ASU students who have spent their fall disbursement of financial aid may have to cut back on holiday shopping if they want to take a course this winter session.
Winter intersession course tuition can be paid directly or with a debit from the spring disbursement of financial aid, but no provision is made for students who need to buy textbooks or other supplies for their classes.
Associate director of student financial assistance Craig Fennell said because the winter session is not a "standard term," federal guidelines require "that we do things a little differently."
ASU's Winter Intersession
Six things to remember about ASU's Winter Inter-session courses:
Students must meet with their adviser for course approval and to ensure their selected course fulfills program of study requirements.
Students with questions about prerequisites for courses are encouraged to contact the instructor.
Complete the registration process for Winter Intersession classes. Walk-in registrations are being accepted at the Academic and Professional Programs office in the Ritter building, room B-132, until Dec. 23. ASU students desiring financial aid must register in person and complete an authorization form. Students can also register over the phone at (480) 727-9900. Courses that do not meet minimum enrollment by Dec. 12 may be cancelled.
College-approved overload petitions must be submitted for registrations of more than 3 credit hours.
To drop a class, you must submit a request by 5 p.m. on Dec. 23. No fee is charged to process drop/add requests.
Winter Intersession classes meet Dec. 29 through Jan. 16.
Source: ASU College of Extended Education
"Books are a cost for any student, and we recognize that," he said.
Fennell added that he had worked at schools that offered vouchers for non-tuition expenses during the winter session, and couldn't immediately say why ASU didn't have a similar arrangement.
"There's probably a good reason, or we'd be doing it," he said.
Some schools, like UA, offer even less help during the winter. Financial aid there covers neither books nor tuition
Other schools offer more financial assistance for winter session costs than ASU does.
Pat Peppin, acting financial aid director at Mesa Community College, a 10-minute drive from ASU, said MCC offers short-term loans that can be used as de facto book vouchers for winter classes.
She said the short-term loans probably encourage students who are dependent on financial aid to take winter classes.
"I'm sure it helps them out because, to me, December has a lot of expenses. A lot of students may have to travel home for the holidays. Christmas is there, and [students] don't really save up money for winter classes."
ASU history junior Justin Lines is considering taking a winter class here and doesn't get financial aid. He said, "I would assume that students who are dependent on financial aid would be less likely to take winter classes," due to the University's financial aid policies for the winter session.
Physics senior Kevin Dixon had a different viewpoint.
"[Financial aid] is supposed to cover the entire cost of living while you're at school," he said. "So if you just plan it right, then you're taken care of."
Registration for winter classes started Oct. 1 and will extend to Dec. 23. Credits cost the same as during the regular semester - $183 each. There is a $9 financial aid fee and additional fees for some classes.
Classes start Dec. 29 and end Jan. 16.
Reach the reporter at jesse.christopherson@asu.edu.
