FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What courses will I take this summer?
2. What is a typical day during the summer session?
3. How will the Academic Development Program help me in the fall semester?
4. Can I be dismissed from the Academic Development Program?
5. May I have a job during the summer session?
6. May I have a car during the summer session?
7. Will I have the same roommate in the fall?
8. Is there a curfew during the summer?
9. Can students go home on weekends?
10. How do I get registered for my courses in the fall?
11. Are there any recreational activities during the summer session?
1. What courses will I take this summer?
All students will take three courses for a total of nine credits. One of those courses will be either developmental English or mathematics, depending on which one the student appears to be stronger. The second course will be in Reading, and the third course will be Speaking 208, a college-level speech course.
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2. What is a typical day during the summer session?
All students are in class from 8:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. every day of the week. The afternoon schedule will vary, depending on the individual student’s schedule for tutoring, mentoring, or other activities. Much of the time in the afternoon may be used at the student’s discretion: studying, sleeping, recreation. The evening hours are primarily devoted to studying and preparing assignments for the next day’s classes.
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3. How will the Academic Development Program help me in the fall semester?
When you return in the fall, you will be returning with approximately 120 friends, many of whom will be in your fall classes. You might also have a professor in the fall that you had during the summer. Furthermore, you will know the campus geography—where to go for what purpose. You will already be familiar with residence hall living—its environment, rules, and staff. You will also be familiar with the staff and services of the Academic Development Program and the ways we can continue to help you. Perhaps the major advantage will be that you will already have completed those courses that you would normally have taken in the fall if you had not come in the summer. In all these ways you will be ahead of all other first-year students who are starting in the fall. You may even realize other advantages.
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4. Can I be dismissed from the Academic Development Program?
We expect that virtually 100% of our summer students will continue into the fall; indeed, that has been our history in past summers. In fact, we would not have admitted you to the Academic Development Program if we felt that you were the kind of student we would have to dismiss. However, there are some circumstances in which dismissal is possible. One is that if, in the opinion of the summer faculty and staff, a student is not making academic progress, especially because of lack of effort, that student, actually in his/her best interest, will have admission in the fall cancelled. Another possible reason for being dismissed is extreme violation of residence hall regulations, such as possession of alcohol, drugs, or firearms in the residence hall. Another possible reason is violation of the Academic Development Program attendance policy for class, tutoring, mentoring, and other required activities. A final possible reason is if a student is a severe discipline problem. But, as stated above, we do not expect any of these reasons to occur.
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5. May I have a job during the summer session?
Because students often need to work to earn money to pay college expenses, several have had jobs during past summer sessions. Unfortunately, the demands of the summer session, as well as travel complications, preclude students’ being able to work during the week. Thus, students are not excused from the program to attend work hours during the week. However, students may certainly work on weekends when they go home. A word of caution, though, is that these students are still responsible for completing their assignments; working on the weekend is not an excuse for not being prepared for classes Monday mornings. Another strategy that students employ is to negotiate with their employers to work additional hours before and after the summer session, thus making up for those hours they couldn't work during the week days of the summer session.
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6. May I have a car during the summer session?
For two important reasons, students normally are not permitted to have a car during the summer session. The first is that students’ having cars would be a major distraction from their academic studies. The second reason is that the Program staff does not wish to have to be worried about student safety, something that most parents also appreciate.
However, we do recognize that there may be circumstances, either medical or hardship, for which a student might need to have a car. Students who would wish to request permission to have a car under such circumstances should present to Dr. Kyper for his approval a letter from parents, doctor, dentist, etc., explaining the reasons for the request. Upon Dr. Kyper’s approval of the reason, the student will then register the car with Dr. Kyper and leave the keys with Dr. Kyper to be picked up and used only for those purposes for which permission is given. A second set of keys is not allowed in the students’ possession.
Having a car without permission and registration, or abusing the privilege of having a car, may result in immediate dismissal from the Program and West Chester University.
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7. Will I have the same roommate in the fall?
That depends on you. Many students request the same roommate for the fall. Others might wish to room with someone else whom they met during the summer. Others may wish to room with a high school friend who is not in the summer program. Others, still, are satisfied with having the university assign them another roommate for the fall. During the summer each student will have the opportunity to select a roommate through a separate Academic Development Program Roommate Request Form that will be available in the residence hall. This form would need to be completed and returned to the Office of Residence Life and Housing Services by July 14.
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8. Is there a curfew during the summer?
There is no curfew during the summer session. However, you will need to sign-in if you return to the residence hall after 11:30 p.m. If it is determined that you are not doing your assignments, are late for your 8:00 a.m. class, or are sleeping in class because of staying out too late, such could be reason for discontinuation in the program.
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9. Can students go home on weekends?
Yes. Students are cautioned, however, to be sure to complete their weekend academic assignments.
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10. How do I get registered for my courses in the fall?
You will receive your fall schedule before you leave for the summer. Receiving your fall schedule will also be accompanied by meetings with the academic advisor.
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11. Are there any recreational activities during the summer session?
While your major goal during the summer should be successful academic achievement in your courses, the Program also tries to develop the whole student through recreational opportunities. In addition to those already listed on the Academic Development Program calendar, the staff has planned several optional activities that hopefully will appeal to a wide-range of students. Students should participate in these optional activities as their schedules will allow; their studies should come first. Participating in the recreational activities is not an excuse for mediocre academic performance in class or on examinations. One of the crucial academic survival skills we hope that every student will develop is responsible time management: schedule your time so that you can achieve both academic excellence as well as participation in recreational activity. It shouldn't be either/or; with good time management, it can be both.
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