STORY BY MORGAN GSTALTER
The annual January-term fair, which showcases three-credit winter break options, will take place on Monday, March 9 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Parent’s Hall of upper Olmsted.
The fair will provide an opportunity for students to see all of the available travel seminars and some of the on-campus classes that will be open for registration and offered in January 2016.
“In general, J-term travel courses are looking to attract relatively broad audiences,” professor Arthur Sanders said. “Some courses are targeting particular audiences.”
The fair will have a complete list of definite travel seminars and on-campus courses that have been very popular in the past and are likely to return again.
“Some faculty have time conflicts so they will send former students to sit at the table and pass out informational sheets and email sign-up sheets for more information,” Sanders said.
While January-term classes that travel outside of Iowa are often more attractive to students, especially those who cannot spend a semester abroad, Sanders said not to count out classes that are based on campus.
Some classes, such as advanced piano ensemble, are catered to specific students and majors. Other on-campus courses, however, often spend time exploring Des Moines and some fun classes, like one about winter birds, spend a lot of time outside.
“Professor Keith Summerville has taught a course in the past on environmental biology,” Sanders said. “Some people might be a little apprehensive but it has no pre-requisites. It’s open to students who happen to be interested.”
Registration for the fall 2015 semester and January 2016 courses begins on Monday, March 30.