Important Dates

All dates and times below are subject to change based on University need.

2025-26 Dates

Save or Print these dates: Important Dates 2025-2026

Fall Semester

Move-In Day

• August 20, 2025: First Year Student Move-In Day.
• August 19, 2025: Transfer Student Move-In Day.
• August 22, 2025: Non-Transfer Upperclass Student Move-In Day

Changes to Meal plans can be made:
August 1-28, 2025

Winter Break Hall Closure
Note: Drake University does not offer Hubbell dining services during Winter Break.

• December 13, 2025: All residence halls close at noon.
• January 24, 2026: All residence halls reopen for Spring semester at noon (no earlier arrivals will be permitted). 

Winter Break & J-Term

Winter Break
Note: Drake University does not offer Hubbell dining services during Winter Break.

• December 12, 2025: Jewett Hall opens for Winter Break residents at noon.
• January 5, 2026: Jewett Hall closes for Winter Break residents at 4:00 p.m.

J-Term
Note: Drake University offers limited Hubbell dining services during J-Term.

• January 4, 2026: Jewett Hall opens for J-Term residents at 1:00 p.m.
• January 24, 2026: Jewett Hall closes for J-Term residents at 4:00 p.m.

Spring Semester

New transfer and international students arriving to campus for our Spring Orientation prior to regular hall openings 
may request temporary housing in Jewett Hall,* beginning January 22, 2026. Students interested in
Spring Orientation housing should contact campsandconferences@drake.edu with the subject line 
“Spring Orientation” and their name and Drake ID in the body of the email for more information.

Spring Semester Reopening
January 24, 2026: All residence Halls reopen at noon. We are unable to accommodate early arrivals.

Meal Plan Changes
January 1-29, 2026:  Students can make changes to their meal plans online through the first Thursday of 
classes. We are unable to accommodate any changes made after this date for the spring semester

Spring Break Hall Closure
Note: Drake University does not offer Hubbell dining services during Spring Break.

• March 14-22, 2026: All residence halls close at noon on March 14.
• March 22, 2026: All residence halls reopen at 10:00 a.m.

Summer Break Hall Closure

• May 16, 2026: Carpenter, Crawford, and Stalnaker residence halls close at noon.
• May 17, 2026: Goodwin-Kirk (GK) and Herriott residence halls close at 5:00 p.m.
• May 16, 2026: Jewett Hall opens for Interim and summer housing residents at 8:00 a.m.
• August 22, 2026: Jewett Hall closes for Interim and summer housing residents at 4:00 p.m.

Jewett Hall interim break residence assignments are first-come, first-served based on availability. Once full, students will need to seek other off-campus housing options.