POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. – Summertime is not a quiet time at Three Rivers, with the college reporting students are taking more summer classes than ever before at the Southeast Missouri community college.

The Three Rivers Office of Student Success reports a more than 20 percent increase in credit hour enrollment over summer session 2010, from 9,061 to 10,947 credit hours. Over 1,600 students are currently enrolled in summer classes, an increase of several hundred over previous years.

Registration is still open for the summer B session, which begins July 5.

“Students are staying in school during the summer partially because they have more money to use for their education,” said Vice President for Student Success Jason Hoseney.

“This is the last summer that students can take advantage of the law President Obama signed that allows students to apply for Pell grants during the summer semester, just as they would in fall and spring. Students are basically getting 150 percent more money than they would before the law went into effect. “

Hoseney said that in addition, students from other colleges have come home to Southeast Missouri and are taking the opportunity to complete additional credits at a lower cost, and transferring them back to their regular institutions.

“More and more students are discovering that we offer many of the same classes here as most universities, at a fraction of the cost,” said Hoseney. “I think we will continue to see many more students take advantage of enrolling at their local community college during the summer.”

Summer headcount has also increased, by almost 15 percent. Since 2009, summer credit hour enrollment has increased by over half.

Registration is also currently open for the regular Fall 2011 semester, as well as the new “Augmester” period. Like “Maymester,” “Augmester” is an abbreviated academic session that will allow students to complete up to five credit hours online and in the classroom over approximately a week and a half in early August.

Students interested in classes at TRC may call (573) 840-9665 for more information, or visit trcc.edu.