Parenthesis, winter 2011/2012

January Term enrollments jump with increased course offerings

Flexible options allow students to earn up to four credits in three weeks

As final exams wrap up and winter break looms, there probably aren’t many students who are eager to hit the books right away.
But give them a few days, delve into the options offered by January Term, known as “J-Term,” and suddenly the idea of earning up to four credits in three weeks becomes mighty appealing.
“J-Term gives students the flexibility to earn credits and even save some money in a way that fits their schedule,” says Ted Kirkpatrick, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
As more students learn about its benefits, J-Term at UNH is growing in leaps and bounds, with more course offerings drawing record numbers of enrollments.
Registrations are accepted until the day that classes begin on January 3 (although signing up after December 23 requires a professor’s permission). Started just three years ago, the session now offers 101 classes, with options to participate online, on campus in Durham or Manchester, or through a combination of both. There are also international courses offered in nine countries, ranging from Ghana to Costa Rica to Canada.

“Catch Up” Time

“It’s a great opportunity for a student to catch up or to pick up some extra credits they might not have time for within the traditional academic calendar,” says Terri Winters, director of eUNH, a University initiative to spur the growth of online courses and programs, including J-Term, summer session, and continuing education and non-degree courses.
“It’s a lot of work over a few weeks, but if they want to study at 11 at night or two in the morning, that’s fine. It’s whatever works best for them,” Winters adds.
The expansion of online courses taps a growing national trend. And at UNH, the growth has been explosive.
eUNH offered just six online courses initially in the summer of 2009. Last year, it offered 88 courses (including J-Term, summer, and during the traditional year) that enrolled 2,100 students. Winters sees the potential to offer up to 150 online courses in coming years.
J-Term offers several advantages:
•    Students who might struggle with a particular course during the regular academic year often find they do better when they can devote their full attention during an intense, three-week J-Term session.
•    Students pursuing majors that have a large number of required courses—such as engineering and nursing— can ease their burden with J-Term and summer session classes.
•    Eight Discovery category courses can be satisfied through online courses, freeing students during the traditional academic year to pursue specialized work in their majors.
•    Students may graduate early by taking online courses, and the savings can be substantial over several years.
Winters cautions, however, that the courses offered over J-Term are every bit as challenging as those taken during the traditional academic schedule. Most traditional four-credit courses, for instance, require about 120 hours during a 14- or 15-week semester; and the commitment during J-Term is similar. Put another way, students who enroll in J-Term can expect to commit about the same amount of time as a full-time job.
“It’s a lot of work, so students need to be aware of that up front,” Winters says. “But for those who have the time and are willing to make the commitment, it can be a great option.”
The J-Term (http://www.unh.edu/januaryterm/) and eUNH (http://www.unh.edu/eunh/) websites offer a wealth of resources, including course listings, FAQS, videos, and tips to make online learning successful.
“Online learning will never replace the traditional residential college experience, but it can offer students a valuable tool to help them take control over of how they pursue their education and how they fit it into their lives,” Kirkpatrick says.

-- Jim Graham