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Wednesday, June 15, 1994
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Community college classes popular
KU students look to Johnson County for summer studies
By Megan Poplinger Special to the Kansan
Saving money while lightening the class load has led some KU students to community colleges, especially Johnson County Community College this summer.
Julia Duckwall, senior research analyst at Johnson County, said that approximately 45.6 percent of the Johnson County students that left after completing six hours or more and attended a four year college within the next year transferred to KU. The Office of Admissions had no figures available on the number of evaluation requests for summer courses taking at the college.
Karis Patrick, Johnson County student ambassador, said KU students frequently come to Johnson County in the summer to take or retake introductory courses like MATH 101 Algebra; ENGL 101, Composition; and ENGL 102, Composition and Literature.
"In the summer, there are more students that go to KU but come back to retake courses which they had trouble with," she said.
Johnson County student ambassador Wendy Moore said that basic freshman/sophomore courses frequently are easier at junior college because the classes are smaller, they do not have teaching assistants, and the classes are meant to be a transition between high school and college so the instructors work to make the curriculum easier to learn.
Alicia Young, Kansas City senior, said she took a math course at Johnson County two summers ago for that reason. She said she thought it would be easier to concentrate solely on that class.
Young also decided to attend Johnson County in the summer was that it costs less. Each hour of class at Johnson County is $33 for in-state undergraduates while, at KU, in-state undergraduates must pay $70.70 per
hour, although they receive a discount if taking more than five hours.
The lower tuition is not the only economic factor in choosing Johnson County. The benefits of living at home and having more job opportunities in the Kansas City area led some KU students to the college for the summer.
"A lot of students come home for the summer because it is harder to maintain an apartment and find a job in Lawrence," Patrick said.
Heather Daniels, Leawood sophomore, said that she wanted to fulfill her calculus class so she would not have to take it during the school year and decided to do it at Johnson County because it is close to her house in the summer.
Even though advantages to taking classes at junior college during the summer exist, many students still do stay in Lawrence for summer school.
The two-week, intensive JOUR 660,
Magazine Publishing course was not
the only reason Mac Engel decided to
stay at KU.
"I didn't want to live at home anymore," he said. "It was time to go."
English 101 marks a start for many college academic careers, but for four high school graduates, it is also the finishing point in a KU program called Upward Bound.
Program teaches college rigors
By Mary Beth Kurzak Special to the Kansan
This summer they are taking seven hours of college courses through the program which serves students from low-income families who have completed grades 9 through 12. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the program is free.
Upward Bound helps students from Lawrence, Topeka and the Kansas City area prepare for a strong college career. Ninety-eight percent of the students—many who are the first generation in their family to attend college—go on to a college career, said Ngondi Kamatuke, Upward Bound director.
Thirty-four high school students are in the summer program. Thirty-one spaces were not filled.
Kamataka said the year-round program helps students of all academic abilities.
"They become very confident in themselves," Kamatuka said. "They realize there is nothing they couldn't do."
Upward Bound is divided into two parts, Non-Bridge and Bridge programs. Non-Bridge students are still in high school. This program involves weekly tutoring, workshops, field trips and guest speakers. Students also attend a six-week summer session at KU that
involves special classes and activities.
Bridge students have graduated and take regular college classes during the summer session. They take English, Introduction to Public Speaking and a one-hour freshman introduction course.
"It's very helpful," said Keenon McClaine, a four-year participant attending junior college this fall. "It gives people a starting point before they actually get there." Michelle Terry, Bridge counselor, said Upward Bound's philosophy was based on positive reinforcement.
"We motivate them by letting them see themselves succeed," she said.
Terry said the strength of the program was in the support the students receive. The students have tutors for every subject and counselors to guide them on issues like time management.
Karene Jones said the program gave her the structure she needed to succeed.
"Before, I cared about my studies, but I didn't have the right study skills and time management," she said.
Jones will be attending school in Alabama in the fall and will have earned enough college credits to start as a second semester freshman.
The students said they were adjusting well to their college classes.
"It doesn't seem too different than high school in how they are taught," said Joy Prim, who will attend Anderson University in Anderson, Ind.
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