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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1982)
Summer session: Laid back or intense? 6,500 will find answer beginning on Tuesday The mention of summer — even the slightest hint — is en ough to send a lot of people into a tailspin. as they launch a fren zied search for shorts and san dals But the onset of summer and the University's “Summer Ses sion," which begins today, is sending about 6,500 people into a headspin — directly toward the books. Officially the University says it “endeavors to provide through its Summer Session, an educa tional program of the same quality, proportionately varied and well-balanced, as it makes available during any other term." Summer Session is generally considered to be a laid back term to catch up on studies and break in a few easy credits. But ' while that may be the case for some students, it's not for the majority who attend summer term. And and if the faculty has a say. most would equate the summer term with any other at the University, says Dick Schminke. summer session dir ector "If I said (Summer Session) was that way, I'd have 16 letters from faculty members," Schminke says. "I suppose in some ways it might be .. I have a feeling it’s less frenzied, from the students perspective. I su spect the pace is slower," Schminke adds. Shminke also says most of the students, about 60 percent, are working on advanced degrees, especially in the education, mu sic and health, physical educa tion and recreation schools. "About 25 years ago, 80 per cent of the students were teachers, now about 65 percent are in education-related fields," Schminke says. "The education business still tends to pay by degree level.” But for the estimated 40 per cent of the undergraduate students, Schminke says a number of factors come into play. A lot of the students find summer a good time to catch up, especially students between their junior and senior years who want to graduate with the class they came in with, Schminke says. But Schminke says there are other reasons. “I think there are some young people trying to get the hell done before the price goes up again.” Whatever the reason for en rollment, the University, along with Portland State University, has about the largest summer session in the state. The University and PSU both catered to around 6,800 students last summer, but Schminke also says that a larger than average percentage of the University students in summer session are from out of state. Oregon State University usually finds about 5,500 students enrolled during sum mer term, and Schminke says that about 4,000 of those students are Oregonians. For VA tfg f 1C Every y°u 8°to court, your feet IIIIIC get the third degree. JTf% f At IDT NIKE offers a complete range ■ w of shoes — for tennis, basketball, racquetball and every other court sport. With comfort, support, and durability built in. Canvas, mesh or leather uppers. Hard-gripping outsoles for all surfaces. And models designed especially for women. NIKE Court Shoes: To make sure your feet never get held in contempt. j 10th & Olive IN THE ATRIUM 342-5155 Bring this ad in for 20% off on Nike Apparel. VOID 7-15-82 9. ,9 Emerald photo The University expects 6,500 students will enroll in this year’s Summer Session. the University to match the 4.000 Oregonians figure, Schminke says enrollment would have to climb over the 7.000 student mark. According to Schminke, the number of students enrolling in this year's session, compared to last year's, is likely to decline, but he says he doesn’t see the economy as the place to put the entire blame. "Our enrollment isn't usually tied to the job market,” Schminke explains. Schminke predicts a drop in enrollment this summer of about 300 students, which will lower the summer student population to the 6,500 level. Because Summer Session has become entirely self-support mg. Schminke says that enroll ment decline might hit a little bit harder. The reason for the tightness in the money margin isn’t neccesarily because of the state Legislature’s mandate that all state colleges and universities have self-supporting summer schools. Schminke says that the University has always met about “97 or 98 percent” of the cost, and adds that the decline in the number of students enrolled has always hurt. "It’s always kind of a gamble, if we go under 6,300 students, I expect next year Summer Ses sion wouldn't be this large. A couple of hundred students do make a difference.” Schminke alludes to the magnitude and diversity of Summer Session as he glances over the summer catalog. Several times he says that the numbers he has are for "for mal” classes only. "Informal classes," Schminke says, "are the open -ended ones, like Re search 509, or Thesis work 456.” ‘ ‘There are over 1,000 classes with regularly scheduled meet ing times,” he says. It seems that this session will be as much an education as any other, but Schminke qualifies that, saying “you can say all you want from both sides, it's still less fast-paced.” By Debbie Howiett ~£mu Recreation Center waterworks canoe co. Mon - Thurs 12 noon - Sundown Friday 11 am - Sundown Saturday 1 1 am - Sundown Sunday 12 noon - Sundown Telephone 686-4386
