AY Calendar (2026-27)

AUGUST

17 · New GTAs Report to Writing Center Training (See emails from WC Staff)

17 · New GPAs Report to Watershed Lit Training (See emails from WL Staff)

21 · ALL NEW STUDENTS Introduction to Watershed Lit, Literary Journals, and Fenwick Library (12pm, Horizon Hall Kitchen, 4th Floor, pizza and drinks provided)

24 · First Day of Fall Classes

31 · Last Day to Add Classes

SEPTEMBER

7 · Labor Day, University Closed

8 · Last Day to Drop Classes (w/ 100% Tuition Refund)

17 · WELCOME BACK ALL STUDENTS MFA Faculty Reading (7pm, Fenwick Reading Room)

18 · ALL NEW STUDENTS Cultural Dexterity Session (1:30pm, Horizon Conference Room 4225)

OCTOBER

6 · Spring Schedule of Classes Available on PatriotWeb (date approximate)

6-10 · Fall for the Book (https://fallforthebook.org/)

12 · Fall Break, University Closed

16 · Requests for Poetry Thesis Directors Due (2nd-Year Students Only)

19-22 · MFA Student Individual Advising Sessions (Info TC)

23 · Poetry Thesis Directors Announced (2nd-Year Students Only)

23 · Incomplete work from Spring/Summer semester due to the instructor

27 · Spring Semester Registration Opens for Graduate Students

NOVEMBER

3 · Election Day (no classes)

20 · Summer GRA Info Session: Provost Summer GRA Funding Opportunity (11am, via Zoom, 2nd-year students only)

25-29 · Thanksgiving Break

DECEMBER

1 · Scholarship Deadlines:

Otto Scholarship (3rd-year students only non-fellow thesis support)

Kelley Scholarship (1st- + 2nd-year students work on culturally/socially relevant topic)

7 · Last Day of Classes

WINTER BREAK

2nd-Year Students: Prepare material (Thesis Proposal, Creative Sample) for 3rd-Year Fellowship and Provost Summer GRA Deadlines (See Below, ***only 2nd-Year Students are eligible***)

JANUARY

19 · First Day of Spring Classes

26 · Last Day to Add Classes

29 · UDTS Info Session: Thesis Formatting and Deadlines Info Session with Sally Evans, University Dissertation and Thesis Services, Fenwick Library (3pm, via Zoom, graduating 3rd-year students only)

29 · Provost Summer GRA Apps Approximate Deadline (2nd-Year Students only, double-check deadline)

FEBRUARY

2 · Last Day to Drop Classes (w/ 100% Tuition Refund)

15 · Third-Year Fellowship Apps Deadline (12 Noon, Rising 3rd-Year Students)

26 · Third-Year Fellowship Recipients Announced

MARCH

1 · Requests for Prose Thesis Directors Due (2nd-Year Students Only)

8-14 · Spring Break

17-20 · AWP in Chicago

12 · Prose Thesis Directors Announced (2nd-Year Students Only)

Mid-March · Provost Summer GRA Recipients Notified

26 · Incomplete work from Fall semester due to the instructor

29 · Spring Writing Contests Deadline (Noon)

APRIL

Mid-April: Fall Semester Registration Opens for Graduate Students (Date TBA)

26 · Spring Writing Contests Winners Announced

30 · Completed Thesis Projects Due to the Library by 5pm (Graduating 3rd-Year Students)

MAY

3 · Last Day of Classes

5 · English Honors Reception (5pm, CFA Tier III)

12 · Graduate Student Reading (6pm Sherwood Center)

TBA · College of Humanities and Social Sciences Convocation (names are announced; typically, it is the day after the reading but subject to university scheduling)

BEFORE THE END OF THE SEMESTER:

ALL RISING 3RD-YEAR STUDENTS: Signed Thesis Proposal Approval Sheet, Thesis Proposal (1-2 pages), and Representative Creative Sample (15-20 pages) emailed to the Graduate Academic Coordinator.

ALL RISING 3RD-YEAR POETRY STUDENTS ONLY: Schedule MFA Exam for Summer with Graduate Academic Coordinator.