ASU Main
Freshman program ranks among nation's best

Arizona State University's Freshman Year Experience (FYE) program has achieved national recognition by "U.S. News and World Report" in its annual rankings, "America's Best Colleges 2003." The magazine listed ASU in its online edition as having one of the top academic programs for first-year students, ranking 23rd in the nation.

ASU's undergraduate business program in the College of Business also placed among the top programs, scoring 25th in a tie with Case Western Reserve, Georgetown, Michigan State, Wake Forest and the University of Georgia. It is 17th among public institutions.

The undergraduate program in the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences rose to an all-time high of 37th, tying with Brown, Iowa State, Lehigh, Notre Dame, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Specialization rankings for business programs established ASU's Supply Chain Management program as third in the nation, behind Michigan State and MIT. In addition, four other business programs scored high marks: Computer Information Systems, 14th; Accountancy, 15th; Marketing, 21st; and Management, 24th.

This is the first year U.S. News has ranked schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that lead to student success. The FYE program put ASU among only a dozen public universities to make the list of top first-year programs.

"Orientation can go only so far in making freshmen feel connected," the magazine reported. "Many schools now build into the curriculum first-year seminars or other programs that bring small groups of students together with faculty or staff on a regular basis."

ASU's eight-year-old FYE program offers a "freshman village," a cluster of residence halls on the north side of campus that have tutors, classrooms, computers, counseling sessions, on-site dining and entertainment and upper-class advisers living on each floor. The program has grown in popularity each year and has significantly contributed to a rise in freshman retention of almost 10 percent.

U.S. News identified the top freshman programs by asking college presidents, chief academic officers and deans of students across the country to nominate stellar examples. The undergraduate programs in business and engineering were ranked based upon the assessments of deans and senior faculty at doctoral institutions throughout the country.

ASU recognized as a "Hottest College"

Arizona State has been chosen as one of the "12 Hottest Colleges" in the 2003 "How to Get into College" guide, published by Kaplan and Newsweek. Editors selected ASU for its "strong academic programs, great campus life and prime location -- qualities that make it a hot destination for students."

"ASU is one of the nation's fastest growing schools," with a "growing national reputation of specialized programs" that draws more students than ever, the report said. "Many are also drawn by the school's standing as a major research university."

16 students honored as top scientists

A record 16 doctoral students have won the Achievement Reward for College Scientists. Each scholar receives a $6,000 scholarship to assist and encourage them in their research.

The Phoenix ARCS chapter annually awards scholarships to the top graduate student researchers and others with exceptional academic promise.

Their names and departments: Deana Delp, Richard Metzger and Stephen Ramey, electrical engineering; Sherry Di Jorio and Brandon Seal, bioengineering; Greg German, Chandra Mitnik and Michael Rothrock, microbiology; Matthew Greene, Elizabeth Grant Jacobsen and Mark Zubriski, molecular and cellular biology.

Also, Timothy Lant, applied mathematics; Kristin Pruden, chemical engineering; Collin Anderson, organic chemistry; Thomas Attard, civil structural engineering; and Melonni Dooley, plant biology.

Native American enrollment up 300%

During the current academic year, 1,089 Native American students have registered, 120 of them in the Honors College and more than 200 in the graduate programs.

According to Peterson Zah, Special Adviser for Native American Affairs, that represents a 300 percent increase in the past 10 years.

Regents professor wins $40,000 prize

ASU Regents Professor of Education David C. Berliner is the 2003 recipient of the Brock International Prize in Education.

The $40,000 Brock Prize is the largest award in the world that each year honors an individual for innovative and effective contributions made to the field of education.

Berliner, who served as dean of ASU's College of Education from 1997 to 2001, came to ASU in 1988, bringing with him a national reputation, a host of awards and volumes of published research to his credit.

Wilkinson named senior adviser

ASU President Michael Crow has named Christine Wilkinson to the position of senior vice president and secretary of the university, effective Oct. 1.

Wilkinson was vice president for Student Affairs, a position she held at ASU since 1990. She is credited with significant achievements during her tenure including improving the quality of the undergraduate student experience, increasing the diversity of the student body and enhancing services for students.

In her new post, part of the senior management team Crow announced in July, Wilkinson will be the principal university liaison for all matters related to the Arizona Board of Regents, as well as coordinator of the four advisory groups Crow is establishing for advice and strategic input -- the Academic Council, the Arizona Community Council, the Arizona Economic Council and the National Visiting Committee. She also will be senior adviser on university-wide policy and programming matters.

Esteemed awards recognize four

A Fulbright Scholarship and a Rotary Scholarship to study abroad have been awarded to two ASU graduate students. Additionally, two faculty members have won John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships.

Katie Ann McCarty will use her Fulbright to study organ at the Bordeaux Conservatoire in France, while Jeffrey Whitfield will study the role of investment in developing countries with a Rotary World Peace Scholarship at the University of Bradford in England.

Anne Feldhaus, professor of religious studies, won a Guggenheim for a literary and religious studies project and biology professor Richard Satterlie won for a project in neurobiology.

ASU West

Dormitories to open at West in fall '03

The Arizona Board of Regents approved the formation of a public-private partnership to build a 400-bed student housing project. The state-of-the art residence facility, scheduled to open in August 2003, will generate an estimated $300,000 annually in revenue, to be earmarked for student development and academic support services.

In August 2001 freshmen were admitted for the first time, and the campus now enrolls a growing number of traditional college-age students who will be spending most of their time on campus pursuing an uninterrupted four-year university education.

Campus tops engagement survey of nearly 400 schools

West received the highest score among 394 U.S. colleges and universities surveyed to determine their level of "public engagement" -- a term that describes a new era of two-way partnerships between higher education institutions and the publics they serve.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities conducted the survey as part of a project designed to provide college leaders with strategies for increasing the level of public engagement at their institutions. West totaled 108 of a possible 110 points.

Global business program honored for excellence

A field study program that exposes students to living and working conditions in Nogales, Sonora, has earned the School of Management the 2002 Program Excellence Award from the North American Small Business International Trade Educators.

Each semester, students in the "Business in the Global Environment" course spend a day in Nogales, touring maquiladora factories and spending time in the homes of factory workers and their families. They conduct a market-basket survey at a local grocery store, to compare food prices with typical incomes in the area. They also receive an overview of economic, political and historical issues that characterize the Nogales border area.

"Most U.S. university business students have not had significant exposure to international business realities," said Gary Anders, professor of economics and director of the School of Management's Institute for International Management. "The response of our students has been overwhelmingly positive to this opportunity for first-hand exposure to topics such as NAFTA, globalization, foreign direct investment, inter-firm trade, outsourcing and competitive advantages."

ASU East

East campus graduates doctors

Steve Ball, Bridgette Wild and Cara Sidman are the first graduates of a joint doctoral program of the Exercise and Wellness program and the College of Education at ASU Main. Each has secured a job as an assistant professor.

The three were among the 260 graduates, and were honored at the East campus's sixth Spring Convocation.

Program prepares future teachers

A new, 13-month accelerated program in elementary education specifically for post-baccalaureate students has been introduced.

Designed for students who already hold bachelor's degrees in a major other than education, this accelerated program will provide future teachers with hands-on experience in the classroom and access to quality teaching practices.

"It provides the educational foundation and the core classes that teachers will need," said Bette Bergeron, head of the education faculty.

Scientists discuss managing habitats in West

Leading ecologists and environmental resource management officials from across the West met in May to discuss the best ways to assess impacts to riparian habitats, particularly in the Tonto National Forest.

The conference was the latest step in a review of the U.S. Forest Service's assessment of riparian, or streamside, habitats. The Forest Service is working with researchers from the University of Arizona and the Rocky Mountain Experiment Station to examine assessment efforts and make recommendations on how to improve them.

Riparian habitats can be altered by the effects of livestock grazing, mining, recreational off-road vehicle use and damming of streams. The workshop brought in scientists who have studied the topics extensively throughout the West.

ASU Extended Campus

Real Estate classes online

Seven real estate license renewal courses, approved by the Arizona Department of Real Estate for continuing education credit, are now being offered online.

"Real estate agents and brokers have to carefully manage their time to allow for client contact leading to higher productivity and commissions," said Regina Edwards, associate director of Academic and Professional Programs. "ASU is providing the classes they must have to retain their license status, but they can take the classes when and where they want, at times convenient to their busy schedules."

Edwards said the online real estate license renewal courses, each with a $25 tuition, are attracting students from across the state and as far away as Hawaii and Florida. Students can obtain course information, register, pay tuition and complete any of the seven courses completely online at www.asu.edu/xed/renewal.

Distance Learning Web gets new look

The ASUonline Web site has a new look and some powerful features making it a valuable resource for ASU faculty and students. Elizabeth Craft, Director of Distance Learning and Technology, said the facelift was based on feedback from users and is intended to better meet the needs of students and faculty.

One of the most interesting sections on the site is the faculty support area, with interactive tutorials for creating an online class, adding streaming audio and video and other techniques to enhance the learning experience for students and make it easier for faculty to integrate effective technology into their teaching.

Craft said the ASUonline Web site is becoming a popular gateway to knowledge for students and faculty, no matter where they are located in the world. The site is one of the first at ASU to fully comply with the international W3C Consortium standards and has improved navigation and styling as well as consistency in its language and protocols.

Earn 3 credits in 3 weeks

With more than 100 courses to choose from, students can satisfy their general studies, major and elective requirements through the three-week Winter Session. This year the Colleges of Business, Education, Herberger Fine Arts, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Public Programs and Graduate will be offering courses.

The session begins Dec. 30 and ends Jan. 17, 2003. Most courses are delivered on campus between 8:30-11:30 a.m. but a selection are offered in the evening or via the Web. Registration begins Oct. 1 and continues until noon Dec. 24 at the Academic and Professional Programs office at ASU Main's Ritter Building, Room B132. Students also can register by calling (480) 965-9797.

History freshman Ryan David, right, joins approximately 800 students Aug. 23 in continuing the tradition of whitewashing the A on Tempe Butte.

ASU freshmen James Dowhin, left, and James Mark sample food prepared at a Tempe restaurant during the Taste of Tempe event Aug. 21 in the Carson Ballroom of Old Main. An estimated 2,500 people enjoyed the fare served up by area businesses.

This illustration shows the new residence facility planned for ASU West.

Steve Ball, Bridgette Wild and Cara Sidman are the first to complete a doctoral program at the East campus.