ASU Changing Futures®: University Case Statement

This is our

Moment

The time to change the future is now There’s no better place to start than right here

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

(Front cover) A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is launched at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission is led by principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton of ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration and ASU’s Interplanetary Initiative.

In this crucial decade, society finds itself at a crossroads. Arizona State University is preparing to lead a new path forward.

Arizona State University

1

In the last ten years alone, ASU has increased its enrollment by 90% and now ranks as a top public university for student outcomes, including retention and graduation rates.

2

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Two decades ago, Arizona State University set out to change higher education and build the New American University Our goal was to renew the public purpose of higher education for communities in Arizona and across the globe.

Where other universities were built around exclusivity and the traditions of the past, we set our sights on inclusion and the needs of today.

We believe that education is for everyone — and that every person, everywhere, should have transformational opportunities to learn, grow and thrive.

We believe that our boldest ideas for tomorrow don’t have to be dreams — they can be solutions that we build, scale and share.

We believe that every challenge we face today is an invitation to do things differently and imagine the world anew.

Our vision for the New American University transformed ASU into one of the largest, most impactful universities anywhere on the planet, but we’re just getting started.

We didn’t create a New American University to change ASU, Arizona or even higher education. We built it to change the world.

Together with you, we will.

Arizona State University

3

A New American University:

Impact in action

Billions of dollars in economic output establishing ASU as an academic and economic force for good in Arizona and beyond.

$904 million total research expenditures in FY23 making us one of the fastestgrowing American research enterprises in the United States and placing us at the forefront of new, groundbreaking knowledge and solutions.

4

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

After more than 20 years of evolution, this New American University is positioned to take on global challenges.

We built an institution that is agile, innovative, adaptive, technologically driven and AI-empowered. We couldn’t have done these things in the past. We’re ready to do that now.

— Michael M. Crow President, Arizona State University

42% of 2024 first-year learners are firstgeneration college students.

32,000 graduates in 2024 nearly triple our classes from two decades ago, reflecting our commitment to making college attainable on a greater scale.

More than half of first-year students identify as minorities.

183,000+ students reached outside the United States through the power of our best-in-class online education programs and our partnerships the world over.

17,700+ international students representing more than 180 countries.

More than 700,000 Sun Devil alumni are making a difference all around the world.

Arizona State University

5

Tackling wicked problems As society faces some of the most complicated issues in recorded history, we cannot be bystanders.

We can’t let the planet that sustains our lives and economies become an unlivable place. We can’t let democracy — in America or abroad — wither away. We can’t make health a privilege or let vulnerable communities fall behind. We can’t miss out on the revolutionary, world-changing power of technology. We can’t discount the potential of the next generation to lead, inspire or build something great. We can’t forget that through education, every person has the potential to change our shared future for the better.

Arizona State University is deeply committed — and uniquely equipped — to make a difference.

With a powerful community of visionaries, leaders and advocates standing alongside us, we’re ready to step up and make the change our world needs so urgently.

Together, we must go where we’re needed and do what we can. We must connect people across the world. We must ask better questions and find smarter answers. We must be willing to take initiative, act boldly and leave our mark.

This is the moment to stand up for the world we want and create the society we want to live in.

This is our moment to change the future.

6

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Aboard the R/V Atlantic Explorer, researchers with ASU and the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences explore the ocean and address critical local and global environmental issues.

Arizona State University

7

8

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Taking bold action Changing Futures is ASU’s campaign to shape a future that doesn’t yet exist, but must — a thriving world of opportunity, sustainability and transformational possibilities for people and communities everywhere.

Where others see grand challenges, we see great opportunities to make the future different and the world a better place. Through Changing Futures®, we will bring together people, resources, ideas and solutions like never before, focusing on six key impact areas that will change the world for the better.

Arizona State University

9

Transform global education Together, we can fundamentally change how education is delivered, creating a world where no one is excluded from opportunity as we reach learners in Arizona and across the globe.

As a New American University, we have committed to a rigorous, high-quality educational model of abundance.

This commitment calls for innovative teaching and new delivery methods.

Today’s educators have been limited by educational models that have not evolved alongside the world we live in.

Our systems fail too many students who need more than a textbook to inspire them.

We have the tools to do better. As the largest learning technology center in the world, we have partnered with hundreds of companies to find more ways to teach and connect with students, both in Arizona and around the world.

We’ve created a state-of-the-art virtual biology class that breaks down barriers to STEM degrees. We’ve developed innovative approaches that can adapt to educational needs around the world. We’ve made online offerings available to students everywhere. We’ve scaled up our Learning Enterprise’s critical work to broaden access and serve learners at all stages of life.

In these ways and more, we are the future of education.

And we’re ready to transform the future of learning, the future of working and the future of the world we live in.

10

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

ASU serves learners at every stage in life, from K–12 to career development and beyond. We’re evolving the American research university model, providing learning to everyone with accessible digital learning tools and resources for all ages.

Arizona State University

11

The educational experience at ASU is an immersion in a living-learning academic enterprise.

12

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

We’re in service to all learners, at all stages of work and learning, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, through education, training and skill-building opportunities.

We are driven to make certain that human beings everywhere will have access to unbelievable levels of learning throughout their lives.

Michael M. Crow President Arizona State University

Arizona State University

13

Inspire tomorrow’s game changers Together, we can empower the dreamers, visionaries and revolutionary leaders chasing solutions to the world’s most pressing problems and imagining possibilities yet to be discovered.

At ASU, we educate the people our world needs, who understand that doing the same things won’t yield new solutions and aren’t afraid to approach challenges with confidence and creativity.

While our students will be better able to leverage technology than any generation before them, no technology can have the impact that a new kind of person does.

Day after day, year after year, ASU students and learners grow into the people who make a meaningful difference in the world. People who understand how creative expression can help connect with patients or how critical thinking is essential to a functioning democracy. People who know how to translate the leadership skills honed in athletics and student organizations into their career and life trajectories.

People who throw themselves into becoming the most wellrounded version of who they want to be.

None of this occurs in a vacuum. ASU’s changemakers learn, grow and develop in a supportive, inspiring environment that pushes them to be the kind of global citizens our world needs.

14

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Léon Marchand (left) led ASU to the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships and went on to win four gold medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Arizona State University

15

A dancer rehearses in the four-story, 3,200-square-foot Enhanced Immersion Studio, a high-end performance venue and experimental media space at the ASU Media and Immersive eXperience Center.

16

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

We’re looking to industries that we haven’t really thought about as traditional parts of the university — gaming, film, fashion and the arts — and realizing that in our efforts to solve the world’s problems, we have to bring these industries into our discussion. They inspire youth. They help us tell the story about society.

Nancy Gonzales Executive Vice President and University Provost Arizona State University

Arizona State University

17

Reshape our relationship with the planet Together, we can deliver bold, comprehensive solutions that ensure a habitable Earth and a future in which wellbeing is attainable for all humankind.

The challenges our planet faces grow by the day, and their complexity can make them seem insurmountable. As we endeavor to literally save the world, we know it will take the ingenuity and action of experts tackling problems from every angle — including the angles no one has tried before.

We’ll start with what we can do today — and we’ll scale it up to meet all the leaders, students and innovators who will apply themselves to this crucial work.

From creating more inclusive, sustainable food systems to removing carbon from the atmosphere, from preserving ocean ecosystems to protecting water throughout the Southwest, we will move toward a sustainable model where the natural forces of the planet are as beneficial for future generations as they have been for us.

Our efforts are not focused on limiting what humans can do on our planet but on building a better relationship with it. The health of the planet depends on us as much as we depend on it — for our food, our health, our communities and our economies.

18

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

We are immersed in a complex network of systems that make up our world. Keeping these systems in balance requires a vision for the future that motivates long-term, sustainable solutions.

Arizona State University

19

ASU students and faculty are leading research efforts in some of the most climate-affected regions on earth, including Hawai‘i and Antarctica.

20

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Climate change pervades everything from human health to how we’re working socially and economically across the entire world.

A unique aspect about ASU is its speed — we don’t wait to be told what these issues are. We identify them, and we move quickly to solve them.

Sally C. Morton Executive Vice President ASU Knowledge Enterprise

Arizona State University

21

Empower community resilience Through this campaign, we can bring together resources, ideas and partnerships to make our communities better, stronger and healthier.

Even communities positioned for the greatest success have struggled in the face of pandemics, natural disasters and economic crises that are becoming more commonplace — and vulnerable populations fare worst of all.

At ASU, we don’t just study and discuss challenges such as extreme heat or housing crises from the confines of a traditional university model. We dive into the thick of complex problems and convene the people most affected by these challenges to grow, adapt and maintain resilience together.

ASU’s commitment to putting data into practice has put us at the forefront of driving change that affects real people with implications for policy, power dynamics and decision-making.

Our students understand and engage in public service long before graduating — often helping build power in their own communities and gaining direct experience with populations we need to serve better.

By turning knowledge and research into action, ASU can create an immediate impact that starts locally and ripples across the world.

22

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

ASU's SolarSPELL Initiative empowers offline communities globally by providing localized libraries and building the 21st century skills people need to make informed decisions, increase their self-reliance and improve their quality of life.

Arizona State University

23

The Decision Theater’s analytics, predictive modeling, integration and convening expertise combine to allow decision-makers to understand complex problems and the consequences of decisions before they are made.

24

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

ASU attracts people who want to go into the complexity of the wicked problems of our society — poverty, equality, food insecurity, the environment.

They want to find simplicity on the other side of complexity — elegant solutions to address the challenges of our world.

Chris Howard Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer ASU Enterprise

Arizona State University

25

Build the future of health Together, we can ensure that every person has access, high quality of life and confidence in their health and well-being.

If we want to improve health care, we don’t just need more health care professionals — we need better ones. That’s why we intend to fuse expertise and innovation across disciplines in one of our boldest undertakings yet: ASU Health.

Through our first-of-its-kind medical school — the School of Medicine and Advanced Medical Engineering — and our School of Technology for Public Health, we will produce an entirely new kind of medical provider. Our goal is to educate health professionals who lead with a forward-thinking engineering mindset, are confident in their role in modern medicine and are ready to take on the evolving challenges in health care at a higher scale of impact than ever before.

The impact of ASU Health will stretch far and wide.

We will improve health care access and education. We will dramatically increase the number of nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, health care researchers and community health professionals. We will triple ASU’s clinical and health care partnerships. We will drive innovations to fight pervasive health challenges and give everyone the tools and information necessary to make informed health decisions.

And as we elevate what’s possible in health care in Arizona, we will change the game for health overall. We will deepen our understanding of human performance and use our groundbreaking biodesign capabilities to take on not just an individual’s health challenges but also the world’s.

26

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

ASU is accelerating its health-related efforts to tackle the state’s urgent health care needs, now and into the future.

Arizona State University

27

Chris Lue Sang, ’19 BS, ’22 MS, wears a device by FlexBioTech.

Co-founded by ASU professors, the firm develops rapid, lowcost diagnostics for infectious disease and cancer.

28

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

We’re integrating ASU Health right into the fabric of the nation’s largest and most innovative university.

Every single one of our colleges and schools is contributing in a meaningful way. That kind of all-handson-deck approach doesn’t exist anywhere else.

Dr. Sherine Gabriel Executive Vice President ASU Health

Arizona State University

29

Advance technology for good Together, we can make great technological strides in all we do and leverage them for a more inclusive future for all.

ASU has no shortage of technological capabilities and aspirations. We are committed to harnessing their power to make our world a better place.

We’ve produced the first saliva-based COVID-19 test in the U.S., an Ebola antidote and clean water for space flights. We’ve made critical advances toward inexpensive cancer detection technologies and are creating the world’s first compact X-ray free electron laser. We’re leading a multipronged exploration of how augmented intelligence can revolutionize education, health care and the future.

We’re building a microelectronics and semiconductor talent pipeline to keep our nation at the forefront of manufacturing and innovation.

Through it all, we’re breaking down barriers to new technologies and ensuring that progress isn’t reserved for those who can afford it.

As we make such monumental progress, we challenge ourselves to consider the impacts our innovations have on economics, health, nature and all facets of the world around us. While others might balk at this complexity, ASU embraces it with the curiosity and creativity that we apply to everything we do and with our commitment to the communities we serve.

30

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

After years at the forefront of education innovation, ASU is still pushing the boundaries of how we teach, learn and work.

Arizona State University

31

ASU is driving innovation in education, health and sustainability and ensuring that no one is counted out of the future.

32

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

The way ASU thinks about AI is that there’s nothing artificial about AI. It’s about augmenting human intelligence and the ways we can meld scientific discovery with creative innovation by harnessing the technology for people to see new opportunities.

Lev Gonick Chief Information Officer ASU Enterprise Technology

Arizona State University

33

Partner with us

34

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Arizona State University

35

To achieve this ambitious vision — to truly change the future — we recognize that the typical university campaign is simply not enough.

But Changing Futures is not the typical university campaign.

Where others define success by the number of dollars raised, we will define success by how we invest those dollars, by the measurable impact we create and by the community of partners and supporters that join us in this effort.

From protecting and strengthening democracy to preserving access to water and revolutionizing energy, from increasing human performance to transforming student and learner success, our major campaign priorities cut across departments and disciplines. They represent the challenges that must be solved and the solutions we must explore to realize our vision — and they give you the opportunity to invest in the solutions you want to see come to life.

Wherever you are in the world, whatever passion drives your giving and however you choose to make your mark, you will find a way to contribute meaningfully through Changing Futures.

36

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Arizona State University

37

Transformational outcomes

38

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Arizona State University

39

A student experiments with virtual reality technology at the ASU Media and Immersive eXperience Center.

The MIX Center serves as a laboratory for advanced media technologies and media production, a platform for game development and a driving force for entrepreneurial solutions.

40

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Through Changing Futures, we will reach toward ambitious markers of progress that will set ASU’s long-term trajectory of impact higher than ever before.

250 million learners reached worldwide We will accelerate academic excellence at scale and chart the course for this long-term goal.

Student scholarships We will ensure that every student who pursues a degree here can do so affordably.

$1.5 billion annual research investment We will reach and sustain a new level of research and catalyze the innovations that will bring our shared vision to life.

An inclusive campaign We invite the support and participation of our global community of alumni, partners and supporters at an unprecedented scale.

Arizona State University

41

This is our moment

42

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

Arizona State University

43

This mission — this moment — demands partners like you People who see challenges and want to find solutions.

People who want to take action — and want to inspire others to join them. People who believe in the possibilities of the future and understand the unique, forward-thinking commitment it takes to bring them to fruition.

People like you, who are willing to take bold initiative to leave our collective mark on ASU, on higher education and on the learners, ideas and solutions that truly change futures.

This campaign is inclusive at its core, a public celebration and commitment to ASU's Charter. Anyone who raises their hand to help create a better future will be counted.

Through service, learning and giving, at all levels and for the good of all: this campaign is for all of us, and your collaborative investment will change futures … for our students and for the world.

44

Changing Futures | From Arizona. For the World.

All images in this publication showcase real projects and programs at Arizona State University that are addressing society’s biggest challenges.

Arizona © 2025 Arizona Board of Regents.

All State rights University reserved.

45

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.

asuchangingfutures.org