Bethel operates on an early semester calendar with two 15-week semesters and a three-week session in January that is part of the Extended Spring Semester.
Fall Semester 2024
Academic Calendar
| Event |
Date |
| Fall Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Meetings |
Monday, August 5- Friday, August 23 |
| Residence halls open (New first-year students) |
Wednesday, August 28 |
| Residence halls open (Returning second--year students) |
Saturday, August 31 |
| Labor Day (no classes) |
Monday, September 2 |
| Classes begin |
Tuesday, September 3 |
| Fall break (Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Thursday, October 3 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Sunday, October 6) |
Thursday evening, October 3 - Sunday afternoon, October 6 |
| Homecoming & Family Weekend |
Friday, October 11 - Sunday, October 13 |
| First Half Ends |
Tuesday, October 22 |
| Second Half Begins |
Wednesday, October 23 |
| Advising Day (No day classes, night classes are held) & BUILD Registration for January Session and Spring |
Wednesday, October 30 |
| Thanksgiving break (Tuesday night classes are held. Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Tuesday, November 26 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Sunday, December 1 |
Tuesday evening, November 26 - Sunday afternoon, December 1 |
| Classes resume |
Monday, December 2 |
| Festival of Christmas (tickets required) |
Thursday, December 5 - Saturday, December 7 |
| Last day of classes, Second Half Ends |
Friday, December 13 |
| Final examinations |
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, December 16, 17, 19, & 20 |
| Study Day (No classes) & Internship Fair |
Wednesday, December 18 |
| Christmas Break (Students must check-out of their residence hall 24 hours after their last final or by 9:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, whichever comes first) |
Friday, December 20 - Tuesday, January 5 |
Extended Spring Semester 2025
Academic Calendar
| Event |
Date |
| Students return |
Sunday afternoon, January 5 |
| Classes begin for January Term |
Monday, January 6 |
| Spring Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Meetings |
Monday, January 6 - Tuesday, January 28 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No classes) |
Monday, January 20 |
| Last day of classes for January Term |
Tuesday, January 28 |
| January Session Break (Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Thursday, January 25 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Wednesday, January 31) |
Tuesday, January 28 - Sunday, February 2 |
| Students return |
Sunday afternoon, February 2 |
| Classes begin |
Monday, February 3 |
| Spring Break (Students who are not part of SMP trips need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Friday, March 7 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Sunday, March 16) |
Friday evening, March 7 - Sunday afternoon, March 16 |
| Students return |
Sunday afternoon, March 16 |
| Classes resume |
Monday, March 17 |
| First Half Ends |
Thursday, March 27 |
| Second Half Begins |
Friday, March 28 |
| Easter Break (Thursday night classes are held. Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Thursday, April 17 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Monday, April 21) |
Thursday evening, April 17 - Monday afternoon, April 21 |
| Students return |
Monday afternoon, April 21 |
| Classes resume |
Tuesday, April 22 |
| Last day of Spring classes, Second Half Ends |
Friday, May 16 |
| Final examinations |
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, May 19, 20, 22 & 23 |
| Study day & Internship Fair |
Wednesday, May 21 |
| Exit Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Meetings |
Monday, May 19 - Friday, May 31 |
| End of year (First-year students need to check-out of their room 24 hours after their last final or by 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24, whichever comes first) |
Friday, May 23 |
| Commencement |
Saturday, May 24 |
| Residence halls close for second-year graduating students in BUILD, noon |
Sunday, May 25 |
