2018 Annual Report

DELIVERING RESULTS

Today, Arizona’s public universities are positioned for long-term sustainability and competitiveness. At a time when colleges in other states are experiencing shrinking enrollment, Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona are healthy and growing – delivering results. By virtually every measure, these institutions of higher learning are improving. Graduation rates are up. So is student success and preparedness. Diversity of Arizona-based freshmen continues to rise and set records.

This year also reflected the board’s multi-year effort to slow tuition increases and improve predictability for students and families. Since 2008, full-time equivalent student educational revenues and expenditures are increasing at less than the rate of inflation. Apart from driving down tuition increases, costs have been trimmed and stabilized. Today, the universities rank among the most cost-effective. That hard work means students have lower than average debt, and nearly half graduate with no debt at all. In fact, Arizona is ranked fourth nationally among low-debt states. High-quality degrees are competitively priced, and cost per student at Arizona’s public universities is nearly 30 percent less than at peer institutions.

The positive impact of public higher education in Arizona is greater than ever before. While the board and universities are on the right track, there is more work to do, including further reforms to tuition and fees, defining new degree options, strengthening oversight of university real estate development and more. On behalf of Arizona, the board continues to work diligently to expand access to Arizona’s world-class public university system and high-quality degrees – delivering results for students, the state and the world.

ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE

$1.2 B

IN TOTAL
RESEARCH EXPENDITURES

7,546

COMMUNITY COLLEGE
TO BACHELOR’S DEGREES

82.6%

FRESHMEN
RETENTION

205

LICENSES
AND OPTIONS

11,173

GRADUATE DEGREES
AWARDED

61.9%

SIX-YEAR
GRADUATION RATE

29,298

BACHELOR’S DEGREES
AWARDED

16,814

DEGREES IN
HIGH-DEMAND FIELDS

145,457

UNDERGRADUATE
ENROLLMENT

179,102

TOTAL
ENROLLMENT

584

INVENTION
DISCLOSURES

33,645

GRADUATE
ENROLLMENT

GOAL 1 – EDUCATE

GOAL 2 – ACHIEVE

GOAL 3 – DISCOVER

GOAL 4 – IMPACT

* Most recent data available

RESPONDING TO ARIZONA’S NEEDS

Arizona’s public university system focuses squarely on the success of resident students through an innovative funding model and impacts the state through initiatives such as the Arizona Teachers Academy, created after Gov. Doug Ducey called on the board and universities to formulate a plan to bring more teachers to the state’s classrooms. Coupled with efforts such as Achieve60AZ to raise educational attainment in Arizona and focused on maintaining the highest standards of quality in general education, the enterprise is responding to Arizona’s needs – leading to a better tomorrow filled with opportunities for learning, discovery, exploration and economic development in Arizona.

COST STUDY DEMONSTRATES EFFICIENCY

May 18, 2018

DEMONSTRATING QUALITY

April 3, 2018

ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

March 22, 2018

INVESTING IN ARIZONA’S STUDENTS

March 22, 2018

UNIVERSITY CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND PROGRESS

March 22, 2018

ARIZONA TEACHERS ACADEMY

March 22, 2018

ACCESS

Expanding access to Arizona’s public universities is a key element of the Arizona Board of Regents’ strategic plan to ensure a quality public university education is available to all qualified students. In fiscal year 2017-18, the board and universities continued their commitment to minimal tuition increases to provide predictability for educational costs while retaining strong financial aid strategies that help keep student debt lower in Arizona. Coupled with pathways programs from community colleges to Arizona’s public universities, students benefit from these strategies designed to ensure their success.

COLLEGE READINESS

May 18, 2018

TUITION AFFORDABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY

April 25, 2018

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS

April 25, 2018

WICHE

April 25, 2018

FINANCIAL AID REPORT INDICATES LOWER DEBT, INCREASED ACCESS

April 25, 2018

ADVANCING INNOVATION AND IMPACT

The board is accelerating Arizona’s economic development through a public university system that is foundational to the state, creating the workforce of tomorrow, producing jobs and discovering new technologies through innovative research endeavors. Economic impact realized through Arizona’s public universities generates billions of dollars and thousands of jobs in Arizona each year, benefiting students and advancing the state.

TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH INITIATIVE FUND

May 17, 2018

ENVISIONING A BOLD FUTURE

May 17, 2018

EXCELLENCE IN RANKINGS

May 17, 2018

GRADUATE EARNINGS

May 17, 2018

RESEARCH IMPACT

May 17, 2018

MAJOR ECONOMIC FORCE

April 25, 2018

PRODUCTIVITY

With more students earning degrees in Arizona, productivity is demonstrated through measures such as graduation rates and workforce development. Enrollment is at an all-time high at Arizona public universities, reflecting the universities’ excellence and affordability. With the board as fiduciary, the enterprise benefits from a reform agenda that includes development of the University Property Oversight Subcommittee, a focus on student fee reforms and a general education review series. Arizona’s public universities are also among the most efficient among institutions, spending significantly less than all four-year public research universities.

STUDENT SUCCESS FOCUS OF AUDIT

June 11, 2018

TUITION AND FEE REFORMS

May 18, 2018

STRENGTHENING UNIVERSITY PROPERTY OVERSIGHT

May 18, 2018

INCREASING TRANSPARENCY THROUGH OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL REVIEWS

May 18, 2018

COLLEGE GOING AND COMPLETION – AN ENCOURAGING TREND

May 18, 2018

RISING GRADUATION RATES

May 18, 2018

AUDITOR GENERAL EXAMINES STUDENT FEES

May 17, 2018

ENROLLMENT GROWTH

May 17, 2018

DEGREES AWARDED

May 17, 2018

ENGAGEMENT

The board is building awareness, support and community advocacy for higher education and Arizona’s public universities. Through keynote speeches, panel discussions and remarks at community events, regents and staff share news and updates along with the challenges and opportunities that are present throughout the system. The board and universities are committed to serving communities through initiatives that build partnerships focused on boosting Arizona’s economy and competiveness while supporting the creation of new business startups driven by university research and technology transfer.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF STUDENT REGENTS

June 11, 2018

IN THE COMMUNITY

May 22, 2018

SHARING BOARD AND UNIVERSITY NEWS

May 22, 2018

FAST FACTS

27.7%

ARIZONA ADULTS WITH
BACHELOR’S DEGREES

10,835

ARIZONA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE TRANSFERS

28,452

ONLINE
ENROLLMENT

4,662

ONLINE
DEGREES

44.7%

COST OF ATTENDANCE AS PERCENT
OF ARIZONA MEDIAN INCOME

$527 M

FEDERALLY FINANCED
RESEARCH EXPENDITURES

$29 M

INDUSTRY FINANCED
RESEARCH EXPENDITURES

33

STARTUP
COMPANIES

$707.5 M

TOTAL INSTITUTIONAL AID
FOR STUDENTS

36,084

TOTAL
EMPLOYEES

46.7

MILLION SQUARE
FEET

$5.2 B

FY 2018
BUDGET

* Most recent data available

WHO WE ARE

The Arizona Board of Regents is comprised of 12 regents. Eight volunteer members are appointed by the governor to staggered eight-year terms. Two students serve on the board for two-year appointments, with the first year as a non-voting apprentice year. The governor and superintendent of public instruction serve as ex-officio members with full voting rights.

The executive leadership team is comprised of the board’s president and the three university presidents.