Students Split Time Between Schools

But Gina Flakes, a junior from Augusta, Ga., can brag to her family and friends that she attends both universities.

Flakes, who is a junior international studies and political science major, wanted to study Korean for her foreign language requirement.

Because UNC-CH does not offer Korean language classes, Flakes' adviser told her about an agreement among certain N.C. universities that allows her to take the class at Duke.

Since the 1950s, UNC-CH has been involved in an inter-institutional agreement with Duke, N.C. State University, N.C. Central University, UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Greensboro.

The agreement allows full-time students of each university to take one course at another university involved in the agreement. But the course must fulfill a requirement for the student's degree program and must not be available at the student's primary university.

University Registrar David Lanier said more graduate students than undergraduate students take advantage of inter-institutional enrollment.

"The only reason you are supposed to go to another school is to take a course not offered here," he said. "The purpose is to expand your horizons as a student and make more varieties of courses available."

Lanier said one of the main obstacles of inter-institutional enrollment is commuting between the schools.

But Flakes said the time she spent traveling between UNC-CH and Duke was worth being able to have a car on campus.

"During my freshman year, I had to go to Duke four times a week, so they allowed me to have a car," she said.

Lanier said the majority of students who enroll at other universities in the agreement go to Duke. Lanier said 31 undergraduate students at UNC-CH take courses at Duke -- compared to three undergraduate students who go to N.C. State.

"Duke is so much closer, and it is easier to get between here and Duke," Lanier said.

Also, the Robertson Scholars bus, which runs between UNC-CH and Duke on the half hour every weekday, alleviates some commuting headaches.

Frances Li, a senior clinical laboratory science major, makes the trip from UNC-CH to Duke on Tuesday through Friday.

In her second year of the clinical laboratory sciences program, Li is required to go to various hospitals for clinical rotations. Through the inter-institutional agreement, she works at a laboratory at Duke, which provides hands-on learning experience.

"Right now, I'm working on matching blood for people who are undergoing transfusions," Li said. "I have to test if the donor and recipient are compatible."

Li said she enjoys the opportunity to take classes at another university because she is able to supplement her courses at UNC-CH.

"You have to pay for travel, and it takes about an hour back and forth," Li said. "But it's a good experience."

The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu.