Spring schedule includes Saturday, April 26, as an asynchronous, instructional Monday
Starting in the spring 2025 semester, the University is introducing one day of asynchronous instruction to ensure all students receive the full academic experience required by higher education accreditation standards. This spring, the asynchronous day will fall on Saturday, April 26. This approach supports the necessary 75 instructional days each semester, including 70 classroom days and five final exam days, while accommodating Baylor holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Spring Break, Good Friday, and the Monday after Easter.
The asynchronous day within the Spring 2025 calendar, put forward by the University’s Academic Calendar Committee, provides flexibility for faculty to explore new ways of delivering engaging, meaningful content, whether through virtual discussions, recorded lectures, or creative assignments. Faculty will outline their plans for this day in their syllabi at the start of the Spring semester to ensure students are aware and well-prepared.
This solution strikes a balance between meeting accreditation requirements and maintaining a consistent academic schedule. The holiday calendar will require this adjustment for the foreseeable future, and the University calendar is currently set through 2027. Baylor leadership values feedback from faculty and staff, and suggestions for innovative improvements to the calendar are always welcome. It is a priority of the Calendar Committee to ensure the academic calendar evolves to serve the community’s needs.
Resources for faculty who want to learn more about creative ways to engage students in the asynchronous environment are available through Baylor’s Academy for Teaching and Learning.
This change reflects the University’s dedication to providing an engaging educational experience while celebrating national holidays and other time off that benefits both faculty and students. Together, we can make this new instructional day a meaningful and enriching part of the academic journey!