Academic Calendar

2023-2024 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

For table of add/drop dates and holidays by academic term and sub-term, projected for the next five years, visit the Office of the Registrar webpage

FALL SEMESTER, 2023

Month Date Event
Aug. 24-27 New Student Orientation (Traditional Undergraduates)
28 Academic Term Begins, Monday
28 Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One
29 Convocation, Tuesday
Sept. 1 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week, Session One
4 Labor Day Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday
4 Labor Day Observed (Professional Studies Only - Class in Session, Offices Closed)
8 Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session
8 Last Day to Drop Courses Without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
15 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week, Session One
22 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week, Session One
Oct. 1 5-Week Session One End
2 5-Week Session Two Start
6 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week, Session Two
13 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week, Session Two
20 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 16-Week Session and 5-Week Session Two
22 8-Week Session One End
23 8-Week Session Two Start
27 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week, Session Two
Nov. 3 Last Day to Drop a Course without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week, Session Two
5 5-Week Session Two End
6 5-Week Session Three Start
10 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week, Session Three
13-17 Academic Registration for All Continuing Students
17 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three
17 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session 2
22-24 Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes, Offices Closed)
24 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session Three
Dec. 10 5-Week Session Three End
12-15 Final Examinations, Tuesday-Friday
17 Last Day of Fall Term, 16-Week Session and 8-Week Session Two End
25- Jan. 1 Christmas Holiday Break (University Offices Closed)

SPRING SEMESTER, 2024

Month Date Event
Jan. 2 University Offices Re-Open
5-7 New Student Orientation (Traditional Undergraduates)
8 Academic Term Begins, Monday
8 Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One
12 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, (Professional Studies Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed), Monday
19 Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session
19 Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week, Session One
26 Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 5-Week, Session One
Feb. 2 Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 8-Week, Session One
11 5-Week Session One End
12 5-Week Session Two Start
16 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Two
19 President’s Day Holiday (No Classes, University Offices Closed), Monday
19 President's Holiday (Professional Studies Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed)
23 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week, Session Two
Mar. 1 Last Day to Drop a Course without Academic Penalty: 16-Week Session and 5-Week Session Two
3 8-Week Session One End
4 8-Week Session Two Start
8 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week, Session Two
15 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week, Session Two
17 5-Week Session Two End
18-24 Spring Recess (No Classes, Offices Open), Monday-Friday
25 5-Week Session Three Start
29 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session Two
29 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Three
29 Good Friday, No Classes, University Closed
Apr. 5 Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three
8-12 Academic Registration for All Continuing Students
12 Last day to drop course with academic penalty: 5-Week, Session Three
25 Baccalaureate Chapel
26-May 1 Final Examinations, Friday-Wednesday
28 5-Week Session Three End
May 2 Commencement, Thursday
5 Last Day of Spring Term, 16-Week Session and 8-Week Session Two End

SUMMER TERM, 2024

Month Date Event
May 6 Academic Term Begins, Monday
6 Session Begins for 16-Week Session, 5-Week Session One, and 8-Week Session One
10 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
17 Last Day to Add New Courses: 16-Week Session
17 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 16-Week, 5-Week and 8-Week Session One
24 Last Day to Drop Courses without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session One
27 Memorial Day Observed (No Classes, Office Closed)
27 Memorial Day Observed, (Professional Studies Only - Classes in session, Offices Closed), Monday
31 Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 8-week Session One
June 9 5-Week Session One End
10 5-Week Session Two Start
14 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Two
19 Juneteenth (19th), No Classes, University Closed
21 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Two
28 Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 16-Week and 5-Week Session Two
30 8-Week Session One End
July 1 8-Week Session Two Start
4 Independence Day (No Classes, University Offices Closed)
4 Independence Day Observed, (Professional Studies Only - Classes in Session, Offices Closed)
5 Last Day to Add New Courses: 8-Week Session Two
12 Last Day to Drop Course without Appearing on Transcript: 8-Week Session Two
14 5-Week Session Two End
15 5-Week Session Three Start
19 Last Day to Add New Courses: 5-Week Session Three
26 Last Day to Drop Courses without Appearing on Transcript: 5-Week Session Three
26 Last day to Drop without Academic Penalty: 8-Week Session Two
Aug. 2 Last Day to Drop Course without Academic Penalty: 5-Week Session Three
18 5-Week Session Three End
25 Last Day of Summer Term, 16-Week and 8-Week Session Two End
1

Dates of courses offered during summer vary, but fall within the full summer term dates.