It’s that time again.
Registration is open for spring/summer courses at Brock, and demand continues to grow as the University expands its offerings for both students and community members who wish to begin, continue or extend their education.
“In the past, our spring/summer options were fairly limited by virtue of space and budget limitations,” said Anna Lathrop, Brock’s Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning. “In the past, we have tended to focus on the fall/winter term, driven by the assumption that students in summer and spring are working to pay for their education.”
That attitude has shifted, both at the University and among students.
“(Spring/summer courses) provide students the opportunity to pick up credits that perhaps they’d either not done well in (during fall or winter courses), or, to get a head start on the next term,” Lathrop said.
Last year, Brock noted a 17 per cent increase in spring/summer enrollments from the year previous. Lathrop anticipates another 15 per cent increase in 2014.
It seems, “if you build it, they will come.”
“I just really believe that there’s such a great opportunity for flexible course delivery, and I’m delighted to see a growing cross-section of faculty who are willing to try new educational technologies,” Lathrop said.
Anna Lathrop, Brock's Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, is looking forward to expanded offerings during Brock's spring/summer term.
There is also added flexibility with spring/summer courses that are offered in an accelerated (compressed) face-to-face format, as well as courses that are either fully or partially online.
The flexibility and diversity of the courses being offered is appealing, Lathrop said.
Brock is also working with other universities to simplify and recognize transfer credits for students who may study at another university but who wish to take a credit at Brock.
For students who may come to Niagara for summer employment, Conference Services is also working to provide opportunities for student housing.
“We not only need to think of our regular Brock students, but also consider learning to be a lifelong opportunity,” Lathrop said. “Spring is an ideal time to try a new course and rediscover the potential that new knowledge affords.”
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