Statements from President Crow

Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow issued the following statement Saturday in response to passage of a state budget that slashes state funding for higher education:

“This drastic remedy to the state’s budget troubles represents a setback for Arizonans who already are frustrated by the state’s sluggish economic recovery. The real consequences of this cut will be felt not only by Arizona's institutions of higher education but also by the students whom we serve. The ramifications for the state’s economy will take years to play out because it is our colleges and universities that produce Arizona’s strongest asset: educated young men and women trained to play leading roles in a rapidly changing world.

“This budget cut is being implemented without input from the state’s higher education leaders and it reverses the progress made in recent years to move our colleges and universities to a performance-based funding model. Over the coming days, we will assess the full impact on ASU and develop a plan to minimize the effects on our campuses while continuing to advance ASU as an institution dedicated to access for all qualified students, excellence in teaching and research, and progress for Arizona. While it may be difficult, we will not let this setback deter us from developing ASU as a comprehensive knowledge enterprise dedicated to the economic and cultural success of Arizona.”