217th Academic Year

2018-2019

*Religious holidays and Bowdoin's policy on observance of these can be found at the bottom of this page.

2018

August 21, Tuesday	First Year arrival day
August 22-25, Wed.-Sat.	Orientation Trips
August 25-28, Sat.-Tues.	Orientation
August 26, Sunday	College housing ready for occupancy for upperclass students, noon
August 28, Tuesday	Opening of the College—Convocation, 3:30 p.m.
August 29, Wednesday	Fall semester classes begin, 8:30 a.m.
September 3, Monday	Labor Day (Classes in session, College holiday, some offices closed)
September 15, Saturday	Common Good Day
September 27-29, Thurs.-Sat.	Alumni Council, Alumni Fund Directors and BRAVO National Advisory Board meetings
October 5, Friday	Fall vacation begins after last class
October 5-7, Fri.-Sun.	Homecoming Weekend
October 10, Wednesday	Fall vacation ends, 8:00 a.m.
October 11-13, Thurs.-Sat.	Meetings of the Board of Trustees
October 19, Friday	Sarah and James Bowdoin Day
October 19-21, Fri.-Sun.	Family Weekend
November 21, Wednesday	Thanksgiving vacation begins, 8:00 a.m. * (November 21-23: College holidays, many offices closed)
November 26, Monday	Thanksgiving vacation ends, 8:00 a.m.
December 7, Friday	Last day of classes
December 8-11, Sat.- Tues.	Reading period
December 12-17, Wed.- Mon.	Fall semester examinations
December 18, Tuesday	College housing closes for winter break, noon
December 24-31, Mon.-Mon.	College Holidays, many offices closed

2019 

January 1, Tuesday	New Year's Day Holiday (College Holiday, many offices closed)
January 20, Sunday	College housing available for occupancy, 8:00 a.m.
January 21, Monday	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (College holiday, some offices closed)
January 22, Tuesday	Spring semester classes begin, 8:30 a.m.
February 7-9, Thurs.-Sat.	Meetings of the Board of Trustees
February 18, Monday	Presidents' Day (Classes in session, College holiday, some offices closed)
March 8, Friday	Spring vacation begins after last class
March 9, Saturday	College housing closes for spring vacation, noon
March 23, Saturday	College housing available for occupancy, 8:00 a.m.
March 25, Monday	Spring vacation ends, 8:00 a.m.
April 4-6, Thurs.-Sat.	Alumni Council, Alumni Fund Directors and BRAVO National Advisory Board meetings
April 11-13, Thurs.-Sat.	Admitted Student Open House
May 8, Wednesday	Last day of classes; Honors Day
May 9-11, Thurs.-Sat.	Meetings of the Board of Trustees
May 9-12, Thurs.-Sun.	Reading period
May 13-18, Mon.-Sat.	Spring semester examinations
May 19, Sunday	College housing closes for non-graduating students, noon
May 24, Friday	Baccalaureate
May 25, Saturday	The 214th Commencement Exercises
May 25, Saturday	College housing closes for graduating students, 6:00 p.m.
May 27, Monday	Memorial Day (College holiday, many offices closed)
May 30-June 2, Thurs.-Sun.	Reunion Weekend
July 4, Thursday	Fourth of July Holiday (College Holiday, many offices closed)

*Regular class schedules in effect on holidays listed unless otherwise noted. Staff, check with supervisor to determine if office is closed.

In recognition of Bowdoin’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive student body and the variety of religions observed and practiced by our students, faculty are encouraged to avoid conflicts between in class examinations and other significant academic work and major religious holidays. The calendar below was developed in collaboration with the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, and includes major observances of the officially recognized religious groups at Bowdoin. In addition, the multifaith calendar from the Harvard Divinity School is a valuable resource regarding many other religious observances that do not appear in the list below but that may be of significance to members of our community.

Students are expected to declare their intention to observe religious holidays at the beginning of the semester, and to work with an instructor when there is a conflict with a scheduled examination, paper, or project due date and a significant religious holiday observed by the student so that, when warranted, alternative arrangements for completing the work may be made.

Students or faculty who have any questions regarding how best to balance the academic calendar alongside religious observances are encouraged to consult with Eduardo Pazos, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life.

Aug. 21-22, Tues.-Wed.	Eid al-Adha, begins at sundown
Sept. 9-11, Sun.-Tues.	Rosh Hashanah, begins at sundown on Sept. 9 and concludes at sundown on Sept. 11
Sept. 18-19, Tues.-Wed.	Yom Kippur, begins at sundown on Sept. 18 and concludes at sundown on Sept. 19
April 19, Friday	Good Friday
Apr. 19-27, Fri.-Sat.	Passover, begins at sundown on April 19 and concludes at sundown on April 27
April 21, Sunday	Easter
May 6, Monday	Ramadan, begins at first light on May 6 and concludes at last light on June 5