User Preferences is a generic feature embedded in staff and instructor SPIRE profiles. It allows instructors and staff to select a default Institution, Academic Career, Term, and Aid Year. On most pages including these search fields, SPIRE will automatically fill in these default values.

1. Using the navigator icon, go to My SPIRE > User Preferences. The User Preferences page opens.
2. On the User Preferences page, from the Academic Career drop-down list, select an academic career (e.g., Undergraduate).
3. Next for the Term field, click the magnifying glass icon  to retrieve the 4-digit code for the term you want to set as your default. The Look Up Term page opens.
4. On the Look Up Term page, leave all the search fields blank, and click Look Up. All the available terms open under Search Results on the same page.
5. Click the term of your choice. You will return to the User Preferences page with the 4-digit code already filled in the Term field (e.g., 1097).
6. In the Aid Year field, enter a default year. 
7. Click Save, then OK to confirm the save. Your User Preferences now appear in most fields prompting you for this information.

Notes:

• Remember to change the Term default when a new semester starts.
• To avoid an error, you must select an Academic Career before looking up the Term.