State Funding Allows Return of Summer Classes at Cal Poly

Cal Poly administrators announced today that the university will offer a full summer quarter class schedule in June 2005, thanks to state funding agreements between the California State University System and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Summer quarter is back," said Linda Dalton, Cal Poly's executive vice provost. "This is a big turnaround from summer 2004, when state budget reductions severely limited class offerings."

Each of Cal Poly's seven colleges is planning to offer classes next summer to serve about 4000 students. Cal Poly will also reinstate admissions for transfer students and first-time freshmen who wish to start classes in summer. "Typically, about 600 undergraduates - first-time freshmen and transfer students - start during summer quarter," said James Maraviglia, assistant vice president for admissions, recruitment and financial aid.

Cal Poly is rebuilding summer enrollment under the terms of the new Governor's Compact to fund higher education. In August 2004, Gov. Schwarzenegger reached an agreement with the California State University and University of California systems to fund enrollment growth at 2.5 percent per year. The compact also includes increased financial aid for needy students.

Dalton explained that Cal Poly is directing its 2.5 percent enrollment growth into summer over the next several years because the university wants to keep its entering freshman class and fall enrollment stable.

Summer quarter classes aren't just aimed at new freshmen and transfer students, Dalton stressed. The university would like to remind students that they can enroll for up to eight units as part-time students during the summer, or take a full course load during the quarter, Dalton said.

To help students begin to plan their 2005 course scheduling before the winter holidays, the university asked each college to submit its summer class offering plans in November. Preliminary course lists and additional information about summer quarter 2005 is being posted on Cal Poly's Academic Programs website: http://www.academics.calpoly.edu/academicprograms/Summer/index.htm.

Applications for freshmen and transfer students seeking admission for summer quarter 2005 will open on Feb. 1 and close Feb. 28. The Cal Poly application process is entirely online; to apply, visit the CSU Mentor Web Site at http://www.csumentor.edu/.

Contact: Linda Dalton, Executive Vice Provost, (805) 756-2185