The University of Redlands is launching a summer term, thanks to a partnership between the School of Continuing Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
This past year’s transition to online education, in which students often took courses from an off-campus residence, made completing the traditional four courses a semester challenging for many. The new summer term provides students additional opportunities to earn credits in upper division and lower division courses in art, math, biology, business, history, religion, communication sciences and disorders, political science, and sociology.
“Although the University has considered adding a summer term many times, it never seemed quite right—until now,” said Provost Dr. Kathy Ogren. “We are happy to adapt in this way to meet the needs of our students during this extraordinary time in our nation’s history.”
In addition to current, entering, and outgoing CAS students, the courses will be open to high school students; students from other schools, colleges, and universities; alumni; lifelong learners (65 and older); and others interested in participating.
In this inaugural year, the summer session will consist of one eight-week term, running from Monday, June 14 to Monday, August 9, 2021. All but one lab skills course (offered by the Biology Department) will be taught virtually. In future years, the summer term will include online, hybrid, and in-person options. Each course is four units and will come with the same Liberal Arts Inquiry/Liberal Arts Foundation designations as during the traditional academic year.
Administrators, faculty, and students alike have expressed enthusiasm about this addition to the academic schedule. Steve Wuhs, Interim CAS Dean, said he is pleased students will have a way to stay on track to graduate in four years, adding, “With so many respected professors signed on to teach, our students will have the opportunity to build strong relationships with their instructors, just as they do throughout the year.”
Similarly, Professor Lisa Olson, the chair of the Biology Department, said, “Summer school is a wonderful opportunity for students across the college who need more flexibility in their four-year plan. For our biology majors who missed out on critical lab skills during COVID, we are excited to offer an optional one-unit course where they can learn to use cellular and molecular biology equipment.”
CAS student Avery Tax ’23 reached out to express her gratitude for the new choices. “I am happy to know I will be able to get a couple of courses out of the way in the summer. I work a lot during the school year, and it would be nice to take fewer courses during fall and spring semesters.”
For more information, including financial aid/scholarships, please visit U of R’s Summer Term 2021 web pages.
