Summer term not affected by cuts

Classes will not be canceled

SIUC summer classes will continue as scheduled, having avoided the ax of budget cuts sweeping through the University after the governor’s address two weeks ago.

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But Provost and Vice Chancellor John Dunn said the same level of funding was appropriated for this summer semester as the one before, and classes will be cut only because of low student enrollment, not funding.

The SIU system was dealt an 8.2 percent budget cut, cutting back the budget $19.3 million for the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses combined.

Dunn said that he hopes to build a base for the summer semester, increasing student enrollment during the next few years, though he intends to take the term and its budget one summer at a time.

“We want it built purely on student needs and our best anticipation of summer needs,” Dunn said. “We will create a budget model that rewards students by producing more student hours”

Chancellor Walter Wendler said the summer term is just as important as the fall and spring semesters, and he has no intention to deal cuts in the coming years.

“Students make plans to enroll over the summer, so we have to offer the courses,” he said.

Dunn said the term works as a recruiting tool as well as a term of education. He said many students try out the University during the shortened term. Others may intend to take classes for a single summer, but decide to continue enrollment into the fall semester.

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Summer semesters also provide incoming freshman and new transfer students the opportunity to begin their SIUC career a few months earlier.

“The summer term might be necessary for a student to graduate on time,” he said. “Students and others may be looking for an opportunity to continue their education and the students benefit from the interaction with talented faculty.”

Paul Sarvela, interim dean of the College of Applied Science and Arts, said the summer semesters also give student practical experience. Many health students take extra clinicals through the summer months or internships. His department offers about 55 summer classes each year, most of which are practical experience courses.

“It’s an important time for students to go out and get experience and special training,” he said. “It’s important to the opportunities.”

Reporter Katie Davis can be reached at [email protected]