Why only three public four-year universities in Arizona? (Phoenix: high school, education)

[Greatday]

Why are there only 3 Public Universities?

Because, that is enough.

ASU and UofA are LARGE schools - and growing. These 3 can handle the enrollment.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Who cares? Whether the schools are organized under one or many banners, there are plenty of seats available for graduating seniors and every major field of study that is offered anywhere else. Fewer but larger universities means we don't have to pay the overhead of more college presidents and staff.

Question -

New and/or returning students have no trouble getting the classes they want or need at AZ universities and community colleges?

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by Gandalara

Question -

New and/or returning students have no trouble getting the classes they want or need at AZ universities and community colleges?

The problem isn't space, it's lack of incoming students. The colleges have always been able to open another section if a class fills up.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by shiphead

The problem isn't space, it's lack of incoming students. The colleges have always been able to open another section if a class fills up.

Well, not always, it depends on the class. I don't hear that this is a significant problem at ASU, anyway. Don't know about the others.

[CodyW]

Originally Posted by observer53

Well, not always, it depends on the class. I don't hear that this is a significant problem at ASU, anyway. Don't know about the others.

It was a problem at NAU. Too few sections, and no, they don't always just "add one."

[buckeyenative01]

Yeah, that's definitely an NAU problem. It can sometimes take several semesters for a class to pop up that's needed to fill a core requirement, or at least, that always seems to be the problem in the CJ department (I'm a CJ grad and several friends teach in that department...)

[pokuku]

The Arizona state university system is flawed. With only 3 state schools, Arizona has the second least number of schools...only Delaware has less with two, and they have less than 1 million people total.

One solution would be to spin off independent FULL campuses (not the tiny satellite campuses we see NAU dropping everywhere) as the majority has done, under the umbrella of a certain school. For example, you could easily see "Arizona State University at Prescott" (or maybe NAU would want this), ASU West reformed as "Arizona State University at Glendale" and not just an extension, but a fully contained university. ASU Poly should be spun off as well, perhaps renamed entirely to something unique and inspirational.

There is simply too much consolidation under the three umbrellas. Lack of diversity means lack of creative educational differences, which means less exceptional students being produced. Once size fits all never works (i.e. China's lack of creativity)...so create more diversity. Arizonans generally believe that the bigger a governmental organization gets, the less effective it is. Somehow, they overlooked state universities.

[CodyW]

Originally Posted by buckeyenative01

Yeah, that's definitely an NAU problem. It can sometimes take several semesters for a class to pop up that's needed to fill a core requirement, or at least, that always seems to be the problem in the CJ department (I'm a CJ grad and several friends teach in that department...)

Yeah. GPR (Geography, Planning & Recreation) liked to pull that stuff. Certain core classes for my major were only offered once every two years. I had a few of them fill up. It was terrifying and could have potentially thrown my graduation date out of whack. Thankfully the advisers usually realized how bad this practice was and did everything they could to get us overrides into classes.

[MobilePro]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Why are there only 3 Public Universities?

Because, that is enough.

ASU and UofA are LARGE schools - and growing. These 3 can handle the enrollment.

Are these two commuter schools?

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by pokuku

The Arizona state university system is flawed. With only 3 state schools, Arizona has the second least number of schools...only Delaware has less with two, and they have less than 1 million people total.

Somehow, they overlooked state universities.

Do you live in Arizona? Have you ever visited the east side of the state? It's all reservation and public park lands. What would be the purpose of installing a multi-million dollar establishment in somewhere like Show Low with a huge population of retirees? Where are all these kids going to go for work? One of the many fast food joints? Maybe Joe's Garage A, B, C x 10,000. There are enough restaurants, mechanic shops, banks, and grocery stores between Pinetop and Show Low. They need business income. Real businesses moving in without government contract. Let's show population by surrounding towns, close enough to drive to a university in Show Low.


Show Low:
Population in 2011: 10,674
Median resident age: 42.4 years

Springerville
Population in 2011: 1,965
Median resident age: 35.7 years

St Johns
Population in 2011: 3,486
Median resident age: 35.6 years

Heber/Overguaaard
Population in 2010: 2,822
Median resident age: 53.1 years

Snowflake
Population in 2011: 5,598
Median resident age: 30.4 years

How exactly is a university going to serve these communities? What would draw kids to come to the white mountains with a bleak job outlook in that area?

This doesn't even point out the problem with the state water problem. But that is for another thread.

Lastly I point you to an article from the guardian out of the UK.

What's the point of university? | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk