Any course that is already approved to fulfill J2 that is offered in September, June, Fall Quarter 1, Fall Quarter 2 or Spring Semester will fulfill J2 in the school year 2020-2021.
An Iowa College in the Liberal Arts Tradition
Academic Calendar
Luther operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. First semester runs from September to December, followed by a three-week January Term. Second semester runs from February to May. In the liberal arts tradition of broad inquiry, students often use J-term to study abroad, perform internships in their field, or study one topic intensely while on campus.
Two four-week summer sessions are offered at Luther, one in June and another in July.
For 2020-21, Luther announced a revised academic calendar. Luther will transition from the 4-1-4 academic calendar to the revised 1-2-2-4-1 calendar that was adopted for the 2020-21 academic year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details regarding September Term, the revised start and stop dates for the 2020-21 academic year, and meeting periods for the Fall Quarters is available at Being Community.
If you have questions on the academic calendar, please review the FAQ or contact the Luther College Registrar’s Office at (563) 387-1167 or [email protected].
Luther College is transitioning from the 4-1-4 academic calendar to the revised 1-2-2-4-1 calendar that was adopted for the 2020-21 academic year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have questions on the academic calendar, please review the FAQ or contact the Luther College Registrar’s Office at (563) 387-1167 or [email protected].
2020-21 Academic Calendar
September Term
- Wednesday, September 2
- September Term begins
- Friday, September 25
- September Term ends
Fall Quarter 1
- Thursday, October 1
- Fall Quarter 1 begins
- Friday, November 20
- Fall Quarter 1 ends
- Saturday, November 21 through Sunday, November 29
- Term Break
Fall Quarter 2
- Monday, November 30
- Fall Quarter 2 begins
- Wednesday, December 23 through Sunday, January 3
- Holiday Break
- Thursday, January 28, 2021
- Fall Quarter 2 ends
- Friday, January 29 through Wednesday, February 3
- Term Break
Spring Semester
- Thursday, February 4
- Spring Semester begins
- Saturday, March 20 through Sunday, March 28
- Spring Break
- Friday, April 2 through Monday, April 5
- Easter Break
- Thursday, May 20
- Spring Semester ends
- Friday, May 21 through Monday, May 31
- Term Break
Commencement
- Sunday, May 23
- Commencement
June Term
- Tuesday, June 1
- June Term begins
- Friday, June 25
- June Term ends
Frequently Asked Questions
- What if I was expecting to complete my J2 requirement in the 2021 January term? Are there any new policies related to the J2 requirement?
- How will an original 7-weeks course fit in the new fall schedule?
You should expect to see that classes originally offered in the 1st 7-weeks would be offered in Quarter 1 and classes originally offered in the 2nd 7-weeks would be offered in Quarter 2.
- Can I take courses both in September and June, even if they both are replacing J-term?
Yes, students will be permitted to take courses in both September and June if they wish. However, you may wish to consult with Financial Services and/or Financial Aid to see how charges and financial aid eligibility would be handled.
- Will I be required to register for a course offered in June 2021?
There is no requirement that a student must complete a course in the 2021 June term.
- What courses will be offered for the June Term 2021?
June Term 2021 course offerings release and registration will occur later this fall.
- Do I need to re-register for classes from my old schedule that I want to keep in my new schedule?
No, you do not need to re-register for a course that you want to keep from your old schedule. Students retained their Fall 2020 courses and adjustments will only be in instances of schedule conflicts. We also recommend that students are not registered for more than 10 credits in either quarter.
- Do my Biology 151 lecture and lab sections need to be scheduled for the same fall quarter?
Yes, please be sure that your lecture and lab sections are scheduled for the same quarter.
- Do my Chemistry 151 lecture and lab sections need to be scheduled for the same fall quarter?
Yes, please be sure that your lecture and lab sections are scheduled for the same quarter.
- Do my Chemistry 241 lecture and lab sections need to be scheduled for the same fall quarter?
Yes, please be sure that your lecture and lab sections are scheduled for the same quarter.
- Is there a designated finals week for the fall quarters?
Unlike a typical fall semester, there is no formal designation of a “finals week” in the fall quarters with a unique schedule relative to the quarter schedule. For both fall 2020 quarters, the final exam meeting is designated as the last scheduled meeting of the course for the quarter.
- Will online courses be available for the fall semester (Q1 and Q2)?
Students who are unable to physically return to campus for Fall Quarter 1 or Fall Quarter 2 due to a medical condition or difficulty obtaining a visa may enroll in online courses offered through the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities’ Online Course Sharing Consortium. The Registrar’s Office will pre-approve a set of consortial courses, allowing students to enroll in them without first submitting a Course Approval Transfer Form. Students needing to access courses offered through the consortium should contact the Center for Academic Enrichment (563-387-1270; [email protected]). Please monitor the Registrar's Office website as more information pertaining to the consortial courses and registration becomes available.
The college will be monitoring a variety of conditions that may result in a decision to shift all courses to online instruction. These conditions include community spread of COVID-19 on campus, in Winneshiek County, in Iowa, and in nearby states (Minnesota, Wisconsin); or directives and guidance received from federal and state governments or public health agencies.