Academic Calendar
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 |