Writing Sample #11: Reverse Gear: community colleges find university students filling their summer classrooms (Daily Southtown, May 6, 2007)

Russ Riberto considered it as wise a move as any he’s ever made. While pursuing his business administration degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Oak Lawn resident returned home each summer to make some money and, in a break from the academic calendar he enjoyed from the previous twelve years, take summer school courses.

“I took a few math classes in two consecutive summers,” said Riberto. “It was strange doing schoolwork in July, but I knew it was a good move and one that would help me get ahead.”

Now working with the federal government’s General Services Administration as a senior project manager, Riberto admits that his decision to take summer courses at Moraine Valley Community College remains one of his wisest academic decisions.

“I was able to stay on track and make sure I graduated from UIC on time,” the 2002 UIC alum said. “Plus, when I got back to UIC I was able to focus on my major classes in business and make sure they were getting the attention they deserved.”

Although students at four-year universities such as Riberto have long utilized their home community colleges to support or advance their studies over the summer months, local colleges have heightened efforts in recent years to promote such opportunities, particularly given the skyrocketing costs of tuition at both public and private four-year institutions across the nation.

“The primary advantage is that [the students] can get the classes they need at a much lower cost with the added convenience of being in their home area over the summer,” said Patrick Rush, director of public relations at South Suburban College. “This may allow them to take a smaller course load as a full-time student or to get their degree faster.”

Students, meanwhile, have increasingly taken advantage of the opportunities available at local community colleges, particularly as tuition at the colleges ranges anywhere from $60-90 per credit hour, an affordable respite from universities’ hefty costs. While some students return home during the summer for full or part-time work, others return expressly for summer school.
In 2006, South Suburban College claimed nearly 500 reverse transfer students, as they are often called, a number accounting for approximately 15 percent of its summer enrollment. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills counts upwards of 20 percent of its summer enrollment as reverse transfer students, a number that has sprouted alongside overall campus enrollment. Oftentimes, university students flock to the community colleges to fulfill general education requirements, such as math, English, science, communications, and history.

“There are a variety of reasons why [general education courses] are popular: students couldn’t get into such a course at their school or they have to make it up or want to get these courses completed less expensively so they can concentrate on courses specific to their major [once they return to their school in the fall],” said Mark Horstmeyer, Director of College Relations at Moraine Valley Community College, who adds that students might also elect to take a course in which they feel they might need extra help.

Students at Illinois universities, meanwhile, can take assurance that their summer work will carry over to their four-year institution with the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement among participating Illinois colleges and universities with clear guidelines identifying the transferability of courses.

“With the Illinois colleges, at least, transferring credits has become more seamless with the IAI,” said Cathy Robinson, Dean of Academic Services and Counseling at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights. “For those not at an Illinois four-year institution, I would suggest checking with the registrar’s office at the home institution. If the course transfers, then it’s really a win-win.”

Like the aforementioned Riberto, students who take summer courses at their local college rarely regret the edge it lends and the savings it provides. Yet more, such students even impress college administrators with their willingness to stay academically sharp in spite of summer’s tempting sunshine and students’ long-standing avoidance of schoolwork throughout June, July, and August.

“I’m impressed with the students who see that they can compete even better when they stay on their academic toes. They’ve thought it through and realized the benefits are well worth the investment,” said Robinson.