 |
New Student Orientation (Traditional Undergraduates) |
|
11 |
Academic Term Begins, Monday |
|
11 |
Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One |
|
15 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session One |
|
15 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 8 Week Session One |
|
18 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday |
|
18 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, (Professional Education Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed), Monday |
|
22 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session |
|
22 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-week and 8-Week, Session One |
|
29 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session One |
| Feb. |
5 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 8-Week, Session One |
|
14 |
5-Week Session One End |
|
15 |
5-Week Session Two Start |
|
15 |
President’s Day Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday |
|
15 |
President's Holiday (Professional Education Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed) |
|
19 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Two |
|
26 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week, Session Two |
| Mar. |
5 |
Last Day to Drop a Course without Academic Penalty: 16-Week Session and 5-Week Session Two |
|
7 |
8-Week Session One End |
|
8-14 |
Spring Recess (No Classes, Offices Open), Monday-Friday |
|
15 |
8-Week Session Two Start |
|
19 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week, Session Two |
|
26 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week, Session Two |
|
26 |
Good Friday, No Classes, University Closed |
|
28 |
5-Week Session Two End |
|
29 |
5-Week Session Three Start |
| Apr. |
2 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Three |
|
9 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three |
|
9 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session Two |
|
12-16 |
Academic Registration for All Continuing Students |
|
20 |
Awards Chapel |
|
26 |
Last day to drop course without academic penalty: 5-Week, Session Three |
|
27 |
Baccalaureate Chapel |
|
April 30-May 5 |
Final Examinations, Friday, Monday-Wednesday |
| May |
2 |
5-Week Session Three End |
|
6 |
Residence Hall closed by 7PM for non-graduating students |
|
7 |
Commencement Friday |
|
8 |
Residence Hall closed by 5PM for graduating students |
|
9 |
Last Day of Spring Term, 16-Week Session and 8-Week Session Two End |
SUMMER TERM, 2027
Calendar
| Month |
Date |
Event |
| May |
10 |
Academic Term Begins, Monday |
|
10 |
Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One |
|
14 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week Session One |
|
21 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session |
|
21 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week Session One |
|
28 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session One |
|
31 |
Memorial Day Observed (No Classes, Office Closed) |
|
31 |
Memorial Day Observed, (Professional Education Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed), Monday |
| June |
4 |
Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 8-week Session One |
|
13 |
5-Week Session One End |
|
14 |
5-Week Session Two Start |
|
18 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Two |
|
18 |
Juneteenth (19th), No Classes, University Closed |
|
25 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Two |
| July |
2 |
Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 16-Week and 5-Week Session Two |
|
4 |
8-Week Session One End |
|
5 |
Independence Day (No Classes, University Offices Closed) |
|
5 |
Independence Day Observed, (Professional Education Only - Classes in Session, Offices Closed) |
|
5 |
8-Week Session Two Start |
|
9 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week Session Two |
|
16 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week Session Two |
|
18 |
5-Week Session Two End |
|
19 |
5-Week Session Three Start |
|
23 |
Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Three |
|
30 |
Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three |
|
30 |
Last day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session Two |
| Aug. |
6 |
Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session Three |
|
22 |
5-Week Session Three End |
|
29 |
Last Day of Summer Term, 16-Week and 8-Week Session Two End |