Navigating the ASU Student Portal: A Comprehensive Guide

For incoming Sun Devils and current students alike, Arizona State University (ASU) provides a centralized online hub called My ASU. This portal is designed to be a one-stop shop for accessing essential academic resources, managing student accounts, and staying connected with the ASU community. This guide will walk you through the key features of My ASU and other important online tools, ensuring a smooth and successful academic journey.

Accessing My ASU

To access My ASU, you'll need your ASURITE UserID and activation code. This unique identifier grants you access to a wide range of services and information.

Essential Features of My ASU

My ASU provides quick links for various resources, including:

Academic Calendar: Stay on top of important dates and deadlines throughout the semester.
Libraries: Access ASU's extensive collection of online and physical resources.
Career Services: Explore career opportunities, get resume assistance, and prepare for interviews.
Tutoring: Find academic support and connect with tutors in various subjects.
Tech Support: Get help with technical issues related to ASU's online systems.

Managing Your Student Account

My ASU allows you to manage various aspects of your student account, including:

Test Scores: View your ACT, SAT, AP, and math placement scores. It's important to confirm that ASU has your most recent ACT or SAT scores.
Residency Status: Your residency status, determined at the time of your admission, affects your tuition rates.
Passcode Retrieval: The portal provides a way to retrieve your passcode.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): All ASU students are required to complete their Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) setup. MFA is a security system of authentication to verify a user's identity for a login. All ASU students have two authentication methods set-up on their Office365 accounts.
Financial Aid: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov as soon as possible. Important deadline dates for each semester can be found on the website.
Student Account: This section provides a summary of all charges associated with a student’s education, as well as any payments and credits. It's crucial for paying all debts to the University for which they are liable.
Parking Permit: If you plan to drive to campus, you'll need to obtain an ASU parking permit through the designated system.

Canvas: Your Learning Management System

Canvas is a learning management system that serves as the landing space for students to access course content, view course announcements, submit assignments, collaborate with peers, and message their teacher.

Read also: Comprehensive ETAR Guide

The Home Page / Landing Page in Canvas

The home page in Canvas is also considered the landing page--a place where students can find teacher contact information, a link to schedule 1:1 support, find live lesson times, and the zoom link for live lessons. In addition, students will find recordings for all the live lessons to replay content for extra support or view for the first time when it is most convenient for the student. The home page/landing page will also include the list of Playlist links for students to easily access as needed. For K-5 students, there will be a daily schedule listed on the homepage so that students and guardians can conveniently find the schedule for each day. Additional information to support these young learners will also be found on this page.

The Weekly Playlist

The weekly playlist is for elementary students and includes weekly class expectations including activities/projects to support students’ mastery of the content in a more meaningful way. Often students will have a choice of the type of activity they will complete to demonstrate their knowledge. In addition, the playlist will include opportunities for students to collaborate with each other and will encourage students’ creative thinking.

Live Lessons

Teachers host weekly live lessons to support student learning, answer questions, and review key concepts. While attendance is not required for most students, all live lessons are recorded and available at the bottom of each course’s home page for students to watch at their convenience. However, some students may be required to attend live sessions based on academic performance, prior state testing results, intervention needs, or when participation is mandated for specific targeted instruction.

Starting a Course

Students begin their courses by logging into Canvas, where they’ll see a tile or section for each course they are enrolled in. By clicking on a course, they’ll be taken to the introductory or “Welcome” module, which includes important orientation materials, how-to guides, and tips for navigating the platform. Once students complete this opening module, the rest of the course content will unlock and can be accessed according to their pacing guide.

ALEKS: Personalized Math Learning

ALEKS is a research-based, online learning program that offers adapted math content tailored to individual student needs. This online learning platform helps educators and guardians understand each student's knowledge and learning progress in depth, and provides the individual support required for every student to achieve mastery. ASUPD supplements the ALEKS curriculum with a wrap-around curriculum that takes a deeper dive into the content.

Read also: Accessing the Cal Poly Portal

Interactive Assignments and Grading

Many assignments are interactive in nature--opportunities for students to engage with their classmates as well as receive immediate feedback on their progress. There are some items in each course that are auto-graded in Canvas. Other assignments, particularly free response and open-ended assignments that are graded by the ASUPD teacher.

Discussion Based Assessments (DBAs)

A DBA is a Discussion Based Assessment. The most simplistic way to think of this is as an discussion between the teacher and the student. These required assessments occur two times per semester and are another example of a synchronous learning opportunity. This time is one-on-one, scheduled, graded, and includes a rubric. The purpose of the DBA is to help enhance the teacher-student relationship, check for academic integrity, and to determine what the student has mastered in the course so far.

State-Wide High Stakes Testing

Students at ASU Prep Digital do participate in state testing. Full-time students in grades 3-8, 9, and 11 who are state-funded are required to take part in these tests. However, students who pay tuition or are on the ESA Scholarship can waive this requirement.

ASU Prep Digital: A Unique Learning Environment

ASU Prep Digital offers a different approach to education compared to traditional high schools.

Personalized Learning

In a traditional school, your class schedule and day is planned for you. Most often, what you learn each day is decided by someone else. At ASU Prep Digital, you decide what your day looks like. Need extra tutoring in math? Go for it! Feel like working all day just on your biology project? That works too!

Read also: Accessing the MUSD Student Portal

College Preparation

ASU Prep Digital is a college prep school with an expectation that 100% of its students graduate and earn college credit while in high school. They cover the tuition of up to 6 ASU credits each term and encourage a personalized pace, supporting students who advance quickly or need extra time.

Learning Success Coaches (LSCs)

ASU Prep Digital’s unique teaching model places the student at the center of an intricate web of multilayered support. Learning Success Coaches (LSCs) play several roles, including school counselor, academic advisor, college and career advisor, emotional support counselor and academic coach. All ASU Prep Digital students are assigned an LSC upon enrollment.

The LSC monitors student progress daily, acting as a liaison between instructional staff and families. They call, text, or meet in Zoom with students to set goals and develop work plans to ensure success in courses. The LSC provides a holistic perspective of the student’s overall course load. They support learners with course planning, college applications, and more. While Learning Success Coaches are not tutors, they work closely with the instructional staff, collaborating to set attainable learning goals and identify challenges. The LSC team collaboratively hosts a weekly homeroom to build community. They keep students up to date on school events and teach a curriculum based on social/emotional wellness, study skills, and college/career counseling. LSCs coordinate events to keep students connected to one another. This includes Digital Recess, Career Spotlights, and local face-to-face events.

Online Coursework and Face-to-Face Opportunities

Your coursework is entirely online and you can study anywhere in the world with internet access. Most courses include some activities away from the computer such as reading and writing, interviewing someone or conducting research for a project. ASU Prep Digital also hosts face-to-face events at Arizona State University and other ASU Preparatory campuses through the year.

Qualified Teachers

You will interact regularly with a highly qualified instructor for each course, as well as have ongoing conversations with your Learning Success Coach.

Pacing

In grades K-5 you’ll need to ask your teacher if it is okay to work ahead. In grades 6-12, absolutely. The full curriculum is available to you on day one. We encourage all students to work at the pace that meets your learning needs. On the flip side, you might need extra time to complete certain projects or assignments.

Time Commitment for College-Level Courses

The amount of time needed to be successful in a college level course will vary based on the course, rigor, and each student's ability. On average, students can expect to spend 6 hours per every 1-credit hour in which they are enrolled. For a 3-credit class, an expectation would be to spend up to 18 hours per week on the course.

Student Life at ASU Prep Digital

Student life at ASU Prep Digital offers a balance of online and offline interaction.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

This may look different for every custom partner or custom proposal to fit their needs. Typically, students are expected to be working in the course for 5 hours/week, so if we say that a live lesson is roughly 45-60 minutes, then the scheduled synchronous time is 15-20% of the time spent in the course. ASU Prep Digital encourages live interaction between students and teachers daily, and they accomplish this by incorporating an open door policy for teacher support as well as collaboration opportunities for students.

A Typical Day

This depends on you, your schedule, and how you best learn. While you'll have a pace chart that guides what work is due weekly, it's up to you to structure your days. You may find yourself working in a course, attending live lessons, doing offline research and participating in student clubs. There are countless opportunities and ways to tailor your schedule.

Interacting with Other Students

You will have the opportunity to complete projects, collaborate in live lessons, engage in discussion posts and more, with your online peers.

Flexible Schedule

While your teachers will plan specific times to meet with students to conduct live lessons, collaborate, or host tutoring sessions, your day starts and ends when YOU decide. To meet the rigor and demands of a college prep curriculum, a typical full-time student spends approximately 30 hours per week engaged in courses. Some students love this freedom while others may struggle to figure out a groove. Don’t worry…you will have your very own Learning Success Coach to help you every step of the way.

Support for Students Who Fall Behind

Finding your groove and navigating multiple classes and the rigor of college prep courses can sometimes be challenging. We get that.

Extracurricular Activities

Yes.

Elementary Clubs: Spanish Club, Club Mix It Up, Sparky Broadcasting, Stem Club
Middle School: Veterinary, Math Challenge, NJHS, Fitness Club, Literary Club, Sun Devil’s Digest, Science, Student Government
High School Clubs: Book Club, Forks Up Lounge, National Honor Society, Peer Tutoring, Writing Club, Drama, ASUPD Blog, Student Government, Mu Alpha Theta, Psychology, Science Club, Here 4 U, Gardening Club, Art Club, Amnesty International Club, Gaming Club, Change of Elements

Sports

ASU Prep Digital offers students the opportunity to try out and participate in sports at Tempe Prep Academy.

Support for Students with 504/IEPs

Listed below are evidence‑based classroom accommodations and strategies commonly used to support neurodivergent students; however, all accommodations are individualized for each student based on strengths and needs. This is not an exhaustive list, nor are all of these accommodations provided to every student with an IEP or 504 plan.

Provide clear, written learning objectives and daily agendas.
Break tasks into short, explicit steps with modeling and examples.
Offer multisensory instruction (visuals, audio, hands‑on).
Use structured routines and advance notice for transitions or schedule changes.
Provide written and oral instructions; keep language concrete and concise.
Break long assignments into smaller, timed chunks with checkpoints.
Provide text-to-speech and speech-to-text tools.
Offer audiobooks, highlighted texts, or reading guides (colored overlays, larger fonts).
Allow alternatives to written responses (oral reports, presentations, multimedia).
Use explicit decoding and phonics supports; provide templates and graphic organizers.
Offer alternative assessment formats (projects, portfolios, oral exams).
Allow retakes or revision opportunities with targeted feedback.
Teach and scaffold organizational skills: planners, checklists, timers, and visual schedules.
Provide prioritized task lists and color‑coded materials.
Teach social scripts and role‑play pragmatic language when needed.
Provide private cueing or signals to help with on‑task behavior.
Use proactive behavior supports: clear expectations, visual rules, and positive reinforcement.
Implement individual sensory or regulation plans (calm corner, coping tools).
Teach explicit self‑monitoring strategies and use token systems when appropriate.

Additional Information for Parents/Guardians

Laptops

ASU Prep Digital does not issue laptops to families. However, they do offer a Loaner Laptop Program for families who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch and are unable to purchase a device for their student. Eligibility will determine the rental fee associated with the loaner laptop.

Graduation Ceremony

Every student who is graduating from ASU Prep Digital is invited to participate in all senior activities, including the graduation ceremony.

Is ASU Prep Digital a Good Fit?

While we believe that there is no one size fits all approach to learning, we are committed to using the best innovations in digital learning to meet the needs of all learners and create a customized experience for each and every student. Let’s talk about your specific child and learning needs. We ask that each of our families take an active role in the education of their child as well as our school community. We partner with families to attend orientation and Individualized Learning Plan conferences four times each year. ASU Prep Digital also offers both online and face-to-face opportunities to keep our families involved throughout the school year. Frequent communication by phone with teachers and LSCs are expected as part of the online program.

College Credits

While there is no set limit on number of college credits a student can earn, ASU Prep provides a tuition waiver for up to 6 credits per term. Your child will have the opportunity to take Arizona State University online courses while supported by ASU Prep Digital faculty. Additionally, If you enroll in ASU Prep Digital full time and successfully graduate with at least a 3.0 GPA, you meet the requirements for admission to Arizona State University. You will also meet the Arizona Board of Regents admissions requirements for the other state universities. Our College Going Advisor will support you every step of the way as you make your post-secondary plans.

Transferring to Another ASU Prep Academy

Yes. Students have the option of transferring to another ASU Prep Academy.

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