NEWS RELEASES

February 26, 1999

For immediate release

Regents issue 1999 report card for Arizona's universities

Arizona's public universities have made progress in holding faculty accountable for their instruction of students and in improving the educational experience, however graduation and persistence rates and student advising continue to present significant challenges, according to the 1999 Report Card for Arizona's Public Universities, approved by the Board of Regents yesterday.

"The Board provides vigilance and encourages accountability for the significant investment of tax dollars that goes to public higher education in Arizona," said Board President Judy Gignac. "We take care in tracking, measuring and bench marking the performance of the universities in providing high-quality educational opportunities, sustaining leading-edge research initiatives, and in serving the needs of the communities. This report card is one of the primary instruments we have to record that progress and inform the public."

The report card provides an overall, combined system grade for 20 key areas, including undergraduate education, quality of instruction, excellence and innovation, and the utilization of resources. Of the 20 measures, six showed superior ratings, nine showed satisfactory ratings, and three showed a need for improvement.

The area of greatest improvement was in providing access to regular faculty for undergraduate students. Superior ratings were earned by the universities in the areas of:

• Making sure students do not graduate with excessive credits,
• The percentage of faculty with good or excellent teaching ratings,
• Overall student/alumni satisfaction with faculty,
• The universities' ability to attract Arizona's top high school scholars,
• The number of National Merit Scholars entering Arizona's universities each year,
• Research grants and expenditures.

Copies of the report card can be obtained by calling (602) 229-2527. The Report Card is also available on the ABOR website at: http://www.abor.asu.edu.

--30--

Return to News Releases Index List

The Regents | The Universities | For the Student |  For Faculty | For Parents | Special Programs |
 Administrative/Staff | Government/Legislative  | FAQ | Site Index/Map

Contact us
Arizona Board of Regents
2020 N. Central Ave., Suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4593
Telephone: (602) 229-2500 / Fax: (602) 229-2555