Every year, students deal with the pressures of registering, making sure they take the right courses, and getting the requirements necessary in order for them to graduate. The College at Old Westbury offers the option to take courses in between semester breaks.
It is often labeled or known as “winter” classes or “summer” classes. Not only are we as students limited to what is offered, as opposed to what we “need” to take, the registrar gives the only available option of taking the courses everyday with no exception. We are not at liberty
to pick and choose what or which days we would like to attend. Many students have work and other major responsibilities to handle on top of school studies. Wouldn’t it be nice if a student were to find a course which suites his or her schedule and fulfills the core requirements?
Who is to cover the costs of winter classes? Is it financial aid or are the students responsible? The answer is that most students are responsible. One would think that financial aid would help cover the costs for every course added during the winter; however it is unfortunate that it does not. A lot of students aren’t aware of this, but they should be informed.
Mildred O’Keefe, Director of Financial Aid at Old Westbury, said, “The half time registration status is a federal regulation, therefore every college would have to adhere to this. The only aid available for half time registration status is a Pell Grant. Provided that the student is eligible, the grant would be attached to the spring semester.” This should be explained when students register. Why do our professors strongly “advise” for us to take winter courses, when they are not covered through our financial aid?
According to Ms. O’Keefe, “the cost per credit for a four credit class is $200 per credit.” For one class, the costs varies anywhere from 800 to 900 dollars, if you wage in fees. That is pretty pricey for the simple fact that the college itself is dealing with a lot of students, who take out loans and rely on Pell grants and TAP to cover their costs. This explains the reason why a lot of students go to other schools between breaks to take the courses they need; the cost is cheaper and in some cases some financial aid is offered.
The enrollment rate for winter classes has no comparison when it comes down to the large amount of students who attend classes here, due class availability. Ms. O’Keefe added, “If the student is registered full time for the spring semester there would not be any Pell to award for the winter. There is no financial aid for winter. It is a federal regulation that a student be registered at least half time to receive loans.”
What are students at Old Westbury to do? Speak up and be heard. That is the only way we, as the student body, can change things.