Summer classes popular
Even after slaving away in classes throughout the traditional fall and spring semesters many GCSU students chose to spend their summer months in school. In fact, GCSU records show almost 40 percent more students took classes in summer 2008 than in 2007.
Why are more students willing to trade beach time for study time? Two reasons- to keep their heads above water and stay afloat.
“Many students see the summer semester as an opportunity to get ahead and stay ahead,” A. Kay Anderson, GCSU’s registrar, said.
The GCSU summer registration report showed 3,087 students enrolled this summer between Milledgeville, Macon Center, and the Warner Robins Campus. Together, these students are using summer vacation to accumulate a combined 18,746 hours. This past summer’s suntanned bookworms accumulated over 6,000 more hours than the bookworms of summer 2007.
Even though not every course met on the Milledgeville campus, the 751 summer courses offered many opportunities for students to get ahead and stay ahead.
Each summer the courses are divided into four sessions: Maymester, Summer I, Summer II, and the Study Abroad Program.
“Summer school gives many students the opportunity to study abroad or participate in internships that they might not be able to take part in during the regular school year,” Anderson said.
This past summer, over 700 more students passed up the beach in order to study in Milledgeville than in summer of 2007.
GCSU enjoyed the rise in summer enrollment.
“The university benefits [from summer classes] because students benefit,” Anderson said. “Summer school supports students and student learning. That’s the reason for everything we do.”
Leslie Farman, a junior business major, took her first summer class in 2007. She was able to complete her science requirements after taking astronomy in Maymester.
“Taking a science course allowed me to get four credit hours because of my lab,” Farman said. “Summer classes are helping me to graduate on time.”
Last summer’s experience encouraged Farman to take two courses over the summer. She took world literature in Maymester and business statistics during Summer II.
“My parents made me take classes last summer, but this year (I was) excited to stay in school,” Farman said. “I do a lot better in the summer.”
To help students succeed, the GCSU learning center remained open throughout the summer. Lori Robinson, The Learning Center coordinator, received the most requests for math tutors.
Because summer classes move quickly, Robinson encouraged students to come to The Learning Center early in their summer session.
“If they utilize all resources they can definitely succeed over the summer,” Robinson said.
Math professor Blair Dietrich encouraged his students to take advantage of The Learning Center and peer tutoring.
” Concepts aren’t harder,” Dietrich said. “There is just a shorter turn around time between new concepts and being tested.”
Dietrich enjoys teaching summer classes because his students are more focused. His summer students seem to make better grades than his fall and spring students.
“I have fewer people fail because they know what’s expected,” Dietrich said.
After dropping math modeling in the fall, freshman Laura McEachern knew she would be more successful in the summer.
“Math is one of my weaker subjects,” said McEachern. “By taking math modeling over the summer, I can give all my time to this one particular class.”
Along with 3,087 other students, McEachern is part of the rising trend of students using summer to get ahead academically in Milledgeville.
“I know my May and June classes let me take lighter loads in the fall and spring,” McEachern said. “I have no doubt I will continue to take courses during future summers.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 12 2008. Filed under News.
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