Summer session gives students flexibility to take a wide range of classes with two five-week sessions, a three-week mini session and a 13-week regular session from May 19 through August 14.

This year is the University’s 102nd summer session. The number of students taking summer session continues to grow each year with 6,822 students enrolled in classes last summer.

“Students like to be able to focus some of the harder classes in the summer and work toward degree completion,” Kerri Garcia, executive director of summer session and academic credit program, said. “They also like the more intimate feeling of the classes.”

Students can take up to 18 credits during the summer with up to four credits in the mini session and seven credits in the first and second session. The University also offers a 13-week regular session comprised mostly of online classes. According to Garcia, a student typically takes an average of six credits in the summer.

“We try to have students start thinking about summer now, especially as they are starting to think about the fall semester,” Garcia said. “It allows students to be strategic about the classes they are going to take in the fall.”

Student housing is available in the residence halls of Sierra and Argenta. Summer classes are particularly beneficial to students who are out of state and do not have to pay out-of-state tuition for summer credits.

Summer session is administered by the University’s newly named 365 Learning department which is part of Extended Studies. The 365 Learning options include six major programs including Summer Session, Wintermester, Freshman Start, online classes, Late-start & Weekend classes, and evening studies.

“Our mission is to give students every possible opportunity to get additional credits toward completing their degree,” Garcia said.

In order to increase the student’s opportunity to take classes, this is the second year the University is offering Summer Tuition Awards. These scholarships are given out to the first 500 students who apply on a non-need basis. The award makes six credits of summer session basically free, giving a collective amount of $1250 to undergraduates and $1500 to graduate students.  The application for the award will go live at 8 a.m., April 1 on the summer session website.

“Some students might not think of taking summer classes because their financial aid does not cover summer classes or they are planning on working,” Garcia said. “By providing some students with Summer Tuition Awards to take classes, everyone wins.”

The University hosts many summer activities such as outdoor movie nights, concerts on the Quad and free barbecues on the second Thursday of each summer session.

“We want summer session to provide the essence of summer,” Garcia said. “Summer is fun. The campus is beautiful and everything’s in bloom. It truly reflects President Marc Johnson’s goals of educating the mind, body and spirit.”

Students can enroll for summer session through MyNevada starting the week of March 24, depending on class standing. For a preview list of summer session classes, go to unr.edu/Documents/365/summer/summer_preview2014.pdf.