Nonfiction Writing Program events

Andy C. Douglas Reading Strength for What Lies Ahead promotional image

Andy C. Douglas Reading Strength for What Lies Ahead

Tuesday, December 8, 2026 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Prairie Lights Books
Nonfiction Writing Program Alumnus Andy C. Douglas (MFA '05) reads from his latest book

VIEWS Presents: Garth Greenwell & Julia Conrad

Monday, February 15, 2027 7:00pm to 8:30pm
English-Philosophy Building

VIEWS Presents: Gabrielle Calvocoressi Reading & Q&A

Thursday, March 25, 2027 7:00pm to 8:00pm
English-Philosophy Building

2026 Fall semester calendar

2026 spring semester

Orientation Week August 17-23 

August 19-21

Save the dates for Grad College, Center for Teaching and employment-related orientations 
https://grad.uiowa.edu/fall-graduate-student-orientation  
https://teaching.center.uiowa.edu/new-teaching-assistant-orientation 

August 17-21 

First-year welcome meetings with NWP Director Melissa Febos  
Nonfiction Writing House, 530 N. Clinton St. 

Friday, August 21  

5:30 p.m First-Year Info Session, led by current NWP second-years Nonfiction Writing House, 530 N. Clinton St. 

 

Week 1 August 24 – August 30  

Monday, August 24 

First Day of Classes  

Friday, August 28  

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. English Department’s “Survived the First Week” pizza party , 304 EPB 

Friday, August 28  

5:30 p.m. NWP program-wide orientation; Mandatory for all students, food and drinks provided, Nonfiction Writing House 

 

Week 2 August 31 – September 6 

Friday, September 4

Last day for graduate students to drop courses and receive tuition refund; last day to add courses without fees; last day to opt for S/U grading. (NOTE: Fellowship and teaching tuition waivers will not cover registration changes after this day. That means that if you drop a course, you will be responsible for paying the full tuition for that course!)  

 

Week 3 September 7 – 13 

Monday, September 7 

Labor Day – No classes, Nonfiction Writing House closed 

Wednesday, September 9 

4:00 p.m. Welcome reception for Elena Passarello, NWP Lounge 

Friday, September 11 

3:00 p.m.  Deadline  for Herodotus Award  

7:00 p.m. Faculty Reading: Melissa Febos and Sarah Minor, Nonfiction Writing House 

 

Week 4  September 14 – 20  

   

Week 5 September 21– 27 

 

Week 6 September 28 – October 4 

Monday, September 28 

Spring 2027 classes available in MyUI/Schedule Builder  

Friday, October 2

11:59 p.m. CST Degree applications due

 

Week 7  October 5– 11 

Friday, October 9

2 p.m. Craft Talk by Krause Visiting Writer Wayne Koestenbaum  
7 p.m. Reading by Krause Visiting Writer Wayne Koestenbaum  

 

Week 8 October 12 – 18  

 

Week 9 October 19 – 25 

50th Anniversary Celebration Week! 

All week: Iowa City Book Festival events   

Friday, October 23 

Deadline to send Spring 2026 course registration preferences to Tara Atkinson  

2:30 p.m. Q&A with Alumna Yiyun Li for NWP and WW students at the Writer's Workshop (Dey House)

7:30 p.m. Literary Legends: Alumna Yiyun Li w/Melissa Febos at the Levitt Center 

Saturday, October 24  

2:30 p.m. Faculty Panel at the Iowa City Book Festival 

5:30 p.m. NWP 50th Anniversary Celebration (RSVP required)  

Sunday, October 25  

10 a.m. Anniversary Bagel Breakfast, Nonfiction Writing House 

11 a.m. NWP In Memoriam Event, Nonfiction Writing House 

 

Week 10 October 26 – November 1  

October 25-31

Iowa Homecoming Week 

Wednesday, October 28

Helen Betya Rubinstein (MFA ’15) in conversation with Bennett Sims at Prairie Lights. Feels Like Trouble: Provocations on Writing, Teaching & Power.

Saturday, October 31

12:00 p.m. Deadline for Englert Nonfiction Fellowship applications  
 

Week 11 November 2 – 8  

Thursday, November 5  

Alia Hanna Habib events canceled.

Saturday, November 7  

1 p.m. NWP Bowling Tournament! Colonial Lanes 

 

Week 12 November 9 – 15 

Monday, November 9 

Early registration opens: Time to register for Spring 2027 classes. NOTE: You should not need any codes or permissions for CNW courses. If you have any trouble, make sure your U-Bill is paid and contact Tara Atkinson right away. 

Friday, November 13  

 3:00 p.m. Deadline for submissions for Magdalena Award  

7:00 p.m. Tisa Bryant and Sarah Minor present for Book Matters at Prairie Lights 

Saturday, November 14

8:00 p.m. Speakeasy 

 

Week 13 November 16 – 22 

Friday, November 20 

Nonfiction Writing House will close at 6 p.m. 

 

Week 14 November 23– November 29 

Thanksgiving Week

No classes; Nonfiction Writing House closed  

 

Week 15 November 30 - December 6 

Wednesday, December 2 

7 p.m. Alum Stephanie Krzywonos (MFA ‘25) in conversation with Melissa Febos at Prairie Lights for The Blue Hours. 

Friday, December 4 

NWP Nondenominational Holiday Party  

7 p.m. Alum Lucy Schiller (MFA '18) at Prairie Lights for Aging Out. 

 

Week 16 December 7 – 13 

Tuesday, December 8

7 p.m. Alum Andy Douglas (MFA '05) at Prairie Lights for Strength for What Lies Ahead. 

Friday, December 11 

Department of English Winter Party  

Close of classes 

 

Week 17 December 14– 20 

December 14 - 18  

Final exam week for the University  

Friday, December 18

4 p.m. Nonfiction Writing House will close for the duration of the Winter break