Index: portal-impl/impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/portal/charon/handlers/SiteHandler.java
===================================================================
--- portal-impl/impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/portal/charon/handlers/SiteHandler.java	(revision 5696)
+++ portal-impl/impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/portal/charon/handlers/SiteHandler.java	(revision 5697)
@@ -583,6 +583,10 @@
 					if ("course".equals(type))
 					{
 						term = siteProperties.getProperty("term");
+						if(null==term) {
+							term = rb.getString("moresite_unknown_term");
+						}
+						
 					}
 					else if ("project".equals(type))
 					{
@@ -600,7 +604,7 @@
 					{
 						term = rb.getString("moresite_other");
 					}
-
+					
 					List<Site> currentList = new ArrayList();
 					if (termsToSites.containsKey(term))
 					{
Index: portal-impl/impl/src/bundle/sitenav.properties
===================================================================
--- portal-impl/impl/src/bundle/sitenav.properties	(revision 5696)
+++ portal-impl/impl/src/bundle/sitenav.properties	(revision 5697)
@@ -38,4 +38,5 @@
 moresite_projects = PROJECTS
 moresite_portfolios = PORTFOLIOS
 moresite_administration = ADMINISTRATION
-moresite_other = OTHER
\ No newline at end of file
+moresite_other = OTHER
+moresite_unknown_term = (unknown academic term)
\ No newline at end of file