2026 J-term on campus and around the world
Every January, Augustana students can trade their regular semester routine for J-term — three-and-a-half weeks of immersive, hands-on learning. From snorkeling in the Caribbean and mastering a potter’s wheel to exploring Japan’s tallest tower and discovering unfamiliar cultures through film, 2,010 students learned new skills on campus and made unforgettable memories around the world this past month. Take a look.
First-week activities for students in "Geology of Bonaire" included mastering backward rolls off the boat for dives to see sea turtles, flounder, ray, barracuda and arrays of brilliantly colored fish and coral. They also learned about coral reef restoration and propagation during presentations and then leapt into the ocean to snorkel out to those coral nurseries. Submitted by Susan Kornreich-Wolf, assistant curator of Fryxell Geology Museum
Led by Assistant Professor Vincent Frimpong, students in "Ceramics: Wheel Thrown Construction" learned how to use a potter's wheel and other techniques to create expressive forms in clay. The students, many who were first-timers, focused on creative thinking while developing their skills in forming, painting and glazing ceramics. Submitted by Tobi Matter, digital content strategist at Augustana
Students in two J-term classes — "Japanese Culture & Society" and "Japan, Sport & Culture" — met up while both classes were in Japan. From the left, Summer Pandey '27, Luke Furukawa '27 and Aitana Garcia Aleixandre '27 chose to visit the top of Tokyo Skytree, Japan’s tallest tower, on their last night. Submitted by Summer Pandey '27
In Dr. Maria Hannah's "Leadership: Influencing and Connecting" course, students applied the principles of instructional communication to build their leadership competency through skill building. This course explored leadership from a human communication perspective while emphasizing rhetorical and relational behaviors that shape positive, working relationships across vocations. Submitted by Sam Williams '29
Students in the Brazil J-term program arrived in Salvador in early January. Their adventure included a city tour with a stop to see Baía de Todos os Santos, the country's largest coastal bay known for its beaches, coral reefs and tropical vegetation. Submitted by Professor Dr. Mariano Magalhães
Dr. Ashley Burge (front row, far right) and her "Contemporary African American Literature" class immersed themselves in Black history and art at the DuSable Black History and Education Museum in Chicago for their culminating project in the class. They were treated to DuSable's new exhibit, "Paris In Black," where they explored the impactful work of Black expatriate icons Langston Hughes and Josephine Baker, among others. Submitted by Associate Professor Dr. Ashley Burge
Dr. Çağlar Çetin-Ayşe and his students in "Culture Through Film" explored other cultures and some of the common issues people face globally. They examined such topics as representation, point of view, bias and ethnocentrism in film narratives and framing. Submitted by Ian Thomas '29
Geography and environmental studies students spent their J-term in Cocodrie on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana learning about coastal land loss and environmental justice. Students conducted a salinity study in the bayous as part of a collaboration with the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribal community. Submitted by Associate Professor Dr. Chris Strunk
Aliza Salinas-Cervantes ’26 points out an Augustana College banner at a popular student hangout in Sevilla, Spain, during J-term with SSA Education Abroad. Submitted by Beth Ford, CORE career coach
Students in "Swedish Contemporary Society" spent the month of January learning intermediate Swedish language as well as about cultural, political and social life in Sweden today. Their many excursions included visiting Augustana's exchange partner Uppsala University and touring its historic library, Carolina Rediviva (pictured here). Submitted by Associate Professor Dr. Mark Safstrom
KWQC sportscaster Joey Donia (far right) was one of many Quad-City leaders who attended Job Shadow Day during the J-term course "Confident Communication." Students learned about how to overcome apprehension and voice their ideas in front of others. Submitted by Assistant Professor Donna Hare