Academic Calendar Spring Semester 2021
Updated and Revised
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, January 25, 2021 | FIRST DAY OF CLASSES - START OF THE SPRING SEMESTER BEGINNING OF INSTRUCTION |
| Monday - Friday, January 25 - 29, 2021 | Spring Registration Continues: Late Registration continues for undergraduate, graduate, and visiting students |
| Friday, January 29, 2021 | Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Other" (OT) grades for courses taken in previous Fall semester |
| Friday, February 5, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to add courses online via ESTHER Deadline: Last day to adjust variable credit for courses online via ESTHER Deadline: Last day to complete late registration (online via ESTHER, or by Special Registration Form) Deadline: Last day to convert a "Pass/Fail" to an earned letter grade for courses taken in previous Fall Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Incomplete" (INC) grades for courses taken in previous Fall semester Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 100% refund of tuition and fees Deadline: Last day for tuition adjustment for part-time students Graduation Deadline: Last day for Graduate Students to file a paper Application for Degree (accessible in ESTHER) for May (Spring) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar either in-person or via email to registrar@rice.edu |
| Friday, February 12, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 70% refund for tuition |
| Wednesday, February 17, 2021 | Spring "Sprinkle" Day - No Scheduled Classes (no assignments can be due on this day) |
| Friday, February 19, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 60% refund for tuition |
| Friday, February 26, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 50% refund for tuition |
| Monday, March 1, 2021 | Spring "Sprinkle" Day - No Scheduled Classes (no assignments can be due on this day) Deadline: Last day to submit New Course Request Forms to the Academic Deans for SCRC review (for new courses in the upcoming Fall semester) |
| Friday, March 5, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 40% refund for tuition |
| Friday, March 12, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER (full-term courses) Update (on 01/27/2021): The "last day to drop courses online via ESTHER (full-term courses)" deadline has been extended 3 weeks (to Friday, April 2, 2021) Deadline: Last day to designate as "Audit" a course in which one is currently registered for credit (via Special Registration Form - Instructor Permission Required) Update (on 01/27/2021): The "last day to designate as "Audit" a course in which one is currently registered for credit" deadline has been extended 3 weeks (to Friday, April 2, 2021) Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Mid-Semester Grades for first-year undergraduate students online via ESTHER Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit textbook orders for upcoming Summer to 1545txt@follett.com Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 30% refund for tuition Graduation Deadline: Last day to file the following in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for May (Spring) degree conferral: Thesis masters candidacy petitions; Certification of non-thesis masters; Form for candidacy masters; Ph.D. candidacy petitions |
| Tuesday, March 16, 2021 | Spring "Sprinkle" Day - No Scheduled Classes (no assignments can be due on this day) |
| Friday, March 19, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 20% refund for tuition Deadline: College course plans due to Dean of Undergraduates office for following Fall by 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, March 26, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to withdraw with a 10% refund for tuition Spring "Sprinkle" Day - No Scheduled Classes (no assignments can be due on this day) |
| Friday, April 2, 2021 | Deadline (Updated 01/27/2021): Last day for all students to drop courses online via ESTHER (full-term courses) and have the course removed from their academic history. Exception: first semester (Spring 2021) undergraduate students have until the Last Day of Classes but must go to the Office of the Registrar or submit the Special Registration form to registrar@rice.edu Deadline (Updated 01/27/2021): Last day to designate as "Audit" a course in which one is currently registered for credit (via Special Registration Form - Instructor Permission Required) Deadline: Last day to designate a full-term course status to "Pass/Fail" option Deadline: Last day for second-year undergraduate students to formally declare their official major with the Office of the Registrar, via a Declaration of Major Form Graduation Deadline: Last day for May (Spring) degree candidates to declare any additional major, minor or university certificates, if applicable (Undergraduate Students only) Fall Registration: Fall 2021 Course Schedule published to courses.rice.edu Fall Registration: Course Request Period begins for undergraduate students |
| Saturday, April 3, 2021 | Late Drop (New/Updated on 01/27/2021): Extended late drop period begins online via ESTHER (full-term courses) with drops receiving a grade of NG (the extension to this deadline is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for Spring 2021 only). Students must receive permission if dropping below full-time status. Students in the Jones Graduate School of Business are not allowed to drop courses via ESTHER and must go to the Office of the Registrar or submit the Special Registration form to registrar@rice.edu. |
| Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit textbook orders for upcoming Fall to 1545txt@follett.com |
| Thursday, April 8, 2021 | Spring "Sprinkle" Day - No Scheduled Classes (no assignments can be due on this day) |
| Friday, April 16, 2021 | Fall Registration: Course Request Period ends for undergraduate students at 5:00 p.m. |
| Monday, April 19, 2021 | Fall Registration: Fall Registration begins for currently enrolled graduate, and undergraduate professional (BArch) students at 5:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, April 21, 2021 | Fall Registration: Add/Drop Period begins for undergraduate students at 7:00 a.m. |
| Friday, April 23, 2021 | Deadline: Last day to register for the upcoming Fall semester by 5:00 p.m. without a Late Registration Fee |
| Saturday, April 24, 2021 | Late Registration Begins: Continuing students that have not registered for any Fall classes are charged a Late Registration Fee to add classes |
| Friday, April 30, 2021 | LAST DAY OF CLASSES END OF INSTRUCTION Deadline: Last day for first semester (Spring 2021) undergraduate students to drop courses and have the course removed from their academic history - students must go to the Office of the Registrar or submit the Special Registration form to registrar@rice.edu Deadline: Last day to request late drop online via ESTHER (full-term courses) and receive a grade of NG (the extension to this deadline is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for Spring 2021 only). Students in the Jones Graduate School of Business are not allowed to drop courses via ESTHER and must go to the Office of the Registrar or submit the Special Registration form to registrar@rice.edu. Graduation Deadline: Last day to submit theses in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for May (Spring) degree conferral by 12:00 noon |
| Saturday, May 1, 2021 | Late Drop: Students must submit late drop requests to receive a grade of NG by sending the Special Registration form to registrar@rice.edu or by submitting the form in person to the Office of the Registrar. Request to drop below full-time no longer needed (the extension to this deadline is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for Spring 2021 only) |
| Saturday - Tuesday, May 1 - 4, 2021 | Study Days - NO EXAMS |
| Wednesday - Wednesday, May 5 - 12, 2021 | Final Examinations for all undergraduate courses |
| Wednesday, May 12, 2021 | END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER |
| Friday, May 14, 2021 | Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Final Grades for all degree candidates online via ESTHER by 5:00 p.m. Graduation Deadline: Last day for academic departments to submit their proposed list of degree candidates to receive the university honor of Distinction in Research and Creative Work to Provost's Office by 4:00 p.m. |
| Friday, May 14, 2021 | GRADUATION - Jones School MBA Commencement Ceremony (in morning) to be held in the historic Rice Football Stadium (Class of 2019-2020 and Class of 2020-2021: MBA Degree Recipients Only) (Jones School Investiture and Commencement for MBA Degree Recipients) |
| Friday, May 14, 2021 | GRADUATION - Commencement Ceremony (in evening) to be held in the historic Rice Football Stadium (Class of 2020-2021: Undergraduate Students Only) (Rice University's 108th Commencement) |
| Saturday, May 15, 2021 | GRADUATION - Commencement Ceremony (in morning) to be held in the historic Rice Football Stadium (Class of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021: Master's and Doctoral Students Only) (Rice University's 107th and 108th Commencement) |
| Saturday, May 15, 2021 | GRADUATION - Commencement Ceremony (in evening) to be held in the historic Rice Football Stadium (Class of 2019-2020: Undergraduate Students Only) (Rice University's 107th Commencement) |
| Monday, May 17, 2021 | Deadline: (May Degree Candidates only) Last day to convert a "Pass/Fail" to an earned letter grade for courses taken in Spring semester |
| Friday, May 21, 2021 | Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Final Grades for all non-graduating students online via ESTHER by 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, May 21, 2021 | Deadline (New/Updated on 01/27/2021): For Spring 2021 degree candidates, the last day to request a late drop and receive a grade of NG for Spring 2021 courses via a Special Registration Form* submitted to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@rice.edu (the extension to this deadline is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for Spring 2021 only) * PLEASE NOTE: On the Special Registration Form, please check the "Late Drop" box. Please note that EX&S or GPS approval is not required. |
| Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | Deadline (New/Updated on 01/27/2021): For all continuing students, the last day to request a late drop and receive a grade of NG for Spring 2021 courses via a Special Registration Form* submitted to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@rice.edu (the extension to this deadline is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for Spring 2021 only) * PLEASE NOTE: On the Special Registration Form, please check the "Late Drop" box. Please note that EX&S or GPS approval is not required. |
| Friday, June 11, 2021 | Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Other" (OT) grades for courses taken in Spring semester |
| Friday, July 2, 2021 | Graduation Deadline: Last day to file an application for an August (Summer) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar (All Students) Graduation Deadline: Last day to file the following in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for August (Summer) degree conferral: Thesis masters candidacy petitions; Certification of non-thesis masters; Form for candidacy masters; Ph.D. candidacy petitions |
| Friday, August 13, 2021 | Graduation Deadline: Last day to submit theses in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for August (Summer) degree conferral by 12:00 noon |
| Friday, August 27, 2021 | Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit final grades to resolve "Incomplete" (INC) grades for courses taken in Spring semester |