Summer 2010-03-05

ready, set, summer

The Daily Targum takes a look at what will be happening both on and off campus after spring semester is over.

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MARCH 5, 2010

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

U. surfs into summer session with new programs

BY DENNIS COMELLA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Students and faculty are gearing up for summer with tons of unique programs, including more than 1,500 new courses.

There are three summer sessions, each about six weeks long, with classes meeting at a variety of days and times. Students have until May 15 to sign up for the first session of summer classes.

New classes and programs include certificates in Chinese and Arabic Translation and Interpretation and gifted and talented education.

The University will also offer two new professional-level programs and an expanded Summer Advanced Placement Institute in addition to the more than 1,500 courses already offered.

Chinese and Arabic Languages Certificate Program Students proficient in Chinese or Arabic can earn a certificate showing that they completed a translation program this summer, which will help them prepare for state and federal exams for government certification, said Marion Yudow, director of the Language Institute.

The courses introduce the basics of translation and interpretation, then have break-out sessions for practice in Chinese and Arabic guided by native speakers of these languages who are experienced translators, Yudow said.

“These days, there is a tremendous emphasis on global interactions, and students with these skills have a better chance of landing a good job in their chosen fields,” she said.

The program was created because of a national need for translators and interpreters in Chinese and Arabic languages declared critical for strategic and economic interests by the U.S. government, Yudow said.

The certificate will add to a student’s résumé, said Tom Stephens, an academic advisor for the World Languages Institute.

The program requires students to complete 18 credits over two or more summers, providing them with experience and a better chance to get a job using those skills.

The classes are either 1.5 or 3 credits and meet one to two days a week for four hours over a sixweek period.

Hybrid Courses: ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ Most of the courses are classroom-based, but some are hybrid classes, Yudow said.

“Hybrid classes are really neat,” said Student Services coordinator Jen Valera. “They are a combination of classes that meet on campus and classes that meet online, so you kind of get the best of both worlds.”

Having the class in the summer allows students to concentrate fully on their coursework, which is important while partaking in the rigorous program, Valera said.

“If they want to go into court interpreting or some type of health care to translate, it will give them a leg up on a job interview,” she said.

Gifted and Talented Education Another cer tificate program of fered this summer is in gifted and talented education for K-12 educators, counselors and administrators.

The University has also expanded its Summer Advanced Placement Institute, designed for beginning or experienced Advanced Placement teachers,

which includes seminars ranging from teaching languages to psychology and history. Each course lasts one week with three sessions offered.

The A.P. program is perfect for graduate students working for credit, Valera said.

In addition to these specialized programs, the University also of fers more than 1,500 other courses taught in 2,200 sections over the three-session summer term.

“If a student wants to graduate early, they can take a class during summer, if they know that they already have a full load,” Valera said.

She said summer classes might also be more convenient for students who are not on campus as much during the summer.

“It’s good because some people work during the summer, so they don’t have to be on campus as much,” Valera said. “You have the time to complete the work at home at your own pace.”

Jessica Espinosa, a School of Arts and Sciences junior has taken summer classes before and said they have both advantages and disadvantages.

Summer classes are fastpaced, covering a chapter a day in her chemistry class, whereas during the regular sessions they might cover the same material in a week’s time, she said.

“It’s harder because you have a lot of information in a short period of time,” Espinosa said.

“But you don’t have a lot of classes to juggle so in that sense it was easier.”

Biology majors would benefit from summer classes because the major is very competitive, she said.

“In order to be competitive you have to take a lot of courses early on,” Espinosa said.

“Taking a summer class makes it lighter, so it’s easier to be competitive.”

There will be an open house to introduce students to the summer session on March 10 at the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus, and March 16, 24 and April 1, 6 at the Rutgers University Inn and Conference Center, all held from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

For more information on Rutgers’ Summer Session, e-mail summer@dceo.rutgers.edu, call 732-932-7565 or visit http://summersession.rutgers.edu.

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Break from routine, relax this summer There are 68 days left until the end of the semester. If you have not already found a summer job or internship, you are probably panickNANCY SANTUCCI ing. My question is: Why? had on your list for a while.

As I write this, I have about Read a book, take that road 20 e-mails from myself sitting trip you’ve been planning with in my inbox with subject lines your friends forever or, really, stating “Apply!” or “Summer just do nothing. You can take internship?” My problem is — the classes to fulfill your major as it is with many things — I or intern at an organization do not know exactly what during the school year. Be I want. stressed then. Why waste the Do I really want more days beautiful summer on nine-toof sitting in an of fice? I love five days or retail hell? The The Daily Targum, but there summer fades so fast, and we are seriously no windows in are stuck with the — sorr y, our of fice. I do not want a fullsnow-lovers — freezing, dantime job or internship or anygerous slush that causes so thing that will be beneficial to many problems. Let’s be stuck my résumé this summer. I feel inside of fices and buildings like slacking of f. Does this when the weather isn’t temptmake me a bad person? ing us to be outside. Let’s be I studied abroad last sumstuck on trains when we can’t mer in Italy and since that be driving with our windows took seven weeks of my sumdown and our new favorite mer away, I was not worried summer song blasting. about finding something to I am looking for ward to this keep me occupied or generate summer as a time of relaxation, cash flow. So I don’t have a recuperation, freedom and fun. summer job to easily go After all, it is my back to. first summer as a And while “Let’s be stuck 21-year-old. How some of my many more friends from inside offices oppor tunities study abroad are will I have to go going back to and buildings to the bars all Italy this sumwhen the weather night and lay on mer, a lack of the beach all money means isn’t tempting us day? that traveling is to be outside.”

And while I not an option. know this sumWhile I would mer will be even like to have some worse in terms of traffic and sort of income this summer, I tourists because of the populardo not want a full-time job. I ity of MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” I travel to New York twice a cannot wait to walk on the week for my internship this boardwalk at night and feel semester, so I really do not feel that warm, summer breeze. like continuing that commute Summer is not a time for into the summer. And since I working hard. I think it is perwas not home last summer, I fectly fine if you want to take would like to be back at home, this summer of f. Obviously, by the beach, with my family. this all depends on your situaSo what’s a confused college tion at home. My parents want student like myself to do? me home as much as possible.

Personally, after this horriI appreciate the love and will bly cold winter and a difficult use this as an excuse as to why semester, I would like to enjoy I am sleeping late and not my summer to the fullest working. I just want to be extent. It feels like years since around my family! summer, and I am going to College ends, and we will make sure the sunny days are soon be hunting for jobs in an not taken for granted. If that unforgiving economy. Let’s means I am going to be a lazy save that hunt for when we bum, so be it. graduate and pursue other Some friends are telling activities for now. me, “Take that internship! It’s So, my advice to you is to a great oppor tunity!” But do I enjoy this summer and if you really want to spend my practialready have that job or interncally last stress-free summer ship lined up, fit in as much fun doing exactly what I will be as possible. Why be serious and looking to do for the rest of my pretend to be career people life? These are the years to when we have the rest of our take advantage of those sumlives to do that? mers because once we graduNow, I just need to figure ate, we will no longer be the out how I am going to pay for college student looking for a all this freedom — beach summer job or internship. We badge checker? will be looking for full-time, permanent jobs that we can Nancy Santucci is a School of grow in.

Arts and Sciences junior majoring in Look at this upcoming sumjournalism and media studies. She is mer as a time to grow personcopy editor of The Daily Targum. ally. Do all those things you’ve

Frontlines

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

PENDULUM MARCH 5, 2010

Q:

What are your summer plans?

QUOTABLE

“Well I graduate [in] May and then I wait around till next February. I’m a commissioned second lieutenant, so I pretty much don’t have any plans until I find out if I can get a job here with Rutgers. … If not, I’m going to be broke and sad on the street.”

WHICH WAY DOES RU SWAY?

CAMPUS TALK

BY KRISTINE ROSETTE ENERIO

ERIK ORTIZ — UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SENIOR NICOLE BURGOS SEBS SOPHOMORE “I am going to be taking summer classes the first and second session, and then I’m going to be working at the mall.”

KRISTEN PIERSANTI SAS FIRST-YEAR STUDENT “I work at a summer camp so that’s where I’ll be all summer. I’m [going to] lifeguard, watch kids and I do crazy things.”

MICHAEL PERALTA SAS SENIOR “Actually this summer I’m planning on going to Europe. I booked this trip with this Web site … the trip that I’m going [on] in July. We’re going to London [and] Paris.”

ANTHONY D’ELIA RUTGERS COLLEGE SENIOR “I’m in ROTC, so I’m going to be in Leadership Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Wash., and I’m commissioned as a second lieutenant.”

JILL KWAPICK SAS JUNIOR “I’m living on campus and having an internship at a prosecutor’s office.”

CAROL CONTRERAS SAS JUNIOR “My summer plans consist of trying to get into this peer mentor program where I [will be on] Livingston with … psychology students and hopefully mentoring them.

Other than that, I plan to stay home and relax with the family.”

CRISTINA CORRO SAS SOPHOMORE “This summer I might take summer classes with my cousin … I’m probably going to be working at the mall and go to the beach a lot … and buying tons of bathing suits because I’m obsessed.”

ROMEL GUTIERREZ SAS JUNIOR “[I’m going] to work like everyday … cause right now I have no money whatsoever. Hopefully I’ll get an internship as well.”

BY THE NUMBERS

3,682

Sources: www.bls.gov and summersession.rutgers.edu

The number of people between the ages 16 to 24 who were looking for part-time work from April to July 2009

23.7 million The number of youth in the labor force in July 2009

20 percent

The percentage of youths who worked in the retail trade industry in July 2009

1,500 The number of courses, internships, research and independent study options the University offers

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T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Students drop cash on summer courses

BY AMIT JANI STAFF WRITER

As spring approaches and the snow begins to melt, something else is beginning: registration for summer classes.

“In today’s highly competitive and global economic environment, students who demonstrate a breadth of interests and experiences, as well as in-depth knowledge of their major area, are more highly valued, and summer can be helpful in achieving that level of education,” said Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Philip Furmanski.

The Summer Session offers a wide range of diverse courses and provides rewarding opportunities for University students, said Christine Lenart, assistant director for the New Brunswick Office of Summer and Winter Sessions.

The average undergraduate summer course cost is $307 per credit for New Jersey residents, a 3 percent rise from last summer, she said.

While tuition prices for the summer session are the same as those for the spring and fall semesters, there is considerably less financial aid offered for the summer courses, said Director of Financial Aid Jean McDonald-Rash.

The vast majority of students need to use their annual amount of Financial Aid to pay for the fall and spring terms so there is often little

left over to go toward summer programs, she said.

New Jersey provides no aid for summer programs, as state aid is designated for fall and spring terms only by law, McDonald-Rash said.

But about 4,200 students or 20 percent of all students who register for the summer session receive some form of financial aid, mostly in the form of private educational loans, she said.

The lack of financial aid during the summer sessions equates to more students paying out of their own pockets, yet this is a sacrifice many students are willing to make.

“I don’t know if I paid too much for it because I just had to take it,” said School of Arts and Sciences Sophomore Zain Ahmad. “The price didn’t really matter, whatever it takes for me to graduate” Some students say summer courses are more convient and tend to be easier.

“Yes, [summer classes are easier] because there isn’t as much work, so I can better focus on it,” said Abraham Tak, an Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy first-year student.

Rutgers Business School Professor Majorie Yushak said when a student takes a class over the summer, they really have to devote every single day to studying. She suggests taking one or two since they are accelerated.

“You won’t feel like you have a break at all,” Yushak said.

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