Investment in Enrollment Growth
ASU’s freshman class for the fall 2007 semester contains 9,274 students; a 2.5% increase from fall 2006 class, a 36% increase since 2002 and a 76% increase since 1997. ASU is seeking an increased investment of $13.1 million in enrollment growth from the legislature for additional faculty and staff positions in order to meet the demands resulting from student enrollment increases and maintain academic quality.

Investment in Enrollment Growth Infrastructure
ASU requests an annual $6 million state appropriation to fund the annual debt service payment on $75-$80 million financing that will construct new facilities and upgrade campus infrastructure. New facilities are needed to support new enrollment and faculty recruited to support the continuing student growth across the campuses. The current enrollment growth funding formula does not include any factors to cover the costs of these facilities.

Investment in Student Success
ASU requests a $15 million state appropriation for investment in student success. Funds would enable continued qualitative improvement in undergraduate learning to produce the highly educated workforce needed to fuel a high tech economy. The request supports increasing freshman retention, enhancing curricular quality, promoting a learner centered agenda and improving graduation rates. Funding would: 1) improve availability and quality of freshman courses in all critical areas, 2) enhance advising, 3) expand and improve major course offerings, 4) improve the quality and number of technology delivered courses and programs, 5) make graduate teaching assistant/associate stipends in selected disciplines more competitive with peer institutions.

Mathematics & Science Teacher Initiative (STEM)
ASU requests a $2 million base appropriation to support the Mathematics and Science Teacher Initiative known as STEM. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Education Initiative will recruit, teach and retain teachers in STEM content areas, with a special focus on middle and secondary schools.