Transylvania uses a modified calendar called a “4-4-1 system.” The academic year is divided into three parts: two regular terms (fall and winter) and a one-month term in May.
A regular term is 14 weeks long, and students normally take four courses.
During the four‑week May term, students concentrate on one class and often get their first taste of international study. Many May term courses are team-taught and are highly interdisciplinary.
Fall 2024
| August 23 | Friday | New students arrive on campus – Move In Day |
| August 24-25 | Saturday – Sunday | New Student Orientation |
| August 26 | Monday | First Engagements Class begins for First-Year students |
| August 29 | Thursday | First Engagements Class ends for First-Year students |
| September 1-2 | Sunday – Monday | Returning students arrive on campus |
| September 2 | Monday | Labor Day Holiday- No Classes/Offices Closed |
| September 3 | Tuesday | Classes begin |
| September 6 | Friday | Last day to add a first-half course |
| September 9 | Monday | Last day to add a full-term course Last day to change a grade option Tuition Charges become final |
| September 11 | Wednesday | Last day to drop a first-half course |
| September 20 | Friday | Last day to drop a full-term course |
| September 23 | Monday | Last day to withdraw from a first-half course |
| October 11 | Friday | Midterm Progress Reports Due |
| October 14–15 | Monday – Tuesday | Fall Break |
| October 1–20 | May Travel Course Registration | |
| October 22 | Tuesday | Second-half courses begin |
| October 24 | Thursday | Last day to add a second-half course |
| October 25 | Friday | Last day to withdraw from a full-term course |
| November 1 | Friday | Last day to drop a second-half course |
| November 5 | Tuesday | Last day to withdraw from a second-half course |
| November 6-13 | Wednesday – Wednesday | Registration for Winter & May 2025 Terms |
| November 27-29 | Wednesday – Friday | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| December 6 | Friday | Last day of regular classes |
| December 9 | Monday | Reading Day |
| December 10-13 | Tuesday – Friday | Final Exams |
| December 13 | Friday | Residence halls close at 6:00 PM for Winter Break |
| December 17 | Tuesday | Fall Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |
Winter 2025
| January 5 | Sunday | Residence halls re-open at 10:00 AM |
| January 6 | Monday | Classes begin |
| January 8 | Wednesday | Last day to add a first-half course |
| January 10 | Friday | Last day to add a full-term course Last day to change a grade option Tuition Charges become final |
| January 16 | Thursday | Last day to drop a first-half course |
| January 20 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – No Classes/Offices Closed |
| January 24 | Friday | Last day to drop a full-term course |
| February 14 | Friday | Midterm Progress Reports Due |
| February 18 | Tuesday | Second-half courses begin |
| February 20 | Thursday | Last day to add a second-half course |
| February 24 | Monday | Last day to drop a second-half course |
| February 28 | Friday | Last day to withdraw from a full-term course Incomplete grades from Fall term due |
| March 7 | Friday | Residence halls close at 5:00 PM for Spring Break |
| March 10 – 14 | Monday – Friday | Spring Break |
| March 16 | Sunday | Residence halls re-open at 12:00 PM |
| March 19 | Wednesday | Last day to withdraw from a second-half course |
| March 24–March 28 | Monday – Friday | Registration for Fall term 2025 |
| April 11 | Friday | Last day of regular classes |
| April 14 | Monday | Reading Day |
| April 15–18 | Tuesday – Friday | Final Exams |
| April 18 | Friday | Residence halls close at 6:00 PM for students not enrolled in May term |
| April 22 | Tuesday | Winter Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |
May 2025
| April 23 | Wednesday | Classes begin |
| April 24 | Thursday | Last day to Add/Drop a course Last day to change a grade option |
| May 1 | Thursday | Last day to withdraw from a course |
| May 20 | Tuesday | Last day of classes – Final Exams Residence halls close at 6:00 PM for non-graduates |
| May 24 | Saturday | Commencement Residence halls close at 5:00 PM for graduates |
| May 26 | Monday | Memorial Day Holiday – Offices Closed |
| May 27 | Tuesday | May Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |
Summer 2025
| June 2 | Monday | Classes begin |
| June 3 | Tuesday | Last day to Add/Drop a course Last day to change a grade option Tuition Charges become final |
| June 13 | Friday | Last day to withdraw from a course |
| June 19-20 | Thursday-Friday | Juneteenth Holiday – Offices Closed |
| July 4 | Friday | Independence Day Holiday – Offices Closed |
| July 10 | Thursday | Last day of classes – Final Exams |
| July 14 | Monday | Summer Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |