Students flock to summer classes
 

Nearly 8,000 students have put summer break on hold to take classes at SFSU as part of the University’s year-round operations schedule which offers a full range of courses during June, July and August.

More than 500 classes are offered this summer with many high-demand courses such as lower-division math, English, history, political science, speech and critical thinking. There are two five-week sessions (June 9 through July 11 and July 14 through Aug. 15) and one eight-week session (June 23 through Aug. 15). It’s not too late to register for summer classes.

San Francisco State University is one of the few local higher education campuses offering a full spectrum of summer classes. State budget woes have forced some community colleges to reduce their class offerings or cancel summer classes altogether.

Enrollment remains high at SFSU with about 7,900 students -- nearly even with last year -- and data shows that students are currently taking a slightly larger load of units. Last year the average student took 6.1 units and this year that number is 6.3 units.

"We believe students are seeing the value of summer semester as it aids in their progress of a degree," said Jo Volkert, associate vice president for enrollment planning and management. "There could also be some element of students anticipating a future fee increase and they’ve decided to take more units now. And, of course, the economy may have something to do with it. Whenever the economy is in the doldrums we find that more students take classes."

Fees for undergraduate students for summer semester are $547 for six units or less and $877 for more than six units; graduate students pay $595 for six units or less and $958 for six units or more.

For more, see the summer semester Web site.