Access and outreach Change the future with
Change the future with access and outreach
At Arizona State University, we champion student success from early childhood to college and beyond.
Driven by our charter, we believe it is our responsibility to leverage all ASU has to offer for tomorrow’s students, leaders and innovators. That’s why ASU’s Educational Outreach and Student Services leads proactive access and outreach efforts in the communities we serve. By removing barriers to education, we help individuals to seize opportunity and ensure that our local workforce can thrive.
Through Changing Futures®, we will scale our outreach efforts and create access to education for more students than ever before.
ASU is dedicated to increasing access to higher education and preparing Arizona students for success through family engagement, strategic K-12 education and community partnerships.
Reaching out to the communities we serve in pursuit of education
The path to academic success begins long before college and extends well beyond graduation.
“What we’re seeing in these programs is they bring students to the university, but they also lead to student retention,” says Sharon Smith, vice president of education outreach partnerships. “They have become part of the full picture of how we are supporting these students at ASU.”
In recognition of the long, complex journey toward college attainment, our educational outreach programs connect with students and their families holistically, removing barriers and helping them define their own journeys to college and the workforce.
This work begins as early as possible, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school completion. Through partnerships with local school districts and rural and Indigenous communities, EOSS is revolutionizing personalized college preparation and access.
ASU strategically partners with several school districts in the Phoenix metropolitan area to increase the number of students prepared to enroll and succeed at the university.
Achieving academic success is a family effort
Just as every student comes to ASU with ambitious goals and plans for the future, every family plays a critical role in making those dreams a reality. Unfortunately, many families do not have access to the information, resources and social capital networks that enable college success.
At ASU, we recognize that student success is a family effort. Our access and outreach programs are purposeful about engaging parents and family support networks on the pathway to enrollment and graduation.
Family engagement programs like ASU Family connect Sun Devil families with resources, other families and opportunities to build community around their students before and during college. Families and schools can also use our WeGrad programming to learn how to better support college-bound students. Since its inception, WeGrad has delivered its programs to more than 100,000 students and families across Arizona—including many young people who were the first in their families to attend college.
Dwayne Martin Gomez is an ASU Prep and ASU alum. As the oldest of three siblings, Dwayne is the first in their family to graduate high school, be the valedictorian, and earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Dwayne changed the generational trajectory for their family having their siblings also pursue postsecondary education and currently is a Special Education teacher at ASU Preparatory Academy Phoenix.
ASU Prep offers a variety of models, ranging from fully immersive in-person learning to full-time digital programs.
Preparing young minds for college and beyond
ASU Preparatory Academy is reimagining education by creating personalized college pathways that begin in kindergarten and extend through high school. With a network of campuses across Arizona and a global digital presence, ASU Prep serves over 3,300 students locally and more than 42,000 learners worldwide. Our mission is to ensure every student sees themselves as a future college graduate from day one.
At ASU Prep, students are not just preparing for college—they’re experiencing it. Through our innovative programs, high school students can earn up to 48 ASU college credits, with a brand promise of at least 12 credits by graduation. This is achieved through concurrent enrollment in over 200 ASU courses, available both online and in-person, allowing students to explore their interests and accelerate their academic journey.
Our commitment to educational innovation is exemplified by initiatives like the Khan World School @ ASU Prep, which offers a mastery-based, student-driven learning experience; ASU Prep Tempe powered by The Levitt Lab, launching in Fall 2025, which combines hybrid learning with real-world problem-solving; and the Microschool Entrepreneur Fellowship, empowering educators and entrepreneurs to create customized K–12 microschools nationwide.
“ASU Prep is committed to transforming education by providing flexible, personalized learning experiences that prepare students for success in college and beyond,” says Amy McGrath, vice president of EOSS and managing director of ASU Prep. “Our innovative models are designed to meet the diverse needs of learners globally.”
By fostering an environment where students can earn college credits early, explore diverse learning models, and receive personalized support, ASU Prep is not only preparing students for college but also shaping the future of education.
The road to education can be long and challenging — but it always pays off.
Join us as we open doors to brighter futures everywhere. Your support for access and outreach will create opportunities for students, their families and the communities we serve.
Change futures by supporting
Transform global education
ASU Prep is transforming the educational landscape with flexible, personalized pathways that begin in kindergarten and lead to college success. Our innovative learning environments, including masterybased programs, hybrid campuses, and concurrent college enrollment, give students real opportunities to earn ASU credit and explore their academic passions early.
Empower community resilience
The ASU Family program has expanded to increase family engagement and participation. Key initiatives include integrating program officers into academic units, offering regional in-person programming, and expanding K-12 engagement through Access ASU and ASU Prep. Additional funding is needed for staffing, program expansion, and multilingual content, particularly in Spanish, to better support families and students.
Access and outreach
Build the future of health Advance technology for good
Our health and wellness initiatives for families of K-12 and ASU students will equip parents with tools to support their children’s emotional, social and academic development. Tailored, evidence-based training, community forums and a scalable framework address common concerns including mental health, friendships and substance abuse. By fostering parental engagement, it will improve the transition from K-12 to college and build lasting family affinity with ASU.
STEM Math Momentum, a partnership between ASU Prep and the Arizona Department of Education, aims to address math teacher shortages, build teaching capacity and enhance students’ math and digital literacy skills. With the integration of ASU’s Digit technology in eighth grade Algebra 1, the program has served more than 6,000 students. Additional funding would allow us to expand the program to more students and schools across the country.
Change futures by supporting
Inspire tomorrow’s game changers
The Arizona Pipeline Building K-12 initiative will enhance career exploration and college readiness through summer camps, hands-on experiences, technology platforms and VR tools. Educator training, Tribal school resources, parent engagement, employer pipeline development and tailored curricula for K-12 students will foster early exposure to high-demand careers.
High school experiential learning opportunities offer robust, scalable pathways for career readiness through paid high school internships, hands-on learning and innovative frameworks like Career Academies. It integrates job shadowing, site visits, summer camps, augmented intelligence/virtual reality technology and career planning tools to bring together schools, businesses and communities to build a future-ready workforce.
Networking and mentorship provide critical guidance and industry connections for students and alumni. This includes building alumni-industry networks, flash mentoring and initiatives to help first-generation students grow social capital. Future plans include efforts to connect K-12 students with alumni and industry partners to enhance early career exposure and engagement.
College Attainment Initiative P-20 (Leadership Programs) supports Arizona’s aim to raise its college attainment rate from 54.4% to 60% by 2030. ASU is committed to this goal through a multi-pronged approach that includes family engagement, community mentorship, internships, campus visits, professional degree awareness and leadership programs. These efforts enhance college access, readiness and success while providing opportunities for growth for all students through programs including SPIRIT, RISE Leadership Institute, First Star Academy and the decades-long work of our César E. Chávez Leadership Institute.
Access and outreach
About us
Educational Outreach and Student Services champions student success from kindergarten through college. We help the ASU student community achieve their personal, academic and professional goals by providing support services, involvement opportunities and a rich Sun Devil experience. Access ASU and ASU Preparatory Academies serve as catalysts for change, transforming Arizona’s college-going culture by empowering students to invest in their future and attain a university degree.
ASU Charter
ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.