Reduced tuition, diversity of courses, and unique programs entice a record number of students to enroll in summer sessions
More students are utilizing summer sessions than ever before as an option in their path to degree completion, while saving money on the overall cost of their degree.
As of May 21, 9,374 students are enrolled in one or both summer sessions, up from 8,900 last year. A portion of that – 251 students – will take part in the Virginia Tech Summer Academy, offered for the second time this summer.
For the first time, undergraduate students will receive a tuition reduction for summer courses. Last year, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a 10 percent reduction on hourly tuition rates for summer session enrollment.
Virginia Tech Summer Sessions offers more than 1,800 class sections with smaller class sizes. More than 250 online classes also are available during the two six-week sessions. In addition to regular and distance learning courses, students can participate in internships, co-ops, education abroad, and research opportunities for credit.
Education Abroad
Between 550 and 600 students are expected to study abroad this summer. As of May 21, more than 430 students are enrolled in Virginia Tech faculty-led programs. That number does not include students who are participating in exchange programs or are enrolled in other universities as non-degree seeking students.
The top five destinations for summer 2013 are France, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Switzerland, and China. Virginia Tech has satellite campuses in the Dominican Republic and Switzerland, boosting enrollment to those destinations.
Undergraduate Research
During the summer of 2013, almost 100 students are taking part in paid undergraduate research experiences through the Fralin Life Science Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), the Scieneering program, HNFE Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, the Summer Engineering Education Collaboratory program, and Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Tire and Automotive Engineering. The Office of Undergraduate Research is coordinating workshops and activities for the programs’ participants through the summer. Students will present their work at the Virginia Tech Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on Wednesday, July 31.
Summer Academy
Virginia Tech Summer Academy – a program for first-year students to help transition more seamlessly into the college experience – significantly expanded for its second year and will offer 35 different learning tracks. Last year, 13 tracks were offered.
More than 260 first year students applied to summer academy, selecting their top three learning tracks. Each will be notified which track they may take by June 1. In addition to course work, academy participants get acclimated to university life through workshops, activities, and entertainment. Summer academy takes place during the second summer session.
The first summer session starts Tuesday, May 28, 2013, and ends Monday, July 8, 2013. Classes may be added through May 30, 2013.
The second summer session starts Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and ends Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013. Classes may be added through July 11, 2013.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
