32.1 Overview
Nevada State’s academic calendar lists official academic dates and events relevant to students and employees. It identifies start and end dates for each term, key dates for students (such as drop/withdraw deadlines), and holidays and breaks.
NS operates on a semester system, with approximately equal length fall and spring semesters, as well as a winter intersession, summer terms, and accelerated terms within the fall and spring semesters. Courses must meet the required instructional contact time for the number of credits earned, regardless of the length of the term. Refer to the policy on Credit Hours for details.
32.2 Review and Approval Process
The academic calendar goes through these stages of approval:
- Office of the Registrar drafts the academic calendar and submits it to the appropriate Academic Faculty Senate committee. The draft considers the following items:
- Review of previous academic calendars to ensure continuity and identify best practices.
- Holidays and officially observed institutional closures are incorporated.
- Federal financial aid regulations are considered.
- The Office of the Registrar may consult with academic leadership and other relevant campus offices, as appropriate.
- The Office of the Registrar reviews and considers published Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) and Clark County School District (CCSD) breaks; however, the final calendar is established according to NSU’s academic priorities and institutional interests.
- Academic Faculty Senate committee reviews the draft calendar and may propose changes. Following its review, the committee chair forwards a recommendation to the Provost.
- The Provost considers the committee recommendation, consults with Deans Council and relevant administrative office, and either:
- Approves the calendar and notifies the Registrar [skip to step 6]; or
- Returns the draft with feedback and rationale to the Registrar for further revisions [proceed to step 4].
- Office of the Registrar addresses and/or integrates feedback and returns the revised calendar with any rationale to the Provost.
- Provost approves the academic calendar and notifies the Registrar.
- Registrar publishes approved calendar.
32.2.1 Posting the Academic Calendar
The approved academic calendar is published on the NS website at least 6 months prior to the start of the academic year. Draft academic calendars for the next three academic years are published each spring on the NS website, following approval of the upcoming academic year’s final calendar, and are clearly labeled as tentative and subject to change until formally approved.
32.2.2 Calendar Revisions
Any member of the NSU community may submit proposed revisions to draft calendars directly to the Registrar. The Registrar emails proposed revisions, along with a recommendation in favor or against them, to the Academic Faculty Senate Executive Committee (FSEC). The FSEC reviews proposed revisions and submits a recommendation to approve or deny them to the Provost, who makes a final decision to approve or deny a revision.
32.2.3 Mandated Changes and Extenuating Circumstances
Academic calendar changes that are mandated by federal or state law, NSHE policy or directives, or executive orders will be integrated into the calendar by the Office of the Registrar promptly and will be communicated to campus without the standard review process.
If unexpected, extenuating circumstances affect the academic calendar, the Provost will approve emergency revisions. If possible, the Provost will consult with the Registrar, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and the Deans Council before approving or communicating changes.
32.3 Required Academic Calendar Elements
NS is closed and classes are cancelled for official holidays recognized by the State of Nevada. All semesters and terms end on a Saturday. Final grades are due by noon the Wednesday following the last day of classes.
For 9-month academic faculty, the fall and spring semesters combined consist of 175 academic working days.
32.3.1 Fall and Spring Semesters
- The full semester runs for 16 weeks. There is no separate final exams week.
- The week before classes start is prep week for academic faculty.
- A week-long spring break is scheduled during the spring semester. Spring break dates for the School of Nursing are adjusted from the University-wide dates, beginning on a Wednesday and ending the following Tuesday.
- The degree conferral date is the last day of the 16-week semester.
- The School of Nursing pre-licensure BSN program operates on 15-week sessions in fall and spring; classes start on the same day as the regular term but end a week early. RN-BSN and MSN programs are offered in 7- and 8-week sessions and follow due dates specified for their accelerated terms.
32.3.2 Winter Intersession
Winter intersessions are four weeks long. They begin the Monday immediately after the fall semester ends. Registration for the winter intersession begins at the same time as registration for the spring semester.
Courses taken in the winter intersession count toward a student’s spring semester courseload/credits and financial aid package, if applicable.
32.3.3 Summer Terms
- Summer includes 6-, 7-, 12-, and 14-week sessions; start dates for each are included in the calendar.
- Registration for summer term begins at the same time as registration for the fall semester.
- The degree conferral date is the last day of the 14-week term.
- School of Nursing operates on a 14-week session, which starts 1 week before the 12-week summer term and ends 1 week after the 12-week summer term.
- RN-BSN and MSN programs are offered in two 7-week sessions.
32.4 Related Information
- Credit Hours Policy (Academic Operations)
- List of holidays for NV employees
32.4.1 Revision History
- Approved by Dr. Raul Tapia, Chair of Academic Faculty Senate Faculty Affairs Committee, 5/4/2026; Deans Council, 5/27/2026; Berna Rhodes-Ford, General Counsel, 7/22/2026; Dr. Gwen Sharp, Interim Provost, 7/22/2026; Dr. Amber Lopez Lasater, Acting President, 7/29/2026.