ASU was ranked #1 most innovative school in the nation for the fourth consecutive year
Story of the New American University
Learn more about the design and trajectory of President Michael Crow’s emerging model for the 21st century public research university.
Mission and goals 2025




Announced a partnership with James Turrell to advance the completion, educational use, and conservation of his masterwork, the Roden Crater.

Turrell’s work at Roden Crater is a fusion of art, engineering, astronomy, architecture and neuroscience.
Shared plans to establish a new ASU location to serve as a world-class hub for digital innovation in science, technology and the arts in downtown Mesa, Arizona.
Announced a new tuition and program fee structure that extends ASU’s commitment to Arizona resident students and simplifies individual course and program fees for undergraduates.
Broke ground on the Health Futures Center as part of the Mayo-ASU Alliance for Health Care.
Collaborated with MIT to offer the world’s first stacked online master’s degree in Supply Chain Management
Received the inaugural “Seal of Excelencia” for ASU’s commitment to Latino student success.

Designated a top 10 university in patent rankings among all universities worldwide
Expanded our educational access partnership with Uber to include to eligible drivers and their families.

Named the #1 most innovative school in America for the fifth consecutive year.

Celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.
Broke ground on the new headquarters of the Thunderbird School of Global Management in downtown Phoenix.
Announced the Decision Center for Educational Excellence in partnership with the Helios Education Foundation

President Michael Crow speaks at the announcement of the Decision Center for Educational Excellence Powered by Helios Education Foundation.
Shared ASU's plan to lead in “universal learning”
Opened the Barbara Barrett & Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Washington Center in Washington, D.C.
Times Higher Education ranks ASU in the top 1 percent of the world’s most prestigious universities
ASU’s freshman retention rate passes 85%, exceeding the national average and 11 percentage points up from 2002
ASU ranked #1 most innovative school in the nation for the fourth consecutive year


Launched Campaign ASU 2020, ASU's first-ever comprehensive development campaign
The Arizona State Legislature passed $1B Research Infrastructure II legislation
Formed the PLuS Alliance with King’s College London and the University of New South Wales
Global Freshman Academy launched by EdPlus and edX

ASU welcomed the largest and most diverse freshman class in its history
The class included 11,500 freshmen students representing every U.S. state and 74 countries
ASU named the “#1 Most Innovative School” for the second consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report

Announced the Mayo Clinic Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care
ASU named the country's fastest growing research enterprise

In 2016, ASU welcomed it largest and most diverse freshman class in its history. 11,500 freshman students representing every U.S. state and 74 countries.
Published Designing the New American University

Participated in The Economist and ASU co-sponsored webcast series, Re-inventing Higher Education
ASU named the "#1 Most Innovative School" by U.S. News & World Report

Donated $1.2M to fund the directorship of the ASU Public Service Academy
Designated a LinkedIn "Influencer"
Browse through the archive of LinkedIn op-eds penned by President Crow on a wide range of higher education related topics

Appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council

President Michael Crow was appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) by US Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson
Presented “Universities as Partners in Global Development” to the World Bank Group
Received the inaugural American Council on Education Award for Institutional Transformation
Established the Starbucks College Achievement Plan in partnership to enhance access

Became Founding Chairman of the University Innovation Alliance

Established ASU's first-ever official university charter
EdPlus launched to enhance access to technologically-enhanced learning opportunities across all modalities.

The American Council on Education (ACE) has named Arizona State University the first recipient of an award created to recognize a college or university which, during a period of great change in higher education, has responded to challenges in innovative ways that allow the institution to thrive.
Launched the Transatlantic Higher Education Partnership with Dublin City University
A comprehensive alliance designed to create new learning and research experiences for students, expanding economic development and creating positive outcomes for communities in Arizona and Ireland

Named University Vice-Chair of the Council on Competitiveness
Established the Trustees of ASU
Received the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Academic Leadership Award
A recognition bestowed to presidents of U.S. higher education institutions who are fulfilling their leadership duties with vision, dedication and creativity, and demonstrate a commitment to excellence and equity.

Delivered the Robert H. Atwell Lecture at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Council on Education
Opened the ASU Colleges at Lake Havasu City
Named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Published "Citizen Science U." in Scientific American


Arizona State University student paddle board down to Lake Havasu. ASU Colleges at Lake Havasu City began operation in 2012.
Recognized by Slate as one of the “Most Innovative and Practical Thinkers of Our Time”

All ASU colleges and schools are engaged in entrepreneurship

Ford College Community Challenge winners are announced during the ASU Demo Day. 100% of ASU’s colleges and schools are engaged in entrepreneurship
Led a coalition of college and university presidents in support of the DREAM Act
Read the letter
ASU nearly doubled the total number of enrolled minority students
Since 2002, the number of enrolled minority students increased from 11,487 to 21,060.
Completed the third phase of a university-wide academic reorganization
Announced budget and efficiency actions following state budget cuts
Published “The Challenge for the Obama Administration Science Team” in Issues in Science and Technology
Hosted U.S. President Barack Obama at University Commencement and announced the Barack Obama Scholars Program
Launched ASU Online to provide broad access to high-quality higher education
Named to the TIME list of "10 Best College Presidents"
Published "Overcoming Stone Age Logic" in Issues in Science and Technology

By 2009, the total number of minority students enrolled at ASU had nearly doubled since 2002 (11,487 to 21,060)
Opened the SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center
Presented the National Academy of Sciences Arthur Sackler Lecture, Opportunities and Limits in the Creation of Useful Knowledge for Sustainable Development
Completed the second phase of a university-wide academic reorganization
Donated salary bonus to need-based financial aid fund

ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, SkySong, launched in 2008.
Published "None Dare Call It Hubris: The Limits of Knowledge" in Issues in Science and Technology

ASU Downtown Phoenix campus secured bond election funding
Began collaborations with Dublin City University
Founded the nation’s first School of Sustainability
Named a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration
Became a founding signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
Completed the first phase of a comprehensive academic reorganization

Classes began at ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus in August 2006
Announced ASU's Comprehensive Development Plan for a New American University
Announced ASU's expansion as "One University in Many Places"
Launched the Global Institute for Sustainability at ASU

ASU's Global Institute for Sustainability launched in July 2004.
Began collaboration with the City of Phoenix to establish the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus
Relocated the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes from Columbia University to ASU
Secured the largest single-donor gift in ASU history
The Arizona Board of Regents named the sixteenth president of Arizona State University
Took office as the 16th president of Arizona State University
Delivered inaugural remarks titled "The New American University: A New Gold Standard"
Initiated partnership with Mayo Clinic in Arizona
