FAIRMONT, W.Va. — More than 280 students are enrolled in Fairmont State
University’s virtual Winter Term which continues through Jan. 6, a first for the
Marion County institution that coincides with an extended in-person instruction
break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Really not having begun, in
earnest, building and promoting it until mid-September, it’s a pretty good
number to start with,” Dr. Rick Stephens, Fairmont State interim provost and
vice president for academic affairs, told MetroNews of the enrollment.
As
of last week, the specific number was 286 for nearly 50 Winter Term
courses.
In some cases, students were using the new Winter Term to try to
catch up with coursework or, at the other end of the spectrum, working to
accelerate their studies.
Some were retaking gateway courses to ease
class loads during the fall and spring semesters.
Others were simply
trying courses outside of their normal fields of study.
“Everything from
broadening their perspectives in experimental models to very pragmatic steps
toward earning enough credits to get their degree,” Dr. Stephens said of the
range of reasons motivating those taking classes.
Because of the
pandemic, courses for the Winter Term are fully online.
Fairmont State’s
Winter Term started on Nov. 30, the week after the end of Fairmont State’s Fall
Semester.
The 2021 Spring Semester begins on Jan. 11.
For the
Winter Term, students were given the option of taking one course or earning
internship or field work experience.
Future terms could come with
additional opportunities.
Additionally, plans called for the Winter Break
model to be replicated at Fairmont State for two five-week terms in the summer
as additions to an overlapping, more traditional ten-week summer
term.
Dr. Stephens said he expected interest to grow with more advance
notice to students, those currently enrolled at Fairmont State and those
considered transient, meaning from other schools, and those not
matriculating.
“It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “They can drop in and
drop out of winter or summer terms, take a course, see what it looks like, how
it feels, and I’m sure they’ll get some benefit out of it.”