ASU West gains 3 new schools focused on workforce needs, could triple in students

Michael Crow, Sintra Hoffman and Rick Dircks
·4 min read
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A group of first-year ASU students sits on a bench at the West ASU Campus in Glendale on Feb. 22, 2023.
A group of first-year ASU students sits on a bench at the West ASU Campus in Glendale on Feb. 22, 2023.

It has been nearly 40 years since the creation of ASU West in west Phoenix, bordering the city of Glendale.

The Valley was a very different place then – much of the land west of the Interstate17 was agricultural and sparsely populated.

In the decades that followed, the West Valley grew from 700,000 to 1.8 million residents.

Today, it bears little resemblance to the area when ASU West first opened its doors, and as those who live and work nearby will tell you, the momentum is building.

ASU West will get new resources, vision

Arizona State University has had its own transformation during that span.

Now a top-tier research university, ASU has distinguished itself nationally as a New American University, one guided by a charter that promises an institution to be measured by accessibility, inclusion, student success, research of public value and as a resource for the communities it serves.

This shared history brings us to a moment where ASU’s commitment to the citizens and communities of the West Valley requires a new level of engagement, resources and vision.

That is exactly what ASU will be doing, starting immediately, working closely with the people who are driving change and advancement of all kinds in cities across the western part of Maricopa County.

3 new schools will be created on campus

This week, ASU is establishing three new schools – all best in class nationally, two in top-ranked research colleges that are also the largest in the country, the W.P. Carey School of Business and the Ira Fulton Schools of Engineering:

  • The School of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in the W.P. Carey School of Business. The school will provide an academic home for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship to expand access to entrepreneurial-based programs, including unique continuing and executive education programs. The school will pursue cutting-edge research and engage West Valley corporations and community organizations.

  • The School of Interdisciplinary Forensics, in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. The school will be best in class in the nation, bringing the seven forensic programs in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences under one school. The school will focus on the diverse sciences underpinning forensics and its myriad of applications across traditional and nontraditional disciplines, including criminal, psychology, engineering, nursing, law, accounting, anthropology, biology and the environment.

  • The School of Integrated Engineering, in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, West Campus. This new interdisciplinary school will provide crucial opportunities in engineering and technology for students in the West Valley. The key will be working closely with other units to offer flexible STEM degree programs that integrate an engineering mindset and fundamental engineering principles and skills with specialized coursework in other disciplines.

The result? Graduates who will develop innovative solutions to the most demanding, modern problems facing our society.

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It will house the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science, a flexible, multidisciplinary degree that integrates a broad foundation in math, science and engineering across traditional disciplines with a specialization in a chosen engineering concentration.

Graduates will be prepared for careers in engineering or science, as well as business professions that interact with technical specialists.

Expect new learning space, a residence hall

The three schools will launch in the fall.

And the physical campus will expand as well, beginning with a new four-story, 55,000-square-foot building with new student gallery space, computer labs, drawing labs, faculty offices and future growth spaces for the ASU West campus.

Programming is in alignment to develop a workforce in the West Valley’s targeted industries.

In addition, ASU will construct a new 134,264-square-foot, 500-bed residence hall on the West campus to accommodate growth in enrollment.

As the West Valley’s continued growth attracts advanced business services, manufacturing and technology-based companies, ASU’s expansion will directly contribute to the success of learners of all ages in the region and to businesses.

ASU West enrollment will grow to 15,000

ASU West already is home to 19 colleges, schools and departments that offer more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

On-campus enrollment today is about 5,000 students; ASU plans to triple that to 15,000.

Additionally, ASU Prep Local, Herberger Young Scholars Academy and campus-based youth programs help prepare K-12 learners in the West Valley.

What we have accomplished together formed a strong foundation.

Now, we are called upon to do even more. Because, as communities across the West Valley already know, we’re just getting started.Michael M. Crow is president of Arizona State University. Sintra Hoffman is president and CEO of WESTMARC. Rick Dircks is executive vice president of Dircks Moving and Logistics. Reach them at michael.crow@asu.edu, shoffman@westmarc.org and rdircks@dircks.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU West gains 3 new schools, could triple in students