Briefly speaking: Incentives for summer study

Ever hear grumbling from your student about not being able to register for all the classes he or she would like to take? Listen no more. Summer Sessions offer a great array of popular courses to help students graduate in four years — and some at a great discount this year.

Students completing major lab courses (Chemistry 118 A, B, C or Physics 7 A, B, C) during the summer will qualify for a 50 percent credit for those courses that will be applied to their bill in the fall quarter. And students near graduation can earn a rebate.

"We're trying to help students reach their academic and career objectives by providing them with a fourth quarter to enroll in courses," says Fred Wood, associate vice provost for Undergraduate Studies.

Fitting in lab courses

Students often complain that these lab courses can be difficult to schedule during the normal academic year because the lab hours interfere with other courses they need to take, Wood says.

"Especially with the large freshman class that enrolled last fall, we want to help relieve pressure on all students by providing them with additional enrollment options," he says.

For students near graduation

Other incentives are designed to help seniors graduate — a 25 percent rebate on fees for courses completed during Summer Sessions if a student graduates on the September degree list. Because the city of Davis model lease runs September through September, it makes sound financial sense for a student near graduation to finish by the end of the lease.

Last year, 9,603 students enrolled in summer courses, and nearly 400 students graduated at the end of summer. Wood anticipates a modest increase in the total number enrolled this year during Summer Sessions I, June 25 to Aug. 3, and Summer Sessions II, Aug. 6 to Sept. 14. The usual wide array of classes will be offered, as well as a mix of intensive language courses, two-week field study trips in archaeology and courses at the Bodega Marine Lab.

Financial aid is available for summer sessions. A preliminary course schedule and other information is available at the Summer Sessions Web site.