Student looks into microscope

Winter Session

Dr. Dan Margolies
Director of Winter Session
757.455.5716

 

Common Questions

What is the cost?

  • $175 for VWC students who are full time in the fall and spring.
  • Add $225 for students living on campus (for the meal plan, which is pro-rated for travel course participants).
  • Add any course fees or travel expenses.

IF you go over 36 hours total for the academic year, there will be the standard fee for extra credit hours ($1,015 per credit hour).

Registration

Registration begins on October 23, 2007.

Other Questions

How many classes can I take in Winter Session?
You can take up to 4 credits, which means one 3-credit course and an additional 1-credit course is the maximum enrollment. Note that a 3-credit course in three weeks is a full-time course of study: it involves the same number of class and preparation hours as would three weeks of a 15-credit load in a regular semester.

Do I have to participate in Winter Sessions?
No. Participation in Winter Session is voluntary. No major or minor degree requires Winter Session enrollment, and no academic programs require it, although a few such as PORTfolio may strongly encourage it as the best way to accomplish certain program components.

How much will Winter Session courses cost?
Most day students will pay only the registration fee for up to 4 credits. But costs do vary with enrollment status. See the Winter Session tuition and fees page for more information.

If I sign up for a travel course, will I have to pay my own travel expenses?
Yes, travel expenses are the student's responsibility. To find out the costs that will pertain to the course in which you are interested, contact the instructor(s) of that course.

Is financial aid available for Winter Session?
No, but because continuing full-time students are not charged additional tuition for Winter Session, financial aid is not an issue for them. Students who do not maintain that full-time status throughout the academic year, however, could face Winter Session tuition charges that will not be reduced by financial aid. Students with reason to be concerned about their continuing full-time status should contact the Financial Aid office before enrolling in Winter Session.

How many times can I participate in Winter Sessions?
If you attend Virginia Wesleyan for four full years, you can participate in as many as four Winter Sessions.

Will I be able to get the classes I need during Winter Session?
Winter Session is designed to offer courses that are not and, for the most part, cannot be offered during fall and spring semesters; so, only rarely will any course offered during the regular semesters be offered in Winter Session. On the other hand, many courses may offer general studies credit or other useful credit that may allow participating students to open up a space in their fall or spring schedules to accommodate another needed course that is not offered in Winter Session. Important to note, though, is that because Winter Session can only offer a small selection of courses, students cannot be guaranteed enrollment in any one particular course.

What classes will be offered, and when?
Go to the list of Winter Session courses to get a list of all courses which will be offered. Go to the academic schedules page and "search all sessions" to search for Winter Session courses and the times they are offered. In the case of course cancellations or other schedule modifications, the version on MARSIS is the most current version of the schedule

Can I assume that the courses offered this year will be available again next winter?
No. Some courses may be repeated, but each year may bring a new selection of courses.

Can I arrange an independent study or guided study for Winter Session?
No. Parallel with the policy for three-week summer sessions, no guided studies, independent studies, or tutorials can be pursued in the three-week Winter Session.

If I take 3 credits in Winter Session, can I drop my fall or spring load down to 12 or even 9 credits and still be considered a full-time student (and hence still be eligible for scholarships and financial aid)?
No. Full-time student status requires a minimum of 12 credits in fall and spring semesters, regardless of Winter Session participation; likewise, Winter Session participation does not count toward minimum credit enrollment standards for scholarships, which typically require 15 credits per semester.

I'm in a hurry. Can I now take 18 credits in the fall, 3 in winter, and another 18 in spring?
Not without paying additional tuition. While some students are eligible to take up to 18 credits per semester without paying additional tuition, they cannot take more than 36 credits across the academic year without incurring additional tuition charges.  See the Winter Session tuition and fees page for more information.

What happens if I enroll in a Winter Session course but then can't attend?
You must officially withdraw from the class by the last weekday BEFORE Winter Session begins or you forfeit all tuition and fees owed for the term.

What if after beginning a course I decide I want to take it pass/fail?
If the course and your program of study allows for that option, you must request the pass/fail option by the fifth day of classes of Winter Session.

What if I begin a Winter Session course but then need to withdraw?
You must withdraw by the fifth day of classes of Winter Session to be eligible for a "W". A withdrawal after the fifth day would register as a "WF"

What if something happens to prevent me from completing my course in the three-week session? Can I take an incomplete?
As with all incompletes, the instructor could grant an incomplete only if most of the course and course work had been completed and an unavoidable problem prevented the final completion of the course. In the event that an incomplete were granted to a student, the student would need to complete the incomplete by the end of the subsequent (Spring) semester. Students who receive an incomplete in a Winter Session course must reduce their maximum-allowable spring semester enrollment hours by the number of credits represented by the incomplete course. (Maximum-allowable semester hours can vary depending on academic and enrollment status. For more information, see the policy on incompletes in the VWC Catalog.)

Can I live on campus during Winter Session?
If you will be a resident student in the fall and spring and are enrolled full-time in Winter Session (i.e., enrolled in at least three credits), you must live on campus during the session, at no additional room cost. Resident students will be assessed $225 for a meal plan. (Resident students involved in other full-time, college-sponsored programs, such as certain athletic programs, may also be eligible for on-campus housing through those programs.) Non-resident students cannot be accommodated in the dormitories.

I will graduate in December. Can I still take a class in Winter Session?
Because a graduate is not a continuing student, December graduates are not eligible for tuition-free participation in Winter Session. Like any non-continuing students, they may still enroll as students or auditors through the day program or the Adult Studies Program; some tuition and fees will apply. 

I'm not a Virginia Wesleyan student. Can I take or sit in on a Winter Session class?
Yes, you can take or audit a Winter Session class by enrolling either as a special student (seeking credit but not toward a degree) or as an auditor (seeking to participate without earning credit). Some fees apply. Go to the Winter Session tuition and fees page for more information about costs and enrollment procedures, or contact the Adult Studies Program's main office at (757) 455-3263.