January Term
The J-term Cross Functional Team
As part of the process of revising the University Undergraduate Core, the Core Curriculum Committee (CCC) considered whether a January term could provide unique opportunities for student learning that would align with the goals of the revised Core Curriculum. Given the timeframe under which the CCC was operating, it was simply not feasible to perform the in-depth analysis required to assess the interest in and feasibility of a January term at Xavier University. As such, the CCC asked the faculty to vote either in favor of or against further study of January Terms, as articulated in the document "Overview of Option A and Option B (and Components) for New Undergraduate Core Curriculum" presented to the Faculty on March 31, 2014. The Faculty voted in favor of this further study.
As authorized by the April, 2014 Faculty Assembly vote, the Core Curriculum Committee assembled a January-Term Cross-Functional Team and charged it to:
- Identify and assess the potential advantages and disadvantages of a January term at Xavier, considering the impact on pedagogy, students, majors, faculty, staff/administration, housing, meal plans, tuition, athletics etc.
- Examine J terms at other universities, comparing and contrasting models.
- Produce a report and recommendations to the university community by Aug. 2015.
Consistent with the language put forth for faculty vote, the CFT viewed the primary function of the proposed J- term as a means of providing students with "course choices not available during the regular semester" that would enhance the Core Curriculum experience and better align it with the mission of the University. Viewed through this lens, the J- term envisioned throughout this document would serve as an integral part of the academic experience that most (if not all) Xavier students would participate in.