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I suspect if you ask Michael Crow the whole purpose of
ASU is to give him an empire to rule. Educating Arizona kids?
That ain't got thing to do with it. It's about empire building and power.
If ASU wants to open out of state branches let them be paid for by the private sector, not with tax dollars. ASU sets sights on presence in California President predicts expansion into LA by Luci Scott - Mar. 18, 2012 09:58 PM The Republic | azcentral.com Arizona State University could establish a physical presence in metro Los Angeles this year, ASU President Michael Crow says. A lease hasn't been signed, but if ASU finds the right deal on a building, the university would offer classes and would house entrepreneurs in residence as well as technology-transfer workers and student recruiters. "We'll open an office in Santa Monica soon," he predicted. Crow spoke Thursday to members of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon at the Four Points by Sheraton Tempe. He declined to elaborate further about the presence in the Los Angeles area. ASU is exploring ways to expand its global presence. Crow mentioned that negotiations are under way for a project in the United Arab Emirates, although he did not elaborate. Since 2003, ASU has operated a business school that has 220 students in Shanghai, China. In Arizona, the university plans to locate its newest W.P. Carey Evening MBA and Custom Corporate MBA programs at a large executive office park to be built at Chandler Boulevard and Loop 101. ASU has a partnership with Dublin City University in Ireland to coordinate research involving the Global Grid for Learning, which will let teachers access thousands of digital-learning resources. It's no longer rare for colleges to expand beyond their home states. Massachusetts-based Babson College opened a location in San Francisco in 2010 to offer MBAs. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania also has a presence in San Francisco. Philadelphia-based Drexel University expanded some graduate programs into Sacramento in 2009. "Most established universities are looking to broaden their visibility and brand," said David Stewart, senior director of graduate programs for Drexel's LeBow College of Business in Sacramento. "The older they are, they tend to wish to branch out to larger markets. A lot of great institutions tend to branch out sometimes within the country, but a lot also make partnerships with institutions around the globe." The trend in expansion has been happening for two decades, he said. LeBow in Sacramento offers an MBA, a master's in finance, a master's in public health and graduate classes in education. "Ultimately, competition in general makes everyone stronger ... and competition by some schools entering other schools' regions makes everyone's institution and the industry stronger," Stewart said. "The strongest institutions can expand wherever they like." Erik Fallis, spokesman for the California State University system, said he's not aware of any state organization that would need to approve ASU's move. But he added that the ASU programs would likely need to be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The commission did not immediately return a phone call. If ASU pursues its expansion into California, it doesn't need the approval of the Arizona Board of Regents if it meets certain criteria having to do with the duration of the lease and annual rental cost. |