Other January Opportunities

January at Drew is an opportunity for students to engage in experiential learning programs or to conduct research projects. Students can participate in an academic internship, undertake independent study, do research for honors, be part of a Drew International Seminar, or join other students in volunteer activities.

Students have access to the Simon Center’s fitness and recreation facilities; Drew’s varsity basketball teams play several games on campus; Drew’s swim teams have home meets; a number of world-renowned poets give open readings on campus as part of Drew’s MFA program; and a variety of activities and outings are planned by the Student Activities Office. All activities are open to all January students.

Academic Internships

Academic internships provide students with supervised work experience that demonstrates how skills and theories learned in the classroom are applied in business, industry, community service organizations, government agencies and a myriad of off-campus settings. Each student writes a mid-term paper proposal, and an academic research paper to be evaluated by a faculty member, submits a reflective, weekly journal, and receives an evaluation from the job supervisor.

A Zero-credit internship option is now available, which requires a minimum of 70 hours of satisfactory work performance. Zero-credit interns have the same requirements as listed above, except no journals are required. Also, since no credit is earned, (only a transcript notation), no tuition fee is charged.

Details about January internship opportunities are available from Flore Dorcely-Mohr, Academic Internship/FCSP Assistant Director, Center for Career Development, Sycamore Cottage, or interns@drew.edu.

Federal Community Service Program

The Federal Community Service Program (FCSP) allows students the option to work off-campus in an approved community service organization while earning their work study hours at the top of the pay scale. Drew undergraduate, graduate, and theological students can actively participate in service experiences that meet real community needs. Besides earning work study hours, undergraduate students may also be able to turn their FCSP position into a credit-bearing internship. Opportunities to participate in the program are open every season except summer.

For details about obtaining a FCSP position and earning academic credit, consult Flore Dorcely-Mohr, Academic Internship/FCSP Assistant Director, Center for Career Development, Sycamore Cottage or fdorcely@drew.edu.

Independent Study

January provides an excellent opportunity for students who want to pursue an independent study project without the burden of keeping up with other academic courses as they must during fall and spring semesters. Independent study opportunities are available in most academic departments and programs, but require that students first discuss their topics for independent study with their instructors.

Honors Work

Candidates for specialized honors may also want to use this period for intensive work on their projects. This option does not require registration or a January tuition payment and does not carry academic credit. However, it does give students the opportunity to live on campus to facilitate their work.

International Study

International study opportunities are provided through the Drew International Seminars (DIS). The Drew International Seminars are academically rigorous programs designed to provide students with an opportunity for intensive study of another culture. The seminars combine course work on campus with a three to four week period of on-site study during January or May. Locations vary from year to year. Applications for the DIS program must be made at least one year in advance and require careful planning. Students for the 2012 January DIS program have already been selected and will receive detailed information about registration procedures from the Office of International and Off-Campus Programs.

Students interested in international study should contact the Office of International and Off-Campus Programs, Hall of Sciences room 9, ext. 3438.

Volunteerism

The Volunteer Resource Center (VRC) is a student organization that facilitates students in finding volunteer opportunities on and off-campus as well as planning on and off-campus events. The VRC Office is located in the University Center. The VRC has a staff divided into three committees: On-campus, Off-campus, and the Office. Some of the events are Volunteer Week, Trick or Eat, Socks and the City, March of Babies, Jersey Care Coat Drive, and Relay for Life, to name a few. To become a member, apply in the beginning of the Fall or Spring Semester.

Room and Board

The comprehensive room and board fee for the month of January for students studying on campus is TBA. All January participants must file a special housing application and pay a deposit of $50, which is due by December 15, 2011. December 15 is also the deadline for requesting a particular room and roommate. The form is available from the Housing Office and the Residence Life Office. Students living on campus during January are assigned rooms in the suites (Foster, Hurst, McClintock) and McLendon Hall. The room deposit is credited toward the room charge but is non-refundable if the room reservation is canceled after December 15. Rooms may be occupied beginning at noon on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Meals begin with dinner in the Commons on Tuesday, January 3, and end with lunch on Saturday, January 21. Off-campus residents also may purchase meals in the Snack Bar section of the Commons.