Elaine Sullivan, director of marketing with extended education, said the program is an opportunity for students to access high-demand classes and to get ahead in their coursework.
Shaun Kahmann
Special to the Mustang News
For those looking to graduate faster, play catch-up or take hard-to-get classes, summer term courses could be the way to go.
Summer courses will begin June 19 for students seeking academic credit and for members of the community who wish to take non-credit classes or to seek state licensure through extended education. Community members and students from other universities must enroll as ‘open university’ students and courses are taught either by regular Cal Poly faculty members or by teachers from the community.
There are four different types of summer programs: A five-week program that runs from June 19 to July 23, another from July 24 to August 26, an eight-week program from June 19 to August 14 and a 10-week program that runs June 19 to August 26.
The cost is $289 per unit for undergraduates and $319 for graduates or those seeking credentials. Financial aid eligibility for the summer is based on funds left over at the end of the regular academic year, according to Director of Financial Aid Lois Kelly.
Elaine Sullivan, director of marketing with extended education, said the program is an opportunity for students to access high-demand classes and to get ahead in their coursework.
“Our mandate is to support student success and to extend Cal Poly’s reach beyond the campus,” Sullivan said. “Summer courses give students greater access popular classes, additional leeway to pursue a minor and for Cal Poly to share its academic resources with the community.”
Most of the courses available over the summer are five weeks long, so the pace tends to be much more rigorous. Electrical engineering junior Garrett Germany said liked the speed of the courses and the bond it helped him form with his fellow students.
“Honestly, I liked the pace because you can power through it, you can get a lot more done in an economical time frame,” he said. “The class sizes are smaller so I really got to know my classmates. We really felt like a community.”
State university grants are not available over the summer. “Open university” courses are available depending on seat availability and can only be taken up to 34 units without becoming a Cal Poly student.
Deadlines for enrollment will be available starting the first week of February, according to assistant registrar Maureen Muller.