Improving Access and Academic Stability

A planned move to a semester calendar—from a quarterly one—will allow Seattle University to further support all students in all ways.

Some of the world's most innovative educational experiences have been out of reach for SU students due to calendar constraints as the university operates on a quarter system. But that will soon change as the university prepares to transition to a unified semester calendar, beginning in the 2027 academic year.

In an ongoing series, we’ll showcase the benefits of a semester calendar on various programs and departments across the university. Here’s a look at how it will impact the work of Disability Services:

For many students, time is the difference between staying on track and falling behind. If you live with a learning disability, a chronic health condition or ongoing medical treatment, the pace of a quarter can feel intense from day one. 

At Seattle University, Disability Services works with students who need exam accommodations, assistive technology, note taking support, flexible attendance and other adjustments. Under the quarter system those supports must be set up fast. The first few weeks often include: 

• Requesting accommodation letters
• Meeting with faculty
• Coordinating note takers
• Setting up assistive technology
• Adjusting course requirements

All of that happens while classes are moving ahead at full speed. 

With a semester calendar, students go through this intensive process fewer times each year. Once these essential supports are in place, they also stay in place longer. That steady rhythm matters. 

More Margin When Life Happens 

The quarter system leaves little room for disruption. If you miss a week because of illness or a treatment schedule, you can lose a large chunk of the term. Deadlines stack up fast and exams loom large. 

A longer semester gives you more time to recover—and missing a few classes does not carry the same weight. There are more weeks to reconnect with material, meet with professors and adjust curriculum plans before final grades are set. 

Students with episodic conditions feel this difference most. Stress can trigger symptoms and treatment can affect attendance. The longer-term semester calendar lowers the risk of one hard week turning into a lost quarter. 

Testing also becomes easier to manage. With more weeks in the semester, midterms and finals spread out more naturally. Extended time accommodations tend to feel more manageable during heavy exam periods. 

More Time to Step In and Adjust 

Not only does Disability Services support students who come in with documented disabilities, the office also helps students who are struggling and are not sure why. 

Some students start with learning assistance. If staff identify a disability mid-term, accommodations can begin. Under a quarter model, though, there may be little time left for this support to make a significant difference. Under semesters, there’s more room in the schedule for adjustments to take hold and improve outcomes. 

In other words, you get more time to “right the ship” before grades are finalized. 

Stronger Breaks, Stronger Returns 

Another benefit is that longer breaks between terms give students time to reset. Many use that time to: 

• Go home and rest
• See health care providers
• Schedule procedures
• Adjust medications
• Meet with advisors

That breathing room supports better focus when the next semester begins. 

Support Through the Transition 

As Seattle University plans to launch the unified semester calendar, student success and retention remain central goals of the shift. During this transition, students working with Disability Services will receive individual advising and each student will have a graduation plan that maps quarter courses to semester courses. Dedicated advisors will help close gaps and answer questions along the way. 

The move to semesters is giving students something simple but important—more time, more stability and more chances to stay on track. And for students who rely on Disability Services, that extra space in the calendar will make a real difference.