Create a composite term

Some courses run across more than one term, and some colleges want students to register once for a whole academic year. A composite term groups several terms together so they behave as one, with their own sections and registration window. For how terms are structured, see Understanding academic terms.

Before you start

A composite term is an ordinary term that contains other terms. Create the terms it will contain first (Fall, Spring, Summer), if they do not already exist.

Steps

1. Create a term for the composite the normal way, such as Academic Year 2026-2027, with dates spanning the whole period. See Set up an academic term.
2. Open the composite term and find the Contained Terms section on its form.
3. Select Add and pick the term to contain. Repeat for each term of the year.

What success looks like

The contained terms are listed on the composite's form, and the composite shows an asterisk (*) in term dropdowns. Launching an ongoing requirement against the composite asks each instructor once for the whole year instead of once per contained term, and reports that accept the composite include its active contained terms automatically.

If this doesn't work

See Understanding academic terms for where composite terms fit. Need help? Contact the Help Desk.