Students Use ‘Winter Session’ to Get Ahead; Enjoy Small, Intense Classes, Personal Attention

While many UConn students were lounging in bed, working at the mall, or visiting family, the students in Accounting Professor Leanne Adams’ ACCT 2001 Winter Session course spent early January learning the principles of financial accounting.

“A Winter Session course provides a great opportunity for students to check off a requirement on their plan of study,” Adams said. “But it’s also a great learning experience. The January term has the same rigor as a regular semester, however students tend to find it easier to grasp the material since class meets every day and they’re not distracted by a full course load.”

The fast-paced session, which began Dec. 28 and continued until Jan. 15, offered courses at all campuses, as well as online. Some 130 students took advantage of the business courses offered which included accounting classes, the legal and ethical environment of business, a practicum in professional sales, and professional practice in marketing.

Katherine Mo, a sophomore majoring in management information systems, said Adams’ accounting course is the second class she has taken during Winter Session.

“I hear some students say it’s a little easier and clearer, because it’s a small class and you can ask questions,” Mo said.

Kristin Glinzak, an adviser in the Office of Undergraduate Advising, said student feedback is often mixed.

“I think students are more hesitant towards Winter Session because of the holidays and because they want their break in between semesters,” Glinzak said. “Summer is a bit more flexible because it is a longer break for students.”

Glinzak said she doesn’t normally advise students to take intersession courses in the overall plan of study, but sometimes it is necessary. One drawback is that financial aid can work differently in the intersession.

Sophomore Qu Shen said he is happy to finish a course in just three weeks, and that he thought the accounting course was just as difficult as a full-semester course.

Mohamed Hussein, accounting professor and former department head, said that intersession courses offered depend on instructor availability and student demand.

Hussein said that students should know it’s important to concentrate on the one course, not vacation or employment in a shortened session.

“The daily number of hours that you’re going to spend on that course, are going to be, at the minimum, double what you would spend on a regular term course,” Hussein said.