CANTON — SUNY Canton's online Winterterm has more than doubled its class offerings and enrollment in the past three years, and the college expects the program will continue to grow this season.

More than 150 students already have signed up for the 46 courses available this winter.

"I think when you see the economy in the state it's in, you see more folks enroll because they have to do something. They need to get skills wherever they are," Associate Provost Pauline A. Graveline said. "It's about as diverse a student population as you can get. There's a number of our own students, as well as a number of people from across the state and country, as well as other parts of the world. Once they find us online, they keep coming back."

SUNY Canton began offering a completely online Winterterm in 2005-06 with 18 classes and 160 students. That expanded to 34 courses and more than 350 enrollments in 2007-08.

Ms. Graveline said that some courses already have double-digit registrations. Popular classes include basic general education requirements like introductory writing and psychology, but business courses also are drawing many students.

"We tell professors what our needs are and they combine that with what they're interested in delivering online, and it just keeps growing that way. The faculty appreciate the flexibility they get, as well as the flexibility they give their students," she said.

SUNY Canton OnLine's spring semester and Summerterm course offerings also are available now on the college's Web site, so students can plan ahead for what classes they would like to take.

"Each year, we've grown to meet the educational demands of our students," William R. Trumble, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in a statement. "This year, we had a record number of enrollments during our fall semester. Following that trend, we are expecting the largest Winterterm semester to date."

In past Winterterms, both soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and students traveling abroad have enrolled.

Courses run from Dec. 22 to Jan. 14, and students can enroll through the first day of class by visiting SUNY Canton's Web site.