The academic year at the UWC-USA begins in late August.
New students consult with the faculty and are informed of all academic requirements.
During orientation, students get to know the surrounding communities in New Mexico, perform service projects in the community and participate in a three-day outdoor expedition in the nearby mountain wilderness. During the school year, a typical day includes classes, community service and wilderness training. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily in the campus dining hall. The daily schedule is designed to achieve a balance between classroom time and the time necessary for all the other diverse activities in which students engage. Experiential Education Project-based learning taking place elsewhere than on campus is an important element of the overall academic program.