Students like Danyell Slaton already are off to a strong start in their fall term at Georgia Perimeter College, but it’s not too late for others also wanting to take classes this semester. “It’s nice and my teachers are awesome,” Slaton says.

Meantime, the 18-year-old chemistry major says she’s excited about a high school friend who’ll join her next month at GPC, as a Half Semester student. Typical full-term classes run for 15 weeks, but Half Semester ones are compressed to cover the same amount of material in half the time.

“Anything we can do to offer flexibility to students is a plus and these condensed courses offer that to students,” says Salvadore Liberto, GPC interim enrollment dean. “Also, students who were late in getting paperwork to us now have the chance to still start in the fall with these classes.”

Another benefit of Half Semester courses is that they enable students to take a sequence of classes in a single semester. For example, a student can take Spanish 1001 during the first half of the semester and Spanish 1002 in the second part of the term.

Liberto says deadlines for students wanting to take advantage of these programs are approaching. All Second Half documents must be submitted by Sept. 22, with the final day to register being Sept. 30. Second Half classes begin Oct. 13.

Liberto is expecting a registration spike over the next few weeks.

“Students still have time to complete their applications, submit their paperwork, submit their FAFSA—if they are applying for financial aid—and get everything lined up to be a part of this exciting community.”