Arizona State University

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Arizona State University

Established: February 26, 1885
Type: Public research university
Endowment: US $478 million[1]
President: Dr. Michael M. Crow
Provost: Dr. Elizabeth D. Capaldi
Faculty: 2,862[2]
Students: 64,394[3]
Undergraduates: 51,311[3]
Postgraduates: 13,083[3]
Location: Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona, USA
Campus: Urban
Tempe: 642 acres[4]
Polytechnic: 600 acres[5]
West: 248 acres[6]
Downtown Phoenix: 20 acres[7]
Colors: Maroon and Gold
        
Nickname: Sun Devils
Mascot: Sparky
Affiliations: Pac-10
Website: asu.edu
Arizona State University logo

Arizona State University (ASU) is a public research university comprising four campuses across the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.[8] It first opened as the Tempe Normal School for the Arizona Territory in Tempe, Arizona in 1885—the first institution of higher learning to open in the territory. Steady growth and expanded academic offerings caused the institution to be renamed Arizona State University in 1958. As of fall 2007, the Tempe campus is the third-largest university campus[9] by student enrollment in the country, with a student body of 51,481. ASU is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents.

In addition to the original campus in Tempe, ASU comprises three additional campuses: West campus was created in 1984 in northwest Phoenix, Polytechnic campus was opened in 1996 in Mesa, and the Downtown campus in Downtown Phoenix was opened in August 2006. All four campuses are accredited as a single university by the Higher Learning Commission.[10]

In the 2006–2007 academic year, 13,629 students graduated from the university's four campuses. In 2007, 148 National Merit Scholars chose to attend ASU.[3] Many are part of Barrett, The Honors College, which has produced numerous grant and scholarship winners since its founding in 1988. Under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, ASU is classified as a "RU/VH" (very high research activity--formerly "Research 1") university.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally named the Tempe Normal School, the institution was founded on March 12, 1885 after John Samuel Armstrong first introduced House Bill 164, "An Act to Establish a Normal School in the Territory of Arizona to the 13th Legislative Assembly of the Arizona Territory. Instruction was instituted on February 8, 1886 under the supervision of Principal Hiram Bradford Farmer. Land for the school was donated by Tempe residents George and Martha Wilson, allowing 33 students to meet in a single room.[11]

[edit] Early years

At the beginning of the 20th century the schools name was changed from Tempe Normal School to the Normal School of Arizona, and President Arthur John Matthews brought a 30-year tenure of progress to the school.

Under his tenure the school was given all-college student status; before becoming a college the Normal School enrolled high school students with no other secondary education facilities. The first dormitories built in the state were constructed under his supervision. Of the 18 buildings constructed while Matthews was president, six are still in use. He envisioned an "evergreen campus," with many shrubbery brought to the campus and the planting of Palm Walk, now one of the feature landmarks of the school. His legacy is being continued today: the main campus is a nationally recognized arboretum.[12]

During the Great Depression, Ralph W. Swetman was hired as president for a three-year term.[13] Although enrollment increased by almost 100% during his tenure due to the depression, many faculty were terminated and faculty salaries were cut. [14]

[edit] Gammage years

In 1933, Grady Gammage, then president of Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff, became president of Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe, a tenure that would last for nearly 28 years.

Like his predecessor, Dr. Gammage oversaw the construction of a number of buildings on the Tempe campus. Dr. Gammage oversaw the development of the university, graduate programs, and the renaming of the Arizona State College to Arizona State University.

[edit] Years of growth and stature

During the 1960s, with the presidency of Dr. G. Homer Durham, Arizona State University began to expand its academic curriculum by establishing several new colleges and beginning to award Doctor of Philosophy and other doctoral degrees.[15]

The next three presidents—Harry K. Newburn, 1969–71, John W. Schwada, 1971–81, and J. Russell Nelson, 1981–89—and Interim President Richard Peck, 1989, led the university to increased academic stature, creation of the West Campus, and rising enrollment.

Under the leadership of Dr. Lattie F. Coor, from 1990 to June 2002, ASU grew to serve the Valley of the Sun through the creation of the Polytechnic campus and extended education sites. His commitment to diversity, quality in undergraduate education, research, and economic development underscored the university’s significant gains in each of these areas over his 12-year tenure. Part of Dr. Coor’s legacy to the university was a successful fund-raising campaign. Through private donations, primarily from the local community, more than $500 million was invested in targeted areas that significantly impact the future of ASU. Among the campaign’s achievements were the naming and endowing of the Barrett Honors College, the Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts, and the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management at the Polytechnic campus; the creation of many new endowed faculty positions; and hundreds of new scholarships and fellowships.[16]

[edit] The Crow Era

The Biodesign Institute is the result of a major capital campaign designed to increase ASU's involvement in biotechnology.
The Biodesign Institute is the result of a major capital campaign designed to increase ASU's involvement in biotechnology.

On July 1, 2002, Michael Crow would become the university's 16th president. At his inauguration, President Crow outlined his vision for transforming ASU into a New American University—one that would be open and inclusive. As the only research university serving the metropolitan Phoenix area, Crow has stated that ASU is in a unique position to evolve together with the city into one of the great intellectual institutions in the world.

Under Crow's leadership, and aided by hundreds of millions of dollars in donations, ASU has embarked on its most aggressive capital building effort in more than a decade. The university is adding one million square feet of world-class research infrastructure, and is continuing its development and expansion of the West, Polytechnic and Downtown campuses. [17]

[edit] Campuses

"An unique aspect of ASU is that we are 'one university in many places,' not a system with separate campuses, and not one main campus with branch campuses--each campus has a unique identity."[18]

Arizona State University comprises four campuses: the Tempe campus, which is the original and largest campus, the West Campus in northwest Phoenix, the Polytechnic Campus located in Eastern Mesa, and the Downtown Campus in downtown Phoenix.[19] Although there is some redundancy in undergraduate academic offerings across the campuses, each campus was designed to host a unique set of colleges and departments.[20] All four campuses award Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees, and Doctorates.

Unlike a university system, the ASU campuses are all part of a single university, with a common administration presiding over the faculty, staff, and students.[20] Indeed, students receive the same diplomas regardless of which campus they primarily attended. As the original ASU campus in Tempe has nearly reached build-out, the university is reorganizing its colleges and schools, moving some to the newer campuses.

[edit] Tempe Campus

Located on the Tempe campus, the partially-underground Hayden Library serves as the main library at ASU.
Located on the Tempe campus, the partially-underground Hayden Library serves as the main library at ASU.

ASU's Tempe campus lies in the heart of Tempe, Arizona, about eight miles east of downtown Phoenix. The campus is considered urban, and is approximately 642 acres (2.6 km²) in size. ASU Tempe Campus is arranged around broad pedestrian malls and is completely encompassed by an arboretum.[21][22] Sitting next to Tempe Town Lake, it crosses University Drive and is defined by its borders on Apache Blvd, Rural Road, and Mill Avenue. Against the northwest edge of campus is the Mill Avenue district, which has a college atmosphere that attracts many students to its restaurants and bars. The Tempe campus has expanded to Mill Avenue with The Brickyard, which is a part of the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. ASU's Tempe Campus is also home to all the schools athletic facilities.

The Tempe Campus is the original campus, and Old Main, the first building constructed on the campus, still stands today. Not only is it the oldest but also the largest campus, with more than 50,000 students total.[23] There are many notable landmarks on campus, including Gammage Auditorium, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Other notable landmarks include Palm Walk, which is lined by 111 palm trees,[24] Hayden Library, Old Main, the University Club Building, and University Bridge.

The Tempe campus comprises the following schools and colleges:[25]

[edit] West Campus

Fletcher Library Lawn on the ASU West Campus
Fletcher Library Lawn on the ASU West Campus

The West campus sits on 250 acres in northwest Phoenix, bordering the city of Glendale, Arizona; however, much of the campus is undeveloped land, with only 28.5 acres of it fully-developed.[26] The West campus lies about 12 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix, and about 18 miles northwest of the Tempe campus. The West campus focuses on liberal arts and interdisciplinary programs, [20] enrolls nearly 9,000 students and offers 54 degree programs in five colleges. The campus originally focused on undergraduate education, but now offers numerous programs leading to masters degrees and doctoral degrees. As the campus continues to grow, additional graduate programs will be offered.[27]

The West campus comprises the following schools and colleges:[25]

  • New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
  • School of Global Management and Leadership
  • College of Human Services
  • College of Teacher Education and Leadership
  • School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

[edit] Polytechnic Campus

Founded originally as ASU East, the campus opened in fall 1996 on the former Williams Air Force Base in eastern Mesa, Arizona. The campus opened with nearly 1,000 students enrolled in one of the eight degrees offered. The small campus started with two schools -- School of Technology and School of Management and Agribusiness. East College was added in 1997 as an incubator for new professional programs.

Today nearly 8,800 students are enrolled in 40 degree programs. ASU shares more than 700 acres (2.8 km²) in eastern Mesa with Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a United States Air Force research laboratory, a Veteran's Administration Clinic and the Silvestre Herrera Army Reserve Center. These entities make up what is known as the Williams Campus.

The Polytechnic campus comprises the following schools and colleges:[25]

  • School of Applied Arts and Sciences
  • School of Educational Innovation and Teacher Preparation
  • Morrison School of Management and Agribuisness
  • College of Technology and Innovation
  • School of Engineering

[edit] Downtown Campus

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Building - Downtown Campus
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Building - Downtown Campus

ASU's Downtown is located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. It is the newest of the four ASU campuses.[28] Classes began there in August, 2006, with students from the College of Public Programs and College of Nursing attending classes there. In 2008, the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and KAET headquarters will move to ASU Downtown as well.

The Downtown campus comprises the following schools and colleges:[25]

[edit] Academics

ASU offers over 250 majors to undergraduate students, and more than 100 graduate programs leading to masters and doctoral degrees. These programs are divided into over a dozen colleges and schools, the largest of which is the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which houses nearly 30 programs and departments. Degrees awarded include the B.A., B.S., B.S.E., B.I.S., M.A., M.S., M.F.A., M.B.A., L.L.M., M.M., M.Eng., Ph.D., J.D., Ed.D., and D.M.A..

[edit] Reputation and ranking

[edit] Undergraduate program

ASU is ranked 124th in the top tier of national research universities by the US News and World Report guide to US colleges. Barrett, The Honors College serves as a virtual university-within-a-university and maintains strict admissions standards while providing a more rigorous curriculum with smaller classes and increased faculty interaction.[29] This honors college is largely responsible for the 188 freshmen National Merit Scholars who chose ASU in 2007. In 2007 ASU also announced that it added 17 Fulbright students, and 15 NSEP students.

As of the Spring of 2007, resident tuition and fees totaled $2,345 for 7+ credit hours. The total for non-resident tuition and fees is $7,924 for 12+ credit hours. Current and prospective students should expect these rates to continually rise over the next few years.

ASU has had a reputation as a "party school," and has been highly ranked in party-school lists published by Princeton Review and Playboy Magazine (in addition to being joked about on such shows as The Simpsons and American Dad!). In recent years, even though ASU's academic rigor has increased, ASU still regularly appears in several of the "top party school" rankings.

ASU School of Music Building, Tempe Campus
ASU School of Music Building, Tempe Campus

[edit] Ranked graduate programs

Many of ASU's graduate programs are highly ranked, particularly in the US News and World Report guide to graduate schools. For example:

  • The Mary Lou Fulton College of Education[30] was ranked 35th in the nation in 2005. Its program in counseling was ranked 12th in the nation, and its Education Policy Studies[31] doctoral program was ranked 15th. Six out of nine of the College's specialty programs were ranked in the top 20.
  • The Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, was ranked 41st and the graduate program ranked 47th. Many of the individual programs within the college rank in the top tier of over 300 nationwide programs, including five graduate programs ranked in the top 30 by U.S. News and World Report.[32]
  • The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law[33] is ranked 51st out of 197 ABA-approved law schools by US News in 2007. The Academic Educational Quality Rankings[34] identifies the college of law as having one of the top 30 law faculties in the nation "based on a standard 'objective' measure of scholarly impact"[35] and ranks the college of law as a top 40 law school based on overall academic reputation. The College of Law was established in 1967 and is one of three ABA-approved law schools in Arizona.
  • The College of Design is reputedly rigorous and highly ranked.[37] The Interior Design program was ranked 2nd and the Architecture Master's Degree ranked 10th in 2005 by America's Best Architecture and Design Schools.
  • The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is ranked #16 in the nation by US News & World Report.[38]

In addition, ASU maintains several programs that are ranked among the top ten nationally according to the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index: Ecology & Evolution, Accountancy, Marketing, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership, Industrial Engineering, Speech & Hearing Science, Spanish, Physical Anthropology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Social Psychology.[42]

[edit] International Programs

ASU is currently collaborating with several world class institutions in several countries such as China and Mexico. In Mexico, ASU collaborates with Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) in the ITAM/W.P. Carey School of Business Executive MBA Program.

[edit] Athletics

Sparky the Sun Devil
Sparky the Sun Devil

Arizona State University's Division I athletic teams are called the Sun Devils, which is also the nickname used to refer to students and alumni of the university. They compete in the Pac-10 Conference in 20 varsity sports. Historically, the university has shown great athletic dominance in men's, women's, and mixed archery; men's, women's, and mixed badminton; women's golf; women's swimming and diving; and baseball. In 1987, the football team won the Rose Bowl, and they have been to the Fiesta Bowl five times.

Arizona State University's NCAA Division I-A program competes in 9 varsity sports for men and 11 for women. The Sun Devil mascot is a devil named Sparky. The university is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference in all varsity sports. ASU's current athletic director is Lisa Love, who was the former athletic director at USC and in her tenure is responsible for hiring new coaches Herb Sendek, the men's basketball coach, and Dennis Erickson, the men's football coach.

ASU won national championships in men's archery 15 times, women's archery 21 times, mixed archery 20 times, men's badminton 13 times, women's badminton 17 times, mixed badminton 10 times, baseball 5 times, women's tennis 3 times, men's gymnastics once, men's track and field once, women's indoor track and field twice, men's indoor track and field once, wrestling once, men's golf twice, women's golf 13 times, women's softball three times, and women's swimming and diving 7 times, for a total of 136 national championships.

[edit] Football

The Arizona State Sun Devils football team was founded in 1897 under coach Fred Irish.[43] Currently, the team has played in the 2007 Holiday Bowl, 1997 Rose Bowl and also won the Rose Bowl in 1987 as well as the Fiesta Bowl in 1982, 1975, 1973, 1972, and 1971.

The team currently competes in Sun Devil Stadium, a 73,379 seat outdoor football stadium on the Tempe campus. The current football coach is Dennis Erickson who led the Sun Devils to a 10-2 record and Holiday Bowl berth against the Texas Longhorns in his first season with the team. ASU's archrival is their intrastate opponent in the Pac-10, the University of Arizona, with which it competes for the oldest trophy in college football, the Territorial Cup.[44]

[edit] Student activities

The ASU Tempe campus is adorned with towering Mexican Fan Palms along its main walkway.
The ASU Tempe campus is adorned with towering Mexican Fan Palms along its main walkway.

[edit] Extracurricular Programs

Arizona State University has an active extracurricular involvement program (Sun Devil Involvement Center) with over 500 registered clubs and organizations on campus.[45] Located on the 3rd floor of the Memorial Union, the Sun Devil Involvement Center (SDIC) provides opportunities for student involvement through clubs, sororities, fraternities, community service, leadership, student government, and co-curricular programming.

ASU Cares is the largest community service project sponsored by the university. It is an annual event that allows students to give back some time by helping residents and communities clean up, rebuild, and/or serve each other. Faculty, staff, alumni, members of the community and their families and guests are also invited to be part of this large ASU effort to help residents of the various communities surrounding the metropolitan area.[46]

'A' Mountain
'A' Mountain

The Freshman Year Experience (FYE) and the Greek community (Greek Life) at Arizona State University have been important in binding students to the university, and providing social outlets. The Freshman Year Experience at Arizona State University was developed to improve the freshman experience at Arizona State University and increase student retention figures. FYE provides advising, computer labs, free walk-in tutoring, workshops, and classes for students. In 2003, U.S. News and World Report ranked FYE as the 23rd best first year program in the nation. It has also been recognized as one of the best in both public and private universities by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

[edit] Student Media

ASU Student Media includes The State Press (student newspaper), the Web Devil (online news site) and Sun Devil Television (television station broadcast on campus and in student residence halls). The State Press is a daily paper published on Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and weekly during the summer sessions.[47] ASU Student Media is independent, with a Student Media Advisor employed by the University. 18,000 copies of the State Press are printed every day other than Thursday, when 20,000 are printed. More than 96% of ASU students on all four campuses read The State Press at least once per week, and 65% read it every day or most days. There are an average of 2.5 readers per each copy of the State Press, resulting in more than 45,000 readers across all four campuses. In addition, the State Press Magazine, a weekly arts and entertainment publication, comes out on Wednesdays. The Web Devil, the online arm of the State Press, publishes the paper's daily content online, as well as independent news/editorial content.

The campus has two radio stations. KASC The Blaze 1260 AM, is a broadcast station and is not an official part of Student Media - it is owned and funded by the Cronkite School - but is completely student-run save for a faculty and professional advisor. The Blaze broadcasts local, alternative and independent music 24 hours a day, and also features news and sports updates at the top and bottom of every hour.[48] W7ASU is an amateur radio station that was first organized in 1935. W7ASU has about 30 members that enjoy amateur radio, and is primarily a contesting club. [49]

[edit] Associated Students of Arizona State University

Associated Students of Arizona State University (ASASU) is the student government at Arizona State University's campus at Tempe, Arizona.[50] It is composed of the Undergraduate Student Government, the Graduate & Professional Student Association, and the Supreme Court. Members and officers of the ASASU are elected annually by the student body.

[edit] Notable alumni and former students

see Category:Arizona State University alumni

[edit] Notable faculty and staff

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ [1]. February 5, 2007. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  2. ^ ASU Employees. 2006. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d ASU Quick Facts. 2007. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  4. ^ ASU at the Tempe campus. May 2005. Accessed November 25, 2007
  5. ^ ASU at the Polytechnic campus. 2004. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  6. ^ ASU at the West campus. 2004. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  7. ^ ASU at the Downtown Phoenix campus. 2004. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  8. ^ ASU - One University in Many Places. Arizona State University. Retrieved on 2008-6-2.
  9. ^ Breysse, Emma. "Tempe campus falls to 3rd place", The State Press, 2007-10-17, p. 1. Retrieved on 2007-11-25. 
  10. ^ Accreditation status of Arizona State University Higher Learning Commission
  11. ^ More ASU History
  12. ^ The Arboretum at Arizona State University
  13. ^ http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/preslist.htm|Archives & Special Collections, Principals and Presidents of Arizona State University
  14. ^ "[2]" Eighth President Ralph Waldo Swetman 1930-1933
  15. ^ ASU Libraries: The New ASU Story: Leadership
  16. ^ ASU Libraries: The New ASU Story: Leadership
  17. ^ Viewpoints: ASU's Michael Crow first 5 years
  18. ^ One University in Many Places Arizona State University
  19. ^ ASU Campuses
  20. ^ a b c One University in Many Places Explanation of the ASU campus organization
  21. ^ ASU's Tempe campus
  22. ^ Arizona Arboretums And Botanical Gardens
  23. ^ http://uoia.asu.edu/files/quickfacts/Quick_Facts_Fall_2007.pdf
  24. ^ Arizona State University: Virtual Tour
  25. ^ a b c d List of ASU Colleges
  26. ^ As measured on Google Earth, not including satellite parking lots
  27. ^ West Campus Gears Up for Growth
  28. ^ http://www.asu.edu/downtownphoenix/academics/colleges-schools.html
  29. ^ Barrett, The Honors College - Arizona State University
  30. ^ ASU Mary Lou Fulton College of Education
  31. ^ ASU Mary Lou Fulton College of Education
  32. ^ Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University
  33. ^ http://law.asu.edu
  34. ^ Welcome to Brian Leiter's Law School Rankings
  35. ^ Brian Leiter Faculty Quality Based on Scholarly Impact, 2005
  36. ^ Welcome to the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University
  37. ^ College of Design News 2005: ASU
  38. ^ 2008 Graduate Criminology Rankings US News and World Report
  39. ^ The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication - Walter Cronkite
  40. ^ Doctoral Programs Reputational Study
  41. ^ Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
  42. ^ Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index Rankings of top programs
  43. ^ History :: The Arizona State University Sun Devils - Official Athletic Site
  44. ^ The Library Channel » The Arizona Territorial Cup
  45. ^ Memorial Union - Student Organizations
  46. ^ ASU Cares
  47. ^ ASU Web Devil - Monday, March 24, 2008
  48. ^ kasc - the blaze 1260 am - asu's original alternative
  49. ^ W7ASU - Amateur Radio Society at Arizona State University
  50. ^ ASASU Website

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 33°25′16″N 111°55′54″W / 33.42111, -111.93167