ASU Colleges at Lake Havasu City

ASU@Lake Havasu City (ASU Havasu) is a small, low-cost extension of the Arizona State University system offering high-demand, undergraduate degrees. The campus opened in Lake Havasu City, Arizona in the Fall of 2012 and focuses on an experiential, student-centered approach to learning.^[1] The education and experience a student receives at ASU Havasu is intended to be akin to that of a private liberal arts college with the name and resources of a large state school.

History[]

Entrance of ASU Havasu from University Way.

The "ASU Colleges" model was formulated in 2009 as an initiative to offer high quality, undergraduate degrees at lower costs. The Arizona Board of Regents, along with the presidents of each public Arizona university, were tasked with coming up with models of offering baccalaureate degrees to help prepare students for real world careers. In order for the idea to work, the city in which the college would be located would have to raise the funds for a physical location of the campus. Several locations throughout Arizona were highlighted, but the one city that pushed for the campus was Lake Havasu City, AZ. With support from generous Lake Havasu citizens, business owners, city officials, and non-profit organizations, $2 million was raised in an effort to renovate a previous middle school site for the ASU Havasu campus. The fundraising efforts were coordinated by the Havasu Foundation for Higher Education (HFHE), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that was started in 2004 by Dr. Bill Ullery. The HFHE was started as an initiative to highlight the importance of higher education in the Mohave County area. The HFHE continues to offer fundraising opportunities for campus projects and scholarships for new and current students.

Academics[]

ASU Havasu Graduates from the Spring 2016 Convocation.

ASU Havasu offers an interdisciplinary approach to student education and curriculum. There are 18 bachelor's degrees and 3 exploratory programs that students can choose from.^[2] Since the opening of the campus is 2012, ASU Havasu has graduated 58 students.

The campus employs full-time, doctorate-level faculty who physically teach students at ASU Havasu. There are 15 full-time instructors and 7 adjunct faculty members.^[3]

My Havasu Plan and Senior Capstone Projects[]

Students at ASU Havasu follow a path of experiential learning during the quest for his or her baccalaureate degree. The My Havasu Plan is a strategy used to develop leadership skills, community involvement, and real world experience for each student.

Freshman year[]

Freshmen students work with a local community group and a faculty advisor to create a "Freshman Experience Project."

Sophomore year[]

Sophomore students are encouraged to become involved and/or start a student club. There are currently 12 student clubs on campus, all of which have been organically started by students going through this plan. Student clubs include, but are not limited to the Outdoor Pursuits Program, Digital Media Organization, Environmental and Community Outreach, and a Lake Havasu Changemaker Central branch.

Students are also encouraged to take part in study abroad trips. The 2015-2016 academic year included trips to Cuba, Costa Rica, and Quebec.

Junior year[]

In a student's junior year, they are encouraged to earn an internship in the Lake Havasu area. The school currently has partnerships with the Lake Havasu Unified School District, the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Future partnerships are being determined for upcoming semesters.

Senior year[]

A student in his or her senior year will complete their Senior Capstone Project. This project is comparable to the work a graduate student completes in a master's program. Alongside a faculty advisor, the student will tackle an issue of his or her choice and conduct field analysis on the topic. They will then analyze the data, develop a research paper and presentation, and propose the findings in an open forum at the end of their last semester.

Facilities[]

Residence Hall[]

In March 2015, ASU purchased the motel that sat on the Northwest corner of the lot where ASU Havasu is situated. As phase 1 of the project, the 20 outer rooms were gutted and renovated. For the first time since opening in fall of 2012, ASU Havasu had on-campus housing for the fall of 2015.

Phase 2 of the residence hall project took place in the summer of 2016. 11 rooms in the middle building were renovated to accommodate for increasing enrollment in the fall of 2016. There are double, single, and ADA compliant rooms, each costing $5,700, $6,500, and $6,000, respectively.

Dedication Wall and Student Center Patio[]

A dedication wall sits in the center of campus. The wall commemorates the efforts of the Lake Havasu City community in raising $2 million to start the campus. Behind the wall rests the student center. The patio of the student center boasts one of the best views of Lake Havasu and the surrounding mountain ranges.

The view of Lake Havasu from the ASU Havasu Student Center Patio.

Dr. David Young, Campus Director, presenting the Dedication Wall in 2012.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website

Coordinates: 34°28′23″N 114°19′16″W / 34.473°N 114.321°W / 34.473; -114.321