Schools See Increase in Students Taking Summer Classes, Offer Incentives for Summer Courses
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: June 6, 2012
"It was cool because I got to take one class during the summer and got it done in three weeks instead of a whole semester," said ACU graduate David Pillen.
Some local universities are seeing an increase summer class participants. McMurry says it's simply because of their new half-price tuition for the summer term.
"It is saving the students money and it's been a popular thing with our current students," said Carolyn Calvert, McMurry registrar.
Hardin-Simmons says it's not the price, it's the motivation to graduate on time.
"I think students are a little more interested in making sure they get out of school on time, not dragging this thing out," said Jim Jones, associate vice president of enrollment at HSU.
McMurry and HSU are both experiencing an increase in the number of students taking summer class this year. But Abilene Christian's campus is a little quiet right now. But they don't expect it to stay the same next year.
"We are introducing annual block tuition this next year and so it's going to enable students to actually have summer paid for as a part of the price for ACU," said chief of enrollment Kevin Campbell. "So they can take up to 36 hours for the price of 30."
Cutting the cost of college isn't the only benefit to annual block tuition.
"It's going to increase the graduation rates. One of the biggest reasons that student debt has increased over the years is that students are graduating in more than four years, and taking five and six years to graduate nationwide," said Campbell. "And so annual block tuition will absolutely push up the four year graduation rates."
ACU says it is expecting a large increase in the number of students next summer, as it's the best way to fully take advantage of the annual block tuition.
Some local universities are seeing an increase summer class participants. McMurry says it's simply because of their new half-price tuition for the summer term.
"It is saving the students money and it's been a popular thing with our current students," said Carolyn Calvert, McMurry registrar.
Hardin-Simmons says it's not the price, it's the motivation to graduate on time.
"I think students are a little more interested in making sure they get out of school on time, not dragging this thing out," said Jim Jones, associate vice president of enrollment at HSU.
McMurry and HSU are both experiencing an increase in the number of students taking summer class this year. But Abilene Christian's campus is a little quiet right now. But they don't expect it to stay the same next year.
"We are introducing annual block tuition this next year and so it's going to enable students to actually have summer paid for as a part of the price for ACU," said chief of enrollment Kevin Campbell. "So they can take up to 36 hours for the price of 30."
Cutting the cost of college isn't the only benefit to annual block tuition.
"It's going to increase the graduation rates. One of the biggest reasons that student debt has increased over the years is that students are graduating in more than four years, and taking five and six years to graduate nationwide," said Campbell. "And so annual block tuition will absolutely push up the four year graduation rates."
ACU says it is expecting a large increase in the number of students next summer, as it's the best way to fully take advantage of the annual block tuition.
