Courses offered during the Interim Sessions are often creative and experimental, ranging from international and domestic travel to explore many topics of interest, to intensive seminars in psychology, experiential courses in business and independent projects designed by individual students. Winter Interim is designed for on-line and travel courses only and is conducted during the winter break. Summer Interim is held for a three week period in May and is the first part of the summer term. All Interim Session courses must adhere to the University’s Credit Hour Policy.
Registration for Winter Interim courses is a part of the registration procedure for spring semester. Summer Interim course registration is a part of the registration procedure for the summer term and fall semester. Students may register for no more than four credit hours offered during an interim session.
Students who intend to enroll for the Winter Interim session should be advised that many departments that provide student support services such as University Libraries, IT Service Desk, and college academic advising offices may be closed for the Winter Holidays, which encompass a large portion of Winter Interim.
All proposals for courses including travel should include itinerary, specific plans for housing, meals and transportation, and complete cost information. The Interim Session Expense Form for Travel Within the United States should be completed and submitted for each proposed travel course, and provided to Ashley Hyche, Assistant Director of Student Account Services (ashley.j.hyche@ua.edu, Campus Box 870120) by the following deadlines:
- Summer Interim: February 10th
- Winter Interim: September 10th
Once reviewed and approved by the Office of Student Account Services, instructors and their respective departments should distribute this form to students intending to enroll in this course for informational and planning purposes.
A liability release form must be signed prior to departure by each student enrolled in the class. Faculty should thoroughly communicate the potential risks associated with the class trip to students. Some common risks are listed on this form, but faculty should review and address any other issues of particular concern relevant to the class. Instructors, in coordination with their respective departments, are expected to maintain signed copies of the release forms for each student enrolled in the class. The liability release form is located under the Forms section below.
The costs of any travel connected with an Interim course will be charged as a travel fee to the students enrolled. It is permissible for the instructor’s expenses to be absorbed in the total price of the travel package. The established travel fee plus the tuition will be paid in installments on preset dates. In either case, it is to be paid directly to the University via Student Account Services. The travel fee will be deposited into the account of the departmental office in which the course is listed. The department is responsible for expending this money following usual University procedures, and the faculty member involved is advised to keep careful records. Informal financial arrangements or collections by faculty members for expenses must be avoided to prevent any misunderstandings related to the use of student fees.
The instructor’s expenses for prepaid items (e.g. hotel, airfare, etc.) may be paid in advance along with the students’ expenses. Funds may be advanced for expenses anticipated to be incurred by students and the instructor during the trip, provided that those expenses cannot be prepaid. Refer to the University’s travel expense policy for requirements concerning reimbursement documentation requirements and procedures.
COURSES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
If the proposed course will be held outside the US, the course must be administered through the Capstone International Center’s Education Abroad Office. Contact Education Abroad for further information and specific submission deadlines at http://studyabroad.ua.edu.