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news
Summer
enrollment higher than ever
By Porscher Lowe
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
Cal State Long
Beach has more students enrolled in summer session than it
has ever had in previous summer sessions, setting a new record
for the university.
Summer school enrollment
at CSULB has reached 10,885 students so far and is expected
to rise said Jack Gregg, assistant dean of University College
and Extension Services.
This summer will
yield the highest summer enrollment numbers ever according
to Gregg. Last year, total summer enrollment was only 10,805
students for all three sessions.
In 2001 CSULB expanded
its' state support funding to include the summer term making
summer sessions more affordable for students. Many students
say that year round state support is an incentive to take
more courses during the summer because they are far less expensive
and students can make faster progress toward their degrees.
Jesus Santian,
an English major at CSULB, is attending summer school for
the first time in order to finish his degree more quickly.
Santian said he believes that the reduction in summer school
fees definitely impacts him, especially since he is a self-supporting
student.
"Having the
school understand your needs is great. The low cost of summer
drives a student to take advantage," Santian said.
There are currently
1,662 courses being offered during the three summer session
terms. Gregg said that even with the increased enrollment
and lower number of classes compared with a normal semester,
students are not having much trouble getting the classes they
need.
"People are
very pleased with how things have moved. There are still a
variety of courses to choose from," he said.
Residential housing
is available for those students taking one or more units this
summer. According to Jun Hattori of Student Services,
there are currently less than a hundred students in the dorms.
"We expect
there to be a lot more [students in housing] this summer,"
Hattori said.
Gregg said that
the increase in summer enrollment not only has to do with
lower tuition costs, but with the cooperation of the different
colleges, departments and administrators on campus, all working
with UCES.
"Were not
just putting on the same show (as we do during regular semesters)."
Gregg said.
Many CSULB colleges
and departments have been willing to add more sections to
accommodate more students Gregg said, but he added that it
is at their own discretion. He said UCES could only suggest
adding new sections to a college.
Luis Peña,
a summer student, said he is pleased with the number of classes
being offered. "I'm glad they have added more classes
than last semester," Peña said. "Hopefully
this way I'll be able to graduate sooner than later."
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