Winter Session Offers Diverse Courses for Students, Community

December 27, 2004

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ How have organisms adapted to survive in cold climates? Which wine goes best with lamb chops? How does Zen therapy help the soul? During Winter Session 2005 at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, you can take courses that will answer these questions and more.

Winter Session provides the opportunity for students and community members alike to take a variety of courses in January. For students, it's an excellent opportunity to earn credits in a short amount of time. There are also unique courses that may be of interest to community members.

The sessions will run from Jan. 3 to 21, 2005 and will provide exciting learning opportunities for students of all ages. The courses are scheduled in a variety of ways that allow students to take more than one class. With more than 45 courses, including a variety of online courses, offered during Winter Session, students can take General Education courses, improve skills in winter sports, learn unique skills and make progress toward a degree.

Some courses take place outside the traditional classroom setting and are designed to facilitate learning in non-traditional ways. For example, the "Wilderness First Responder" (PED360) course will teach wilderness medical skills in remote settings and will include field exercises and mock rescue settings.

A few other unique courses offered during Winter Session at SUNY Plattsburgh include: "Life in Winter" (BIO 130), which introduces students to the study of adaptations that enable organisms to survive cold climates; "Zen Therapy: Healing, Haiku, Nature" (CLG526), which explores Zen values, practices and modes of experiencing. Emphasis will be placed upon therapeutic applications of selflessness, connection with nature and experiencing and expressing the here and now through ritual and writing. And "Introduction to Wines" (HRT201B), which introduces students to the world of wines. The course will cover how wine is made, difference in style by grape variety, country origin and climate, paring foods with wine, service, storage and judging quality.

Plattsburgh State has the largest Winter Session program in the SUNY system. More than 550 students have already enrolled in Winter Session 2005 courses, and anyone wishing to register for a course can do so up to the first day of class. For more information about Winter Session, contact the Center for Lifelong Learning at 518-564-2050 or visit http://www.plattsburgh.edu/academics/winter/index.php

-- 30 --