Summer school grows in popularity at Elgin Commmunity College

Elgin Community College is seeing a steady increase in its summer school population.

Officials say the reasons for the increase are varied, ranging from students who attend four-year schools trying to get a head start on the fall semester or playing catch up with work needed for their degree, to people switching careers using the college's summer offerings to gain certifications, primarily in the health care field.

Many summer school students are seeking to "either retool for a new career or to gain enhancements on a current career," said Trevell Eddins, director of admissions and recruitment.

"It's not like the remediation that students tend to associate with summer school," he said. "It really is a viable academic term to get a good start ... (if) they need to learn various computer skills or pick up some hours to enhance ability at their jobs. There are a lot of students who already have a bachelor's degree who are looking to switch careers, and health professions seems to be the most popular."

Growth in health care professions is projected to steadily increase through the year 2020.

"Over the last five years, we've developed new certificates that go along with our health professions," Eddins said. "Our nursing program is extremely popular. We find more and more students are coming back (here)."

There are 5,183 students enrolled in summer session classes at ECC. Last year, there were 5,114, and a year earlier the figure was 4,750, an increase of about 9 percent during the past two years.

Eddins said the college has made a targeted push to attract more four-year university students.

Sarah Luna, 19, a full-time student at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, is taking psychology and calculus at ECC this summer to help stay on track for graduation. A 2014 graduate of St. Charles North High School now majoring in education, Luna took two classes at ECC that spring.

"In order to graduate in four years, I have to take a couple of summer courses," said Luna, of St. Charles. "It was a good experience (at ECC) and I decided to come back. Definitely cost is a factor. I wanted to be home with the family and also work."

Eddins said another reason for the uptick in summer enrollment is growing partnerships between community colleges and four-year institutions "to help students complete at both places."

ECC is one of five suburban community colleges that has partnered with Northern Illinois University for a dual business degree program. The agreement allows students who complete an associate degree in business to transfer seamlessly and complete their bachelor's degree at NIU-Hoffman Estates.

Earlier this year, NIU and ECC also inked a deal allowing for the reverse transfer of credits. NIU students who haven't completed their two-year associate degree from ECC now can transfer credit from NIU courses to graduate from ECC. The state university has similar agreements with seven other community colleges.