Frequently Asked Questions
- What is American States University?
- What is ASU`s mission?
- How do we accomplish this mission?
- Are there live lectures?
- What is the cost to the student?
- Where does the funding come from?
- What timetable do you estimate it will take to obtain those federal grant funds?
- Is there any liability to the individual if the funding is not awarded?
- Is it true that students will have state of the art technology when studying at ASU?
What is American States University?
ASU is a University that offers a Hybrid mix of online, in class, and in the field training. Our curriculum delivers foundational knowledge and real-world skills to immediately prepare you to your career. It will incorporate several existing companies that are now providing some of these services in a limited fashion. It will provide the financial and managerial resources needed to expand those offerings rapidly' and establish several new paradigms for non-traditional education, initially in the fields of law and business, later expanding as market conditions dictate. American States University is the only university that can provide the flexibility, affordability and accessibility to the general public needed to provide this level of education.
What is ASU`s mission?
The mission of ASU is to provide an array of affordable education programs to the community, with emphasis on agricultural research and development.
How do we accomplish this mission?
ASU will offer programs as the demand from the students fit. Our main educational and research programs are centered within our Department of Agriculture with focus on the Alternative Medicine Program. ASU will be able to conduct research on the hemp plant for its industry and cannabinoid uses.
What type of lectures do you offer?
ASU is a unique hybrid of online, in class, and in field training. Depending on your program of choice, it may encompass all three or some of those methods.
What is the cost to the student?
Please refer to the fees and related expense page.
Where does the funding come from?
ASU applies for a federal funds matching funds grant or other related funding. Until that grant or federal funding arrives, ASU provides all education services on its own; and at its own expense.
What timetable do you estimate it will take to obtain those federal grant funds?
Estimates from the Federal Government range from six months to one year.
Is there any liability to the individual if the funding is not awarded?
There is absolutely no liability to student if the funding is not awarded.
Is it true that students will have state of the art technology when studying at ASU?
The platform is a tablet computer running Microsoft Windows. The basic screen layout has the lecturer video running in the upper left quarter of the screen, a Microsoft Power Point presentation of chalkboard-type supplemental material in the upper right quarter of the screen, and a working area for the student in the bottom half of the screen. At any time, the student can stop the lecture, go back, speed forward, etc. He can type class notes in the working area, and even cut-and-paste supplemental material from the upper right screen Power Point slides into his working area. He or she then sends the quiz or exam to the main office via their cell phone. Wireless technology at its best.
This instructional system is known as PELT—Portable Education Laptop Technology and developed by ASU Inc. It should be noted that this is a world famous computer based education delivery system.
One feature of the PELT is the ability to restrict access to encrypted course materials. The fingerprint digital key needed to unlock a specific block of material may only be sent to the student over the Internet once a particular event occurs. This can be useful in many ways. For example, a detailed explanation of the answers to a test might be locked from the student until after the test is taken. In general, all of the course materials are accessible immediately, as there is only a one-time payment for the system and there are no tests administered by the school.
ASU. provides the course materials in the appropriate format and Apple Computer takes care of technical details such as encryption. Apple delivers the laptop PC directly to the student and provides continuing worldwide technical support. If a PC is damaged or otherwise malfunctions, the student returns the PC to ASU. and it is either repaired or replaced with an equivalent laptop PC and the same course ware, encryption system, unlocked software, etc.
CONCLUSION: ASU and its partners in education have provided a tremendous opportunity in agriculture, business, and other areas of education to provide Certificates, Bachelor's, Masters and Doctorates to anyone who wants to take advantage of this opportunity!