Office of the Provost
Maintaining and enhancing the university's excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and outreach.
A sundial on the Engineering Quad frames Duffield Hall, Cornell's nanotechnology hub.
Academic Calendar
Fall 2011
| EVENT | DAY(S) OF THE WEEK | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Course Add/Drop Begins¹ | Monday | August 8 |
| Check for Holds Preventing Registration¹ | Monday | August 15 |
| Cornell Bound Check-in (new undergraduates) | Friday | August 19 |
| Residence Halls Open | Friday | August 19 |
| Orientation Begins | Friday | August 19 |
| Welcome and Check-In (new graduate students) | Monday | August 22 |
| Instruction Begins | Wednesday | August 24 |
| Labor Day Holiday -- No Classes | Monday | September 5 |
| Fall Break Begins, 1:10 PM | Saturday | October 8 |
| Instruction Resumes, 7:30 AM | Wednesday | October 12 |
| Thanksgiving Recess Begins, 1:10 PM | Wednesday | November 23 |
| Instruction Resumes, 7:30 AM | Monday | November 28 |
| Last Day of Classes | Saturday | December 3 |
| Study Period | Sunday - Wednesday | December 4-7 |
| First Days of Scheduled Exams | Wednesday² - Friday | December 7-9 |
| Last Days of Scheduled Exams | Monday - Friday | December 12-16 |
| January Graduation Recognition | Saturday | December 17 |
Winter 2011-12
| EVENT | DAY(S) OF THE WEEK | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Session Period Begins | Monday | December 26 |
| 3-Week Classes Begin | Tuesday | January 3, 2012 |
| Winter Session Period Ends | Saturday | January 21 |
Spring 2012
| EVENT | DAY(S) OF THE WEEK | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Course Add/Drop Begins | Monday | January 16 |
| Check for Holds Preventing Registration¹ | Tuesday | January 17 |
| January Orientation Begins | Wednesday | January 18 |
| Instruction Begins | Monday | January 23 |
| Spring Break Begins, 1:10 PM | Saturday | March 17 |
| Instruction Resumes, 7:30 AM | Monday | March 26 |
| Last Day of Classes | Saturday | May 5 |
| Study Period | Sunday - Wednesday | May 6-9 |
| First Days of Scheduled Exams | Wednesday² - Friday | May 9-11 |
| Last Days of Scheduled Exams | Monday - Friday | May 14-18 |
| Senior Week | Sunday - Saturday | May 20-26 |
| Commencement | Sunday | May 27 |
Summer 2012
There are many summer programs that follow different calendars from the one shown here. For more information on these programs, visit Summer Sessions.
| EVENT | DAY(S) OF THE WEEK | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Week Session Registration / Classes Begin | Wednesday | May 30 |
| 8-Week Session Registration / Classes Begin | Monday | June 11 |
| 3-Week Session Final Exams | Friday | June 22 |
| 6-Week Session Registration / Classes Begin | Monday | June 25 |
| 6- and 8-Week Sessions Final Exams | Monday / Tuesday | August 6-7 |
¹ Verify Add/Drop appointment window and registration holds on Student Center
² Exams begin Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
For complete semester start-up information visit: Cornell University Campus Life and the Office of the University Registrar.
This calendar may be subject to modification and is not legally binding. Office of the Dean of the University Faculty, 6/2011.
Note: University is considering changes to academic calendar beginning in 2012-2013.
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