J Term FAQs

1.   How many J-Term courses are required for graduation?

Newly enrolled First Year students and Transfer students (1-23 cr.) will be required to complete two J-term courses in order to fulfill graduation requirements.  One course of student's choice must be taken during the first year plus one additional J-Term course taken Sophomore, Junior or Senior year.

Requirement for *Transfer students is based on the number of credits transferred to UD.  
       -  For students transferring 1-23 credits, two J-Term courses are required, one taken the first year. 
       -  For students transferring 24 or more credits, one J-Term course is required.

* Transfer - student who has been admitted to and registered for classes at another accredited institution.

2.   Do I have to be an enrolled UD Student?

Participation in J-Term is generally limited to University of Dubuque students who are enrolled in a degree program.  Students who are attending another college or who are non-degree-seeking and wish to enroll in a UD J-Term course must receive permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  Non-University of Dubuque students will be charged the current part-time student tuition rate and all fees associated with the course.

A UD student registered for J-Term who is academically suspended at the end of the Fall term will have their J-Term registration cancelled.  Tuition and fees may be refunded, if applicable, with the exception of non-refundable trip deposits.

Any student who completes all degree requirements in a J-Term may be eligible for graduation at the end of the spring term that follows.

3. How much is J-Term tuition and when are payments due?

There is no additional tuition charge for J-Term courses for full-time students. 

Full-time tuition covers 16-3-16 credits - 16 credits in Fall and Spring terms and 3 credits in J-Term.    

1. Students must be registered for 12 or more credits in the Fall and Spring terms (2011-12) to qualify for up to three (3) tuition-free J-Term credits
2. Campus housing and meal plans are included as part of full-time student's room and board contract.
3. If a student drops below full-time status in the Spring 2012 term (11 or less credits), the student will be retroactively billed for J-Term tuition, room and board.
4. If a student is not registered full-time for the Spring and Fall terms, J-Term tuition will be the standard tuition rate.
5. J-Term tuition for non-UD students is the standard tuition rate.

Students are responsible for any additional fees, including travel costs, associated with the course.  Fees for J-Term courses must be paid in full on or before the first day of the session or as noted by specific course requirements.

Courses with a travel component require a nonrefundable deposit to reserve a seat in the course.  Please consult instructor for details on due dates for payment.  Students will not qualify for J-Term courses with a travel component if unpaid balances from a previous term are due in the Student Accounts office.                      

4. How and when do I register for a J-Term course?

All students wishing to register for a J-Term course need to submit a registration form to the Registrar's Office.  Current UD students should consult with their academic advisor and obtain a signature before registering for a course.  

Non-UD students need to obtain permission from the Associate Dean's Office (Van Vliet Hall) prior to submitting a registration form to the Registrar's Office (Myers Teaching and Administration Center, Room 325). 

Registration for J-Term 2012 is open now.  Students will not be permitted to register for a J-Term course after the first class meeting of the J-Term session.

Course descriptions include the maximum enrollment number.  As classes will fill "first come, first served", students are encouraged to register early.

5. How many courses can I take?

The very nature of a J-Term course is concentrated and accelerated with strong emphasis on experiential learning and out-of-class preparation time. Therefore, students may take only one J-Term course per term to receive the full benefit.

6.  How do I find a description of J-Term courses and check to see if there are prerequisites?

J-Term course descriptions are available online at http://www.dbq.edu/academics/jterm or in the J-Term course schedule booklet, in the Registrar's office.

Course prerequisites, if applicable, are listed at the end of each course description.

7.  Are there any special requirements for J-Term courses?  

Any J-Term course with an off-campus component will require several items:

1. Accident & Health Insurance - the cost of this coverage is included in the course fee
2. Waiver & Release Agreements - student may not participate until this agreement is completed
3. Valid Passport - for travel outside the United States

Specific details on study/travel J-Term courses can be obtained from the course instructor.

8. What are the add/drop/withdrawal and attendance policies for J-Term courses?

1. Adding a course must be done no later than the first class meeting of the course.  With instructor permission, a course may be added through the second class meeting.
2. A student can drop a course through the second day of the J-Term session. 
3. A student may withdraw from a course through the ninth day of the session.  To withdraw, a student must complete a withdrawal card and submit the card to the Registrar's Office.  Withdrawal from a course does not affect the student's grade point average and no credit hours are received.  First Year students are not allowed to drop or withdraw from WVS 201.   
4. No incomplete grades will be allowed for J-Term courses.  All coursework must be completed by the end of the term.
5. If a student, other than a First Year, has not attended class by the 2^nd day of the term, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the course.  First Year students not attending class will receive an "F" grade for WVS 201.

Due to the accelerated pace of J-Term (1 day of class = 1 week) students are expected to attend every class meeting and participate fully in the J-Term experience.  J-Term classes may not be audited.

Absences due to employment or other school sponsored events will not be accepted.  Students are advised to plan schedules around class meeting times as well as allowing 2-3 hours of daily preparation time when not in class.

It will be at the discretion of the intructor to establish course attendance policy and determine if absences are excused or unexcused.

9. What are the J-Term hours on campus?

During J-Term, office hours for the University of Dubuque administrative departments, as well as the Babka Bookstore located in Peters Commons are:

Administrative Offices                        Babka Bookstore

Mon - Fri      8:00 - 5:00                    Mon & Thurs          9:00 - 6:00
                                                       Tues, Wed & Fri     8:00 - 5:00

10. How do I apply for financial aid? 

Financial aid is available in the form of loans for the J-Term session for undergraduate students who receive assistance during the Fall term. Current UD students on financial aid should visit with a financial aid administrator to learn more about how J-Term enrollment may affect overall eligibility.   

For more details, please contact the Office of Student Financial Planning in the Charles & Romona Myers Center, Room 342 or by calling (563) 589-3170.

11. Where can I obtain information about housing and meal plans?

Campus housing and meal plans for J-Term are included as part of full-time students' room and board contract.

1. J-Term meal plan terms are same as selected for Spring 2012 meal plan (meals/day)
2. There is no billing for J-Term meals unless student drops J-Term class
3. If a student drops or withdraws from a J-Term course, they may continue to live in the residence hall at the discretion of the Director of Residence Life.  The student will be billed for room and board on a pro-rated basis.
4. If a student drops below full-time status in the Spring 2012 term (11 or less credits), the student will be retroactively billed for J-Term tuition, room and board.
5. Housing for just J-Term will not be allowed if student does not have Fall/Spring residence contract.
6. A meal plan for just J-Term is not available.
7. Students not taking a J-Term course are allowed into housing under Spring 2012 move-in policy.

For other questions or general information about housing and meal plans, please call the Office of Residence Life, (563) 589-3438.

12. Who can I contact with other questions about J-Term?

If you have questions about J-Term, please contact:

1. the Office of the Registrar at 563-589-3178
2. the J-Term Coordinators:

Dr. Gail Hodge, Van Vliet Hall, Room 318, (563) 589-3349  or
Dr. Paul Johnson, Smith Hall, Room 301, (563) 589-3106

Please Note:

Course offerings are contingent on course enrollments.
The decision to offer/cancel a course will be made by November 18, 2011.   

All information contained online is based on information available at the time and is subject to change.