Arizona State University honors online graduates at Tempe campus celebration

Stepping into the Memorial Union at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, Charity Crass hoped to set eyes on the individual who had supported her for two and half years but whom she’d never met in person: her success coach, Beth Zych. 

The organizational leadership graduate traveled from Nashville, Tennessee, to attend the ASU Online Graduation Celebration event hosted by EdPlus at ASU to celebrate her recent accomplishment with fellow online students.

This December, ASU celebrated over 11,300 graduates, with more than half earning their degrees through ASU Online, adding to the milestone of 100,000 online graduates reached earlier this year.

While the time-honored tradition of graduation celebrations may not be new, for ASU Online graduates, it was a unique opportunity to visit ASU’s campus – some for the first time – and experience a commemoration ceremony all their own.

Invited to speak at the event, Ara Austin, clinical associate professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and senior director of online engagement and strategic initiatives for The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, shared her experience as an undergraduate online student, a choice she had made for health reasons, which inspired her to support the launch of the online biochemistry and chemistry degrees at ASU in 2018.

“When I was an online student, there weren’t many opportunities for me to take science courses,” Austin said. “When our vice provost for undergraduate education, Anne Jones, offered me the position to lead the effort for our school to launch those degree programs, I realized why my story – and why I had to go through all those hardships – happened in my life.” 

Her advocacy for online students and providing access to online research opportunities has enabled ASU Online students to receive the same opportunities as on-campus students.

EdPlus Chief Executive Officer Phil Regier was also in attendance to support graduates, delivering an address that celebrated their dedication to their education, a message that EdPlus Chief Operating Officer Casey Evans underscored. 

“I know the hard work and dedication it took to get here today,” Evans said. “I also know from living with someone who is graduating today that it can sometimes take 30 years to get where you’re going, and that’s also OK as long as you get there. Thank you for your perseverance, your commitment and your dedication. Congratulations.” 

Graduates and their families posed for photos in front of shimmering golden backdrops and glossy photo booths. Wearing graduation caps, stoles and maroon robes, their excitement was palpable.

Crass found Zych by a marquis-lighted Grad 2024 photo booth. Before the event, they had exchanged photos and Crass told Zych to look for her leopard print skirt. 

“I immediately recognized her, and I said to my friend, ‘That’s my student!’” Zych said. “I love these events because this is what matters. I was a special education teacher for 25 years and in higher education for 15 years. I love education, and I love helping people be educated.”

When the traditional path to a degree is not possible, ASU Online provides a way forward.

California resident Amy Gaffney dropped out of the university she was attending in favor of community college so she could take care of her grandfather after his cancer diagnosis. When his condition worsened, she withdrew completely. It wasn’t until ASU Online that she found the flexibility she needed to earn her degree in business data analytics.

“I literally could not have done any of this without Jodi Wilson, my academic success advisor,” Gaffney said. “I would contact her every session, and I am so, so grateful for all of her help. I have two internship possibilities, three offers for an interview and an opportunity to talk with leadership in my corporation. Everything opened up literally on the day of graduation. I would not have been able to do any of this if it weren’t online and asynchronous.” 

ASU success coaches are integral to the online student journey.

“Success coaches by design are with their students from day one until the day the students graduate,” said Nancy Cervasio, deputy chief operating officer at EdPlus. “Sometimes that can be two years. Sometimes, that can be six years. It depends on the student’s experience. We’re really invested in the student journey.” 

Each student is assigned a success coach when they begin their journey with ASU Online. Part personal advisor and part motivator, coaches provide a one-to-one coaching experience to guide students through balancing life, work and school.

“Our success coaches work with students in a profound way,” Cervasio said. “They develop deep relationships with these students, and sometimes they’re their only support system.”

Many success coaches never meet their students in person, and many online students never set foot on ASU’s campuses. Wednesday’s event served as a special opportunity for both. 

For Crass, meeting Zych felt like seeing a mentor, a coach and a mom rolled into one. 

“Beth helped me set goals,” Crass said. “If I had any questions about my next semester – like how hard a class was going to be because I heard it was a really hard course – she would find out what other people were saying, and it would relieve some of the anxiety I had about my classes. She knew how important graduating summa cum laude was to me. Meeting her today meant everything to me.”

Looking to the future with a degree in hand, brimming with confidence and enthusiasm, Crass said her dream job is working in human resources for a major airline, but not before publishing a children’s book.

She confessed that writing a book does not align with her degree. However, ASU Online offered courses, interdisciplinary learning and skill-building opportunities that were well beyond her degree focus.

“Now that I’ve accomplished one big thing, I can accomplish all the big things.”