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OGLESBY — University students home for the summer are taking advantage of Illinois Valley Community College’s affordable tuition to pick up core transfer courses and help them stay on course for a bachelor’s degree in four years.
“Summer classes at IVCC are a great way for university students to take care of some general education requirements while they’re home for break,” said Quintin Overocker, IVCC Director of Admissions, Records and Transfer Services.
“We offer plenty of courses — psychology, math, English, history, to name a few — that’ll transfer back to their home institution, and at a third of the tuition. Knocking out a couple courses over the summer will help keep them on track to graduate in four years,” he added.
Overocker said approximately 40 university students are enrolled this summer on the main campus and at Ottawa Center. IVCC’s eight-week “Summer B” session began on June 15.
Emma Perona, the daughter of Jim and Amy Perona of Spring Valley, is taking psychology this summer to help her determine if she will pursue a double-major in communication and psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A 2015 graduate of St. Bede Academy, Perona is attending IVCC at night to allow her to work days at Marien Mae Events in LaSalle.
Michael Vollmer, the son of Rich and Mary Ann Vollmer of Oglesby, is taking geology and music at IVCC this summer to help him graduate in three years from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a degree in mining engineering.
Emily Maze, like Vollmer a 2015 graduate of LaSalle-Peru Township High School, is enrolled in anthropology and English II to help her complete her general education requirements. The daughter of Henry and Laurel Maze of Peru, is majoring in music at Western Illinois University and plans to graduate in four years.
Reese Rinaldi, the son of Jim and Christie Rinaldi of Streator, will be in class nine hours a week in Trisha Blood’s five credit hour pre-calculus course. He is getting ahead in his pursuit of an engineering degree from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
“I am hearing from a number of students it is getting harder and harder to graduate in four years – especially in engineering,” said Rinaldi. “Summer courses at IVCC will allow me to accomplish that.”