Jan Plan Options
FAQ: WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR JAN PLAN?
Jan Plan is an exploratory term in January that gives students opportunities to choose among hundreds of
different academic experiences. It’s a time for focused study, for interning, or for conducting research. Students
are required to complete three Jan Plans, but 90% of students elect to do all four.
Open to First Years, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Courses Offered for Credit: Some are created specifically for January; others, originally designed to be
offered during semesters, may be modified for January. Such courses are graded in the same manner as
semester courses, except that nongraded January courses will be marked credit or fail.
Noncredit Courses: These courses fulfill the January Program requirement, but students do not earn course
credit that can be applied toward the credit hours required for graduation. These courses may be offered by
experts in fields not included in the regular curriculum and will be graded credit or fail.
Open to First Years, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Independent studies, on or off campus, are academic projects under the direct supervision of a member of the
teaching faculty. Projects ordinarily involve the preparation of an extensive paper or other suitable indication of
the student’s independent research or artistic efforts. Two options exist for electing January independent study:
(a) for course credit that can be applied toward graduation requirements, to be graded as in the first item
above; and (b) for January Program credit only, to be graded honors, pass, or fail. Students should meet with
their faculty advisor to discuss this option.
Open to First Years, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Internships provide students with marketable skills, the chance to explore, and the opportunity to enhance their
professional networks. at an off-campus job site and monitored by an on-site work supervisor. An internship for
Jan Plan credit requires completion of an online application and approval in advance by a faculty sponsor and
DavisConnects. A successful Jan Plan internship will receive transcript notation and may earn, with the
approval of the faculty sponsor, one academic credit.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Courses taken at other accredited institutions in the U.S. and abroad, in which grades of C or higher have been
earned (the courses may not be taken with pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading), may be credited
toward the Colby degree and therefore accepted for Jan Plan credit. Students must work with their faculty
advisor to submit an application for approval through the Registrar’s Office.
Open to Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
A full description of January courses is available on myColby in October, and students select for January at
that time. A student choosing not to do a January Program in any year must signify this decision during web
registration.