A historic flood ravaged portions of the US Midwest earlier this month including several cities which are home to well known colleges and universities. The University of Iowa located in Iowa City was one such school severely impacted by a spate of storms when the nearby Iowa River left its banks and flooded the campus.

Reports say that 10,500 students were enrolled in summer classes when the flooding shut the school down, a number equal to about half of the student population. All classes have been canceled, although the school hopes to resume summer studies in the near future.

Some labs and classrooms have been destroyed, equipment damaged, and projects lost to the deluge. If classes do resume this summer, some may have to be moved elsewhere, perhaps well off campus. Floodwater entered 16 university buildings, ranging from water in the basement to several feet of water on the main floor of certain Arts Campus buildings, according to school officials.

Not all has been lost in the floods, namely a $150 million mural by Jackson Pollock which was sent to an undisclosed site in Chicago for safekeeping in the week leading up to the flood. According to the Chicago Tribune, Pollock’s painting was sent away with other artwork, pieces having a combined market value exceeding $300 million.

Further Reading

Campus is soaked, but summer classes still on

Damage to University of Iowa campus in the millions

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Tags: flood damage, Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa River, Jackson Pollock, summer school, University of Iowa

College classes for this academic year are coming to an end, meaning that many students will be fleeing campus in pursuit of summer jobs, volunteer activities, or leisurely pursuits at the beach, lake, or even overseas.

Some students, however, will be furthering their studies by taking summer classes. That’s right, instead of doing something else for the next 3-4 months, these same students will be in the classroom working toward their degrees.

If you are a college student, taking summer classes can be the sensible choice for you. The following are some compelling reasons why summer learning is worth considering:

1. Learn At A Leisurely Pace — Sure, summer sessions are fairly intensive, lasting about six weeks. This means that you’ll probably be in class every day and taking tests every week. However, taking one or two classes at a time could be the best way to absorb material without the pressure of balancing an extensive class load as you must do throughout the 15 week Fall and Spring semesters.

2. Catch Up With Your Class – It isn’t difficult to fall behind your graduating class when studying, necessitating you making up for lost time by taking classes over the summer. That Incomplete grade or dropped class can be erased in as little as six weeks time putting you back on the path to graduating right on time.

3. Take Classes Closer To Home — If your college or university is many miles from home, some schools will allow you to take qualifying courses at a local community or four-year college and transfer those credits when you successfully complete the course. The advantage with this option is clear: take classes locally and still have time to see your family, friends, or pursue part time work.

4. Save Money On Tuition And Board — Some schools offer discounted room and board during the summer months when students choose to stay on campus. You may also find that tuition and/or fees are covered by your student loan, grant money, or scholarship, allowing you to concentrate on your studies instead of concerning yourself with how you will pay for it.

As an enticement to lure summer students, colleges will often arrange special on-campus events including cook-outs, music and art festivals, and more — just the sort of fun students can use while taking summer classes.

Resources

Getting A College Computer

Reduce College Courses

Tags: college, summer classes, summer college, summer school, university