Eastern Welcomes New Pastpass

      Starting in the fall of 2018, Eastern University is introducing a brand new program called the EU FastPass. This program will hopefully save students time, money, and stress. To put it simply, residential students in traditional undergraduate programs will be able to receive two tuition-free, online summer classes for each year enrolled at Eastern. As of right now, there are three ways students can take advantage of this program: Students can either set a plan to graduate in three years, lighten their course loads, or complete double majors more easily.

      To graduate in three years, student will have to take on a heavy course load but will ultimately save time and money. To take full advantage of this option, students who wish to graduate early must take 18 credits (six classes) in each of the five semesters, and two online classes during two summer sessions. However, it is recommended that incoming students bring in prior credit from AP tests or dual enrollment programs.

      The FastPass will also make it easier for students to lighten their course load during the regular semester. Students with jobs or vigorous extracurricular activities would most likely benefit the most from this particular plan of action. If students decide to take two classes in the summer, then their course loads would most likely be lightened to 12 to 13 credits in the Fall and Spring. This will allow students to free up more of their time so that they may pursue other responsibilities outside of classes. EU FastPass can be a useful tool for students who want to pursue two majors. During the three summers in the average four academic years, a student can take 18 credits and pay nothing additional in tuition.

      Undergraduate students that live on campus and maintain the required academic standpoint can take advantage of this program. Fastpass is open to all majors, as well as all colleges, such as the Templeton Honors College. Commuter students can also take advantage of the program, but they will have to pay some tuition fees  (however they will be significantly discounted by up to 50 percent.) Commuter students will pay $195 per credit hour for the summer online courses.

      As of right now, FastPass courses will start to be offered in the summer of 2019. The curriculum will focus primarily on core and general education classes, as well as strategically important courses that will fill requirements for a majority of majors and minors. The course catalog will hopefully be released  sometime in the fall of 2018.

      Source: Eastern.edu/fastpass