A reimagined commencement

Graduation is an important milestone that deserves to be celebrated, and we know your students are preparing for a ceremony that is going to be unlike any other they’ve had.

Watch this video to see how Sun Devils are getting creative and making their virtual graduation ceremonies an experience to cherish forever.

Watch video

Arizona State University's May 11 commencement celebrated many firsts and milestones — for example, this was the university's first virtual commencement ceremony.

Here are some fun stats from ASU’s class of 2020

• 16,400 students (projected to be the largest class yet) graduated and turned their tassels from the comfort of their own homes.
• 12,000 of those graduates were in on-campus classes.
• This year’s graduates were part of a staggering shift that included 84,457 on-campus students participating in 4,918 courses in Canvas.
• Zoom sessions alone totaled 437,790 this semester.

Summer enrollment sets ASU record

With daily life upended because of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASU stepped up to expand summer offerings, knowing that students needed more options.

• Summer enrollment at ASU is up 16.5% over last summer, with 56,000 taking classes.
• Number of first-year students taking summer classes is up 74% from 2019.

Your graduating seniors can get a jump on their degrees — and receive a tuition award — by enrolling in summer sessions through Arizona State University’s summer 2020 academic experiences. Alongside our regular summer sessions, some of our most popular classes are offered with multiple start dates.

First-year students can receive a Summer 2020 Award — for every three credits taken, they earn $500 toward tuition expenses.

Learn more

Important updates to help you and your students:

Enrollment deposit reminders

We will continue to accept enrollment deposit payments after May 1. This includes deposits for Barrett, The Honors College, whose deadline is now June 1. We know each student has individual needs and circumstances regarding their college decision, and we want to work with them to design a customized plan, rather than a blanket policy that only delays students from taking critical next steps.

• Students are encouraged to submit the enrollment deposit as soon as possible to ensure they are able to select an orientation date, as well as their housing and dining preferences.
• All admitted students from Arizona with a FAFSA on file at ASU are able to delay payment of their enrollment deposit. Eligible students will see this as an option in My ASU. Students who select this option will delay payment of the $300 until their financial aid is disbursed.
• If their circumstances change, they can get a full refund of the enrollment deposit (minus the $25 cancellation fee) if they cancel by June 1.
• They can also cancel their housing by May 31 with no financial penalty.

Fall 2020 class resources

Your students are invited to choose from a wide variety of Virtual Resource Expo sessions to learn more about campus services and resources. These 45-minute online sessions are a great way for incoming first-year students (and family members) to explore programs and activities, and connect with fellow Sun Devils.

In addition to our admitted student programs and virtual orientations, we are creating a series of virtual events through our Countdown to ASU series. These virtual events will be providing timely information leading up to the start of the fall semester, and for students to learn about health and wellness, joining clubs and organizations, housing, and more. Please use our Countdown to ASU website as a resource for you and your students.

Fall 2021 and 2022 class resources

We know that the search process for students applying for the fall 2021 and fall 2022 classes has been disrupted. We have designed a series of virtual events for your rising juniors and seniors to help guide their college search in the months of May and June, which will provide all the information they need to know about admission, financial aid and scholarship eligibility, test requirements, and academic programs.

• Live-hosted Experience ASU: We offer several virtual Experience ASU information sessions Monday through Saturday for prospective students through Zoom. These programs with ASU enrollment team members consist of information sessions and the opportunity for a live Q&A.
• More to Explore Week 2020: ASU’s biggest visit event of the year is now coming to your students virtually, June 21–27. More to Explore is a weeklong series of virtual events where your students will be able to attend a variety of live sessions. Registration is coming soon.

Tri-University Counselor and Community Partner Survey

Lastly, please take a moment to fill out the following survey to help us plan, coordinate and understand your vision for the coming fall semester. This survey will be used by our admission and enrollment management leadership teams to form the future of high school visits, college fairs and on-campus programming this year.

Survey

The entire ASU community is activated to help support your students in making the best decisions about their college plans.

We invite you to visit our admission FAQ page, and let us know how we can help you by emailing ASUSchoolRelations@asu.edu or contacting your admission team member.

Thank you for being a guiding light and advocate in all your students’ postsecondary pursuits.

Sincerely,

NaTasha Henry
Associate Director of School Relations
Admission Services

Brad Baertsch
Senior Director, First-Year Domestic and International Recruitment
Admission Services

Jamie Vasil Director, West Campus New Student Enrollment and
University Financial Aid Outreach Initiatives
Admission Services