Winter Term
Information for Faculty and Staff Sponsors
The Office of Winter Term supports faculty and staff in creating exciting Winter Term opportunities.
Faculty members and eligible Administrative and Professional Staff (A&PS) may sponsor projects. The basic duties of project sponsors are to provide guidance on project planning, support student learning, and submit a grade for each sponsored student. Full details on all aspects of group and individual project sponsorship can be found in the Winter Term Group Project Sponsor Handbooks.
A&PS members who have not previously sponsored a project need to complete the A&PS Sponsorship Approval Form with their supervisor and submit it to the Registrar at schedule@oberlin.edu.
Winter Term 2026 Important Dates
April 10: Project proposal and funding request forms available in Terra Dotta
April 23: Info session for sponsors considering international projects (via zoom) from 12:30 - 1:15pm
May 2: Info session for new group project sponsors (via zoom) from 12:30 - 1:15pm
June 13: Deadline for group project proposals and funding requests in Terra Dotta
August 1: Deadline for international group project vendor agreement submissions
August 22: Winter Term 2026 Group Project catalog available
September 12: Deadline for group project sponsors to register for the Winter Term Fair
September 16: Winter Term Fair 7:00-8:30pm
September 17: Student registration opens
November 14: Student registration closes
November 24: Last date for selective projects to submit participant lists
January 5: Winter Term begins
January 28: Winter Term Festival of Ideas
January 28: Winter Term ends
February 4: Deadline to submit project work to sponsors
February 11: Grades due in Banner Self Service
February 27: Deadline for funding recipients to submit receipts
February 27: Deadline for funding recipients to submit funding report
Faculty and A&PS who wish to lead group projects are responsible for:
- Submitting project and funding proposals in late spring
- Establishing and publicizing the project
- Overseeing project finances
- Supporting students in reaching clearly defined learning goals
- Reporting each student’s grade [completed (Y) or not completed (N)] in Banner
- Submitting receipts and final budget reconciliation to the Office of Winter Term, if the project received funding
Current group project sponsors with questions about navigating the application portal should contact wterm@oberlin.edu for assistance.
Faculty and A&PS who agree to serve as individual project sponsors will:
- Work with students to determine appropriate project scope, identify materials and resources necessary for completing the project, and clearly define learning goals
- Provide students with guidance on project assessment and evaluation processes
- Meet with students prior to submitting the online sponsorship approval form, which is sent automatically from the students’ completed applications. Should you receive a proposal from a student who has not previously contacted you, please redirect the student to the winter term office via email to wterm@oberlin.edu
- Report each student’s grade [completed (Y) or not completed (N)] in Banner
Current individual project sponsors with questions about navigating the application portal should contact wterm@oberlin.edu for assistance.