1 A trimester system divides the academic year into three terms which can be as short as eight weeks or as long as 16 weeks each. 2  A quarter system divides the academic year into four terms, up to 12 weeks each, and generally counts the summer as one of the terms. second term lasts from early September to late December with a two-week-long break for New Year's at the end of the year. The term is followed by a third term from early January to late March and a brief week-long spring break. The graduation ceremony occurs in March, and the enrollment ceremony in early April.