JACKSONVILLE (KYTX) - Attending summer school instead of taking the summer off could become more common for college students. As CBS 19's Hayley Wielgus explains how federal Pell grants can be used for summer courses for the first time.
A Pell grant is money from the federal government that students don't have to pay back. It's a need-based grant to help lower-income students afford college, and now they can use it year-round. Summer is normally a slow time for most college campuses.
But it's expected to be busier this year at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville now that students can use Pell grants to pay for summer courses.
"Once they told me about that I was just ready to register for classes, I was just very excited because I'm getting college paid for."
"It's covering room and board, tuition and fees, so it's really helping them to not worry about where am I going to live, do I have to go home for the summer, do I have to take online classes."
By adding summer courses, financial aid counselor Jessica Chiles says students can graduate sooner. "The classes are smaller, you get to go every single day, you get more face time with teachers."
As an athlete, Lon Morris freshman Steven Marshall is limited to the number of classes he can take during the fall and spring semesters. "Our coach said they're actually doing Pell grants in the summer and it would be wise for you to take classes in the summer and to catch up on classes you missed."
Marshall says during the summer semester, he can shift his focus from athletics to academics.
"I think that will give me a lot more one-on-one time with teachers, that really helps when you want to boost your grade."
To use a Pell grant for summer courses, students must have completed 24 credit hours toward their degree during the prior spring and fall semesters.
Also, they must enroll in six hours of summer courses.
