Ever higher education
An interview moderated by Shelly C. Lowe, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
ASU President Michael M. Crow on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action in university admissions
To the ASU community: As we reflect on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding the use of affirmative action in university admission decisions, I urge you to pause and consider the progress Arizona State University has made in attracting a student body that is representative of the people of Arizona.
Mission and goals 2028
Demonstrate leadership in enabling academic excellence and accessibility at scale
Establish national standing in academic quality and impact of colleges and schools in every field
Expand ASU's role as the leading global center for interdisciplinary research, discovery and development by 2028
Enhance our local impact and social embeddedness
March 2022 / Philanthropy, Student success
ASU endowment topped $1.25 billion
April 2022 / Sustainability
Officially opened the Rob and Melani Walton Center for Planetary Health
June 2022 / Access, Student success
Named No. 1 in the US and No. 2 globally for Designated a Hispanic Serving Institution
June 2022 / Excellence, Student success
Earned best-ever NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) for ASU athletic programs and ranked first in the Pac-12
August 2022 / Access, Innovation, Partnerships
Opened the Media and Immersive eXperience Center as part of ASU @ Mesa City Center
September 2022 / Innovation, Excellence
Designated No. 1 in Innovation for the eighth straight year
October 2022 / Access, Student success
Celebrated the official opening of the historic Herald Examiner Building in downtown Los Angeles, home to the ASU California Center
October 2022 / Access, Student success, University design
Record enrollment in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering tops 30,000 students
December 2022 / Impact
Ranked No. 6 in research expenditures among 750 other institutions without a medical school
January 2021 / University design
Launched the Sidney Poitier New American Film School
February 2021 / Excellence, Global engagement
Celebrated 11 consecutive years of ASU ranking as a top producer of Fulbright winners
September 2021 / Excellence
Earned a seventh consecutive “#1 in innovation” national ranking
January 2020 /
Completed the $90 million renovation of Hayden Library on the Tempe campus and reopened the 21st century facility for spring 2020
January 2020 /
Broke ground on the Mesa City Center, a state-of-the art project dedicated to leading-edge media production and technology that will serve students, entrepreneurs and the surrounding community
February 2020 /
Announced the State Farm Pathways for the Future program, a collaboration to help high school and community college students to prepare for the future workplacemade possible bya $30 million gift from State Farm
March 2020 /
Launched ASU For You, a set of online resources to support learners of all ages, teachers and parents, and some at no cost
March 2020 /
With the help of a $2 million emergency grant from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, ASU ramped up critical COVID-19 testing, research and personal protective equipment production
April 2020 /
Unveiled a new PPE Response Network web site that connected university and community resources to hospitals in critical need of personal protective equipment
May 2020 /
The BiodesignInstitute at ASU developed a game-changing saliva-based COVID-19 test with 100% diagnostic accuracy and began administering the new test to protect first-responders
May 2020 /
For the safety of the Class of 2020, ASU hosted its first-ever virtual University Commencement due to COVID-19, which included the first graduate cohort of the Uber-ASU partnership
June 2020 /
Starbucks expands the ASU-developed, anti-bias online curriculum to the public at no cost
July 2020 /
Outfitted classrooms on all ASU campuses with state-of-the-art technology in preparation for ASU Sync, a fully interactive remote learning platform that was one of three options available to ASU students in fall 2020
July 2020 /
Announced a partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services to provide free saliva diagnostic testing for COVID-10 in high-need, underserved communities across the state
August 2020 /
Welcomed more than 127,500 students to the fall 2021 semester at ASU, a nearly 8% increase from fall 2019, and more than 53,000 ASU Online students, its largest fall enrollment
September 2020 /
Launched the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, “a medical center for the Earth,” designed to study and develop solutions to keep our planet habitable for future generations
September 2020 /
Named “#1 in innovation” by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth consecutiveyear
October 2020 /
The National Institutes of Health awarded ASU’s Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center a $4.7 million federal grant to increase COVID-19 testing in underserved communities around Arizona
November 2020 /
Named Sally C. Morton as executive vice president to lead the ASU Knowledge Enterprise, an organization with annual research expenditures upwards of $640 million
December 2020 /
Named Nancy Gonzales as ASU’s new executive vice president and provost, and Maria Anguiano as the founding executive vice president of the ASU Learning Enterprise, an initiative that will grow access
January 2019 / Excellence, Partnerships
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.
February 2019 / Access, Partnerships
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
March 2019 /
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
April 2019 / Access, Partnerships, University design
Broke ground on the Health Futures Center as part of the Mayo-ASU Alliance for Health Care
June 2019 /
Designated a top 10 university in patent rankings among all universities worldwide
June 2019 /
Collaborated with MIT to offer the world’s first stacked online master’s degree in Supply Chain Management
June 2019 / Access, Excellence
Received the inaugural “Seal of Excelencia” for ASU’s commitment to Latino student success
August 2019 / Access, Partnerships
Expanded our educational access partnership with Uber to include to eligible drivers and their families
September 2019 / Excellence
Named the #1 most innovative school in America for the fifth consecutive year
October 2019 / Access, University design
Broke ground on the new headquarters of the Thunderbird School of Global Management in downtown Phoenix
October 2019 / Access, Excellence, Partnerships, University design
Celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan
January 2018 / Knowledge economy
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.
March 2018 / Access
Opened the Barbara Barrett & Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Washington Center in Washington, D.C.
April 2018 / Excellence
Times Higher Education ranks ASU in the top 1 percent of the world’s most prestigious universities
August 2018 / Excellence
ASU’s freshman retention rate passes 85%, exceeding the national average and 11 percentage points up from 2002
September 2018 / Excellence
ASU ranked #1 most innovative school in the nation for the fourth consecutive year
ASU was ranked #1 most innovative school in the nation for the fourth consecutive year
January 2017 / Philanthropy
Launched Campaign ASU 2020, ASU's first-ever comprehensive development campaign
May 2017 / Knowledge economy
The Arizona State Legislature passed $1B Research Infrastructure II legislation
February 2016 / Partnerships
Formed the PLuS Alliance with King’s College London and the University of New South Wales
August 2016 / Knowledge economy
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
September 2016 / University design
ASU named the “#1 Most Innovative School” for the second consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report
October 2016 / Partnerships
Announced the Mayo Clinic Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care
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.
February 2015 / University design
Published Designing the New American University
May 2015 / University design
Participated in The Economist and ASU co-sponsored webcast series, Re-inventing Higher Education
September 2015 / University design
ASU named the "#1 Most Innovative School" by U.S. News & World Report
September 2015 / Philanthropy
Donated $1.2M to fund the directorship of the ASU Public Service Academy
October 2015 /
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
President Michael Crow was appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) by US Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson
February 2014 / Knowledge economy
Presented “Universities as Partners in Global Development” to the World Bank Group
March 2014 / University design
Received the inaugural American Council on Education Award for Institutional Transformation
June 2014 / Partnerships
Established the Starbucks College Achievement Plan in partnership to enhance access
September 2014 / University design
Became Founding Chairman of the University Innovation Alliance
November 2014 / University design
Established ASU's first-ever official university charter
December 2014 / University design
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.
September 2013 / Partnerships
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
November 2013 / Knowledge economy
Named University Vice-Chair of the Council on Competitiveness
December 2013 /
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.
March 2012 / University design
Delivered the Robert H. Atwell Lecture at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Council on Education
September 2012 / Science policy
Named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Arizona State University student paddle board down to Lake Havasu. ASU Colleges at Lake Havasu City began operation in 2012.
March 2011 / Science policy
Published "Time to Rethink the NIH in Nature
August 2011 /
Recognized by Slate as one of the “Most Innovative and Practical Thinkers of Our Time”
September 2011 / Knowledge economy
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
May 2010 /
Led a coalition of college and university presidents in support of the DREAM Act
Read the letter
August 2010 /
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.
January 2009 / University design
Completed the third phase of a university-wide academic reorganization
March 2009 / University design
Announced budget and efficiency actions following state budget cuts
April 2009 / Science policy
Published “The Challenge for the Obama Administration Science Team” in Issues in Science and Technology
May 2009 /
Hosted U.S. President Barack Obama at University Commencement and announced the Barack Obama Scholars Program
August 2009 / University design
Launched ASU Online to provide broad access to high-quality higher education
December 2009 / Sustainability
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)
March 2008 / Knowledge economy
Opened the SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center
April 2008 / Sustainability
Presented the National Academy of Sciences Arthur Sackler Lecture, Opportunities and Limits in the Creation of Useful Knowledge for Sustainable Development
August 2008 / University design
Completed the second phase of a university-wide academic reorganization
ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center, SkySong, launched in 2008.
January 2007 / Science policy
Published "None Dare Call It Hubris: The Limits of Knowledge" in Issues in Science and Technology
April 2007 / University design
March 2006 / University design
ASU Downtown Phoenix campus secured bond election funding
October 2006 / Sustainability
Became a founding signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
December 2006 / University design
Completed the first phase of a comprehensive academic reorganization
Classes began at ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus in August 2006
January 2005 / Science policy
Conceptualized the Decision Theater at ASU
May 2005 / University design
Announced ASU's Comprehensive Development Plan for a New American University
April 2004 / University design
Announced ASU's expansion as "One University in Many Places"
ASU's Global Institute for Sustainability launched in July 2004.
March 2003 / University design
Began collaboration with the City of Phoenix to establish the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus
June 2003 / University design
June 2003 / Science policy
Relocated the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes from Columbia University to ASU
March 2002 /
The Arizona Board of Regents name the sixteenth president of Arizona State University
November 2002 / University design
