Work group accepts redesign plan

The work group appointed to study a redesign of the Arizona university system has accepted a plan that preserves the state's current three-university system but proposes stronger differentiation of missions—both between and within universities—and different tuition levels.

The plan presented on Wednesday proposes that Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University and the University of Arizona further delineate their research and teaching roles between each other and on their own campuses. The redesign proposal recommends that the three universities retain their current research missions but indicates that ASU and U of A would enhance their strength and national prestige in research and advanced degree studies.

David Longanecker, the redesign project consultant and executive director of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, describes the university system as inefficient, because the state relies heavily on research universities to deliver undergraduate education. The plan suggests that the state offer a broader array of undergraduate-focused campuses. It points to NAU's "expand on demand" Distance Learning model and community college partnerships as the means to offer more undergraduate education opportunities.

If demand dictates, the plan leaves the door open to establish new baccalaureate campuses that may be part of one of the universities. The plan proposes that tuition reflect differences between instructional and research missions. Specifically, it suggests that tuition be highest at U of A and ASU, where investments in research support and infrastructure are greatest.

Tuition would be lower at NAU's Flagstaff campus, ASU East, ASU West and ASU Downtown Phoenix where investments in research are lower.

Tuition would be lowest at sites offering university and community college "2 + 2" programs, including NAU-Yuma and U of A South. One of the most difficult challenges the universities face in establishing undergraduate-focused units within the universities will be changing the faculty reward structure to reflect the different teaching and research roles, Longanecker said.

The report also suggests that the state assume a greater responsibility for providing need-based financial aid, so that those dollars are not diverted from a university's teaching and/or research mission.

The draft plan is available on the Arizona Board of Regents' web site, www.abor.asu.edu. The plan was presented to the ABOR Feasibility and Planning Study Work Group on Feb. 23 in Tempe. The plan will go out for public comment and then comes back to the work group on March 29. A report will be submitted to the regents at their April 28-29 board meeting, however, the regents are not expected to take any action until later in the summer.

The work group was named about nine months ago to consider various proposals put forth to redesign the university system to deal with a projected growth of 70,000 students by 2020.