View From The Hill - (1/8/09)

The campus of WKU may seem bare these days, but nearly 25 hundred students are squeezing in a winter term.  In this week’s “View from the Hill”, Amy Bingham has more on how the newest term continues to grow.

WKU’s optional winter term started four years ago, and is now one of the largest in the country.  255 sections are offered, with every department and every college represented.

“It’s hard because it’s every day and it’s three and a half hours, so it’s different than normal class periods but I’m really enjoying it.”

Henderson junior Katie Williams decided to keep the momentum toward her degree going this winter by signing up for an economic class.  “With the break being so long it got kind of hard to be home a whole extra month than everyone else.”

Winter Term Director Beth Laves says many students realize focusing on one class now will make life easier in the future.  “Students will take it so they don’t have a huge load and will have a smaller load in the spring.”

Winter term has gradually increased since it began with 15-hundred students in 2006…this year’s figure is around 25-hundred.  “I’m pleased with our numbers, very pleased with our numbers to see the kind of growth we are having”.
54 percent of enrollments are on-line.  Katie says she tried that two years ago but actually attending class works better for her.  “I didn’t pay attention, now I’m paying attention and have learned I need face-to-face basis.”

Winter term students are only allowed to take one class and earn four credit hours.  Laves said WKU Provost Dr. Barbara Burch had the idea and vision for a winter term back in 2002.  With this week’s View from the Hill, I’m Amy Bingham.