SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Southern Maine Community College is offering college-ready students the opportunity to start their studies at a later date and finish the semester at the usual time in an effort to support non-traditional students.
The Deferred Start Semester program allows eligible students to take classes beginning Sept. 26, four weeks later than this year’s start date of Aug. 29. SMCC launched the program last year to help individuals who have work, family or travel obligations that make it difficult to start on the traditional semester start date.
“Our students have many different scheduling needs, and our goal is to offer an affordable and flexible start to college,” said SMCC President Ron Cantor. “The Deferred Start Semester program offers an option for parents and workers who are juggling many schedules or have other commitments that conflict with the traditional start of the college semester.”
Deferred Start Semester students have six classes to choose from: Introduction to Psychology, English Composition, Introduction to Literature, College Algebra, Contemporary Mathematics and Philosophy. The program allows people to begin their college careers by earning credits for core classes on a schedule that is convenient for them. All Deferred Start classes are offered at SMCC’s South Portland Campus.
Anyone interested in participating in the Deferred Start Semester program must apply and be accepted to SMCC and be ready for college-level learning, based on placement tests and transfer credits. Students should expect increased coursework because the classes are accelerated, covering the same material in 12 weeks rather than the traditional 16 weeks.