Hastings College officials say J-Term, the time when students take one concentrated course for three weeks during the month of January, is one of the highlights of their academic program.

"J-Term can be for basically two different purposes, one would be if you had a topic that you really wanted to study in depth for three weeks, or if there was just something you wanted to try that was totally new and probably foreign to you," said Professor of Music Dr. Hillary Watter.

Administrators say it's a break from the normal class load, but it typifies the liberal arts college.

"There's something about the experience of focusing on just one course for the three weeks that gives the student practice in another way of using the mind and the imagination," said Dr. Anne Fairbanks, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

"So You Want to be a Singer," one of this year's J-Term classes, was taught by Dr. Watter and was designed just for non-music majors. Freshman Joshua Wardell says football and classes keep him away from the Music Department.

"I have a really pretty hectic schedule, but J-Term definitely gives me a good opportunity to try a few things that I wouldn't normally have time for," Wardell said.

Watter says the concentrated semester lets her interact with students like Wardell whom she wouldn't usually have in class.

"I almost always teach music majors, and in the J-Term it's the only experience that I get with the non-majors, so I get the football players and the athletes, and when I get to open their eyes to something they've never seen before that is very exciting," she said.

"It gives you a chance to experience new things that you probably wouldn't do if we didn't have it," said freshman Kelsey Mayfield. "I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't have taken a music class if they didn't have to, but since we were given J-Term we're allowed to do that."

"You have the rest of the day to do anything, so it helps when we get homework or we have to work on our music, it helps to have that afternoon off," said freshman Angie Gerhardus.

Faculty say it can also be a chance for them to study a topic more in-depth that they don't focus on during other coursework.

Some classes are taught by visiting professors - usually professionals or experts in their fields. Hastings College says J-Term lets them bring in those visitors who wouldn't otherwise be able to teach a whole semester.