West Campus

ASU at the West campus, a community-focused metropolitan campus of Arizona State University located in Phoenix, serves the community and nearly 8,000 residential and commuter students of diverse ages, ethnic backgrounds, and experiences through 32 baccalaureate programs, one doctoral program, nine master’s programs, and eight certificate programs. The West campus focuses on developing a learning community that addresses the needs of a dynamic metropolitan environment. The campus does this by offering learner-centered academic programs that enhance learning through teaching, service, and enrichment opportunities; promoting discovery and innovation; pursuing new knowledge; introducing insights and creative ideas through instruction; encouraging direct involvement in new fields of inquiry; investigating important community-based issues; and integrating with the community through service. The vision of the West campus is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural, and economic qualities of its urban environment through research and creative activity and to provide access to a quality liberal arts education for undergraduates, professional programs grounded in the liberal arts, and an array of graduate programs.

Faculty and staff are dedicated to serving the evolving needs of high school graduates, working adults, and returning and continuing students. Expanding campus facilities and programs, along with a diverse student body, faculty, and staff, contribute to a culturally rich academic and social campus environment.

The West campus offers many on-campus services and facilities, all fully accessible for those with disabilities. These include a multimedia resource library, state-of-the-art computer classrooms and labs, housing facilities, tutoring services, a disability resource center, bookstore, cafeteria, credit union, fitness center, recreational facilities, child care, and post office, plus many student activities, clubs, and organizations. Classes are offered days, evenings, and weekends and via television and the Internet.

The West campus occupies approximately 300 square acres between 43rd and 51st Avenues on West Thunderbird Road in Phoenix, easily accessed from Interstate 17 and Loop 101. Its architecture and courtyards are modeled on those of the University of Oxford in England, enhanced by a beautifully landscaped natural environment featuring widely acclaimed public art.

History

The year 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of the West campus. Governor Bruce Babbitt signed legislation officially establishing the campus on April 18, 1984. Two years later members of several western Maricopa County communities, legislators, and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) joined in the ground-breaking ceremony for the West campus, which culminated more than 10 years of intensive effort by numerous citizens’ groups working to establish educational facilities in western Maricopa County. This grass-roots effort began in 1972 with the formation of the West Side Citizens’ Committee for Higher Education. Citizens and legislators in western Maricopa County worked with officials at ASU and the ABOR to demonstrate the need for higher education facilities beyond those offered by the community colleges.

In 1982, the legislature provided an exchange of 171.66 acres of general revenue lands for “approximately 300 acres of state trust land located in Maricopa County.” These 300 acres constitute the permanent site of the West campus. The first permanent building, Fletcher Library, opened in March of 1988, and the first classroom building, Sands Classroom Building, opened in 1989 for spring semester classes. Shortly thereafter, the legislature authorized a lease purchase agreement to fund construction of additional buildings. The first phase, consisting of seven buildings and 600,000 gross square feet, opened in the spring of 1991.

The West campus received its initial accreditation from North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in August 1992. In fall 2001, ASU at the West campus became a four-year university campus with the addition of freshman and sophomore classes. Student housing facilities opened in August 2003.

For more than two decades, the campus has demonstrated responsiveness to the community, providing an ethos of resolving social issues, creating an involved citizenry, and ultimately creating a better quality of life for all. The West campus vision is to build on its successful past in ways that enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic qualities of a diverse, urban environment, through research and quality programs. This commitment to the community is punctuated by the economic vitality that the West campus contributes.

Accreditation

ASU at the West campus is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association. For more information, call 312/263-0456, access the Web site at www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org, or write

HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION

30 N LASALLE ST

SUITE 2400

CHICAGO IL 60602-2504

Professional programs in various academic areas are also accredited.

The Business and Accountancy degree programs in the School of Global Management and Leadership are accredited by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The Accountancy program is also an Endorsed Internal Auditing Program by the Institute of Internal Auditors. In the College of Human Services, the Department of Recreation and Tourism Management is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association/American Association for Leisure and Recreation Council on Accreditation, and the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

See Academic Accreditation at the West Campus.

Academic Organization and Administration

The provost provides executive leadership for the continuing development and management of the campus and reports to the executive vice president and provost of ASU. The provost is aided in the administration of the campus by vice provosts, deans, directors, department chairs, faculty, and other officers. There are four schools and colleges at the West campus administered by deans:

College of Human Services

College of Teacher Education and Leadership

New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

School of Global Management and Leadership

These academic units develop and implement the teaching, research, and service programs of the institution, aided by the Fletcher Library and other student services.

The faculty and students of the institution play an important role in campus governance, with the Academic Senate, Associated Students of the West Campus, and numerous cross-campus and joint West campus – Tempe campus – Polytechnic campus committees serving the needs of a rapidly growing institution. For more information, see West campus Faculty and Academic Professionals, and West campus Administrative Personnel.

Graduate Programs

The West campus offers one PhD program and nine masterÕs degree programs. See the West campus department, college, and school sections for specific details.

Certificates

The West campus offers postbaccalaureate certificates in Accountancy, Professional Accountancy, and Communication and Human Relations.

Gerontology

The ASU Gerontology program is a university-wide multidisciplinary program with its administrative home at the West campus. The graduate Certificate in Gerontology is designed so that students may take related course work on any of the four ASU campuses. For program details, see Gerontology.