BALTIMORE, May 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StraighterLine (www.straighterline.com) and the Saylor Foundation (www.saylor.org) are pleased to announce a unique partnership that establishes a new pathway to college credit based on freely available educational content and rigorous assessments. Beginning in the Fall of 2012, students taking advantage of this partnership will have the opportunity to save up to 50% of the cost of a traditional university course, depending on which institution they are seeking to transfer the credit.
The Saylor Foundation provides, via its website www.saylor.org, high-quality college-level courses built by credentialed professors. By combining select courses with StraighterLine's academic support, assessments, and partner college relationships, students will have an opportunity to receive college credit at a fraction of the cost of traditional institutions.
The partnership provides two pathways for students seeking a low cost college credit. In the first, a student can begin by studying select courses at Saylor.org and then enroll at StraighterLine to take an exam and receive American Council on Education ("ACE") recommended credit upon passing final assessments. Alternatively, a student may enroll in one of StraighterLine's programs and access Saylor.org course materials within the context of StraighterLine's learning environment.
"StraighterLine and the Saylor Foundation share a common commitment toward eliminating barriers to higher education," said Alana Harrington, Director of the Saylor Foundation. "Through this partnership, we can offer students the chance to earn college credit at a fraction of the cost of attending a traditional academic institution."
Currently, StraighterLine offers thirty-eight general education online college courses in Sciences, Humanities, English, Math and Business, with more than ten new courses slated for launch during the second half of this year. Course credits earned via StraighterLine courses automatically transfer to one of StraighterLine's 29 partner colleges and universities. Over 250 additional colleges have accepted transfer credit for StraighterLine's ACE approved courses.
"By partnering with Saylor.org, we can deliver the cost savings promised by free content directly to the student," says Burck Smith, CEO of StraighterLine. "Such innovation is critical at a time when college tuition and student debt continue to rise."
About the Saylor Foundation
The Saylor Foundation (under its legal name, The Constitution Foundation) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Foundation was established in 1999 by Michael J. Saylor, the Chairman, CEO and President of the business intelligence company MicroStrategy. Mr. Saylor serves as the Foundation's sole trustee.
The Foundation's focus since 2008 has been its Free Education Initiative, through which it is using technology to drive down the cost of education to zero. Saylor.org serves as a zero-cost alternative for individuals who lack the resources to attend traditional brick-and-mortar institutions and as a complement to willing mainstream education providers. Saylor expects free, self-paced, automated online learning opportunities to motivate people to pursue personal growth and career ambitions as well as to lead to institutional change among education providers everywhere.
More information about the Saylor Foundation is available at www.saylor.org.
About StraighterLine
StraighterLine has been recognized as a revolutionizing force in education by major news organizations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for offering students online courses that earn real college credit for just $99 a month. Fast Company named StraighterLine one of the "10 Most Innovative Companies in Education."
In order to facilitate the award of credit, StraighterLine has forged partnerships with leading accredited online colleges and universities. A student ultimately earns a degree from those institutions but realizes tremendous savings and convenience by starting with StraighterLine. StraighterLine's courses are evaluated and recommended by the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT). In addition to the institutions with which StraighterLine has a direct relationship, more than 250 other schools are reported to have accepted StraighterLine coursework for transfer credit. Currently, StraighterLine offers 38 entry-level college courses online in the Sciences, Humanities, English, Math and Business.
For information, visit www.straighterline.com or call 202-507-7020 or 1-877-str8erline (1-877-787-8375).
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