Winter Programs
Guidelines for courses that meet between Fall and Spring terms
Winter Program Course Setup
William & Mary does not have a separate Winter or "J-Term". Undergraduate winter program courses will be built as Fall courses and must end prior to the first day of undergraduate classes for Spring in order to comply with federal financial aid rules.
Winter courses that will extend into spring term will be split into two segments, a fall section that ends before the first day of classes for spring, and a spring section that reflects the work done between the first day of spring classes and the end of the course.
Faculty and departments considering these courses should contact the Office of the University Registrar well in advance for guidance on terms. For graduate programs, designation of the term for winter courses must be consistent for all winter courses within the individual program.
Term Assignment Guidelines
- A course that ends completely before the first day of Spring classes (all assignments and presentations completed before the first day of Spring classes) will be built as a Fall course, whether it began during the Fall term or after Fall exams ended. Grades for such courses must be submitted within one week of the start of the spring semester; Incomplete and Deferred grading is not available.
- Courses that complete after the first day of the Spring term will be split into a Fall section for the first portion (whether they began during Fall or after Fall exams but before the first day of Spring classes) and a Spring section for the second portion.
- Preparatory sections, which begin and end during the Fall term and usually earn one credit are built as Fall courses, even if the winter experience itself has both a Fall and a Spring component.
Sample course durations are shown below, with their corresponding term designation:
Registration
Once the course dates are established and the syllabus provided, the Office of the University Registrar will determine add/drop and withdrawal deadlines, based on the actual course meet dates and other instructional activities as identified on the course syllabus.
For Fall courses that begin after exams end (first row in visual), a maximum credit hours “overload” approval is not required. The Office of the University Registrar or graduate registrar will register students without need for CAS or other approval.
All other winter program courses will count toward the student’s maximum credit limit for the designated term. Overload approvals will be required prior to registration when the winter course pushes the student’s total credit hours above their maximum (e.g. 18 credits for undergraduates).
Course Fees
Fees may be assessed for a winter program course if approved by the Board of Visitors or its designees in the Office of Finance & Administration, Student Accounts department, or the Reves Center. A department/program/school/office wishing to have a fee established for a winter program course should begin the process of fee approval several months before the course begins, in order to have the fee approved and a code assigned prior to the building of the course and student registration.
Once the add/drop period for the course has passed, fees are non-refundable. Until the add/drop period ends, the student may completely drop the class, which results in a refund of fees. Fees are not refunded for class withdrawals that take place after the add/drop deadline. For study abroad programs, please contact the [[w|wmabroad, Global Education Office]] or the global education advisor.
Fall and Spring tuition is fixed and is not adjusted based on additional credits during the winter break.
