Weekend College program expands up to 3,576

Enrollment in the Weekend College Program is up 36 percent from last year, bringing the total number of students attending a weekend class this semester to 3,576.

"We've actually had classes on the weekends now for at least a decade," said Charles Quinn, Dean of Business Studies, but he explains that "The push to really promote Weekend College and expand it has been going on for about three years now."

The program has grown 69 percent over the last three years Quinn said.

To meet the demand ACC has expanded the program to five of its seven campuses- Cypress Creek, Eastview, Northridge, Riverside, and South Austin.

"Weekend College just opened at the Cypress Creek Campus this semester and they already have four hundred students," said Brette Lea, the Executive Director of Public Information and College Marketing.

The WCP gives students, who may have work or family obligations during the week, the opportunity to take the classes they need on the weekends.

Students can choose from a number of associate degrees, and certificates that can be completed entirely through weekend courses, in anywhere from two to seven semesters. Transferable core curriculum classes are also available on the weekends.

Dan Hudson, a Nautical Archaeologist, who took a week class last semester, would like to see more degree specific classes on the weekends.

"If a weekend class were available for this advanced GIS (Geographic Information Systems) class I would take it for sure," Hudson said.

Lea believes that more weekend classes are sure to come.

"Weekend College replicates much of what you can take during the week and as interest in the program grows, so grows the number of offerings," said Lea.

"The weekend option is really helpful," said Hudson, "It makes learning a little bit more accessible for those folks with families and jobs, and other responsibilities."