Semester-Calendar System - California State University, Los Angeles

• It provides as many days of break between each semester as is feasible, so as to
support between-term administrative processes and the classroom/dormitory upkeep
operations of Facilities Management; and
• It provides windows of opportunity for students to pursue study abroad options and
other off-campus academic experiences between fall and spring semesters and
during the month of May.
The Taskforce has constructed a semester-planning calendar for academic years 2011-12
through 2017-18. This planning calendar is presented in Appendix 1: “Proposed Semester
System Calendar 2011-2018” and Appendix 2: “Proposed Summer Sessions Calendar”.
6.1.1 Fall and Spring Semester Design Principles
• The fall and spring semesters will be comprised of approximately fourteen (14)
weeks of instruction for a minimum of seventy (70) instructional days. Scheduling fall
or spring instructional days in excess of seventy is both permitted and encouraged, if
possible to do so under the other provisions of these design principles.
• Saturday-only classes may be offered, but these must be scheduled so as to provide
a full semester of content and corresponding instructional minutes (i.e., 700
class/laboratory minutes per credit hour).
• The fall semester will normally begin at least one (1) full week prior to Labor Day,
and may begin up to two (2) full weeks prior to Labor Day, as required, so as to
adhere to the other provisions of these design principles.
• The fall and spring semesters will include one week of examinations to follow the last
day of instruction. This examination week normally will be comprised of four week
days, with an optional fifth week day and/or Saturday to be scheduled as the number
of classes offered and available classroom space require.
• For the fall semester, at least one full week of classes will be scheduled between the
end of the Thanksgiving holiday and the beginning of the semester examination
week.
• Fall and spring semester examination days will be scheduled consecutively, but may
be split across two weeks at the discretion of the UC Calendar & Examinations
Committee so as to accommodate the other provisions of these design principles.
• For those terms where a split-week examination schedule is necessary, one
weekday entitled “UC Study Day” shall be scheduled to occur between the last day
of classes and the first day of examinations. Neither classes nor examinations shall
be held on UC Study Day.
• The last day of Fall Examinations normally will occur on or before December 18 th .
• Whenever possible, within an adherence to the other provisions of these design
principles, the spring semester will begin on January 3 rd or later so as to avoid the
necessity of student travel on New Year’s Day.
• The spring semester will include a one-week Spring Break, wherein no classes will
be held. Normally, this Spring Break will be scheduled for the 3 rd full week of March,
but should be scheduled so that at least one full month (twenty (20) instructional
days) occurs between the end of Spring Break and the last day of classes.
• A break of approximately five (5) weekdays will be scheduled between spring and
summer semesters. These break days may be scheduled consecutively across two
weeks.
• Departments will retain the ability to offer flexibly-scheduled classes, yet these must
be scheduled so as to 1) provide a full semester of content and corresponding
Taskforce Plan for Converting to a Semester-Calendar System (Final Report) 16 (43)