COLLEGIATETIMES
may 29, 2008
what’s inside News.............2 Features ........4 0pinions........5 Sports ...........8 Classifieds ...11 Sudoku........11 105th year issue 60 blacksburg, va.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SALLY BULL
KYLE EDWARDS
ct staff writer Many students worry about the cost of school, and with tuition increasing every year, the cost of education becomes a top factor in deciding whether to take summer classes, as well as whether to stay in Blacksburg or attend a community college. For students who decide to stay in Blacksburg for the summer and take classes, tuition per credit hour for Tech summer sessions I and II costs the same as the regular school year. “Summer session tuition at Virginia Tech is comparable to tuition at most of the other major universities in Virginia, but more expensive than tuition at one of Virginia’s community colleges,” said Tom Wilkinson, associate vice president for distance learning and summer sessions.
Virginia residents who are undergraduates at Tech will pay $721.50 per three-credit hour course while in-state graduate students will pay $1,227. Undergraduates only taking online courses during a summer term will not be charged the usual on-campus fees, including, but not limited to, the recreational sports fee and the Blacksburg Transit bus fee. Out-of-state students will pay $2,247.75 for undergraduate courses and $2,259 for graduate courses. For students on a tighter budget, community college may be the best option because the costs of summer sessions at community colleges are much cheaper. The estimated cost for a Virginia resident at New River Community College is $246.60 and $772.05 for non-residents. For students residing in Blacksburg during the summer, New River is the local community college and a popular choice for summer enrollment. “I think students who are enrolled
at other colleges come to New River in the summer because they can get the same general education courses here for a lower cost than at state and private four-year colleges,” said Peggy Taylor, director of student services at New River Community College. For other well-known junior colleges such as John Taylor Community College in the Richmond area, the estimated cost is $258.45 for in-state and $783.39 for out-of-state students. In the Tidewater area, the estimated cost to enroll in Tidewater Community College is $286.50 for those who reside in Virginia and $811.95 for those who don’t. The estimated cost for Northern Virginia Community College is $286.80 for in-state students and $820.20 for non-residents. Students heading home for the summer will save money by taking
Summer tuition at Virginia schools per three credit hour undergraduate course Though tuition costs continue to rise, the cost of an undergraduate summer course at Tech is on par with comparable universities in the state. Community colleges, however, continue to be budget-friendly. Virginia Tech Virginia resident
George Mason University $721.50
Virginia resident
$940
Non-Virginia resident $2,247.75 Non-Virginia resident University of Virginia Virginia resident
$654
Non-Virginia resident $2,400 James Madison University Virginia resident
$687
Non-Virginia resident $1,959
$2,713.50
New River Community College Virginia resident
$246.60
Non-Virginia resident
$772.05
Northern Virginia Comm. College Virginia resident
$286.80
Non-Virginia resident
$820.20
see COST, page two
Torgersen battles cancer Construction to KYLE EDWARDS
ct staff writer F o r m e r President Paul Torgersen was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and has begun treatment. His daughter, Torgersen Karen Torgersen, created the Facebook group “We Support Paul Torgersen” to show support for the
former Virginia Tech president during the course of his treatment. According to Karen, as posted on Facebook, Torgersen began treatment May 19 and had a chemo power pump installed that sent chemotherapy through his body for a week. “The treatment is going to be very aggressive but his family is very optimistic.” Karen said. She also updates his status on the discussion board on his Facebook group. Torgersen has three goals for August, which include dancing with
“The treatment is going to be very agressive but his family is very optimistic.” -KAREN TORGERSEN DAUGHTER his granddaughter at her wedding, attending all Virginia Tech football practices, and teaching his class. “He has a passion for the university, athletics and teaching,”
see BATTLE, page two
move forward GABRIEL MCVEY
ct staff writer For the time being, Blacksburg’s First and Main development project will continue, including preparations for a 186,000 square foot retail store along South Main Street. The redevelopment of the commercial area on the west side of South Main Street between Country Club Drive and King Street — not
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including the Gables Shopping Center complex — was rezoned under Ordinance 1412 — adopted by Town Council in 2006. Under Phase One of the development plan, Ohio developer Fairmount Properties and its local partners, Llamas and Diversified Investors, plan to build retail store sites, several restaurants and a movie
see PLANS, page three