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By Amanda Schapel

DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF

aschapel@media.ucla.edu

New minimum progress requirements, reductions in enrollment fees, and increases in summer financial aid have wrought “enormous change” in summer school enrollment numbers this year.

“Summer study is becoming a part of campus culture,” David Unruh said.

Last year, UCLA summer school student enrollment numbers rose 55 percent from the previous year, and enrolled students took more units than usual. This summer, enrollment has risen by about another 15 percent, Unruh said. Summer session enrollment numbers have also risen at other UCs and many California State University campuses.

UCLA students take summer classes to experience the more relaxed environment, to fill requirements that would otherwise keep them from graduating on time, and to lighten their class load come fall.

“I want to graduate earlier, and I want something to do because three months is a long time,” said fourth-year electrical engineering student Joseph Kwon.

David Miller, a fifth-year biological chemistry student, is enrolled in an English General Education class this summer.

“I look forward to reading some books, which you don’t have time for as a South Campus major,” Miller said.

Lex Chen, a third-year molecular, cell and developmental biology major said he is taking introductory psychology to fill an “easy” GE requirement while studying for the Law School Admission Test.

UC students no longer pay summer registration fees and pay less for summer courses ever since the state of California began footing part of UC students’ bill last year.

The state is making an effort to encourage more students to take summer school as a way to help deal with system-wide enrollment growth.

Chen said he “didn’t even know” that his enrollment fees were reduced, but Unruh said “the dramatic reduction in fees” has had a substantial impact on the numbers of UCLA students enrolled this summer.

Summer sessions enrollment numbers are also up for local Los Angeles high school students and new UCLA admits.

“Admission to UCLA is highly prized and students are anxious to get a start,” Unruh explained.

Summer financial aid awards have increased to help fund the greater numbers of attending students and because “the university (is) making summer sessions a priority,” said Pamela Martin, associate director of Financial Aid Operations.

The number of financial aid awards this summer is already as high as last year’s total – 3,000 awards – so Martin estimated the end-of-summer total will be about 200 awards higher than last year’s.

Summer financial aid is available to continuing students from UCLA and three other “state-supported” campuses – UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley and UC Davis.

New admits were not eligible for financial aid this year, but “the eventual plan is to make financial aid available to incoming freshmen,” Martin said.

The only students appearing in slightly smaller numbers than usual this summer are international students, because getting visas has been more difficult after Sept. 11, Unruh said.

“The (Immigration and Naturalization Service) is looking much more closely at student visas and is much more willing to decline them,” Unruh said.

About 500 international students usually attend UCLA summer sessions, but this year their number will drop to about 430, Unruh said.

Though summer enrollment numbers have increased, the demand for on-campus housing has remained fairly consistent with that of last summer, according to Angela Marciano, associate director of Housing and Hospitality Services.

Unruh said his department is “all very happy” with the increased enrollment, and this year’s summer sessions will be “as active and vital as before.”