This fall saw the inauguration of ACCESS -- Available Credit Courses for Eligible Special Students -- through the University of Colorado at Boulder聮s Division of Continuing Education, allowing nondegree students to register for on-campus classes.
The program was formerly known as SAVE, the space available program.
"This program demonstrates one of the ways that CU聮s schools and colleges partner with Continuing Education to serve the needs of nontraditional students in the community," said Anne Heinz Colgan, dean of Continuing Education.
In fall 1999, 762 students took advantage of the program, an increase of 18 percent over last fall.
"Many students enroll in the ACCESS program for personal and professional development," said John Montgomery, the program manager of Continuing Education. "But an increasing number of students are working toward gaining admission to the university."
Boulder resident Chad Greedy enrolled through ACCESS this fall and was pleased with the process.
"I聮m taking classes through ACCESS this semester and in the spring," Greedy said. "Then next year I plan to apply here at CU. Eventually I would like to study child psychology."
The program also allows degree-seeking applicants to transfer credits taken as nondegree students toward their chosen degree. However, schools and colleges establish the applicability of these hours toward degree requirements, and limits may vary, according to Montgomery.
Carol Cochrane, a Loveland resident who works in Boulder, is taking graduate-level accounting courses through ACCESS and used the program to gain the educational experience required to get her Certified Public Accounting license. She is planning to continue her studies and get a master聮s degree.
"This semester I am taking a seminar in financial accounting," Cochrane said. "The program works well for me because I work here in Boulder, and because it offers graduate-level courses."
In order to enroll, participants must be nondegree students who have not been refused admission to any CU campus for the term for which they are applying. They also must be scholastically eligible and free from outstanding debt to the university.
Once the regular registration period has been completed, nondegree students are then eligible to register for their classes.
"Under the SAVE program, students had to wait until classes actually started before they could register," Montgomery said. "With ACCESS they don聮t have to wait, which means there is less of a chance of the nondegree students falling behind early in the semester."
CU-Boulder聮s total enrollment of 26,318 in fall 1999 reflects both degree-seeking students and most of the 762 nondegree students.
The program is also open to high school students, who in fall 1999 accounted for 93 of ACCESS students. For additional information about ACCESS or to apply as a nondegree student, contact the Division of Continuing Education at (303) 492-5148.