UTPB's summer sale

School is always expensive and this summer the University of Texas of the Permian Basin is trying to make it a little easier by offering discounts on summer classes.

On Thursday the University of Texas of the Permian Basin announced all freshman and sophomore classes at UTPB are being offered half price this summer and the price is offered to all students, whether they are currently enrolled or just taking summer classes.

If you’ve been thinking of becoming a teacher, now would be a good time.

UTPB is also offering a teacher certification program allowing those who have a bachelor’s degree to get certified quickly. UTPB president David Watts described the program as the "fastest, best and cheapest certification program around."

The school also announced graduate level education programs will be half off this summer, offering teachers a chance to earn a master’s degree or simply brush up on current approaches to education.

UTPB assistant vice president of academic affairs Karen Smith said the program was good for teachers whether they were looking to advance into administration, earn a masters or brush up on the latest teaching approaches.

"It’s important to the education of students in Texas to offer them the best educated teachers possible and this is a way to help do that," UTPB interim dean of education Roy Hurst said.

"It’s important to provide more opportunities for students. Times are tight for everybody but the best investment anyone can make right now in personal learning is to get a degree," UTPB president David Watts said.

Watts acknowledged it looked odd to be cutting summer tuition prices when the university is raising tuition next fall in the face of possible budget cuts. He said the administration would make up the money lost by discounts through their own budget cuts.