"It gives students the opportunity to lighten their load for spring," says Metro State Registrar Tom Gray, "and it does the same thing for faculty."

Two weeks in duration, Winterim starts Jan. 3 and runs through Jan. 15 with classes meeting daily for about four hours. Students who take Winterim classes can apply spring financial aid and will receive grades as part of their spring semester report.

Overall, between 450 and 500 students will eschew a lazy holiday in favor of amassing credit hours—three is the maximum students can acquire. Winterim students can choose from just under 20 classes in subjects ranging from anthropology and psychology to industrial design. This is the third Winterim offering since the program launched in January 2003.

Faculty enjoy teaching during Winterim for several reasons. Political Science Instructor Amy Eckert, who is working to finish her dissertation, decided to teach a Winterim version of "Introduction to International Relations" to free up some writing time this spring.

"I think Winterim is fantastic," says Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Michael Martinez, who taught his first Winterim class last winter. "It allows for a continual flow of the subject matter that can't happen when you're teaching classes that meet on Mondays and Wednesdays. Last year, my students were very gung ho to do the readings and involved in the lectures."

Martinez's Winterim class this January, "The American Correctional System," filled so fast that an extra 10 slots were added to accommodate student interest. So far 37 students have registered with only three seats left.

Winterim classes, though, are very concentrated. Martinez's two-week course meets Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. During that time students will take three tests and receive a research paper assignment due in February.

"These classes are pretty intense," Gray explains. "When you think about it, students are getting mid-terms at the end of the first week. But most of them really like it."

To view Winterim class offerings, go to
http://www.mscd.edu/cgi-bin/schedules/spring/winterim.cgi