diff --git a/plugins/community_track/lib/community_track_plugin/step.rb b/plugins/community_track/lib/community_track_plugin/step.rb
index 32d4f2a..d5d173e 100644
--- a/plugins/community_track/lib/community_track_plugin/step.rb
+++ b/plugins/community_track/lib/community_track_plugin/step.rb
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ class CommunityTrackPlugin::Step < Folder
   before_create :set_hidden_position
   before_save :set_hidden_position
 
+  def initialize(*args)
+    super(*args)
+    self.start_date ||= Date.today
+    self.end_date ||= Date.today + 1.day
+  end
+  
   def set_hidden_position
     if hidden
       decrement_positions_on_lower_items
diff --git a/plugins/community_track/test/unit/community_track_plugin/step_test.rb b/plugins/community_track/test/unit/community_track_plugin/step_test.rb
index 35d7214..376234f 100644
--- a/plugins/community_track/test/unit/community_track_plugin/step_test.rb
+++ b/plugins/community_track/test/unit/community_track_plugin/step_test.rb
@@ -282,4 +282,10 @@ class StepTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_not_equal article, @step.tool
   end
 
+  should 'initialize start date and end date with default values' do
+    step = CommunityTrackPlugin::Step.new
+    assert step.start_date
+    assert step.end_date
+  end
+
 end
--
libgit2 0.21.2