Three Rivers sees 20 percent increase in summer enrollment

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Students are taking more summer classes than ever at Three Rivers College.

The Office of Student Success reports a more than 20 percent increase in credit hour enrollment over summer session 2010, from 9,061 to 10,947 credit hours. More than 1,600 students are enrolled in summer classes, an increase of several hundred over previous years. Registration is still open for the summer B session, which begins

July 5.

"Students are staying in school during the summer partially because they have more money to use for their education," said vice president for student success Jason Hoseney. "This is the last summer that students can take advantage of the law President Obama signed that allows students to apply for Pell grants during the summer semester, just as they would in fall and spring. Students are basically getting 150 percent more money than they would before the law went into effect. "

Hoseney also suspects that students from other colleges have come home to Southeast Missouri and are taking the opportunity to complete additional credits at a lower cost, and transferring them back to their regular institutions.

Summer head count also has increased, by almost 15 percent. Since 2009, summer credit hour enrollment has increased by more than half.

Registration also is open for the regular fall 2011 semester, as well as the new "Augmester" period.

Like "Maymester," "Augmester" is an abbreviated academic session that will allow students to complete up to five credit hours online and in the classroom over about a week and a half in early August. Fore more information, call 573-840-9665 or visit trcc. edu.

Pertinent address:

2080 Three Rivers Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO