Institutions of higher education, under control of the South Dakota Board of Regents, shall operate on a common academic calendar with common periods during the summer term and the fall and spring semesters at each institution when classes are not in session. Academic calendars shall be designed a minimum of two years in advance with annual extensions recommended to the Executive Director by the Council of Presidents and Superintendents no later than the May meeting.
Fall Semester 2020
| Classes begin |
August 19 |
| Last day to add or drop a course and adjust fees |
August 28 |
| Last day for pass/fail and audit options |
August 28 |
| Labor Day Holiday |
September 7 (in-class day) |
| Midterm (First half of semester ends) |
October 9 |
| Native Americans’ Day Holiday |
October 12 (in-class day) |
| Midterm deficiencies grades due by midnight |
October 14 |
| Graduation application due for undergraduate students (planning to graduate in May or August) |
October 19 |
| Early Registration Weeks |
October 26 - November 13 |
| Last day to drop classes |
October 30 |
| Veterans Day Holiday |
November 11 (in-class day) |
| Thanksgiving Holiday begins at end of class day |
November 24 |
| Thanksgiving Holiday |
November 25 - 27 |
| Non-class days (final exam prep days) |
November 30 - December 1 |
| Final examinations (online/remote) |
December 2-4 and December 7-8 |
| Semester ends |
December 8 |
| Fall Graduation |
December 19 |
| Final grades are due by midnight |
December 11 |
Spring Semester 2021
| Classes begin |
January 11 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday |
January 18 |
| Last day to add or drop a course and adjust fees |
January 20 |
| Last day for pass/fail and audit options |
January 20 |
| Presidents’ Day Holiday |
February 15 |
| Spring vacation begins at end of class day |
March 5 |
| Midterm (First half of semester ends) |
March 5 |
| Classes resume |
March 15 |
| Midterm deficiencies grades due by midnight |
March 17 |
| Graduation application due for undergraduate students (planning to graduate in December) |
March 22 |
| Early Registration Weeks (Tentative) |
TBA |
| Last day to drop classes |
April 6 |
| Easter Break begins at end of class day |
April 1 |
| Classes resume |
April 5 |
| Final examinations |
May 3-7 |
| Semester ends |
May 7 |
| Spring Graduation |
May 8 |
| Final grades are due by midnight |
May 12 |
This calendar conforms to guidelines established by the Board of Regents, but is subject to change at its discretion.
The schedule of holidays for the institutions of higher education is listed below. Classes shall not be scheduled to meet on holidays.
New Years Day
January 1*.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Third Monday in January.
Presidents Day
Third Monday in February.
Memorial Day
Last Monday in May.
Independence Day
July 4*.
Labor Day
First Monday in September
Native American Day
Second Monday in October.
Veterans Day
November 11*.
Thanksgiving Day
Fourth Thursday in November.
Christmas Day
December 25*
* If January 1, July 4, November 11, or December 25 fall on a Sunday, the Monday following shall be observed as the holiday; if they fall on a Saturday, the previous Friday shall be observed as the holiday.
The drop/add period is the time period during which students may adjust their academic schedule for the term without financial or academic consequences. The last day of the drop/add period for a course is designated as the census date for that course and is the official date for enrollment reporting. The end of the drop and add period for standard and non-standard courses offered in a semester shall be the date the first 10 percent of the term ends or the day following the first class meeting, whichever is later. When calculating 10 percent of the term, breaks of five or more days are not included when counting the total number of days but Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are. Student registrations can only be added to courses after the end of the drop and add period by approval of the chief academic officer of the university.
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