2009 Fall Program

The Fall Program is designed exclusively for January Program students. Participants come to campus four long weekends during the fall semester, during which they attend a course, meet other students, take part in orientation, receive advising, and register for spring courses. The dates for the program in fall 2009 are as follows:

  • Sept. 9-13  (Wed. – Sun.)
  • Oct. 8-11  (Th. – Sun.)
  • Oct. 29-Nov. 1  (Th. – Sun.)
  • Nov. 12-15   (Th. – Sun.).

During each weekend, students arrive on Thursday morning and depart on Sunday. The only exception to this schedule is for the initial weekend, when students arrive on Wednesday and join us for a welcome dinner at the historic Whittemore House.

The centerpiece of each weekend is the Fall Program course: “St. Louis: Life in a Global City,” taught by Dr. Bret Gustafson, professor of Anthropology and American Culture Studies. This course provides an interdisciplinary study of St. Louis through issues that range from popular culture (sports, music, and local traditions) to complex regional development issues (urban revitalization, education, and global ties between St. Louis and the wider world). At the same time, students learn a variety of concepts and methods used by social scientists. Class is from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Through this class, students earn three credits and fulfill one of their general-education requirements.

When they’re not in class, students in the Fall Program have time to study and take part in social events that help them connect with other freshmen (both January Program and fall-admission students). Students also participate in important orientation sessions and meet with their four-year advisor to register for their spring classes. For sleeping arrangements, January Program students stay with a student host.

To participate, a student must be in the January Program.

Fee and Travel

The fee for the Fall Program is $4,800 for out-of-town students, and $4,000 for in-town students, and it is billed to the student account in the fall. The fee covers air transportation to and from St. Louis, tuition for course work, housing, meals, and activities.

To ensure we find the best possible airfare and service for these weekends, students make travel arrangements through our travel agent, who will be in contact with them over the summer. (Please note students are responsible for ground transportation to and from campus and course materials.)

Students in the Fall Program should have heard (or soon will be hearing) from our agent, Kris Pollman with Gwins Travel Agency, to secure travel arrangements for the fall weekends.

If you are participating and have not already heard from her, please contact Kris right away at 1-800-433-9211. Once you arrange your plans, Kris will send you an email confirmation, and you will have 24 hours to confirm or make changes/corrections to the travel plans. Please check the email confirmation to make sure the flight information is accurate. If Kris does not hear back within 24 hours, she will consider your travel plans confirmed. Please note the following restrictions:

  • Students must commit to travel plans for all four weekends at least 21 days prior to their flight for the first weekend.
  • If students make any changes to travel plans after the initial 24 hours, their family will be liable for costs associated with those changes.
  • If students want to travel outside the expected arrival and departure dates, or outside destinations of St. Louis and their home town, they must have those plans approved by me (Harriet Baron) prior to making arrangements with Gwins Travel Agency.
  • If students do not fulfill their attendance in the Fall Program, they will still be charged for full cost for the program.

For questions, please contact the January Program Coordinator, Harriet Baron at hbaron[at]artsci.wustl.edu or 314-935-9348.

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"The personal interaction with faculty and administration has been incredible throughout my time at WashU. Two of the deans I have worked with are not only my mentors, but real friends who have helped shape and facilitate four years of academic exploration and personal growth."

Kristopher Kelley
Aesthetics & Society and Entrepreneurship