Academic Year 2014-15 calendar updates

  • Published
  • By Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Parents, graduates, and friends of the Air Force's Academy, I would like to share with you some changes to the calendar for Academic Year 2014-2015. These changes were driven by a number of factors, to include budget, mission needs and an ongoing effort to optimize our cadets' time. I wanted to pass these changes along to you as soon as they were approved so that you could better plan for your cadets' or your own travel for the upcoming year.

Transition Week and the start of fall classes
Academic classes for fall semester 2014 will start approximately a week later than usual.

Cadets must return to USAFA 7 p.m., Aug. 2, with the following week spent in military training. This training week will allow for fall semester finals to wrap-up slightly earlier than usual because it will consolidate military training days historically interspersed throughout the semester. August 11-12 will be transition time to prepare cadets for the upcoming academic year, with classes beginning Aug. 13.

Parents' Weekend:
Parents' Weekend begins Aug. 29. Unlike past years, there will be no academic classes held this day. Instead, the Academy will conduct open houses, demonstrations and exemplar classes for interested family and friends, which will showcase the missions and activities of the Commandant's staff, the Dean's faculty, the Athletic Department and the 306th Flying Training Group.

Some may be disappointed that they will not get the opportunity to attend "live" classes as in years past, but we became a victim of our own success. "Live" classes became so popular they caused safety concerns as Fairchild Hall reached maximum occupancy.

However, we are still committed to making this Parents' Weekend a memorable experience for everyone and we hope cadets and their guests will enjoy the Cadet Wing Parade, Arnold Hall Information Fair, Mitchell Hall luncheon and Squadron Open Houses.

After the Labor Day holiday (and a Falcon victory over Nicholls State!), academic course work will resume Sept.2.

Columbus Day and the Veterans Day holidays
The Columbus Day holiday falls on Oct. 13 this year. and Veterans Day will be celebrated Nov. 11. There are classes Nov. 10 so this is not an opportunity for a four-day weekend.

Thanksgiving Break
Unlike previous years, Thanksgiving break will not be a full week. Leave will begin Nov. 25  after the end of the cadets' duty day. Why the change? Our recent practice of a full week of Thanksgiving break is a legacy practice from when we held the Commandant's Challenge during the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. The Commandant's Challenge moved to October several years ago, but the academic down-time remained as off-days for the cadets. Cadets return no later than 7 p.m., Nov. 30.

Fall Final Exams and Winter Break
Final exams begin Dec.15 and end Dec. 19. Cadets must return from Winter Break on by 7 p.m., Jan. 4. Please note the first week of school will be followed by a Saturday of classes Jan. 10 to allow USAFA to celebrate a federal holiday later in the semester.

Spring Break 2015
Spring Break will again be the final full week in March after the last military duty March 20. Cadets must return to the Academy by 7 p.m., March 29.

Graduation Day 2015:
On May 28, members of the Class of 2015 will throw their hats into the air as second lieutenants in the world's greatest Air Force. No graduation activities will occur Memorial Day (May 25) due to current budget constraints.

Hopefully this information will be helpful as you make plans in the weeks and months to come. Thanks for your support of our cadets and your United States Air Force Academy!