Michael Crow’s “New American University” Experiment After 20 Years

Arizona State University has had a reputation as a party school for decades; however, over the last decade, ASU has transitioned into a highly respected educational institution.

The university president, Michael Crow, has made immense strides toward what he called a "new American university," but some disagree with how the organization's president has approached ASU’s transformation.

According to U.S. News and World Report, ASU has ranked number one in innovation for the last eight years and top 30 in law as of 2022. Prep Scholar, another ranking site, ranked ASU's journalism program as the top seven and their honors college as number one in the nation.

Despite these highly accredited schools, ASU is not a top 100 university, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Tara Williams, the newly named dean at the Barrett Honors College and expert in higher education, said, "It is really hard to change your reputation. It takes other people a long time to catch up to the work that has been done. ASU has continued to have innovative faculty, innovative research, and they have graduates who earn prestigious scholarships. ASU must continue to pile up the evidence. "

According to the State Press, when Crow took the role of president in 2002, the school had been named America's number-one party school by Playboy Magazine.

Furthermore, the American College and Health Association found increased risky behavior among intoxicated students at the university.

Worst of all, the vice president of the associated student, Brian Buck, was featured in a porno at a university frat house, in 2002.

Tuesday Mahrle, an ASU graduate of 2009 and adjunct professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, said, “While I don’t know details, I know within Crow’s first five-year plan was the goal to combat that party school stigma.”

President Crow’s goal to destigmatize ASU as a party school would show success in the early 2010s.

2011 would mark the last year ASU would rank among the top party schools within the Princeton Review.

Between 2012-2014 ASU demolished the university's Greek row and banned several Greek organizations for hazing, ending the party-school stigma, according to the State Press.

Mahrle said, "I attribute that change, and the direction of the university, single-handedly to President Crow."

ASU's staff and leadership have accredited Crow with developing an innovative university; however, not all members of the organization agree with the school's direction.

Craig Allen, a professor at ASU for 32 years, said ASU's marketed improvements are overblown, and Allen criticized ASU's marketing as a “scheme" to attract more students.

Allen said, "ASU constantly promotes its number one ranking. It may be number one in innovation, but they are weak in many other areas; ASU's overall ranking is not a top 100 university."

Allen developed these criticisms from the evidence of other top universities containing a traditional campus and the belief that ASU has a misguided emphasis on public relations and marketing.

Allen is primarily upset by ASU's promotion as a top university while lacking a traditional campus life or top 100 ranking.

According to U.S. News and World Report, despite not possessing a traditional Greek row or campus life, ASU still ranked top 10 for first-year student experience.

Mahrle, a student at ASU from 2005-2009, believes that campus life does not play a role in education as a student. Instead, traditional campus life is best for transitioning into adult life and learning life lessons.

Williams said, "I do think it is essential for any university to have a vibrant community. However, as far as campus life, that community can be tailored to your student base."

Both Mahrle and Williams commended ASU for its inclusion in education. Mahrle highlighted ASU's focus on the inclusion of admissions, while Williams highlighted the innovative expansions of higher education.

ASU has designed innovative systems such as online education and honors access, and as outlined by Crow, has designed an education system that delivers the same education regardless of platform.

Mahrle said that the innovative education system has created opportunities for anyone, even a “45-year-old single mother,” to get their degree.

When discussing innovative education, Mahrle described ASU's online science programs. The program is equipped with virtual reality laboratories and animal cadavers shipped to the student's door. Mahrle

attributes the innovation of ASU to the organization's ability to fail and quickly pivot under Crow's leadership.

Williams said, "To me, innovation is about always being open to the possibilities of something new or an improvement we can make. To me, innovation is an experimental mindset."

This experimental mindset is something that ASU's leadership and staff have both highlighted as a key in ASU's transition and is a consistent message spread across the faculty.

Barrett requires each student to research an honors thesis over one year before defending it in front of a chosen board of educators. The student is provided a faculty honors advisor to both provide information and guidance through the thesis process.

The thesis process is a significant reason that, according to ASU, the university is ranked ahead of Brown, Princeton, and the University of Chicago for research, despite four-time higher acceptance rates than those schools combined.

Mahrle attributes this combination to ASU moving away from the prestigious university method.

According to U.S. News and World Report, Arizona State currently has an admission rate of 88.4%, 20%

higher than the national average.

Furthermore, Arizona State is home to over 70,000 in-person and nearly 60,000 online students, utilizing a curriculum that emphasizes equal education across platforms.

The honors college is competitive, but the honors college is also inclusive. Barrett is one of two honors colleges to expand admissions to over 5,000 students across four campuses and online.

Mahrle said, "Historically prestigious universities have more applications than they can accept, and GPAs are off the charts. President Crow is moving away from that. Instead of making it seem so outside of reach, they are breaking down barriers."