Michael Crow

He has framed ASU as a “New American University” that combines research excellence with broad access, including through digital delivery.

Under Crow, ASU Online grew from a limited set of programs into one of the largest public-university online operations in the United States, enrolling tens of thousands of students in hundreds of degree and certificate programs. Online degrees carry the same diploma as campus degrees and are taught by the same faculty. ASU uses accelerated terms (typically 7.5 weeks) and invests in course design, success coaching, and learning technology. Crow has publicly argued that public research universities must expand online capacity to meet demand without proportional campus construction.

Crow’s leadership showed that a major public research university could treat online education as a core strategic priority rather than a peripheral extension activity, achieving both scale and research stature.