Free Online Courses for Higher Ed Students impacted by Hurricane Katrina
(From a Press Release datelined Atlanta, GA)

The Sloan Consortium, an international association of colleges and universities committed to quality online education, is offering students displaced by Hurricane Katrina an opportunity to continue their education at no cost. In collaboration with the Southern Regional Education Board and with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the special accelerated program will provide a wide range of courses to serve the learning needs of students at the community college, university and graduate level, regardless of academic discipline. These courses will be given by major universities and other Sloan Consortium members. Students interested in finding out more about the program and the free courses can do so beginning Sunday September 4, 2005 at www.SloanSemester.org.

“We know that many colleges and universities in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi will not be able resume their fall semesters and students are scrambling for alternatives,” said Dave Spence, President of the Southern Regional Education Board. “With the help of dozens of colleges and universities nationwide, we can now offer students key courses online to bridge them through this difficult time and eventually allow them to return to their home campuses.”

The 8 week accelerated semester is being funded by a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Colleges and universities offering the courses will forgo tuition and fees to help students at institutions disrupted by Katrina. “Online learning can be an important means of academic continuity in a time of crisis,” said Frank Mayadas, Program Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. “We are getting a tremendous response from both those who want to offer courses and from impacted institutions that need the help.” At this time, the goal is to accommodate at least 10,000 student enrollments.

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