Expanded Winter Session online course offerings help students get ahead

Registration has begun for the largest-ever selection of Winter Session courses available through SUNY New Paltz. Students can earn up to four credits in only three weeks (Dec. 28 – Jan. 17), and all Winter Session classes are conveniently offered 100% online, so all coursework can be completed from the comfort of students’ winter break homes.

Approximately 40 different courses in disciplines including art, business, science and engineering, education and a variety of liberal arts and sciences are available to students this winter. The schedule includes a number of introductory courses that meet General Education requirements, as well as some upper-level sections required in their respective degree programs of study.

The course selection reflects the growth and popularity of the Winter Session, which began four years ago with just four classes. This is notably the first Winter Session to include classes offered by the School of Business; the School of Education expanded their offerings for 2015-16 as well.

Every course is carefully designed by faculty, with assistance from the staff of the Teaching and Learning Center, to ensure that Winter Session courses are deep and rigorous enough to meet the College’s academic benchmarks and achieve meaningful, clearly articulated learning outcomes for students within the three-week timeframe.

“The courses are selected based on what faculty feel can be accomplished,” said Helise Winters, dean of the Office of Extended Learning. “We offer courses thoughtfully selected by faculty who have taught online courses before, and who understand what students need to do to fulfill their goals and advance their educations.”

This format supports students looking to catch up and complete graduation requirements, as well as those interested in accelerating their educations.

“It often happens that students leave General Education courses until the end of their college careers, while focusing on their major requirements,” said Helise Winters, dean of the Office of Extended Learning. “We’re offering a lot of GE courses during Winter Session to help make sure those students can graduate on time.”

“Many other students are interested in moving quickly and graduating ahead of schedule, and for them Winter Session is a valuable opportunity to take an extra course,” Winters added.

The Winter Session is not only about earning credits, however – it’s just as much about using winter break to continue learning and working with expert New Paltz faculty with whom students are familiar and feel comfortable.

“The online environment provides a great context for all students in the class to actively participate, and the dialectical discussion board allows for extensive and continuous feedback on student work,” said Glenn Geher, chair of the Department of Psychology. “Online classes are a lot of work for both teacher and student, but the intellectual benefits, when done well, make it all worthwhile.”

For more information about Winter Session including a full Schedule of Classes and registration information, please visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/winter/.

Students interested in getting additional information about online learning resources offered by the College should visit this frequently asked questions page.