Policy

Academic Calendar Principles (GEN 4.B.2)

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Policy # [####]
Academic Calendar Principles (GEN 4.B.2)

GEN 4.B.2. Academic Calendar Principles.

The following academic calendar principles supplement and enhance the select mission statement of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh by providing students with access to a high quality, affordable, and comprehensive education that enables them to develop their general intellectual capacities, specific interests, and abilities through academic programs and personalized student development services. In addition, the academic calendar principles foster the scholarly activities of faculty, students, and staff related to teaching, research, intellectual activities, creative expression, and service.

  • The fall academic semester cannot start before September 2 [Wisconsin Statute 36.11(16)].
  • To provide for academic closure and continuity: 1) no 14-week term shall be split across winter break. 2) The spring semester break shall fall between the two half-terms of the spring semester.
  • Faculty and instructional academic staff members are encouraged to have a culminating experience that seeks to provide synthesis and evaluation of their students’ knowledge and skills performance in each course.
  • The University shall make available special study and reading opportunities to students during the weekend prior to the final week of classes.
  • There will be two interim sessions each academic year to enhance schedule flexibility for faculty, staff, and students and to foster intensive pedagogical practices for appropriate courses.
  • The academic year shall contain 170 days (34 weeks) of faculty/student instructional interaction [Regent Policy 92-9; UW System Academic Planning Statements (ACPS-4)].
  • The faculty academic year contractual period must be 39 weeks in length [Regent Policy 92-9; ACPS-4].
  • The fall and spring semesters’ regular terms shall be of equal length [Regent Policy 92-9] and contain an equal number of Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
  • A minimum of 840 minutes (14, 60-minute hours) in the classroom with the instructor equals one credit of class time. Out-of-class work must be included and must total a minimum of 1,680 minutes per credit. The credits/hours can be offered in a variety of formats.