Guilford College

How many credits can I earn?

All January term experiences are credit-bearing. Students earn 1-4 credits with the following approximate workload expectations for total time spent per week (including homework):  1 credit = 13.5, 2 credits = 27 hours, 3 credits = 40 hours, 4 credits = 53.5 hours. All experiences generate credits that count toward the 128 required for graduation, but only graded experiences may count towards a major or minor. 

What kinds of experiences are included?

Internship—on or off campus, local or away from Greensboro. Requires faculty sponsor.
Service Learning—project work with one of Guilford’s existing partners or at an alternate site. Requires faculty/staff sponsor.
Independent Project–an experience proposed and executed by an individual student. Requires a sponsor and approval by a department chair.
Group Project—an experience proposed by students or a faculty/staff member. Requires sponsor.
Seminar—on campus learning in a pre-approved experience led by a faculty or staff member. Some seminars will involve off-campus day and/or overnight excursions.
Study Away—domestic USA and international study experiences. 

What about the cost?

Tuition for all experiences other than the posted study abroad/away experiences will cost $500; this is a flat fee for internships, independent and group projects, on-campus seminars, or other experiences – regardless of the number of credits. For on campus room and board policies and fees, see the housing and food section. Study away experiences (domestic and international) incur fees as specified in the experience descriptions. Some include airfare, but some do not.

What about financial aid?

Students cannot use their semester financial aid to defray costs, but may apply for special grants that will help pay for the experience. See “January Term Grants” section. 

What about Early College?

Early College students at Guilford have the option to participate in January Term opportunities, with the decision concerning participation and payment of tuition/fees made by students and parent/guardians. Families/students who choose to participate will work directly with Guilford College to register for January Term. Any credits earned during the January Term will be included on the respective student’s Guilford College transcript, not the Early College at Guilford high school transcript.

What if I am not a Guilford Student?

Participation is open to anyone who applies to become and is accepted as a visiting student. Send a completed visiting student application to the registrar. Priority is given to current students.

What about housing and food costs?

Traditional students who already live on campus and participate in experiences that take place on campus for any time are required to live in their semester housing without an additional housing fee, but must purchase one of several meal plan options. Those meals plans are: 60 meals for $335, 52 meals for $298, 42 meals for $247, 30 meals for $180, 15 meals for $88 (available only to those on campus for 11 days or less). Residence halls are open only to J-term participants. Students will not receive campus housing for January Term only.  

See housing and board policy and procedures on the Residential Life Intranet page.

How do deposits work?

There are no deposits required for on campus experiences. However, study away (international and domestic) both require a deposit at the time of application. See descriptions for amounts. Deposits become non-refundable upon acceptance to the program.  Payable to Guilford College by check or credit card. The amount of the deposit is credited to the final bill.

What is the policy on program costs refunds?

Refund policies vary from experience to experience with a short window for withdrawal that often closes long before the start of the experience. Students who withdraw after that period will be charged from between 25% -100% of the cost. For refund schedules of study away/abroad, see  the study abroad web site and partner web sites. On campus experience costs are fully refundable until the last day to drop without a grade.

What is a January Term Grant?

It is a modest amount of money granted as a tuition discount at an average range of 10-15%, for which students must apply.  Awards are competitive, limited, and based on demonstrated need . Applications available online at the January term web site.  Completed applications must be emailed to Jeff Favolise (favoliseje@guilford.edu) by the last day before Fall break.

The January Term Grant Application can be found here.