Olivia Russo
News Editor
Jordan Alcasas
Social Media Editor
University of La Verne administrators have rebooted the plan to eliminate the January term and replace it with a similar month-long May term. This would change the academic calendar, with the spring semester starting in the middle of January, instead of the beginning of February, and ending in late April or early May, followed by a month-long term similar to the current January term.
They are projecting the calendar change to start in the 2026-2027 academic year.
But similar to the plan that was presented-then-aborted amid student and faculty objections during the 2023-2024 academic year, many students and faculty members are concerned about the planned calendar change.
Among students’ concerns, some say they may not have the stamina to do an intensive mini-term in May following a long academic year. They are also concerned about May term’s potential cost and whether May term tuition will be covered by their annual financial aid package.
January term has always been “free” to students, in that it offers them the opportunity to take up to five units above the fall and spring semester limits of 18 units per semester at no extra charge, allowing some students the chance to graduate a semester early, which is a substantial overall cost savings.
Interim Provost Laura Hartley said she was unsure at this point whether the proposed May term would be covered by students’ annual tuition and financial aid packages, or whether it would be part of the summer term tuition, which is generally not covered in the same way.
“That’s going to be part of the planning process to decide if May term will have the same sort of financial structure as Jan. term,” Hartley said this week. “So one possibly would be that May term is sort of attached to the spring semester in terms of tuition; the other possibly would be that it’s kind of attached to the summer term.”
For those not using it to graduate early, some students said they appreciate January term to lighten their fall and spring semester loads, to complete an additional major or minor, or to take an overseas travel class at a time of year when airfare is lower.
“Based on the information provided to us by the provost’s office, the primary reasons for the change include supposed low enrollment in Jan term and the desire to align our academic calendar more closely with surrounding institutions, particularly the UC schools,” said Jayleen De La Cruz, senior communications major and member of the Associated Students of the University of La Verne.
De La Cruz was present when administrators spoke to ASULV in fall 2023 about the move to May term, and again this semester when Hartley attended one of their meetings to discuss the rebooted plan.
“ASULV does have concerns,” De La Cruz said. “A major worry is that students who relied on Jan term for additional units, especially those trying to graduate early or stay on track academically, may now struggle to fit those courses into their schedules.
“There’s also concern about how this shift may affect travel courses, student-athletes… So we are actively collecting student feedback to understand the full impact.”
De La Cruz noted that following the student government’s meeting with administrators in fall 2023, they were happy to learn that the calendar change had been paused.
The administrators from the offices of the provost and enrollment management who met with ASULV to present the calendar change in 2023 have since left the University.
“Then we were officially informed this semester that the change would be permanent,” De La Cruz said. “When we expressed concerns, we were asked to gather and provide student feedback.”
ASULV is currently conducting a survey among students about the planned calendar change.
Administrators planning to move forward with the change say it will benefit both students and faculty because the summer break will be longer with more time to relax or earn money. Faculty may be able to rework their programs and introduce new courses, and they will have more time to devote to their own research projects. It should also give students a chance to apply to internships and get out into the job market earlier, they say, and it will better align the University’s academic calendar with other schools.
Hartley said another reason for the change is a lack of interest in taking January courses.
“There were fewer and fewer students who were actually registering for Jan term courses to the extent that this last January only 30% of students took a Jan Term course,” Hartley said.
Some students say they wish there were more January course offerings because classes fill up before they have a chance to register for them.
If the change goes forward, “it’s going to piss off a lot of people,” said Rick Hasse, instructor of accounting and finance. “If I was a student, I’d be a little upset too, this is especially going to piss off our student athletes. They use January term a lot to make up for classes with their schedules.”
While the finances of the move have yet to be announced, some believe the motivation for the change is at least partially financial.
“In January, there’s no additional revenue being created,” Hasse added. “So one of the reasons they’re (planning to move to) May is they want to find a way to make some extra money.”
“I like that we get a break (in January),” said Mariela Flores, junior biology major. “You get to come back and sort of start fresh for the spring, whether you did good or bad. You get one class that you can start over with and focus on. Personally, when I do good in those, I feel like it sets the tone for my Spring semester. If I can handle a class that is smashed into a month, I can handle the spring.”
This summer, the administration will start the planning process of creating the May term session. Faculty and administration will meet to flesh out the cost, what classes will be affected and any other changes to the academic calendar.
“We’ll certainly be giving students enough notice, in terms of their planning for future years, so that they can sort of factor in how that might affect them,” Hartley said. “And so hopefully this is not something that we’re doing quickly, We’re not just announcing the change, but we’re being deliberate and careful. And hopefully we’ll make the transition without a whole lot of challenges.”
ASULV has their fair share of concerns regarding this change. They urge students to complete the survey at laverne.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bdOK4wvYR96T7aS.
Olivia Russo can be reached at olivia.russo@laverne.edu.
Jordan Alcasas can be reached at jordan.alcasas@laverne.edu.
Olivia Russo is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism and a minor in criminology. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Campus Times for Spring 2026. She has previously served as the News Editor, LV Life Editor, a photographer and a staff writer for the Campus Times, as well as a staff writer and photographer for La Verne Magazine.
Jordan Alcasas is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in print and online journalism. He is the news editor for the Campus Times, and previously served as social media editor and a staff writer.
