Whether on-campus, online or around the world, summer enrollment at the University of Georgia is on an upward trajectory.

Total summer enrollment has risen for the third consecutive year and in 2017 reached a record 16,447. That figure is a 4 percent increase over last year's record and a 22 percent increase over summer 2014.

"Increasing summer enrollment is a critical part of our strategy to elevate student success and completion at the University of Georgia," said President Jere W. Morehead. "I am grateful to the vice president for instruction and his team-as well as the deans-for their leadership on this important institutional priority."

The year-over-year increases in summer enrollment are the result of a concerted effort involving several units across campus. The Office of Instruction has spearheaded a targeted communications campaign to encourage students to enroll in summer courses and also implemented procedural changes, such as earlier registration dates for summer courses, to facilitate summer enrollment. The faculty and deans of the university's schools and colleges have played a critical role in boosting summer enrollment by creating additional sections of high-demand courses, and the university's academic advisors have worked closely with students to help them integrate summer courses into their programs of study.

"With a successful summer 2017 behind us, we're already exploring ways to raise enrollment even higher for summer 2018," said Vice President for Instruction Rahul Shrivastav. "This is a team effort on behalf of our students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels."

Students continue to expand their academic horizons through summer study abroad programs, as well. This summer nearly 1,900 UGA students studied abroad, an increase of 9 percent over the previous year alone. Study abroad participation is widely recognized as a high-impact educational experience that has been linked to better learning outcomes, more timely degree completion and greater career success.

Another popular summer learning opportunity-online education-continues to grow rapidly. UGA students enrolled in nearly 10,000 online courses this summer, a 33 percent increase over the previous year and more than the double the course enrollment from just two years ago. Summer online courses give students the flexibility to earn credits while visiting family, participating in an internship or studying abroad, and they play a critical role in boosting the university's overall summer enrollment.

"The university's continuing growth in summer enrollment is great news for students," said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. "Our data show that nine out of 10 UGA students who earn their degrees within four years take at least one summer course, and elevating summer enrollment will continue to be a key priority."