The University of Memphis will offer three new summer school incentives to help students come one step closer to degree completion.
Steve McKellips, vice provost for enrollment services, said the university is intending to provide students with the resources they need to stay on track with course material and finish in a timely manner.
“These incentives are our way of joining the students and doing what we can to help students graduate,” McKellips said. “We hope students will take advantage of these resources and enroll.”
The university’s new “3+3 Initiative” will allow students to get one free three-credit summer course and will be available to first-time freshman enrolling in summer school.
With the enrollment of at least three credit hours, students qualify to receive a scholarship providing a maximum of three additional free credits of coursework.
This particular initiative is designed to help students stay on path with a four-year graduation plan. The scholarship will automatically post to students’ myMemphis, so they only have to register for their desired courses.
Eligible students will be notified by email if basic requirements are met. To be considered, students must have applied, been admitted and enrolled as a first time, first-year freshman for the summer 2015, fall 2015 or spring 2016 semesters.
The university will also offer the Maymester initiative this summer. Maymester is a three-week long mini term designed with highly accelerated courses taking place May 9-27.
The university is also revising its summer courses being offered. The U of M will ensure that highdemand classes will be available to students to align with students’ degree paths and ‘create faster, clearer paths to degree completion within four years,’ according to the university’s website. This will guarantee more available courses online, on and off campus to better suit student schedules.
Junior anthropology major Jennesa LaSane, 21, said she believes the new incentives are a great way to help students finish college. She has attended summer school at the university for the last two summers and said the new incentives are resourceful and well needed.
“One thing I didn’t like about summer school was that major classes would fill up quickly, so I think it’s great that they’re focusing on making high-demand classes more accessible,” LaSane said.
She also added because students are so busy with interning, jobs and studying abroad during the summer, the Maymester incentive will help students complete outside duties while also progressing towards degree completion. “Students will and should want to attend summer school because administrators are doing what they can to make courses more affordable and timely for everyone,” LaSane said. “With the new incentives, students will definitely be able to have a productive summer.”
Registration begins April 4 for both summer school and Maymester classes.
