Ferris State University has announced it will waive the online course fee for the
Fall 2020 semester.Ferris State University has announced it will waive its $12 per-credit-hour online course fee for the Fall 2020 semester. This action eases the financial burden on students in anticipation of increased online and hybrid courses taken during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“This decision provides a clear path enabling our students to enroll in the courses that they need this fall without worrying about paying an online fee. It’s the right thing to do for our students,” said Kristen Salomonson, Ferris’ Dean of Enrollment Services. “We are committed to supporting students by eliminating barriers and providing resources that are essential to a student’s academic success.”
The online learning fee originated in 2011, initially at $10 per credit hour. The fee, which covers infrastructure costs associated with delivering online courses, was increased to $12 in 2018.
“At $12 per credit hour, this fee is already one of the lowest in the state. However, we believe we should do all we can to ease the burdens our students are experiencing,” said Steve Reifert, Ferris’ Dean of Extended and International Operations, which includes the eLearning department. “This fee funds a dedicated eLearning team that has built innovative solutions for online learning.”
Ferris’ first day of classes for the 2020-21 academic year is Monday, Aug. 31. Preparation continues to welcome students back.
“As we continue to plan for a safe return to campus in Fall 2020, we’ve increased the number of online and hybrid courses,” Salomonson said. “Ferris State University will not charge the online course fee for any students this fall.”
Reifert echoed those comments.
“College students nationally are experiencing additional burdens during the COVID pandemic,” he said. “These include illness, job loss, raising children while working and studying at home. As we continue to operate in the COVID-19 era, Ferris recognizes these obstacles and is doing what it can to help students. Online fees will be one less thing that our students need to worry about this fall.”