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Guidelines Regarding the Setting of the University Calendar of Academic Dates

Committee on Enrolment and Student Affairs

Guidelines Regarding the Setting of the University Calendar of Academic Dates

Approved by Senate on 13 May, 2020

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1. General Calendar Issues, Fall and Winter Terms

There shall be at least 130 teaching days over the Fall and Winter terms, taken together.

2. General Calendar Issues, Fall Term

The Fall term will start before Labour Day and within the month of August and it should be arranged so that the following priorities are met:

  1. A full 13-week term (equivalent to 39 contact hours for a 3-credit course). In the event that the schedule for a particular pattern does not permit 39 contact hours or that courses must be cancelled (on an election Monday, for example), Faculties will have the discretion to determine how the missing hour(s) shall be made up.
  2. A minimum 11-day examination period, excluding weekends, but including Monday to Thursday evenings. The last day of final exams must be the penultimate working day, or earlier, of the fall term.
  3. A one-day study break or a weekend separates the end of classes and beginning of examinations when possible.
  4. A 3- to 5-weekday Fall Reading Break the week of Thanksgiving and including Thanksgiving Monday. When Labour Day falls on Sept. 5 or Sept. 6, Fall Reading Break will be 3 weekdays, including Thanksgiving Monday. When Labour Day falls on Sept. 7, Fall Reading Break will be 3 or 4 weekdays, including Thanksgiving Monday. In all other years, Fall Reading Break will be a 5-weekday break including Thanksgiving Monday.
  5. A minimum number of calendar days will be used to accommodate the Academic Calendar. This may require make up teaching days (often Mondays) to be held earlier in the term and not the last week of classes.

3. General Calendar Issues, Winter Term

The Winter term should end as late into April as possible and should be arranged so that the following priorities are met:

  1. A full 13-week term (equivalent to 39 contact hours for a 3-credit course). In the event that the schedule for a particular pattern does not permit 39 contact hours or that courses must be cancelled (on an election Monday, for example), Faculties will have the discretion to determine how the missing hour(s) shall be made up.
  2. A minimum 10-day examination schedule can be provided, excluding weekends, but including Monday to Thursday evenings.
  3. A study day or weekend between the last day of scheduled classes and the first day of examinations when possible.
  4. A five-weekday Winter Reading Break in the first week of March, where necessary including one or two days at the end of February.
  5. Deferred and supplemental examinations for the Fall term may be held over Winter Reading Break.
  6. A minimum number of calendar days will be used to accommodate the Academic Calendar. This may require make up teaching days (often Mondays) to be held earlier in the term and not the last week of classes.

4. Calendar Approval

The Calendar of Academic Dates should be approved at least two years in advance.

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