The University’s academic calendar year will begin before Labor Day in 2020, according to a statement released by Spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen.
This is the first time the University’s schedule will begin before Labor Day according to the available academic calendars on the Office of the Registrar’s website that go back to 2003.
According to the statement, the fall term will begin Aug. 31 and end Dec. 21. Winter term will begin Jan. 6 with commencement May 2.
With the new start date, there will be a one-week break between the end of summer semester and the beginning of the fall semester, according to Broekhuizen’s statement. There will be two weeks between the fall and winter semester, with Spring Break running from Feb. 27 until March 7 and no classes the day before Thanksgiving. Fall Break dates will remain the same.
Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R) said in an email interview the University changed the schedule so final exams would end earlier.
“The way the calendar worked that year finals would not have ended until Christmas Eve,” Newman said. “So rather than make students stay in Ann Arbor until Christmas Eve, the University pushed back the start date of the school year.”
Newman also explained costs regarding the new start date will not change.
The University has not yet determined the dates for the 2021-2022 academic school year.