SUNY Canton Winterterm's Record Enrollment Grows 46 Percent

CANTON, NY (01/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Nearly 1200 students from 204 colleges and universities spent their winter break taking a class during SUNY Canton's Winterterm session.

Winterterm enrollment increased more than 46 percent from 2009-2010 and was more than seven times as large as the 160 students who enrolled in the first Winterterm session five years ago. The session was the largest in the College's history.

"Our Winterterm session has experienced exceptional growth because we offer a wide variety of courses that students need and provide them with the flexibility of offering them online," said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. "Winterterm has a reputation for its offerings and the quality of the faculty teaching that extends well beyond the North Country and New York State."

Winterterm offers several economic, academic, and timesaving benefits for students and faculty members. The entirely online courses can be accessed via computer from anywhere, reducing travel expenses and winter commuting difficulties. The session's enrollment numbers mirror the overall growth of the College. SUNY Canton has experienced all-time highs in enrollment for three consecutive years, including 3,700 students beginning this academic year.

Director of Online Learning Kyle Brown said there were several courses of the more than 100 offered that were popular with students in the session. "Many of the courses were full or near capacity," he said. "Students turned to SUNY Canton not only to fulfill requirements, but also to take courses of interest to them."

Brown noted that more than 75 percent of the enrollments came from institutions other than SUNY Canton.

"We had students enroll from Binghamton University, Siena College, Kettering University and the University of Maryland," Brown said. "Because Winterterm is online, we can meet the needs of students from all parts of the country. Over the past five years, we've proven there are no boundaries with how far SUNY Canton's Winterterm can reach or grow."

SUNY Canton offers a wide variety of career-driven bachelor's, associate, and certificate programs. Most of the College's new four-year programs are designed so students can take them on-campus, online, or both. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 150 courses online each semester. The College's athletic teams belong to the NAIA's Sunrise Conference, enabling students to compete in their respective sports for four years. Construction of the College's new Convocation, Athletic, and Recreation Center nicknamed Roos House is nearing completion, while the new apartment-style residence hall, featuring 305 single-occupancy rooms, is under construction and will open in August 2011.

-www.canton.edu-