Summer School

summer.unc.edu

JAN JOHNSON YOPP, Dean

History

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill established what was possibly America’s first summer school in 1877. It enrolled 235 students in courses from 10 disciplines. Women were first admitted into University courses during this summer session. Students came from 42 North Carolina counties and several neighboring states. By 1925, 19,983 students had enrolled in Summer School. The University has continued annually to provide a wide offering of summer academic opportunities to the people of North Carolina and other residents from this country and abroad. From 1934 to 1987 the programs were administered by the Office of Summer Sessions. The traditional name of Summer School was reinstated in 1988.

Opportunities

The College of Arts and Sciences as well as many professional schools offer summer courses for undergraduates and graduates. The same faculty members who make the University one of the nation’s best teach the courses, assisted by visiting professors who are specially recruited by departments for this purpose.

Summer School is central to the teaching mission of the University. The summer is one of the three periods during which the campus is open for formal instruction. Summer courses are of comparable quality and provide the same credit as corresponding courses in the fall or spring terms.

When students have problems in the fall or spring terms getting courses they need or have to choose between courses, summer provides a time when the course can be taken. This option relieves pressure on fall and spring enrollments, creates opportunities to enhance students’ programs, increases student access to courses in nonmajor fields and other schools, and ensures that students can complete their degree requirements in a timely manner.

Because some subjects are best learned in an intensive and concentrated way, summer provides a time when students can focus on a single field. This learning style is particularly useful for some laboratory experiences, concentrated arts courses, and foreign languages. Some curricula require field study or research projects, and summer uniquely allows time for these studies.

During the summer, faculty members and students can concentrate on one or two courses without interruptions of other administrative, academic, and social events that exist during the year. The total number of students is fewer in the summer, and the mix includes a higher proportion of nontraditional, visiting, and minority students than during the fall or spring terms. Because class sizes are smaller and classes meet daily, students interact more with faculty and one another.

The summer program is also one of the key ways the campus reaches out to visiting and postdegree students who can benefit from what the University has to offer. Finally, summer is a time for faculty members to develop and experiment with new content and teaching models that can be incorporated into fall or spring courses as well.

Programs

Summer School within Academic Affairs offers two sessions of five weeks each, a three-week Maymester, and other short courses with various beginning and ending dates. In recent years about 700 different sections of courses have been offered each summer to 8,500 students in Summer Session I and 5,500 in Summer Session II. The available courses include many that satisfy undergraduate degree requirements. Twelve semester hours of credit typically would be earned by a full-time summer student over both summer sessions. Many students take fewer hours or attend only one session. Total credit hours earned by Academic Affairs students in the summer are more than 60,000. About 90 percent of summer students are regular UNC–Chapel Hill students, and the other 10 percent are visiting students.

In recent summers, enrolled students have come from all 100 counties in North Carolina and all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and 60 foreign countries.

Highlights

Summer School highlights include concentrated three-week courses offered in Maymester, some field courses and law courses that extend beyond the usual Summer Session I, some courses taught especially for public school teachers that begin after mid-June when the public schools end their term, and other credit programs that operate on a concentrated schedule. Courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening. Some offerings combine off-campus activities and on-campus classes or combine online and face-to-face learning formats.

Summer Study USA includes UNC–Chapel Hill courses taught by UNC’s regular faculty who accompany the students on programs throughout the United States.

Student Services

Summer School coordinates and distributes information on summer course offerings for credit in all Academic Affairs units. Course offerings are available on the Summer School Web site in mid-December. Regular UNC–Chapel Hill students who need information on summer courses and early registration should contact their advisor, dean, or the relevant academic department. These students and all others can obtain updated information daily on the Web site at summer.unc.edu.

Summer School admits and advises visiting students. A potential visiting student can obtain information and an online application from the Web site at summer.unc.edu. The dean of Summer School serves as the dean for these students to approve any schedule adjustments and to represent their interests in other academic and administrative matters.

Summer School students are able to use most of the campus facilities enjoyed by students in the fall and spring semesters, such as the libraries, computer rooms, and athletic facilities. Information on University housing and on dining plans is available in March. The Carolina Union, Carolina intramural coed recreational sports, and The Summer Tar Heel provide activities, events, and information during the summer.

Contact Information

Summer School Office, CB# 3340, 134 E. Franklin Street, Room 200, (919) 966-4364. Web site: summer.unc.edu