Arizona State University: Contact Information and Overview
Arizona State University (ASU) stands as one of the largest public universities in the United States, with a rich history dating back to its establishment as the Territorial Normal School on March 12, 1885. Over the years, it has evolved through several name changes, reflecting its expanding mission and academic offerings, from Territorial Normal School (1885-1889), Tempe Normal School of Arizona (1889-1903), Tempe Normal School (1903-1925), Tempe State Teachers College (1925-1929), Arizona State Teachers College (1929-1945), Arizona State College (1945-1958) to its current name, Arizona State University in 1958. Governed by the Arizona Board of Regents, ASU is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) and holds the classification of "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very High Research Activity".
Campuses and Locations
ASU operates under the concept of "one university in many places," with multiple campuses and learning centers across Arizona and beyond. This structure emphasizes that each campus is distinctive and academically focused on specific aspects of the university's mission, rather than functioning as a traditional system of branch campuses. The university has four campuses in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, including the Tempe campus in Tempe; the West Valley campus in Glendale; the Downtown Phoenix campus; and the Polytechnic campus in Mesa. In addition to its physical campuses, ASU maintains a presence in other locations, including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii.
Tempe Campus
The Tempe campus, ASU's original and largest campus, serves as the university's research and graduate school center. Undergraduate programs here are research-based, designed to prepare students for advanced studies or direct entry into professional fields. Located in downtown Tempe, about eight miles (13 km) east of Phoenix, the campus spans 660 acres (2.7 km2). Notable landmarks include Old Main, the oldest building on campus, Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright), Palm Walk, Charles Trumbull Hayden Library, and the Arizona State University Art Museum. The Mill Avenue district, adjacent to the campus, offers a vibrant college atmosphere with numerous restaurants and bars.
West Valley Campus
Established in 1984, the West Valley campus is located in a suburban area of northwest Phoenix, approximately 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Downtown Phoenix and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of the Tempe campus. Spanning 277.92 acres (1.1247 km2), the campus offers more than 100 degree programs from various colleges, including the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, and the W. P. Carey School of Business. The West Valley campus is designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride and is powered nearly completely by a solar array.
Polytechnic Campus
Founded in 1996 as "ASU East," the Polytechnic campus focuses on professional and technological programs aimed at direct workforce preparation. Located in southeast Mesa, about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the Tempe campus and 33 miles (53 km) southeast of downtown Phoenix, the 600-acre (2.4 km2) campus features outdoor learning labs, advanced simulators, and indoor lab spaces. It offers more than 130 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through the W. P. Carey School of Business/Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.
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Downtown Phoenix Campus
Established in 2006, the Downtown Phoenix campus is located on the north side of Downtown Phoenix. Its urban design integrates modern academic buildings with commercial and retail spaces. The campus houses the College of Health Solutions, College of Integrative Science and Arts, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The campus also includes the adaptive reuse of existing structures, such as a 1930s era Post Office listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
ASU Online
ASU Online provides access to over 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through a digital platform. These online programs hold the same accreditation as the university's traditional on-campus programs. ASU Online is headquartered at ASU's SkySong campus in Scottsdale, Arizona. Online students are taught by the same faculty and receive the same diploma as on-campus students. In April 2015, ASU Online partnered with edX to create the Global Freshman Academy.
Support for Online Courses
ASU's Office of Global Outreach and Extended Education (GOEE) offers technical support for online courses. Course materials and lectures are provided through an Internet connection. Lectures are presented via Mediasite and include video along with visual materials. While books, exams, and course packets are paper-based, access to online lecture material is generally restricted to students registered for the online section.
Leadership and Governance
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) governs Arizona State University, along with the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. The board consists of 12 members, including 11 voting members and one non-voting member. Members include the state governor and superintendent of public instruction acting as ex-officio members, eight volunteer Regents members with eight-year terms appointed by the governor, and two student regents, each with two-year terms and a one-year term as non-voting apprentices. ABOR provides policy guidance to the state universities of Arizona.
The Arizona Board of Regents appoints and elects the president of the university, who is considered the institution's chief executive officer and the chief budget officer. The president executes measures enacted by the Board of Regents, controls the university's property, and acts as the university's official representative to the Board of Regents. The chief executive officer is assisted through the administration of the institution by the provost, vice presidents, deans, faculty, directors, department chairs, and other officers. The president also selects and appoints administrative officers and general counsels. The 16th ASU president is Michael M. Crow.
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A History of Growth and Transformation
Arizona State University has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. Founded as the Territorial Normal School at Tempe on March 12, 1885, the institution's primary mission was to train teachers for the Arizona Territory. Classes began on February 8, 1886, with 33 students.
Early Years and Expansion
In 1923, the school discontinued high school courses and added a high school diploma to the admissions requirements. By 1925, it became the Tempe State Teachers College, offering four-year Bachelor of Education degrees and two-year teaching certificates. In 1929, the school was renamed the Arizona State Teachers College and authorized Bachelor of Arts in Education degrees.
The Influence of Key Leaders
Under the 30-year tenure of president Arthur John Matthews (1900-1930), the school gained all-college student status, and the first dormitories in the state were constructed. During the Great Depression, Ralph Waldo Swetman succeeded Matthews in 1930. In 1933, Grady Gammage, then president of Arizona State Teachers College at Flagstaff, became president at Tempe, serving for nearly 28 years. Gammage oversaw the construction of several buildings and guided the development of graduate programs.
University Status and Continued Growth
During Gammage's presidency, the school's name changed to Arizona State College in 1945 and finally to Arizona State University in 1958. Among Gammage's greatest achievements was the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium/ASU Gammage.
Modern Era
Under the leadership of Lattie F. Coor (1990 to 2002), ASU expanded through the creation of the Polytechnic campus and extended education sites. Increased commitment to diversity, quality in undergraduate education, research, and economic development occurred over his 12-year tenure. Michael M. Crow became the university's 16th president in 2002, initiating the transformation of ASU into a "New American University."
Read also: Understanding ASU Tuition
Athletics
The Arizona State Sun Devils compete in 26 varsity-level sports in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Sun Devil teams have won 165 national championships, including 24 NCAA trophies.
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