Orientation

While the Winter Start program is a little atypical, we have a number of programs in place to help make your college transition smooth. Once at CC Winter Starts kick off their experience with a New Student Orientation (NSO) trip to Baca, our satellite campus in the San Luis Valley. You will then join your CC peers on campus and begin your double block introductory course, the First-Year Experience, designed to facilitate the academic transition to the Block Plan. In terms of graduation time, many winter starts get extra credits during CC's summer block offerings, half blocks, or during their pre-CC semester and graduate in May with the rest of their class. However, others choose to finish in December, fulfilling a full four years on campus.

Registration

Winter Start students will receive access to pre-registration materials in mid-summer. There will be an advising questionnaire to fill out so that we can match students appropriately to advisors on campus. There will also be a 'Snapshot' questionnaire to complete in preparation for First-Year Experience excursions and activities.

Academic Advisors

Winter Start students will work with Dr. Aaron Stoller, the Director of Academic Programs and First-Year Experience, in mid-November to enroll in their Block 5 & 6 FYE courses. As part of Winter Start Orientation, Winter Start students can expect to receive an advising questionnaire, which will be used by our Student Opportunities and Advising Hub, to assign students to a faculty advisor. Students will receive the name and contact information of their faculty advisor in early January and will need to meet with their new advisor during Block 5 to select their Block 7 & 8 courses. Students will then meet with their advisor again during the all-college, fall pre-registration period from April 6 - April 24, 2020, to select their Block 1 - 4 courses for the following academic year.

Winter Transfer Advising

All incoming Winter Transfer students will work with the Registrar's Office and Advising Hub in early December to select their spring courses, Blocks 5 - 8. During this time, the Student Opportunities and Advising Hub will work to assign students to a faculty advisor within their intended major. Winter Transfer students should plan to meet with their faculty advisor as needed throughout the spring semester to discuss major requirements, transfer credits, and remaining all-college requirements. Winter Transfer students will also need to meet with their advisor during the all-college, pre-registration period from April 6 - April 24, 2020, to select their Block 1 - 4 courses for the following academic year. Students should continue to work with the Student Opportunities and Advising Hub as needed to change faculty advisors or majors.

Room Assignments

Room assignments are made after the deadline to submit the online housing agreement has passed. The preference questionnaire that you will be asked to fill out as part of the online process is especially important. We will make every effort to take your preferences into consideration; however, we believe strongly that first year students benefit by starting their on-campus residency in one of our large residence halls with their peers. Assignments will be based on mid-year housing availability in those halls. You will be notified of your room and roommate assignment when the college re-opens after Winter Break, immediately prior to orientation. We will include contact information with your assignment and strongly encourage you to connect with your roommate and to get to know him or her.

For Credit Options

Colorado College offers our own international study options for the Fall Semester Away (FSA) programs, taught by Colorado College professors in locations around the world, specifically for students admitted to these options. Check with the Admission Office for more details as this program has very limited capacity.

Below are some other credit-bearing semester-long options that you may also consider.

CET Gap Year Programs
CET Academic Programs is a study abroad organization that has been developing and delivering innovative educational programs abroad since 1982. They offer language intensive gap semester programs in four locations:

• Intensive Chinese Language in Beijing, China
• Intensive Italian Language and Intercultural Communication in Siena, Italy
• Intensive Japanese Language and elective courses in Osaka, Japan
• Intensive Arabic Language in Amman, Jordan.

SEA Semester
Spend a semester learning to sail a tall ship, being part of a small and rigorous community, doing scientific and cultural research, and developing independence out on the open ocean. This program will consider accepting Winter Starts on a case-by-case basis (courses completed, maturity, etc), and doesn't require that you know how to sail before you begin the semester. While the academic focus varies, each program offers an interconnected suite of courses designed to explore a specific ocean-related theme using a cross-disciplinary approach. Leadership and personal growth outcomes are tremendous through this adventure, and most all of the SEA courses are transferrable back to CC.

School For Field Studies
School for Field Studies is a leader in environmental field study semester programs, offering programs in Peru, Cambodia & Vietnam, Panama, Bhutan, Tanzania, Australia & New Zealand, Turks & Caicos, and Costa Rica. A full semester of credit can be earned on SFS programs. Gap year students and Winter Starts are welcome to apply; contact the SFS Admissions Office early in the process if you have any questions about pre-reqs. SFS programs require a college-level science course as a prerequisite, although if students have already taken an AP/IB environmental science, biology, etc course then they may fulfill the requirement.

Hebrew University in Jerusalem: Freshman-Gap Year Program
This program of the Rothberg International School is specially designed for first-year students, whether they plan to continue their studies in Israel or back home. Students may enroll for the entire year or for either the autumn or spring semester. A variety of first-year courses are offered in the areas of Israel and Middle Eastern studies, Religion, Brain and Behavioral Sciences, and Environmental Studies. All Freshmen students participate in the Freshman Seminar, which provides first-year college students with a strong foundation to assist in the transition from high school to college. It provides academic and social support while strengthening the students' skills in academic research and writing. Student take the following courses:

• Modern Hebrew (8-10 hours a week; 6-7 credits)
• Freshman Seminar (during the Undergraduate Ulpan)
• Three Freshman level courses (4 hours a week; 3 credits per course) One course must be in Jewish or Israel studies. The complete list of first-year courses can be viewed online.

College Year In Athens - Semester program
This program will consider Winter Starts on a case-by-case basis. A full semester of credit can be earned on the CYA Semester, in academic areas such as Classics, Art History, Archaeology, Economics & Business, Politics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Literature, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Modern & Ancient Greek language, and Urban Planning & Sustainability. Students can choose from a homestay (highly recommended) or live in the heart of Athens' Pangrati neighborhood in apartments with other CYA students, a close walk to the CYA campus.

American University Mentorship Semester in Washington D.C. (or in the United Kingdom)
This program is specifically designed for winter start students and is currently in its tenth year of existence. There are 180-200 college students participating this semester, and students earn between 12 to 15 regular semester credits - four classes and a credit-bearing internship/practicum two days a week. Choose from a variety of courses, see program websites for more information. Please note, CC does not accept the writing course taught entirely online for transfer credit, for students choosing the England program.

Partial academic credit (less than a full semester) may be available on the following programs:

Global Citizen Academy
We believe that learning extends beyond the classroom, and that a well-designed, educational gap-year can help students find and pursue their passions. Our partnership with Global Citizen Year engages students in an immersive global gap-year and fall semester programs in Brazil, Ecuador, India, or Senegal. Global Citizen Year Fellows live with a host family and apprentice to a local organization working in education, health, or environmental sustainability. A number of Colorado College students have participated in the program and shared thoughtful testimonials about their experiences. You can read more about this partnership and the process to take a gap term on this CC website.

Global Citizen Academy offers a Fall Semester option to enroll and receive academic credit for one course, "Systems and Societies" (4 semester credits, which equals one CC unit). Colorado College will accept this course for one unit of credit; please make sure to officially opt in for the credit-bearing option, and have your final transcript sent to CC upon completion of the program (transcripts are issued by Minerva Schools at KGI).

NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)
NOLS offers semester programs in Patagonia, the Rockies, the U.S. Southwest, Baja Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, India, East Africa, and New Zealand. Partial credit for the semester can be earned if your NOLS program offers the Environmental Studies course and/or the Cultural Studies course (4 semester credits = 1 CC unit). Students must specifically request the academic credit be issued through the University of Utah or Western State Colorado University partnerships.

Additionally, Colorado College will also grant a maximum 0.5 units of credit for completion of the Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course, consistent with what we offer here at CC. We will not award transfer credit for Leadership Techniques, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Skills Practicum, Cultural Studies, or Risk Assessment, as these are not liberal arts in nature.

Where There Be Dragons
WTBD gap programs are designed to immerse students into different cultures through the nine core program components: rugged travel, homestays, trekking and wilderness exploration, service learning, survey of development issues, internship/independent study options, language study, introduction to philosophy and comparative religions, and focus of inquiry. Some of the coursework may be transferrable to CC through Naropa University.

CIEE Gap Year Semesters
This semester-long program is designed for gap year/winter start students, and includes language immersion program classes, English-teaching internship/community service, and housing and meals with families. Programs exist in Australia, Chile, Spain, China, Dominican Republic, France, Italy, Japan, and Jordan. Depending on the level of language and classes completed, some academic credit may be possible at CC by completing this program: only CIEE gap year programs which give students the option to receive a transcript (not certificate of completion) from an accredited local host university will be considered for potential language transfer credit at CC.

HMI Gap (High Mountain Institute)
HMI Gap semesters are designed to be a unique and refreshing break from our busy world, an uninterrupted journey of adventure, self-discovery, and growth. With rock climbing and wilderness travel focused programs in Patagonia and the American West, students spend three months traveling to some of the world's wildest places, gain independence as outdoor adventurers, and give back by getting their hands dirty helping with real-world conservation projects. HMI emphasizes building a strong, intentional community, where students make lasting friendships with people who encourage them to become their best self. HMI offers $1,000 scholarship opportunities for Colorado College students. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Only one class from HMI is transferrable to CC for credit: Land Conservation Ethics (3 semester credits = 0.75 unit at CC). If you participate in a semester where this course is offered, and wish to transfer this class, you must request the transcript from Western State Colorado University.

Non-Credit Options

A number of experiential programs exist to challenge and inspire your growth and inquiry during your fall semester before you join us at CC. Past Winter Start students have enjoyed:

Outward Bound: Gap Year Expeditions
Outward Bound, founded by educator Kurt Hahn, is a non-profit educational organization and expedition school that serves people of all ages and backgrounds through challenging learning expeditions that inspire self-discovery, both in and out of the classroom. Students explore unfamiliar settings as a way to experience adventure and challenge to discover that they can do more than they thought possible. These Outward Bound 30-day to 85-day courses are opportunities to gain real wilderness skills and develop life skills in decision-making, problem solving, leadership and teamwork.