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This reflects the semester that applies for most undergraduate classes. Other schools at Penn may have their own schedules. If you have questions about your teaching semester, check with your school's registrar.

In addition, this list reflects only the major religious holidays listed in Penn's policy on religious holidays.  This link to the Chaplain's list of secular and religious holidays provides a fuller list.

Fall 2023

 Week 1:  August 28 - September 1

  • No Monday classes this week
  • Tuesday August 29 classes begin

Week 2: September 4-8

  •  Monday September 4 no class for Labor Day 

Week 3: September 11-15

  • Tuesday, September 12 Course selection period ends  (Students can add and drop classes freely until then).
  • After sundown Friday September 15: No graded work to allow students to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Friday 9/15 (sunset) to Sunday  9/17) and expect students to miss class. 

Week 4: September 18-22


Week 5: September 25-29 

  • Monday September 25: No graded work due to allow students to celebrate Yom Kippur (Sunday 9/24 (sunset) to Monday  9/25) and expect students to miss class. 
  • You may want to give students some graded work this week so you have time to return the grades and students have time to talk with their advisers about the drop deadline (10/9).

Week 6: October 2-6

Week 7: October 9-13

  • Monday October 9 is the last day students can drop a class without penalty. 
  • Thursday October 12 and Friday October 13 No classes for Fall Break

Week 8: October 16-20

Week 9: October 23-27

  • Friday October 27 is the last day students can request to take a class pass/fail.


Week 10: October 30-Nov 3

  • Monday October 30 Advanced Registration for Spring 2024 begins (if you are teaching a spring course, post information, a draft syllabus or a prospectus to Courses@Penn by 10/30).


Week 11: November 6-10

  • Monday November 6 is the last day a student can withdraw from a course (they get a W on their transcript but no grade)
  • Tuesday November 7 is Election Day so no graded work due and expect students to be absent.


Week 12: November 13-17

Week 13: November 20-24

  • Tuesday November 21 Thursday classes meet
  • Wednesday November 22 Friday classes meet
  • Thursday and Friday November 23 and 24 no classes for Thanksgiving Break


Week 14: November 27-Dec 1

Week 15: December 4-8

  • Last full week of classes (no finals may be given this week)


Week 16: December 11-15

  • Monday 12/11 is the last day of classes  (no finals may be given that day)

READING DAYS:  Tuesday and Wednesday 12/12-12/13 (no finals here either!)

FINAL EXAMS:  December 14 - 21

GRADES DUE: January 2 


You can also learn more about when grades are due here.

More About When Grades Are Due

Spring 2024

As you look at these weeks it is useful to think about Penn's policy on religious holidays 

Week 1:  January 15-19

  • Thursday, January 18 classes start.

Week 2:  January 22-26

Week 3: January 29-February 2

  • Wednesday, January 31 Course selection period ends (students can add and drop any course until this date).

Week 4: February 5-9

Week 5: February 12-16

Week 6: February 19-23

  • Be aware that next Tuesday, February 27 is the end of the drop period. Make sure you have assigned some graded work and given yourself or your TAs time to grade what you assign so students can decide if they need to drop.

Week 7: February 26-March 1

  • Tuesday, February 27 is the end of the drop period.

Spring Break March 4-March 8

Week 8:  March 11-15

Week 9:  March 18-22

  • Friday, March 22nd is the grade change deadline (students can leave the course with a P/F instead of an A-F grade).

Week 10:  March 25-29

  • On Monday, March 25 advanced registration for summer and fall  2024 begins (if you are teaching a spring course, post information, a draft syllabus or a prospectus to Courses@Penn by 3/25).
  • Friday, March 29 is Good Friday so do not have assigned work or exams due that day.

Week 11: April 1-5

  • Tuesday April 2 is the last day to withdraw from a course (students can leave the course with a "w" instead of a grade).

Week 12: April 8-12

Week 13:  April 15-19

Week 14:  April 22-26

  • Passover begins Monday April 22 at sundown and continues through April 30. No assigned work on Monday and Tuesday April 22 and April 23.
  • On Wednesday April 24 the last week of classes begins so do not schedule final exams.

Week 15:  April 29-May 3

  • Wednesday May 1 is the last day of classes.

READING DAYS:  May 2- May 5 (no finals scheduled during this time)

EXAMS:  May 6-May 14 

GRADES DUE:  Noon on May 17