SE Valley Times

Arizona State University (ASU) Online is celebrating a significant achievement, reaching 100,000 graduates this summer. David Elie, an Uber driver from Round Rock, Texas, will earn two bachelor's degrees from ASU, marking his inclusion in this milestone. Elie pursued psychology and African and African American studies through the Uber program that covers tuition for drivers and their families.

"When the pandemic happened, that was a good time to pivot and explore new avenues," Elie said. He aims to contribute positively to the Black community through political engagement or trauma exploration.

ASU began offering online degrees in 2006 and has since become the largest public not-for-profit university providing such programs. The institution offers over 300 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. "ASU Online has helped more than 27,000 Arizonans to graduate from college," ASU President Michael M. Crow stated. "The impact of that on the state and national economy is staggering."

The success of ASU Online is attributed to its comprehensive support system for students. According to Casey Evans, chief operating officer for EdPlus, success coaches play a crucial role by motivating students and helping them manage their time effectively.

One of the challenges ASU faced was building trust in online education due to initial skepticism about its rigor compared to traditional learning methods. Phil Regier, university dean for educational initiatives and CEO of EdPlus at ASU, emphasized maintaining consistent admission criteria for both online and face-to-face students.

ASU's approach includes partnerships like those with Starbucks and Uber that make degrees more accessible by covering tuition costs. Prospective students can also gain admission through Universal Learner Courses that offer college experience before official enrollment.

John Liechty from Starbucks utilized this opportunity to complete his philosophy degree while working as a senior vice president at the company. "My lack of a degree...was a source of massive insecurity for me," he shared.

In addressing STEM field shortages, ASU developed boot camps on campus where online students can complete lab work necessary for their courses.

The future focus for ASU Online includes enhancing curriculum delivery methods tailored for newer generations accustomed to digital content consumption styles such as those found on TikTok.

"We have to get smarter about building the curriculum," Evans remarked regarding engaging future learners effectively.