SECTION 4.5. Common Calendar

(a) The Commissioner shall establish and periodically update a common calendar for Texas public universities and community, technical and state colleges.

(b) The Commissioner may grant waivers to the common calendar to benefit students and/or to improve the efficient operations of the institutions. A public university or community, technical, or state college that begins its fall and spring semesters and its first summer term within 7 days of the date set by the common calendar is in compliance with the common calendar and does not require a waiver.

(c) A semester normally shall include 15 weeks for instruction and one week for final examinations or a total of 16 weeks instruction and examinations combined. Every fall semester will end before Christmas, but not later than December 23.

(d) The summer session shall be considered an integral part of the college year and maximum use should be made of the summer session. Each of the two summer terms shall include no less than 5 1/2 calendar weeks, including registration, instructions, and final examinations. Colleges may register students for a six semester credit hour load for each 5 1/2-week summer term. Colleges and universities may schedule summer terms longer or shorter than 5 1/2 weeks, but the amount of credit students are allowed to enroll for must be proportional.

(e) Each college and university shall establish its own dates for orientation, registration, holidays, final examinations, and the end of each semester and summer term consistent with subsections (c) and (d) of this section.

(f) The Texas Education Agency shall be notified of the calendar adopted and be encouraged to communicate with the Board about possible further coordination of school and college calendar.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to preclude experimentation and innovation by any institution looking toward full utilization of facilities on a year-round basis.

Source Note: The provisions of this §4.5 adopted to be effective May 27, 2003, 28 TexReg 4107; amended to be effective August 15, 2013, 38 TexReg 5063