Hannah Clayman
Equinox Staff
Although summertime has long been thought of as a time strictly for rest and relaxation, at Keene State College, it can be that, and so much more.
With the spring semester coming to a conclusion in the last days of April, May and the following months have opened up opportunities for students who need to catch up on completing credits.
These students oftentimes will also save money while staying on track to graduate on time.
With the list of classes being added to each year, summer studies prove to have benefits at KSC.
The Continuing Education office at KSC has made itself available to students looking to find their way out of trouble and back to being on track toward graduation.
Robert Baker, Director of the Continuing Education department, said that as of now, 565 students are enrolled in summer courses.
290 of those students are enrolled in two or more classes.
With an extensive list of over 180 courses to choose from this summer, it is no surprise as to why the summer option has begun to gain popularity.
Although fall and spring registration periods usually have their deadlines, with summer courses, registration is ongoing; anyone still interested in signing up is encouraged to do so.
For those in the college community who have found a certain area of study which interests them outside of their major or minor requirements, the KSC summer program offers non-credit courses, a program which already has 250 enrollments for this summer.
For Ariel DeLaura, who will be beginning her senior year in the fall, summer classes at KSC are providing her with the means necessary to graduate a year early; a step which she has found will save her money.
DeLaura will be taking a full course load of four classes this summer.
A personal tip from DeLaura: living off-campus in an apartment will save her even more money, which is a great plus for any student trying to stay on top of their finances.
Despite the benefits of summer courses, many students refuse to give up their summer vacation to continuing studies.
“I can see the benefits of taking classes year round, to get ahead,” senior John Tetlow said.
Tetlow continued, “Even though I’m going to be here an extra semester, I just can’t see myself giving up my summer break.”
Each student has their own preferences, but it remains the decision of the Continuing Education Office to provide those eager students with the types of courses which will benefit students both educationally and financially.
With its close proximity to downtown Keene, living on campus and taking classes can also open doors to students looking for part-time or seasonal employment within walking distance.
Due to the number of businesses in the downtown area, and the amount of students who are leaving their positions at some of those businesses to return home for the summer, opportunities continue to open up everywhere.
The city of Keene and the surrounding towns are also home to many state parks and recreational areas, great for students and others to enjoy on their days off during the summer months.
With public transportation available, or for the student with their own transportation, staying in Keene during the warm summer months can prove a great atmosphere for educational growth and warm-weather enjoyment.
Hannah Clayman can be contacted at
hclayman@ksc.mailcruiser.com