2008 Woodie Awards
The evolution of Jan Plan
Chelsea Eakin
Issue date: 3/16/07 Section: News & Features
Beginning in 1981-82, academic departments began offering January courses for academic credit. "Some people think that when we made the move to give academic credit we lost the original purpose of the JanPlan, which was learning for learning's sake," Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs Janice Kassman said.
"Some students take advantage of the original spirit of January and pursue independent projects and internships. However, the majority of students currently are opting to take courses for academic credit," Yeterian said. "The January courses are often of a kind not taught in the fall or spring semester, the subject matter is diverse, and the instructors, many of whom are from outside our continuing faculty, bring interesting personal as well as professional perspectives to their teaching. However, a course, no matter how original or different from the semester curriculum, is distinct from an independent project or internship, which is fundamentally student-driven and often student-initiated."
This January Emily Wilbert '08 took Ecological Teaching and Learning, not because she needed credit, but because it looked interesting. "I really thought it was a life-altering experience," she said. The class included four days of winter camping, teaching environmental education at a local high school, and time outside every day.
While the option of taking a course for credit may have weakened the original intention of JanPlan, for some students it has been a major asset, offering a time to take a necessary course they otherwise would have struggled to fit into their schedule.
"In the academic world almost everything evolves," Yeterian said. "[JanPlan] was created in 1962 and it cannot be expected to be the same in 2007. Student interests change, demands change. There is obviously pressure from students to take courses for credit and there are wonderful courses that don't get credit and are more of a challenge to fill."
"Some students take advantage of the original spirit of January and pursue independent projects and internships. However, the majority of students currently are opting to take courses for academic credit," Yeterian said. "The January courses are often of a kind not taught in the fall or spring semester, the subject matter is diverse, and the instructors, many of whom are from outside our continuing faculty, bring interesting personal as well as professional perspectives to their teaching. However, a course, no matter how original or different from the semester curriculum, is distinct from an independent project or internship, which is fundamentally student-driven and often student-initiated."
This January Emily Wilbert '08 took Ecological Teaching and Learning, not because she needed credit, but because it looked interesting. "I really thought it was a life-altering experience," she said. The class included four days of winter camping, teaching environmental education at a local high school, and time outside every day.
While the option of taking a course for credit may have weakened the original intention of JanPlan, for some students it has been a major asset, offering a time to take a necessary course they otherwise would have struggled to fit into their schedule.
"In the academic world almost everything evolves," Yeterian said. "[JanPlan] was created in 1962 and it cannot be expected to be the same in 2007. Student interests change, demands change. There is obviously pressure from students to take courses for credit and there are wonderful courses that don't get credit and are more of a challenge to fill."
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linda ellis
posted 3/16/07 @ 10:14 PM EST
25 years ago i took tie dyeing for my jan plan..it seems that there are still options that make this a waste of money and time. this january (and last)a student could take african druming and show up inebriated at the concluding performance along with 50% of the other students. (Continued…)
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