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Vacations and Holidays

Earlham is on a semester system, which means that there are two semesters, each about fifteen weeks long, which make up an academic year. Note the Calendar for more details of important details for the academic year. The academic year officially begins on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 and ends on Thursday, May 6, 2010.  Vacation periods are:

• Early semester break: Thursday, October 15 - Sunday, October 18
• Fall break: Saturday, November 21 - Sunday, November 29
• Winter Break: Friday, December 18 - Sunday, January 10
• Early semester break: Thursday, February 18 - Sunday, February 21
• Spring break: Saturday, March 13 - Sunday, March 21

During these vacation periods college housing is open to international students and some other student groups who wish to remain on campus.  Most students and faculty members leave campus for the extended vacation periods and the campus is generally a very quiet place.  Housing is free over the winter and spring breaks and is available for a fee of approximately $77 per week during the summer.

Since the regular food service does not operate during the breaks, students may either prepare their own meals in the kitchen facilities located in the residence halls or dine at local restaurants.

There are ten legal federal holidays that are observed by federal employees.  Federal offices, banks and public schools are usually closed on these days.  Earlham does not close on federal holidays, or on religious holidays of any faith, other than on those days that fall during a scheduled vacation period: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.  If you are accustomed to observing religious holidays and want to observe them here, arrangements can be made on an individual basis for you to do so.