August 17-21, 2009	Orientation Week
August 24, 2009	First Day of Academic Year
August 31, 2009	Independence Day of the Kyrgyz Republic (no classes)
September 2, 2009	Knowledge Day
September 9-10, 2009	Student Club Fair
September 14-18, 2009	Spirit Week
October 2, 2009	Professor’s Day
October 11, 2009	Mini-Soccer Tournament
October 19 - 23, 2009	Fall Break (no classes)
October 30, 2009	Halloween Celebration
November 9, 2009	Student Senate Elections
November 11, 2009	Student Initiation Day
November 25, 2009	Thanksgiving Day (no classes)
November 30 – December 4, 2009	Diversity Week
December 2009 – February 2010	Festival "Stream" (High School Musical Competition)
December 6, 2009	Ping-Pong Tournament
December 23, 2009	New Year Celebration for Disabled Children
December 24, 2009	New Year Celebration for Children of Faculty and Staff
December 28, 2009	New Year and Christmas Party for Faculty and Staff
January 1, 2010	New Year’s Day
January 23, 2010	Open House Day
February 12, 2010	St. Valentine’s Day Celebration
February 21, 2010	Basketball Tournament
March – April, 2010	Universiada - 2010: Inter-University Sports Competition
March 4, 2010	Annual “Miss AUCA” Contest
March 5, 2010	Women's Day Celebration (no classes on Monday, March 8)
March 7, 2010	Chess Tournament
March 8 - 12, 2010	Spring Break (no classes)
March 19, 2010	Celebration of Nooruz (no classes on Monday, March 22)
March 25, 2010	Donkey Bridge: Junior Ball
April 2, 2010	KVN Competition
April 16, 2010	Brain Ring: High School Knowledge Competition
April 23, 2010	Alumni Day
May 20, 2010	Awarding of Literature Competition Winners
June 5, 2010	Commencement - 2010

WHAT IS Spirit Week? (September 14-18)
Spirit Week is a chance for students to show their university spirit. In the past, the AUCA Student Senate together with the Student Coordinator have planned different activities and theme days throughout the week. Examples are crazy hair day, crazy hat day, cross-dressing day, pajamas day, business day and more. The Student Senate and the students of AUCA can change the themes and activities each year.

WHAT IS Professor’s Day? (October 02)

Every year the Student Affairs Office sets out a date honoring AUCA’s professors. Often some professors will perform musical numbers on stage.

WHAT IS Halloween? (October 30)

Every year on the evening of Halloween, AUCA students dress up as monsters, witches and other mystical and terrible creatures. Students cut out faces in pumpkins, the main symbol of Halloween.

WHAT IS Initiation? (November 11)

On the second Wednesday of November 1997, Hillary Clinton officially opened the American University in Kyrgyzstan.

Prior to that date, AUCA was called KAF or the Kyrgyz American Faculty, which was a part of the Kyrgyz National University. Every year on the second Wednesday in November, the SAO organizes the Initiation Day, the day freshmen are awarded their student IDs. Students also participate in a show during which they are officially initiated into the university.

Initiation Day is indeed one of the most significant ceremonies at AUCA and every one loves to get an invitation to it! Freshmen and their parents are obviously all invited.

WHAT IS Thanksgiving Day? (November 25)

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday during which students post their “THANKS” for faculty, parents, friends, those they love, and whatever else they are grateful for on the walls to make a remembrance of their love and appreciation. Then, at the end of the day, all students, faculty, and staff gather together at their departments and eat turkeys, which are served by the university, and other foods they have prepared

WHAT IS St. Valentine’s Day? (February 12)

The events of this holiday, honoring people in love, are organized by the Student Senate and the Student Affairs Office. It is one of the biggest holidays at the University. The week before the holiday, the Student Senate puts a box for love–letters in the main hall, and on Valentine’s Day itself, Cupids deliver all the love–letters to students.

Also, the Student Senate holds a contest in which students are nominated in different categories. In the evening, traditionally, the university holds a major concert, where students take an active part in the conduct of the festive events. During the concert, the Student Senate announces the winners of the contest in various categories. The categories may change every year, but one category remains constant; the “King and Queen”.

WHAT IS Commencement? (June 05)

Commencement is the graduation ceremony; the day senior students receive their US-style diplomas and the invitation to receive their Kyrgyz diplomas, and actually leave AUCA. It is called Commencement because it is thought to be the beginning of a new life. Traditionally Commencement is held in early June, and students are awarded Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Greetings from honored guests, the President, faculty and students form an integral part of this ceremony. The awards ceremony is a real holiday and one of the most memorable events in the students’ lives.