Frequently Asked Questions

• Are all students required to participate in WinterSession?
• How will students learn about departmental expectations or requirements?
• Whose responsibility is it to see that students engage in approved activities?
• What is the range of acceptable activities for WinterSession?
• How will student participation be monitored?
• What will it cost students to participate in WinterSession?
• Will required courses be offered during WinterSession?

Q. Are all students required to participate in WinterSession?
In general, all full-time students are expected to participate in WinterSession activities, whether for-credit or non-credit, on-site or off-site, in accordance with their individual needs and interests. Each department will have the authority to require participation or to grant exemptions based on its own internal guidelines. WinterSession participation is optional for part-time students.

Q. How will students learn about departmental expectations or requirements?
The HSPH catalog, student handbook, and communications from the WinterSession Administrative Committee will inform students of the general expectation that they will participate in WinterSession activities. Each department or program will be responsible for communicating more specific expectations, if any.

Q. Whose responsibility is it to see that students engage in approved activities?
Departments should be prepared to give students guidance about acceptable activities, but are not required to provide activities for their students. Students should be encouraged by their departments and their advisors to start planning for WinterSession early in the fall semester. Ultimately, each student is responsible for ensuring that he or she is engaged in an approved activity.

Q. What is the range of acceptable activities for WinterSession?
In addition to credit-bearing courses, students may take up to five credits during WinterSession, acceptable activities might include tutorials or independent study projects (with faculty members who are willing to take these on), travel tutorials, field placements, practica, community service projects, courses organized and taught by students, and skill-building workshops sponsored by administrative departments of the school, such as writing workshops, job-search strategies, and financial management for students. Again, approved activities need not be located on campus, or even in the United States.

Q. How will student participation in WinterSession be monitored?
The WinterSession Administrative Committee is developing a mechanism whereby departments will provide information about each student's activities, as well as exemptions. The aim is to collect comprehensive information that will allow the Committee on Educational Policy to evaluate WinterSession activities and participation. The Registrar's Office will monitor enrollment in credit-bearing activities only, through the regular registration process.

Q. What will it cost students to participate in WinterSession?
WinterSession is considered part of the spring semester, and thus will not raise tuition costs for full-time students. Part-time students will be required to pay for credits taken during WinterSession as they do at other times of the year. Also, note that travel expenses and materials fees are not considered part of tuition. However, modest funds are available to support expenses for travel-related HSPH courses during WinterSession. Please consult the Travel Tutorials section of the Student Handbook for information regarding funding for travel-related HSPH WinterSession courses.

Q. Will required courses be offered during WinterSession?
Required courses will not be taught during WinterSession unless they are offered at another time of the year. An exception to this policy will be made if the course is required only for students in a particular department and if that department has made WinterSession participation mandatory.

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WinterSession Resource