Campus Setting
Arizona State University is a public, comprehensive university. Founded as a normal school in 1885, it gained university status in 1958. ASU is known as “One University in Many Places.” ASU has four distinctive campuses throughout metropolitan Phoenix located on over 1,960 acres. At the Tempe campus, ASU focuses on research and graduate education along with an undergraduate education that is analytic and preparatory for graduate or professional school or employment. At the Polytechnic campus, ASU focuses on learning through an applied approach to professional and technological programs that meet business and societal needs and an emphasis on technical education that is a direct preparation for the workforce. At the West campus, ASU focuses on interdisciplinary liberal arts education with professional programs that connect to the community. Through the Downtown Phoenix campus, ASU is focused on programs with a direct urban and public connection. A four-year public institution, Arizona State University has an enrollment of 68,064 students. In addition to a large, well-stocked library, the campus facilities include: art, anthropology, geology, history and sports museums • early childhood development lab • herbarium • robotics lab • semiconductor clean room • high-resolution electron microscope facility • solar research facilities • Biodesign Institute • Institute of Sustainability • arboretum • Gammage. Arizona State University provides a variety of housing options including: coed dorms • sorority housing • fraternity housing • single-student apartments • married-student apartments. Recreation and sports facilities include: aquatic area • athletic fields.
Student Life and Activities
Most students (80 percent) live off campus which does impact the on-campus social scene. Nevertheless, like any college, students do find time to create their own recreational outlets. Students gather around the notable landmarks on campus such as Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, Palm Walk, which is lined by 111 palm trees, Charles Trumbull Hayden Library, the University Club Building and University Bridge. Popular campus events include Homecoming, Family Weekend, World Festival, Devil’s in Disguise, Passport to ASU, Final’s Breakfast, A Week, MLK Day of Service and Cesar Chavez Day of Service. Arizona State University has 675 official student organizations. The most popular are: religious, minority and international student groups • music • theatre • political, service and special-interest groups. For those interested in sports, there are intramural teams such as: badminton • basketball • dodgeball • flag football • floor hockey • golf • racquetball • sand volleyball • soccer • softball • table tennis • tennis • Ultimate Frisbee • Wiffle ball • wrestling. Arizona State University is a member of the Member of Pacific-10 Conference (Division I, Football I-A).
Academics and Learning Environment
For the B student, the learning environment of a college is just as important as the quality of its academic program. Arizona State University has 2,492 full-time and 237 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 23:1. The most common course size is 10 to 19 students. Arizona State University offers 290 majors with the most popular being psychology, business and interdisciplinary studies. The school has a general core requirement. Cooperative education is available. All first-year students must maintain a 1.6 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation, and a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 is required to graduate. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student: pass/fail grading option • independent study • double majors • dual degrees • accelerated study • honors program • internships • distance learning certificate programs.
B Student Support and Success
Like other colleges, ASU offers First Year Experience for freshmen. According to the college, this program is designed to “provide a strong foundation for all first-year students and students in transition that will foster their academic and personal success. We will achieve this mission by providing academic support services, opportunities for the exchange of ideas, workshops, generating and supporting research and scholarship, hosting visiting scholars and practitioners, faculty interaction within living and learning communities, administering a website and student involvement opportunities with the university community.”
The Learning Resource Center offers tutoring to help students develop study skills and strategies. This nationally certified program offers tutoring in more than 100 courses, either in a group or individual settings. Peer coaching teaches time management, study habits and test-taking skills. The program also includes software training and Academic Skills Workshops.
Arizona State University provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic • career • personal • psychological • minority students • military • veterans • non-traditional students • family planning • religious. The average freshman year GPA is 2.9, and 81 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year. Companies that most frequently hire graduates from Arizona State University include: American Airlines • Banner Health System • Boeing Co. • Chandler Public Schools • Consolidated Graphics • General Dynamics • Gilbert Public Schools • Honeywell • Intel • KPMG • KLA Tencor • Mayo • Mesa Public Schools • Phoenix Children’s Hospital • Qualcomm • Scottsdale Unified School District • Target • Teach for America • University of Phoenix.
Highlights
Arizona State University
Phoenix (Pop. 1,500,000)
Location: Major city
Four-year public
Founded: 1885
Website: http://www.asu.edu
Students
Total enrollment: 68,064
Undergrads: 54,277
Freshmen: 10,256
Part-time students: 16%
From out-of-state: 29%
From public schools: Not reported
Male/Female: 49%/51%
Live on-campus: 20%
In fraternities: 6%
In sororities: 6%
Off-campus employment rating: Excellent
Caucasian: 64%
African American: 5%
Hispanic: 16%
Asian or Pacific Islander: 6%
Native American: 2%
International: 2%
Academics
Calendar: Semester
Student/faculty ratio: 23:1
Class size 9 or fewer: 8%
Class size 10-29: 57%
Class size 30-49: 19%
Class size 50-99: 12%
Class size 100 or more: 5%
Returning freshmen: 81%
Six-year graduation rate: 56%
Most Popular Majors