ASU is offering new learning programs and reduced rates for summer courses for those who enroll in the University’s new summer program.
Out-of-state ASU students currently attending the University will be given $700 in savings for every three credits they enroll in for summer session courses. Incoming students may apply for summer session courses and can receive a $500 Summer 2020 Award for every three credits they enroll in, a University official said.
Students at other universities in the U.S. that are “in good standing at their home college or university” may apply for summer courses as well through a “streamlined application process,” they said. These courses will also be offered at a reduced rate of $530 per credit, a $251 decrease from the standard summer per credit price.
The reduced rates apply to over 5,000 courses ASU is offering over the summer, with the goal to help students impacted by the coronavirus, as well as others who are looking for "new learning opportunities" get the education they want, the press release said. Courses start on May 18.
“In a period of economic uncertainty with shifting job markets and employment opportunities that are evaporating in some places and springing to life in others, higher education remains one of the best investments people can make,” a press release said. "For those who find themselves thrust into a new set of circumstances by changes brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, universities offer a dynamic place to explore options and quench the thirst for learning something new."
“Learners at all stages” can use the University’s new ASU For You platform to continue to learn over the summer, or sign up for ASU Open Scale courses in a subject matter of their choosing which later could be turned into university credit, a University official said.
The ASU Open Scale courses offer common prerequisite classes learners can take at a reduced price of $99 over the summer, a University official said.
Current high school sophomores and juniors who are on track for college can use both ASU Open Scale and ASU Digital Prep to begin earning credits for college "with potential savings of over $1,500 per class, depending on residency," a University official said.
Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions offers to pay application fees for essential workers
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is also working to help students during COVID-19 in its own way.
Watts announced that through the month of May the college is offering to pay the application fee for first responders and essential workers who apply to the college's graduate programs in criminal justice, public affairs, community development, and social work schools.
The offer extends to the college's interdisciplinary programs, including emergency management and homeland security, public safety leadership and administration, and program evaluation, a press release from the college said.
“We can never thank these first responders appropriately enough for their innumerable acts of dedication and self-sacrifice,” Watts College Dean Jonathan Koppell said in the release. “At least, through this gesture, we hope to be better able to serve them as they expand and augment their knowledge and training for the next stages of their public service careers.”
The college will also be offering both three-and-one-credit courses which are "pertaining directly to understanding and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic" the press release said.
The courses focus on leadership, management and dealing with grief and stress during COVID-19 or "unique events", the press release said. The one-credit courses will host "top leaders" in each course's respective subject, the press release said.
These COVID-19 related courses will be available to all ASU and non-ASU students who apply.
“These initiatives are designed to help new ASU students jump-start their journeys this summer and let continuing students use the summer months productively,” Koppell said, “We’re pleased to help them take control of their educational experience and move ahead on their career paths in public service.”
Reach the reporter at wmyskow@asu.edu and follow @wmyskow on Twitter.
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Wyatt Myskow is the project manager at The State Press, where he oversees enterprise stories for the publication. He also works at The Arizona Republic, where he covers the cities of Peoria and Surprise.
