Beginning this summer, Western students from the Seattle area will have the opportunity to enroll in classes for Western credit while returning home for break.
Western is extending its summer session program — an optional fourth quarter during the academic year — to Washington’s largest city. Marlene Harlan, director of summer programs and marketing, said the expansion will mainly target students who live in King County and visit home during the summer.
“We’re excited about expanding to Seattle, because we know a lot of students go home for the summer,” Harlan said.
Students who are interested in catching up on credits, fulfilling their GUR requirements or taking major prerequisites may benefit from this program. It might also help to enroll in classes that fill up during the regular school year.
Western freshman Sydney Sprinkle, who doesn’t have any plans for this summer, said it would give her something to do and at the same time allow her to be one step closer to graduating.
“It would get me out of college faster, which was one of my plans,” Sprinkle said. “I’d be able to graduate early and start the next programs that I’m planning on doing.”
Western professors will teach the Seattle summer session classes at North Seattle Community College campus. About 35 different courses will be offered.
The school already had a site on the campus. Harlan said the 22,000 alumni and alumna who live in Seattle, along with Seattle students transferring to Western, made the additional classes seem more important.
“[The school offers] a teacher education program and has been there for many, many years,” Harlan said. “It was natural for us to expand through that campus and add additional course work there.”
President Bruce Shepard proposed the initiative, which Western’s extended education department is implementing.
The goal is for about 500 Western students to enroll in the program this summer. From there, the program will adjust accordingly, Harlan said.
“It’s our first year, so we’ll see how it goes as far as student interests,” she said. “We’re hoping to get students really interested in taking classes down there.”
If student enrollment meets this year’s goal, the university will look into potentially expanding the program, Harlan said.
About 3,200 Western students participate in the summer session program on campus each year, and mostly juniors and seniors sign up, Harlan said.
Dates to know
Feb. 15- Course Listing Available
May 7- Registration Opens
Jun. 19-Jul. 27- Six-Week Session
Jun. 19-Aug. 17- Nine-Week Session
Jun. 19- Tuition Deadline
