MALONE COLLEGE Gulf Coast students take classes for free

The students are taking their classes online.
CANTON -- Ten college students displaced by Hurricane Katrina have enrolled at Malone College for the fall semester, taking courses for free, but they aren't spending any time on campus.
They're taking their classes online by computer.
Malone, like many area colleges and universities, has offered free tuition to displaced Gulf Coast students who don't want to have their education disrupted by the hurricane that devastated parts of New Orleans and other communities.
Some schools, like Youngstown State University, have also offered free housing for the semester. YSU has three displaced students enrolled, two taking advantage of the free tuition and housing and one living off campus.
Malone has joined the Sloan Consortium, an international association of colleges and universities committed to quality online education, in offering online courses to students.
More than 1,000 students have signed up to take courses at www.SloanSemester.org. Most are from institutions in New Orleans, including most of the 10 enrolled in classes at Malone.
The online program has a listing of more than 1,000 courses from more than 200 institutions that are waiving tuition and fees.
Students who are in the National Guard and will miss their regular fall term as a result of being called to active duty in the aftermath of Katrina also can take advantage of the free online courses.
All courses carry degree credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities. Classes begin Monday.