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news:
Cheaper summer
By Danielle Grossman
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
Though prices for
summer school have dropped compared to previous summers, some
students are still not aware that their classes are cheaper
and that taking additional classes can lower prices even more.
"I don't think
a lot of people understand that there's lower prices,"
said Jaime Shurtz, an undeclared second year student. "If
they did understand, than more would go. There isn't a lot
of advertising about it on campus."
Management offices
were not available for comment.
Jennie Hurley,
coordinator of summer and special sessions, reported that
overall student enrollment in summer school has increased
this summer compared to last year's enrollment. She also said
that there is 23 percent more units enrolled this summer than
last. Hurley believes that the increase in student enrollment
can be attributed to the lower prices.
Hurley explained
that the reason for lower summer school prices is because
of the switch from self-supported funds to state-supported
funds. With the new funding, the state supports the students,
thereby lowering summer session enrollment prices.
Though Hurley was
able to say why prices were lower, she could not explain how
the pricing system works.
"The only
thing I can tell students is to look at the chart in the [Cal
State Long Beach] Summer Sessions catalog," Hurley said.
"It would be too difficult to explain to you."
The chart is supposed
to be self-explanatory, but some students need extra help
when it comes to figuring out how much they're going to need
to pay for their classes.
"I didn't
understand the pricing chart," Shurtz said. "My
dad sat down with me and figured it out. I couldn't do it."
After understanding
the price ratios, Shurtz decided to take 10 units because
it was cheaper than taking three.
Art Alderete, a
fourth year management major, was not even aware that taking
six units was cheaper proportionally, than taking three units.
According to the University College and Extension Services,
an undergraduate student enrolled in three units pays $315.
If the same student is enrolled in six units, they pay $414.
Though Alderete
wasn't influenced to take six units because of the lower prices,
he believes that the price decrease will influence other's
decision to take more classes.
Shurtz believes
that if more people knew about the price decrease, than students
would take more summer school classes so they could graduate
early, which was the reason Alderete is taking summer classes.
When asked why
he was taking classes, Alderete replied, "To get out
of here quicker."
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