Thursday October 4, 2001

Winter session offers students chance to get ahead, make up one class

Go to Winter Class Registration

The UA expects more people to take classes during the winter session than the 1,100 who did last year, said Beth Acree, senior program coordinator for winter and summer sessions.

Registration for the University of Arizona Extended University's winter session begins Oct. 15. Students can register over the Internet but must access the Web site for more details.

"Students are taking these courses because of the time factor," Acree said. "You can finish a course in a short amount of time, and you are able to focus on one class very intensely."

"Also, if you didn't perform as well as you wanted to in a class during (the) regular semester, you can get back on target to where you want to be," she added.

The winter session spans three weeks during the UA's scheduled winter break, and offers approximately 70 courses - including various general education, graduate and Internet classes. This year's session runs Dec. 17 through Jan. 8.

But the small number of class days and widely celebrated holidays that fall during the session should not fool students who think winter session is an "easy A."

"I don't skimp," said chemistry professor David Spurgeon. "I hold the students to high standards, and they raise themselves up to it. But there is no slack. If they miss a quiz, they get a zero. There are no make-ups."

Spurgeon, who teaches Fundamentals of Chemistry during the winter session, said each three-hour day is the equivalent to one traditional semester week.

Most classes are actually harder because students only have one day to process the quick flow of information before they advance to the next subject, he said.

"The courses aren't much different from regular courses," said Nancy Rangel, academic adviser in the University College. "The main difference is that they are shorter. They're not easier, but students may get better grades because they can focus on that one class."

Acree said 80 percent of students who take winter session courses are juniors and seniors, and that often raises the expectation for high grades.

"(The students) are pretty focused," she said. "Students who are willing to give up their break are very motivated and know already where they are going with their college career, so they often do better (than the younger students)."

Winter session students are allowed to take only one class - as many as four credit units - and all students pay in-state tuition without extraneous costs. The average three-credit course costs $394.

"This is good because it offers students more options," Rangel said. "I'm always talking about how Pima (Community College) offers more things like extended weekend or late start classes, and (UA) is starting that. They're trying to reach out to their community and help (the students)."