A decrease in summer school enrollment has forced administrators to cut more classes than usual from course offerings this summer — but questions linger as to what caused the drop.
“We’ve seen a little bit of a drop in enrollment first session,” said Jan Yopp, dean of summer school.
“We’re not exactly sure why, but optimistically, I hope it’s because students found jobs and the economy is improving.”
Yopp said about 7,000 students usually enroll in summer school each year. While the last few years have seen slightly above-average numbers, fewer than 7,000 registered for classes this summer.
“In recent years, our largest enrollment was in 2009, right about the time that the economy was going downhill,” Yopp said. “A lot of people think that when the economy slows and there are fewer jobs during the summer, students go to school instead.”
Toni Bowerman, a junior English and communications major, said cost played a role in her decision not to take summer school classes.
“I briefly thought about taking summer school class this summer and decided not to because of the cost and because I’m working full time,” she said.
Yopp said a lack of financial aid for summer school may have also played a role in low enrollment.
“There is less federal financial aid available in the summer than there has been (in past years), and we know that’s affecting some students’ ability to pay for summer school,” Yopp said.