A survey of 1,410 students reaped benefits for Ball State University's School of Extended Education summer school program.
Joanna Wallace, associate dean of the School of Extended Education, said the school wanted students' opinions in order to improve the program, which has experienced a downward trend in registration.
"We're trying to find ways to turn that around," she said. "We're trying to figure out why they're not coming and if they are coming, what they don't like."
Wallace said one problem students had was the lack of shuttle services at that time.
"We didn't even know that the university didn't have shuttle services in the summer," she said. "That was a surprise to us."
The survey, which was open from Sept. 6 to Sept. 11, offered 25 random students a free Ball State T-shirt.
"It helps to increase responses," Wallace said. "People like free T-shirts."
Sophomore Stew Harrington said because he is undecided about his major, he was afraid that he would not graduate on time.
"I didn't go through it because I didn't want to stress over a major," Harrington said. "I wanted to work in the summer enough to make money, and I don't live in Muncie so I'd have to drive back and forth"
Wallace said one problem is students believe they don't have enough money or they can't work in the summer while taking classes.
"A lot of students don't think they can access their financial aid in the summer, but they can," she said. "A lot of students don't know that's an option."
Ball State also offers all kinds of courses students can take on the Internet, Wallace said. Students don't have to stay to take summer classes, she said.
"Distance education courses are wonderful for students who can't stay here for the summer," she said.
Classes take place online, some in real time, and also as a hybrid of online and on campus, Wallace said.
She also said students do not need to attend different colleges for summer classes.
"We want to be able to satisfy those needs, and we know we can do it, but not all students know about these options," she said. "It was really good information we got. You think you know what their answers are but they surprise you."
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