DePauw is considering a proposal written by Dr. Larry Stimpert, vice president for academic affairs, that would drastically change Winter Term.
Winter Term would be shortened to two weeks and all Winter Terms would be optional for graduation requirements. Stimpert and other faculty members are well-intended; however, this proposal would fundamentally alter the DePauw experience and negatively impact student life.
Winter Term boasts many of the most unique experiences available to DePauw students. There are stimulating classes, once in a lifetime trips to embark upon, and the option for students to design experiences around personal ambitions and interests. This allows students to connect DePauw's liberal arts education to the real world. If Winter Term is shortened, many opportunities will become less meaningful. What could a student really learn and retain from two weeks of class? Trips abroad would lose depth and substance; on-campus preparation for these trips would be diminished or eliminated. This past Winter Term, I was fortunate to travel with a DePauw group to London and Paris. This educationally enriching trip would have lost great impact if it were shortened.
Some students utilize Winter Term to complete internships. I had a great internship experience with the Greencastle City Attorney during my first year. It gave me a unique perspective of local government and demonstrated ways in which DePauw meshes with the Greencastle community. Current and future DePauw students could lose invaluable opportunities to gain exposure to civic and professional organizations. Admittedly, our current Winter Term approach doesn't offer full immersion into organizations, but it is lengthy enough to provide learning experiences for students and employers. The logistics of a ten-workday Winter Term would discourage organizations from offering internships, negatively impacting students' abilities to attain professional experiences.
Another concern is the detrimental impact these changes could have on DePauw recruitment. Many students become interested in DePauw partly because of the intrigue of Winter Term. The possibilities are vast and exciting. If the decision was made to pass this proposal, opportunities would be diminished, as would the allure of Winter Term. Without Winter Term being required for graduation, prospective students and parents could view January as an extended school vacation, rather than a chance to enhance and supplement an education.
Watering down Winter Term could minimize a critical element in DePauw's culture - one that makes us stand out among a myriad of other schools across the country. The significant advantages of critical programs like DePauw's Winter Term have caught the attention of other respected universities, such as Miami University, which will institute its first Winter Term next January to create chances to expand options and enrich student experiences, including studying abroad, completing workshops, conducting research or internships or taking a course. Sound familiar? It's a good sign when other successful institutions borrow your best ideas.
One theory maintains that shortening Winter Term might lessen the amount of drinking that occurs on campus. If proposed changes are approved, the opposite may occur. With no Winter Term requirements, students may sense fewer responsibilities and obligations, which could lead to increased binge drinking.
A shortened, non-mandatory Winter Term would put the Winter Term we know and value in peril. If the university adopts this proposal, it may be a step toward eliminating the Winter Term concept. The negative impact that would occur from this change would be irrecoverable.
Winter Term is an integral part of the DePauw experience; many students would loath to see it diluted. As with any DePauw experience, the successes of Winter Term can be built upon. Perhaps this discussion should refocus on how to provide the greatest access and highest quality Winter Term experiences for all DePauw students. Winter Term is an extraordinary asset to the students and the University. We should leverage this great opportunity, rather than minimize its impact.
--Carey is is a junior economics major from Columbus, Ohio.