MERCED, CA — Registration opens today (April 15, 2002) for the third annual University of California, Merced Summer Session, featuring an expanded assortment of UC courses presented at UC Merced's educational and outreach centers in Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield for the benefit of students in the San Joaquin Valley.
Working in partnership with UC Davis, UC Merced is offering two sessions and 12 upper- and lower-division courses for UC credit including biology, economics, United States history, calculus, macroeconomics, nutrition, psychology, sociology, statistics and Spanish. All courses will be taught by highly qualified faculty from UC campuses and other local institutions of higher education.
Summer Session One runs from June 24 through August 2, with a registration deadline of June 21. Running from August 5 through September 13, Summer Session Two has a registration deadline of August 2.
“These summer courses are part of UC Merced's ongoing effort to increase Valley students' access to the University of California and the availability of UC programs in the region as we progress toward the official opening of the main UC Merced campus,” said Helen Sullivan, Co-Director of Summer Session and Director of Professional Studies. “We are especially excited to offer an opportunity for newly admitted UC students to get their first experience with UC courses and for current UC students to fulfill general education requirements at locations close to their homes.”
Three to five units of UC credit are available for each course and fees range from $228 to $380 per course for UC students. Eligible students also can apply for financial assistance through the UC Merced Chancellor's Summer Scholarship Program. Scholarship recipients will be able to attend one UC Merced summer course and obtain the required textbooks for that course free of charge.
In addition to current UC students, recent high school graduates and community college transfer students admitted to the University for admission in fall 2002 are encouraged to enroll in the summer courses. High school students beginning their senior year this fall must submit a letter from their school principal or counselor documenting their grade point average and recommending them for college-level study to enroll. Other San Joaquin Valley residents who are at least 18 years old and are prepared for University-level coursework also are welcome to register for the UC Merced Summer Session courses.
Featuring high-caliber faculty throughout, the summer sessions will include some courses taught in the traditional classroom style, while other courses will leverage the latest in technology to maximize student participation via two-way, live videoconferencing.
Information about the 2002 UC Merced Summer Session courses, as well as applications, are available online at www.ucmerced.edu/professional_dev/programs_students.asp. Anyone interested in more information, eligibility guidelines for scholarships and UC Merced Summer Session catalogs are encouraged to contact Shannon Adamson, Summer Session Coordinator, at (559) 241-7407.
UC Merced, the 10th campus of the University of California system, is the first major research university to be built in the United States in the 21st century. Currently employing approximately more than 90 educators and professionals, UC Merced has a special mission to serve the educational needs of the San Joaquin Valley. The University's main campus in Merced is scheduled to open in 2004 to serve 1,000 students. Over the coming decades, the campus is expected to grow to a student population of 25,000. UC Merced contributes to educational access through the entire San Joaquin region via educational and outreach centers in Fresno and Bakersfield, and the Tri-College Center in Merced.
