Standard Term Patterns

The University’s standard term patterns were developed by the Office of the Provost and VPAA, Office of Financial Aid, Office of the Registrar, Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs, and college and school deans in order to comply with federal financial aid guidelines and allow for appropriate tracking of students for institutional, state, and federal processes.

Undergraduate and Graduate Programs

All undergraduate programs, and the majority of graduate programs, must offer their courses to conform with the standard term patterns below. At this time, federal Title IV funding guidelines do not allow undergraduate programs to vary from the reported university calendar. Colleges and schools may have their own restrictions on the terms allowed. Faculty should check with their college or school before scheduling courses to determine if there are restrictions.

Non-Standard Terms for Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs wishing to create a schedule that falls outside of the standard term patterns must make a request to the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at least six months prior to the date the schedules are due for the respective term. Approved non-standard terms will apply to an entire program and will affect the financial aid calculation and distribution schedule for all students in the program. Review the procedure to Request a Non-standard Term for Graduate Programs.

Study Abroad Courses

Study Abroad courses must be scheduled within one of the standard term patterns, as long as the time of travel happens within that window. A class session or online module must take place on or before the census date of the respective term, but the travel itself does not have to occur before census date. The Office of the Registrar will list the actual dates of travel online, even if the course term dates differ from the travel dates. Grades for any faculty led study abroad program are to be submitted in the standard grading window for the term in which the course is offered.