Reduced Summer Rate

Brittany Galla
News Editor

For the first time in the summer session, Southern is offering a discounted flat rate for students who register for 12 credits or more.

“We want to get the word out—it’s really beneficial,” said Marianne Kennedy, Southern coordinator of assessment and planning.

For the last two summers, Kennedy surveyed students on why they took summer courses and how satisfied they were. Kennedy said they found a lot of information, mostly what she expected.

“They wanted more classes at cheaper prices,” she said. “Cost was an issue, as well as class flexibility and scheduling.”

In order to receive the discount this summer, undergraduate students need to take 12 credits or more and graduate students should take nine credits or more. Last summer, the undergraduate cost for 12 credits or more was $3,919. This summer, it will be $3,312, a difference of $607. Last year’s graduate tuition was $3,709 and this year’s is $3,685, a difference of $24.

Kennedy said most schools make students pay per credit. One credit costs $395 and 11 credits cost $3,795 at Southern, showing it’s cheaper to register for 12 credits to save money.

“We did it [to] encourage students to take more classes in the summer,” she said. “Students have trouble graduating in  four years  and this gives them an incentive to graduate sooner and get ahead or catch up.

It’s a great opportunity to do that. Financially, this could have been difficult for students.”

Kennedy said that in the past, students had been penalized for taking more classes in the summer, but they tried to avoid it this year.

“We have already seen a three percent increase in summer enrollments from last year and underclassmen are taking more classes, which is good,” she said.

Three summer sessions are offered: Session A, May 29 to June 29, Session B, July 2 to Aug. 3 and Session C, Aug. 6 to 24.

Register for courses at www.southernct.edu