The presidents of Arizona’s three public universities have highlighted concerns about the state’s approach to higher education funding, emphasizing that limited investment from Arizona poses a significant challenge. Speaking at the Greater Phoenix Chamber’s “The State of Higher Education” event, the leaders described efforts to expand access and serve communities despite financial constraints.
Arizona State University President Michael Crow said less than 9% of ASU’s total funding comes from the state. “The real situation we have in Arizona is that we haven’t decided how to fund higher education. There’s no model,” Crow said.
Crow explained that the universities have proposed a system modeled after successful programs in other states such as Georgia, where tuition support and capital project funding are provided by the state. “I wish we had a model, and we could argue about the effectiveness of that model as opposed to having no model and arguing about everything,” he said.
ASU has increased its annual Arizona resident enrollment by 20,000 students over two decades, with overall annual enrollment now exceeding 194,000 students. The university has also reached more than 1.2 million unique learners worldwide through offerings like Universal Learner Courses and career certifications.
Northern Arizona University President José Luis Cruz Rivera discussed NAU’s universal admissions policy, which accepts every applicant and offers guaranteed transfer for those who start at community colleges but do not meet initial requirements. Under its Access to Excellence program, tuition is waived for students from households earning $65,000 or less—a practice also seen in states such as California, Texas, and New York.
“I’ll be very frank here … that has not been enough to get our political bodies to decide that NAU is a great place to invest in,” Cruz Rivera said. He noted that recent legislative discussions may force NAU to reduce its share of in-state students in favor of out-of-state and international recruitment due to budget needs. “And I’ve been told by some of our elected officials that, ‘Maybe that’s what you need to do.’”
Cruz Rivera stressed the need for universities to train workers needed within Arizona: “We live in a state that needs a significant number of nurses, a huge surge of physicians, physician assistants, of engineers.” He pointed out that two-thirds of new jobs being created require postsecondary degrees.
Looking for alternative revenue streams is necessary according to Cruz Rivera: “The only option that we have is to reinvent ourselves and look for new revenue streams… I’m from the university, but I’ve got to start thinking more like a private equity person to advance the mission.”
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella reported his institution produces 300 physicians annually: “With a little bit more state support, we could double that. That’s the place to invest.” Garimella emphasized focusing on space sciences, health sciences, mining and minerals research as areas where UArizona can benefit Arizona most: “We are a massive research organization… And we’re going to do more of that for the benefit of Arizona.”
Responding to federal oversight pressures was another theme at the event. Crow cited feedback from U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy regarding America’s health care spending compared with outcomes: “Here’s what he’s saying: America spends more than any other country in the world on health care. We’re not in the top 25 in outcomes. What are we going to do about that problem? OK, let’s roll. (ASU) is mounting initiative after initiative… into a new system.”
Both Garimella and Crow called on business leaders for stronger advocacy similar to their role during passage of national legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act (https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/08/09/fact-sheet-chips-and-science-act-will-lower-costs-create-jobs-strengthen-supply-chains-and-counter-china/)—noting faculty alone were less effective than CEOs lobbying together.
Crow concluded by stressing collaboration across sectors will be necessary if Arizona wants better educational attainment rates among high school graduates—a goal he described as attainable given economic growth similar in scale with nations abroad.
“If you don’t have any goals and you don’t have any targets,” Crow said,”no one is accountable for anything on a large enough scale to make a difference.”
