FITCHBURG - Fitchburg State College is going green for its winter session courses for the second year by holding all classes online to save energy costs.
The winter session – traditionally held between the end of the fall semester and beginning of spring semester – normally runs over a two week period in January. This year, courses will begin on Dec. 28, running through Jan. 15 – a full three week schedule.
The entire winter session schedule is viewable online at: http://www.fsc.edu/registrar/documents/201020_gce_seats.pdf
Registration for the winter session begins online Nov. 2 for students that have been accepted or have already taken classes with the college. It opens to mail-in, phone-in, and fax registration to previous students and all other students on Nov. 9. For information, visit www.fsc.edu/gce or call (978) 665-3182.
Most years, the college holds between 25 and 30 courses for an average of 380 students as part of the winter session – each requiring their own classrooms and associated costs, and held with varying schedules on the evenings and weekends. Moving to online courses eliminates the heating and electricity costs at those times, as well as the costs for additional police and custodial personnel needed on campus. The college expects to save $50,000 in utility costs with the online move.
“For a relatively small number of courses, heating and lighting needs to be provided during times that the college might otherwise be able to shut down some buildings,” said Catherine R. Canney, Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.
It also removes the travel concerns that commuter students and instructors have during the winter.
“We believe that removing the scheduling obstacles and the need to live within commuting distance to campus, will open up these courses to a larger pool of students which we hope results in additional enrollment,” Canney said.
“The commuting issue is a big one since winter session schedules mandated class sessions almost every day, so students who might make the trip for a one day a week course, found it difficult to commit to a daily trip to campus.” |
