43
Fewer YSU students sign up for early classes
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
In its second year, a program that allows incoming Youngstown State University freshmen to get an early start on college saw a decline in students taking advantage of it.
YSU’s Jump Start began in summer 2015, and nearly 100 students participated. This year, 59 students signed up.
“Students seem to want the summer off,” said Karla Krodel, director of YSU’s Metro College. “That’s the only reason we’ve been given – or they planned to work.”
The program allows first-time freshmen in the fall to take up to two three-credit courses this summer at a discounted rate.
The cost for one three-credit class was $500 – less than half the regular $1,011 one-course tuition. Nonresident surcharges would apply for out-of-state students.
The idea behind launching the program was to help students get an early start with college and reduce or eliminate the amount of debt they have upon graduation.
“Getting the word out is probably our biggest challenge,” Krodel said. “We included information in the letters students got about signing up for orientation.”
The classes offered are those required of most majors including writing, math and psychology as well as developmental courses aimed at students who may not be ready for college-level work in a particular subject.
Some are offered traditionally while online, and hybrid courses also are available. Hybrid are classes that combine aspects of both traditional and online.
Krodel said the classes may be arranged to accommodate students’ work schedules. Jump Start students have access to the same campus resources available during any other semester.
The director expects the option to be available again next year although organizers hope to talk with students to determine what they would like to see in those offerings.