Alyssa Attakamon / Roundup
Pierce College is offering two summer sessions with a surprising incentive for students receiving financial aid.
For the first time, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is going to offer more funding for summer session students.
“In the past, it hasn’t,” said Marco De La Garza, dean of admissions.
Students who applied for the 2009-10 FAFSA will be allowed more funding since Congress changed the regulation effective July 1, 2009.
“If you get 50 percent in the fall, 30 percent in the spring, you would only be eligible for 20 percent in the summer — whatever is leftover,” De La Garza said. “Now with the change it’s 50 percent per semester as long as the enrollment and eligibility matches. It’s a great opportunity for the students to get money for their books.”
Kirsten Schluter, 22, will not be taking summer classes.
“I’m not a fast learner that could squeeze a semester’s work into one month,” she said.
On the other hand, Schluter acknowledges the advantages of having two summer sessions available.
“I think that it’s a better idea especially since certain students may only be able to take classes in the summer due to work scheduling and other conflicts.”
Students enrolled in the Program for Accelerated College Education (PACE) are able to fulfill their course loads during summer as well.
“They carry their regular schedule but they crossover both A and B [sessions],” De La Garza said.
As far as the number of classes being offered, De La Garza said, “…a little bit more. Although there are limitations because of the funding, there’s more.”
Parking, he says, will remain free.
“At this time I think we’re not going to charge for parking. We are doing it the same way we did last year,” he said.
Michael Sumilang, a 19-year-old nursing major, plans to catch up on credits during the summer and transfer as soon as possible.
“It’s going to be my first time and I’m excited. I started Pierce (in the) fall of ’07,” he said.
“My goal is to work for Kaiser Permanente as a registed nurse.”
Summer Session A begins June 22 and ends July 25. Session B begins July 27 and ends Aug. 25.
Applications for admission are available at http://www.piercecollege.edu. Information on the FAFSA is available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.