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The Cooper Union is starting to bring back free tuition

2024-09-03T17:02:00-04:00

In a surprising move, The Cooper Union has announced a return to tuition-free education for all undergraduate seniors within each of the next four years starting with its Class of 2025. The reversal comes ten years after school trustees formally voted to do away with its free mandate for the first time as a result of financial strain. The New York Times was first to report on the announcement, which follows a $6 million grant from three Cooper alumni.

The Cooper Union says it is on track to be free to all students by the 2028-29 academic year. Current costs for undergraduates hover at $44,550. However, the school is prioritizing the ten-year plan. Current first-, second-, and third-year students will receive full-tuition scholarships in their senior years under it. In a statement, outgoing President Laura Sparks said progress on the issue "[reaffirms] the ideals that have been foundational to this institution since Peter Cooper opened its doors in 1859."

Previously on Archinect: Coo...

Philadelphia University offering free Sustainable Design online course once again

2015-03-09T20:38:00-04:00

After a successful first run last June, Philadelphia University is inviting students, industry professionals, and all who are interested to enroll in the free massive open online course (MOOC), Principles of Sustainable Design. The graduate-level course, which starts today until April 24, 2015, focuses on topics like demand for resources, energy systems, self-interest and altruism. The course also allow students to learn about new methods of sustainable practices that work towards "authentic sustainability" instead of "superficial greening."

Taught by Robert Fleming, co-creator and Director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Design Program at Philadelphia University, the course will be taught via HD videos, narrated PowerPoint presentations, text-based learning modules + interactive quizzes, and faculty-moderated and peer online discussions. Students will collaborate to design and implement an impact project that addresses sustainability-related issues for the final class.

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Applications to Cooper Union stumble in wake of decision to charge tuition

2014-04-10T17:59:00-04:00

[Cooper Union], which announced last April that it would charge undergraduate students tuition for the first time, released figures on Friday that showed overall applications were down this year by just over 20 percent. [...] The new figures indicate that the admission rate nearly doubled, from 7.7 percent last year to 14.4 percent this year, which still places Cooper Union among the most selective schools in the country.

The freshmen class of Fall 2014 will be the first in Cooper Union's history to pay tuition. It remains to be seen whether Cooper Union's reputation overtime will falter, as quality considerations are matched against tuition rates and student debt, and students are given fewer options to pursue affordable education.