ACCESS | Dates & Deadlines
Discover dates and deadlines for the Continuing Education ACCESS program.
ACCESS Academic Calendar
Spring 2026
These dates are only applicable for students taking main campus courses. If you are enrolled in a Continuing Education course (i.e., CE Online Credit, CE Evening Credit, and Applied Music), refer to the Dates and Deadlines pages for those course options.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| December 1 | High School ACCESS Registration Begins |
| January 5 | ACCESS/Non-Degree Registration Begins |
| January 5 | Faculty & Staff Registration Opens |
| January 8 | Classes Begin |
| January 16 | Last Day to Add Name to a Class Waitlist in Buff Portal or Class Search (11:59 p.m.) |
| January 16 | Last Day to Add a Class in Buff Portal or Class Search (11:59 p.m.) |
| January 19 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – University Closed |
| January 23 | Drop a Course**, 100% Tuition Adjustment* (No Penalty) |
| January 23 | Deadline to Request No-credit Status (11:59 p.m.) |
| February 6 | Deadline to Withdraw***, 60% Tuition Adjustment* |
| February 20 | Deadline to Withdraw***, 40% Tuition Adjustment* |
| March 5 | Payment Due for New or Unpaid Charges |
| March 11 | Deadline to Withdraw*** without Petitioning^, No Tuition Adjustment |
| TBD | Deadline to Change Final Exam Schedule |
| March 24 | Deadline to Request Pass/Fail or Grade Replacement |
| March 16-20 | Spring Break (No Classes; University Closed March 20) |
| TBD | Add a Course with Instructor Signature, Without Petitioning^ |
| April 24 | Last Day to Withdraw† from all ACCESS Classes |
| TBD | College Opportunity Fund Eligibility Deadline^^ |
| April 24 | Last Day to Apply for COF |
| April 24 | Last Day of Classes |
| April 25-26 | Reading Day |
| April 27-May 1 | Final Exams |
| May 1 | Last Day to Authorize COF in Buff Portal |
All times are in Mountain Time.
* Students’ eligibility for a possible tuition adjustment or refund is dependent on residency status and number of credits. Non-resident students are not eligible for a tuition adjustment if they are enrolled in 6 or more credits after dropping or withdrawing from a class or classes.
** Drop by 11:59 p.m. online using Buff Portal.
*** Withdraw by 11:59 p.m. online using Buff Portal, submitting an online withdrawal form, or by email to ceregistration@colorado.edu. A W notation will appear on your transcript.
† Withdraw by 11:59 p.m. by submitting an online withdrawal form or send an email to ceregistration@colorado.edu. A W notation will appear on your transcript.
^ Petitioning is designed to provide students who experience unavoidable, extenuating circumstances, the opportunity to waive a University policy that, if enforced, would result in unsatisfactory academic progress or financial consequences. Learn more about the petitioning process through Continuing Education.
^^ If a College Opportunity Fund (COF) eligible student adds a course after this date, according to Colorado Department of Higher Education policy, the student will pay full tuition for the course, including the amount normally paid by COF, and the course will not be credited to COF hours used.
Add, Drop and Withdrawal Info
Enrolled students must add or drop courses by the dates and deadlines listed in their program’s academic calendar. You may add, drop, or withdraw via Buff Portal or Class Search using the instructions outlined under Review Your Registration Actions. You may also submit an online withdrawal form or send an email to ceregistration@colorado.edu.
If you drop a class after the no-penalty deadline, a W (withdrew) notation will post to your transcript. If you fail to drop by the deadline you may receive a grade of F and you may be liable for any tuition and fees.
Administrative Drop Policy
Continuing Education allows faculty to administratively drop students who don't attend and/or participate in class by the "drop without penalty" deadline. This is done to allow as many engaged students as possible a spot in the class while also protecting students from paying for a course they forgot to drop. If your instructor uses this policy, it will be stated in their syllabus, but students are encouraged to reach out to their instructors with any questions.
Grade Replacement Policy
You may be eligible for grade replacement if you are a degree-seeking or non-degree student at CU Boulder who earned a C- or lower (undergrads), or a C+ or lower (grad students) in your most recent prior attempt of a course (W notations don’t count). Grade replacement is applied automatically at the end of each term for eligible courses and students. Law students are not eligible for grade replacement. Learn more about CU Boulder’s grade replacement policy.
If you have questions about the policy, contact our advisors at ceadvise@colorado.edu or schedule an appointment.
Spring 2026
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| November 3 | Continuing Education Spring Enrollment Begins |
| December 15 | CE Online Flexible Enrollment Begins |
| January 5 | ACCESS/Non-Degree Registration Begins |
| January 19 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – University Closed |
| January 20 | CE 13-Week Session/CE Session 1 Classes Begin |
| January 26 | Non-Degree Student Spring Scholarship Deadline |
| February 9 | CE 10-Week Session Classes Begin |
| February 26 | Midterm Reading Day (No Classes; No Exams) |
| February 27 | Spring Fees Waiver Form Deadline |
| February 27 | CE Session 1 Classes End |
| March 9 | CE Session 2 Classes Begin |
| March 16-20 | Spring Break (No Classes; University Closed March 20) |
| April 24 | CE 13-Week Session/CE 10-Week Session and CE Session 2 Classes End |