Enrollment in summer classes on the rise, university officials say
Jordain Carney
Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: News
With summer break less than two weeks away, UA officials are predicting that enrollment in summer classes will rise, but students have other ideas.
"I believe summer enrollment, along with the general enrollment, will be increased due to the economy," said Alice Griffin, coordinator of advising and retention for Bumpers College.
Griffin said that, in her opinion, it seems students enroll in fewer hours during fall and spring semesters because they also work, so they enroll in summer classes to stay on track academically.
"The general public will often turn to further their education to open up more job opportunities in the future," she said.
Over the past 10 years, enrollment in summer classes has continuously increased, according to data from UA Institutional Research, following the general trend of an increase in overall enrollment.
From 1999 to 2008, there also was higher enrollment in summer I classes compared to summer II.
Last summer, there was more than a 2,000 student difference between the two terms - 5,933 in summer I compared to 3,791 in summer II.
Collis Geren, vice provost for research and dean of the UA Graduate School, said he didn't know why there was such a difference.
"I think faculty have a preference to go ahead and finish it," he said.
Geren also suggested that students enroll in the first term of summer classes because of the classes offered and also because some classes are offered in sequence.
Geren said that the ability to enroll in classes is often determined by loans.
"If it gets hard to get loan money, that's going to negatively affect enrollment," he said.
If students are able to acquire loans, it could result in a bump in enrollment, he said.
Students, however, think that enrollment in summer classes at the UA will probably decline.
Rachel Findley said that she planned to volunteer in the Dominican Republic and that many of her friends planned to work this summer.
"Overall, (enrollment) will probably go down," she said.
Findley said that because of the economy students will probably work this summer.
Sarah Dollard and Katelyn Thomas both agreed that they think summer enrollment will decline.
Dollard said that she planned to work this summer, and while she thought enrollment would go down because students do not have extra money to spend on summer classes, she said she also could see enrollment possibly going up because jobs are harder to find.
Thomas said she also plans to work full-time this summer.
Thomas predicted that not only would enrollment in summer classes go down, but that overall enrollment would also decline.
"I think because of the economy, the school will offer fewer scholarships," she said. "Because of this, enrollment will go down, as well."
"I believe summer enrollment, along with the general enrollment, will be increased due to the economy," said Alice Griffin, coordinator of advising and retention for Bumpers College.
Griffin said that, in her opinion, it seems students enroll in fewer hours during fall and spring semesters because they also work, so they enroll in summer classes to stay on track academically.
"The general public will often turn to further their education to open up more job opportunities in the future," she said.
Over the past 10 years, enrollment in summer classes has continuously increased, according to data from UA Institutional Research, following the general trend of an increase in overall enrollment.
From 1999 to 2008, there also was higher enrollment in summer I classes compared to summer II.
Last summer, there was more than a 2,000 student difference between the two terms - 5,933 in summer I compared to 3,791 in summer II.
Collis Geren, vice provost for research and dean of the UA Graduate School, said he didn't know why there was such a difference.
"I think faculty have a preference to go ahead and finish it," he said.
Geren also suggested that students enroll in the first term of summer classes because of the classes offered and also because some classes are offered in sequence.
Geren said that the ability to enroll in classes is often determined by loans.
"If it gets hard to get loan money, that's going to negatively affect enrollment," he said.
If students are able to acquire loans, it could result in a bump in enrollment, he said.
Students, however, think that enrollment in summer classes at the UA will probably decline.
Rachel Findley said that she planned to volunteer in the Dominican Republic and that many of her friends planned to work this summer.
"Overall, (enrollment) will probably go down," she said.
Findley said that because of the economy students will probably work this summer.
Sarah Dollard and Katelyn Thomas both agreed that they think summer enrollment will decline.
Dollard said that she planned to work this summer, and while she thought enrollment would go down because students do not have extra money to spend on summer classes, she said she also could see enrollment possibly going up because jobs are harder to find.
Thomas said she also plans to work full-time this summer.
Thomas predicted that not only would enrollment in summer classes go down, but that overall enrollment would also decline.
"I think because of the economy, the school will offer fewer scholarships," she said. "Because of this, enrollment will go down, as well."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
A.L.L.
posted 4/27/09 @ 8:54 AM CST
I would recommend summer classes to anyone. I love the ability to focus on a single class at a time. When you have a full course load, each of your classes can detract from the others, forcing you to make tough choices about which classes will get more of your attention than others. (Continued…)
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