A Growing University


Inside NAU Home \| NAU in the News \| Archives \| Submit a News Tip	Vol. 3 No. 12 \| March 22, 2006

Northern Arizona growing in the South

It’s true that NAU is closer than you think.

Northern Arizona University reaches every part of the state and, through its Internet programs, just about everywhere else, too.

The growth in Maricopa and Pima counties is especially impressive. Nearly 2,400 students take classes at sites throughout Maricopa County and another 945 are enrolled in classes in Pima County. Fully one-third of NAU’s enrollment is in distance courses.

“The phenomenal growth we’re seeing reflects the changing face of Arizona’s higher education students,” said Fred Hurst, vice president for Extended Learning and dean of Distance Learning. “NAU is first and foremost a residential undergraduate institution, but distance learning is an enormously important part of our mission.”

Hurst pointed out that “traditional student” is a term that is changing rapidly. In Phoenix, Tucson and other locations across the state, the “traditional” student is older than the Flagstaff resident and usually a working person with family obligations.

They’re place-bound, by family or job or both, and NAU brings the institution to them. Through on-site courses, web classes, satellite broadcasts and strong partnerships with community colleges, NAU continues to expand across the state. It’s the greatest expansion since NAU’s Distance Learning began under then-President Eugene Hughes in the early 1980s.

In fact, part of NAU President John Haeger’s “NAU Promise” is “Guaranteed access: The university will establish traditional classroom bachelor’s degree programs at any location in the state that enrolls 25 students or more in a cohort.”

Access to higher education is a priority for Gov. Janet Napolitano, the Arizona Legislature and the state Board of Regents as they struggle with the burgeoning population.

Haeger has said that NAU is prepared to establish branch campuses and even stand-alone regional universities when enrollment dictates. He noted that the university already is meeting demand and can readily expand its distance programs to accommodate growth.

"The notion that the programs aren't there is simply not the case," he said. "The question is do we have the capacity, and the answer is 'yes.'" Doug Small, assistant dean of Distance Learning, is in the thick of distance learning expansion.

“We’re establishing partnerships and programs all over Maricopa and Pima counties,” he said. “It’s exciting to be able to fill the need of these students.”

Among others, NAU has new programs and partnerships with Glendale Community College, South Mountain Community College and Mesa Community College.

NAU and the Maricopa County Community College District are nearing an intergovernmental agreement that will even further expand NAU throughout the district.