Olivia Russo
Editor-in-Chief
After a 56-year run, January Interterm 2026 marked the last January term for the University of La Verne.
The Board of Trustees approved the academic calendars for the next three years on Feb. 20. And the 2026-2027 academic year will be the first year to not include January term, which until this year allowed students to take up to five academic credits in the intensive month-long session for no additional charge.
Spring semester 2027 will go from Jan. 11 to May 9.
Discussions leading to this decision had included talk of moving January term to May, but the May term idea was nixed in the final calendar decision.
“There’s no revenue coming in, so basically, the University feels that it’s a loser,” said Rick Hasse, professor of accounting and finance, and a faculty senator. “In some equations, in some aspects from a business standpoint, it is a loser. But we’re charging enough tuition that should make up enough revenue to cover them.”
The new calendar will still allow students to take some of the classes they would have taken in January during the eight-week summer term. But they will have to pay additional tuition to attend in summer, whereas January term has been included in spring tuition, so it was free.
“We’re short-term strategists, and we’re very poor at it,” Hasse said.
Students who took advantage of January term would use it to retake a class they were not successful in, complete a minor, lighten their semester load or graduate a semester early.
Student athletes benefited as they could adjust their schedules depending on the demands of their sports season.
Students at the University may take up to 18 units per semester, so four Jan Terms offered them the equivalent of a whole additional semester for no added charge.
None are happy about its cancellation, according to an informal survey conducted by the Campus Times this month, which found that 20 out of 20 students were upset about the change.
“Jan term is unique to our school,” Christian Gutierrez, sophomore international business major, said. “And as a sophomore I only got to use it for two years. I could only get ahead for two years and I didn’t get the opportunity to advance in my classes. It’s getting stripped away for a paid semester that I personally know I can’t afford.”
Regular classes are not the only ones affected by the calendar change. January term has historically offered study-abroad opportunities with trips to Europe, the Galapagos and more.
“Jan term gave faculty an opportunity to do travel courses,” said Justin Saldana, associate professor of teacher education and faculty senator. “Because of the time frame, the opportunities were cheaper for students, for faculty. If we do travel courses during the summer, to any part of the world, we’re going to be competing with the tourist industry and everything’s going to be more expensive.”
Students wishing to take summer classes at La Verne will be able to apply for financial aid via a separate process from the annual FAFSA financial aid application. Without the assistance of financial aid, this term will cost $725 per unit.
“We don’t really have expectations, other than to hope the new summer classes are popular,” Provost Ken O’Donnell said in an emailed statement. “Since instructors have different availabilities, the mix of professors will probably change, but we want to offer at least the same range of classes.”
Summer registration begins in mid-April.
Olivia Russo can be reached at olivia.russo@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.
