Student demand for summer classes at Boise State continues to increase. This year has already exceeded expectations, with student enrollment and enrolled credit hours totalling over 10,000 students and 59,300 credits, respectively, an 8.97% increase from 2024.
So, what’s making Boise State’s Summer Sessions more appealing than ever to students?
Providing a fast track for students
Summer sessions offer students an opportunity to get ahead or stay on track — shifting the mindset to think about year-round education rather than the typical fall and spring semesters.
Students enrolled in summer sessions can take advantage of the condensed format of the courses offered, helping them balance a busy schedule. The concentrated schedule allows students to focus on one or two classes at a time while still accessing the same student support as spring or fall semesters, like the writing center and personalized tutoring.
“We offer a robust summer program with a lot of options to help students progress to their degree,” said Director of Summer Sessions Regina Jenkins.
“Our summer student success rates are high, even when you factor in that the students are taking courses in a condensed session,” she added. “When we look at the data of Boise State’s first-time full-time cohort, students who enroll in summer classes are more than two times likely to graduate in four years. That speaks volumes to the support our students have.”
The demand for summer programs by students has increased each year, with 81% of graduates from the last academic year enrolled in at least one summer class during their time at Boise State.
Additionally, 73% of freshmen who completed their degree within four years and graduated during the last academic year also took a summer class at Boise State during their tenure.
Innovation in education
The developments made from shifting courses entirely online for the summer 2020 semester paved the way for better access and flexibility for summer sessions, allowing students to take advantage of remote delivery.
“Our Boise State faculty who teach in the summer are incredible and often state how they enjoy being creative with how they teach the material in a condensed session,” said Jenkins.
Summer programs help students go beyond the traditional boundaries of spring and fall semesters. Students can use the summer session to take required courses for their degree or to pursue a certificate or minor. They can also get hands-on workplace experience with an internship or work directly with a faculty member to help further their research.
“We’re continually updating our summer offerings. We’re either adding capacity or changing modality, and instructors are adding new courses all the time to open doors for students,” Jenkins said.