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Academic Calendar Policy

Policy Number: 04.0002

Introduction

This policy defines the academic calendar and term structure of The New School, as well as the process and timeline for approval of the academic calendar.

Purpose

This policy provides guidance for the university on the academic calendar. The academic calendar is meant to create a sustainable academic calendar framework that better meets the educational needs of students, faculty, and staff across the institution, support our academic mission, and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. The purpose of this policy is to provide a clear template for the creation of the academic calendar, as well as provide necessary checks to ensure that the template is still meeting the needs of the university.

Scope

This policy applies to all New School students, faculty, and staff.

Definitions

Academic Year: A defined period of time for academic instruction. As an institution awarding credit hours, an academic year must include at least 30 weeks of instructional time. The academic year consists of three standard terms.

Credit Hours: The primary way in which institutions represent the amount of work required to meet intended learning outcomes. For The New School, a credit hour is equivalent to:

  1. At least 50 minutes of classroom instruction and at least two hours of out of classroom student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit (a minimum of 750 minutes of contact per credit) or
  2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required outlined in item 1 above for other student academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, studio work, or other academic work leading to the award of credit hours

Intersession: A short, nonstandard term which is combined with a preceding or following standard term. To consider the intersession as eligible for financial aid, it must be combined with either the fall term or the spring term.

Part of Term: A shorter period of time in which classes are offered within a standard term.

Standard Term: A period in which all classes are scheduled to begin and end within a set time frame, and academic progress is measured in credit hours. The New School offers three terms, Fall, Spring, and Summer. Length of each term (commonly referred to as the Fall and Spring “semesters” and Summer term) is dictated by federal and state regulations.

Responsibilities

Academic advisors are responsible for ensuring (as part of assisting students with registration) that students are aware of the maximum number of credits they may register for within a standard term. As needed, advisors will assist students in mapping out their registration plan to ensure requirements are met within a timely manner without requiring overloads.

Academic deans, department chairs, program directors are responsible for ensuring that courses scheduled include the appropriate amount of instruction time.

Course builders and schedulers are responsible for ensuring that all courses are built within the approved parts of term or using open learning.

Information Technology is responsible for ensuring that all processes and reports are properly configured to capture the correct standard and nonstandard terms.

The Registrar's Office is the policy owner and ensures that appropriate parts of the term are created within each standard term.

Student accounts and financial aid will review, bill, and disburse aid awards in accordance with federal guidelines.

Policy

The academic calendar is based on a semester model that contains a defined intersession part of term at the end of the fall semester.

Fall Semester

Major Dates and Holidays

  • The fall semester runs for 21 weeks; the first 15 weeks are the standard fall term, the final 6 weeks are an intersession known as the winter session
  • Orientation occurs Monday-Friday before first day of classes, with opportunity to continue to program on the Monday and Tuesday before the first day of classes
  • First day of classes is the Wednesday before Labor Day
  • Welcome Week will take place during first week of classes
  • Add/Drop (for full term courses) will be the first two weeks of classes
  • Registration will take place during the 10th week of the semester
  • Withdrawal date is Tuesday of the 12th week of the semester
  • Degree conferral is the last day of the month in which the term ends
  • The New School’s New York campus is closed for the following holidays in the term:
    • Labor Day Weekend (Saturday-Monday)
    • Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday-Sunday)
    • Winter Break (December 24-January 1, include weekends if 24th is Monday or 1st is Friday)
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (if applicable; this may occur during the winter session periodically)
  • The University’s Paris campus is closed for the following holidays in the term:
    • Fall Break (Monday- Sunday of last week in October)
    • Armistice Day (November 11)
    • Winter Break (December 24-January 1, include weekends if 24th is Monday or 1st is Friday)

Parts of Term: Fall Semester

There are 12 designated parts of term in fall semester. They differ between the New York City campus and the Paris campus.

NYC

  • Part of Term 1 is the primary subterm for fall semester classes and includes 15 weeks of instruction.
  • Part of Term 2 includes 14 weeks of instruction and starts on the second week of the semester
  • Part of Term 10 includes 10 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester
  • Part of Term 21 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 22 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the 9th week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 31 is a third of semester subterm. It includes 5 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 32 is a third of semester subterm. It includes 5 weeks of instruction and starts on the sixth week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 33 is a third of semester subterm. It includes 5 weeks of instruction and starts on the eleventh week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 40 is a winter intersession subterm. It includes 4 weeks of instruction and starts on the sixteenth week of the semester.

Paris

  • Part of Term 15 is the primary subterm for fall semester classes in Paris and includes 15 weeks of instruction.
  • Part of Term 71 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 72 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the 9th week of the semester.

Spring Semester

Major Dates and Holidays

  • The spring semester runs for 15 weeks
  • Orientation occurs Friday through Tuesday before first day of classes
  • First day of classes will be the Wednesday after Martin Luther King Jr Day
  • Welcome Week will take place during the first week of classes
  • Add/Drop (for full term courses) will be the first two weeks of classes
  • Parsons Paris Work Week will occur during Paris Fashion Week
  • Spring Break will occur after the 8th week of classes
  • Registration will take place during the 11th week of the semester
  • Withdrawal date is Tuesday of the 12th week of the semester
  • Commencement will be Friday after the last day of classes
  • Degree conferral will be the last day of the month in which the term ends
  • The University’s New York campus is closed for the following holidays in the term:
    • President’s Day
  • The University’s Paris campus is closed for the following holidays in the term:
    • Labor Day (May 1)
    • Ascension Day (39 days after Easter)
    • Easter Day
    • Easter Monday

Parts of Term: Spring Semester

There are 11 designated parts of term in spring semester. They differ between the New York City campus and the Paris campus.

NYC

  • Part of Term 1 is the primary subterm for Spring semester classes and includes 15 weeks of instruction.
  • Part of Term 2 includes 14 weeks of instruction and starts on the second week of the semester
  • Part of Term 10 includes 10 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester
  • Part of Term 21 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 22 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the 9th week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 31 is a third of semester subterm. It includes 5 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 32 is a third of semester subterm. It includes 5 weeks of instruction and starts on the sixth week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 33 is a third of semester subterm. It includes 5 weeks of instruction and starts on the eleventh week of the semester.

Paris

  • Part of Term 15 is the primary subterm for Fall semester classes in Paris and includes 15 weeks of instruction.
  • Part of Term 71 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the semester.
  • Part of Term 72 is a half semester subterm. It includes 8 weeks of instruction and starts on the 9th week of the semester.

Summer Semester

Major Dates and Holidays

  • The summer semester runs for 12 weeks
  • First day of classes will be second Monday/Tuesday after Spring term ends (depending on date of Memorial Day)
  • Degree conferral will be last day of the month in which the term ends
  • The University’s New York campus is closed for the following holidays in the term:
    • Juneteenth
    • Independence Day
  • The University’s Paris campus is closed for the following holidays in the term:
    • Whit Monday (50 days after Easter)
    • Bastille Day (July 14)
    • Assumption Day (August 15)

Parts of Term: Summer Semester

There are 9 designated parts of term. They differ between the New York and Paris campuses.

NYC

  • Part of Term 1 is the primary subterm for Summer term classes and includes 12 weeks of instruction.
  • Part of Term 21 includes 6 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the term
  • Part of Term 22 includes 6 weeks of instruction and starts on the seventh week of the term
  • Part of Term 31 includes 4 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the term
  • Part of Term 32 includes 4 weeks of instruction and starts on the fifth week of the term
  • Part of Term 33 includes 4 weeks of instruction and starts on the ninth week of the term

Paris

  • Part of Term 41 includes 3 weeks of instruction and starts on the first week of the term
  • Part of Term 42 includes 3 weeks of instruction and starts on the third week of the term
  • Part of Term 43 includes 3 weeks of instruction and starts on the sixth week of the term

Non Standard Start and End Dates

There will be a small number of classes that will receive permission to start or end at a non-standard time. However, all classes associated with a semester will start and end within that semester. Tuition calculations, financial aid, and registration processes are based on classes taken during the assigned semester.

Calendar Creation and Process

Academic calendars are created and approved 10 years in advance and go through the following states of approval annually:

  • University Registrar and a representative from University Faculty Senate, University Staff Senate, and University Student Senate create calendar no later than July 1
  • PO Coordination Group, Large Academic Affairs, Small Academic Affairs, PO Council, Executive Deans, Business and Operations Leadership Meeting notified no later than July 15
  • Provost and President approve no later than August 1
  • University Registrar posts to New School website no later than August 15

The Academic Calendar Policy is reviewed every 3 years to determine whether changes should be made to calendar structure 10 years out.

Policy Administration

Responsible University Official: Vice Provost for Academic Operations

Responsible Office: Registrar’s Office

Contact Information: registrar@newschool.edu

Policy History

Effective Date: Fall 2024

Last Reviewed Date: July 23, 2024

Next Review Date: July 24, 2027

Revision History: N/A

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