Bethel operates on an early semester calendar with two 15-week semesters and a three-week interim in January.
Fall Semester 2023
Academic Calendar
| Event |
Date |
| Fall Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Meetings |
Monday, August 8- Friday, August 18 |
| Residence halls open (New first-year students) |
Wednesday, August 23 |
| Residence halls open (Returning second--year students) |
Saturday, August 26 |
| Classes begin |
Monday, August 28 |
| Labor Day (no classes) |
Monday, September 4 |
| Homecoming & Family Weekend |
Friday, September 29 - Sunday, October 1 |
| Fall break (Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Thursday, October 5 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Sunday, October 8) |
Thursday evening, October 5 - Sunday afternoon, October 8 |
| First Half Ends |
Tuesday, October 17 |
| Second Half Begins |
Wednesday, October 18 |
| Advising Day (No day classes, night classes are held) & BUILD Registration for January Session and Spring |
Wednesday, October 25 |
| Thanksgiving break (Tuesday night classes are held. Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Tuesday, November 21 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Sunday, November 26) |
Tuesday evening, November 21 - Sunday afternoon, November 26 |
| Classes resume |
Monday, November 27 |
| Festival of Christmas (tickets required) |
Thursday, November 30 - Saturday, December 2 |
| Last day of classes, Second Half Ends |
Friday, December 8 |
| Final examinations |
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, December 11, 12, 14, & 15 |
| Study Day (No classes) & Internship Fair |
Wednesday, December 13 |
| 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 15 - Tuesday, January 2 |
Extended Spring Semester 2024
Academic Calendar
| Event |
Date |
| Students return |
Tuesday afternoon, January 2 |
| Classes begin for January Term |
Wednesday, January 3 |
| Spring Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Meetings |
Monday, January 8 - Wednesday, January 31 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No classes) |
Monday, January 15 |
| Last day of classes for January Term |
Thursday, January 25 |
| 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) |
Thursday, January 25 - Wednesday, January 31 |
| Students return |
Wednesday afternoon, January 31 |
| Classes begin |
Thursday, February 1 |
| 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 8 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Sunday, March 17) |
Friday evening, March 8 - Sunday afternoon, March 17 |
| Students return |
Sunday afternoon, March 17 |
| Classes resume |
Monday, March 18 |
| First Half Ends |
Tuesday, March 26 |
| Second Half Begins |
Wednesday, March 27 |
| Easter Break (Thursday night classes are held. Students need to be checked out of their room by 9:00 pm on Thursday, March 28 and can return anytime after 12:00 noon on Monday, April 1) |
Thursday evening, March 28 - Monday afternoon, April 1 |
| Students return |
Monday afternoon, April 1 |
| Classes resume |
Tuesday, April 2 |
| Advising Day & BUILD Registration for Fall (Students meet with their advisor to register for fall classes) |
Wednesday, April 10 |
| Last day of Spring classes, Second Half Ends |
Friday, May 17 |
| Final examinations |
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, May 20, 21, 23 & 24 |
| Study day & Internship Fair |
Wednesday, May 22 |
| Exit Personal Learning Plan (PLP) Meetings |
Monday, May 22 - 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 24 |
| Commencement |
Saturday, May 25 |
| Residence halls close for second-year graduating students in BUILD, noon |
Sunday, May 26 |
