May 9, 2002

Boise State Encourages Summer Courses

Faced with a loss of course sections next fall due to budget cuts, Boise State is encouraging students to enroll for classes this summer. The strategy is bringing results.

Summer enrollment already is up 43 percent over this time last year. Many more registrations are expected before the first session of classes begins May 20. Last year summer enrollment was 6,319.

State-mandated budget cuts cost the university 22 faculty positions, which means fewer class sections will be offered next fall. So university officials decided to promote summer classes as a way students can take courses that otherwise might be filled in the fall.

"We are anticipating a record fall enrollment at a time when our faculty numbers are decreasing. We have to meet that challenge with new approaches,” said Provost Daryl Jones. “One of the most logical options is to shift some of our enrollment to summer when we have more capacity. We especially are encouraging students to take core classes,” said Jones.

The university is promoting its summer sessions on its BroncoWeb Internet site, in e-mail communications to students and in the student newspaper.

“We have been pleased with the response. Students understand the issue and are being proactive in planning their course schedules,” said Jones.

Boise State operates summer classes in blocks of 3, 5 and 8 weeks. The first 3-week session begins May 20. The most popular class block is the first 5-week session, which begins June 10.

Jones said the university also has moved the registration of nondegree-seeking students to later in the registration cycle to give degree-seeking students an earlier opportunity to sign up for fall courses.

Even with these adjustments, Boise State anticipates that demand for classes in the fall will exceed available funding. Additional state-mandated budget reductions and hiring freezes may aggravate the situation, said Jones.

For more information about Boise State’s summer programs, call 426-1709 or visit the Web site http://www.boisestate.edu/extendedstudies/ .

Contact:
Daryl Jones
Provost
426-1202

Media Contact:
Larry Burke
communications and marketing
426-1577