In order to provide alternative course delivery options to students, Spoon River College piloted a Winter Interim during the college’s winter break. The five online classes averaged 17 students per class for a total of 86 students who chose to cut their winter vacation short in order to hasten their educational goals. The classes offered were: Accounting, American History, Nutrition, Beginning Algebra with Geometry, and Statistics.
Spoon River College regularly offers summer interim classes immediately following the spring semester, but this was the first time a winter session had been offered.
“The winter interim was more successful than we dreamed it would be,” said Jim Genandt, dean of career and technical education at Spoon River College. “It shows the need to be continually developing new ways of making education accessible to those who want it.”
Interim sessions, or minimesters, allow students to earn up to 4 credit hours (depending on the course) in only three weeks.
“Interim classes are intense,” said Brandi Ketchum, student services advisor at the college. “You live it and breathe it for three weeks, but then it’s over and you walk away with 3 credit hours in three weeks that normally would have taken you 16 weeks to earn.”
Genandt said he was extremely pleased by the motivation of the students, noting that their Cumulative GPA was 3.38 (on a 4.0 scale). He also expressed his appreciation for the faculty members who were willing to teach the classes during their winter vacation.
“Alternative methods of course delivery, such as minimesters and online offerings, are becoming more popular with non-traditional and/or working students who are often limited on the amount of time they have to obtain their credits and complete their degrees,” said Genandt.
More interim sessions are being planned; one will be offered immediately following the end of the current spring semester and the other will be offered immediately following the regular summer session, according to Genandt.
For more information on the programs offered at Spoon River College and how to register, call 1-800-DEGREES or (309) 649-6400.
Individuals planning to attend Spoon River College for the first time must take the COMPASS assessment test before registering for classes, or have evidence of official ACT scores. On the Canton and Macomb campuses, the test is offered on a walk-in basis between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. At the college’s Rushville and Havana sites, the test is offered by appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call (309) 649-6400 in Canton, (309) 833-6069 in Macomb, (309) 543-4413 in Havana, or (217) 322-6060 in Rushville.
